May we pass brother?
May we pass brother?
But are you one of us!
Or someone other?
Rowing eyes survey thus
Taking girls home from work
Assuredly I mutter
Don’t you have sisters too
That I dare not utter
Rod in hand he twirls
Peers down at the girls
They of diverse race and creed
But united in the hour of need
Girls huddled in the car
All similar pensive faces
None with Pottu or Thaali,
Those give away traces
See bro, they come from far
Buses not running… blah, blah!
Fluency and tone matter
So, I keep-up the chatter
Got petrol in a tin can?
No there’s some in tank
No time to syphon, man
Says Tarzan at my flank
Now that I’ve passed his test
Tarzan is my friend best
Clear from the road you!
This car must go through
Shops ablaze and shattered glass
Tarzan back at the helm yelling
Unruffled mates loading hand carts
Charred remnants of a once dwelling
Although you made your call
As if we be of the same feather
May you gain merit and stand tall
For letting us pass my brother
It was Monday the 25th of July 1983. This date signifies the first day of unrest and turmoil in Sri Lanka, later to be known as “Black July”. By early afternoon the city of Colombo was burning. The mobs were holding sway on city the streets. Public transport was at a stand-still. The writer and a friend set off in a car from the central business district Fort. Their intention is to convey a group of girls who had come to work, to their respective homes. At some point near Town Hall, the car is unable to proceed as the street is obstructed by a group of men. The writer steps out of car speaks to person closest to the vehicle in Sinhala.
About this poem
It was Monday the 25th of July 1983. This date signifies the first day of unrest and turmoil in Sri Lanka, later to be known as “Black July”. By early afternoon the city of Colombo was burning. The mobs were holding sway on city the streets. Public transport was at a stand-still. The writer and a friend set off in a car from the central business district Fort. Their intention is to convey a group of girls who had come to work, to their respective homes. At some point near Town Hall, the car is unable to proceed as the street is obstructed by a group of men. The writer steps out of car speaks to person closest to the vehicle in Sinhala. more »
Written on July 06, 2016
Submitted by jn.selvadurai on January 10, 2025
Modified by jn.selvadurai on January 10, 2025
- 1:37 min read
- 36 Views
Quick analysis:
| Scheme | ABAB XACA DDEE FGHG FHAA IJIJ KKCC XLXL HAHA H |
|---|---|
| Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
| Characters | 1,628 |
| Words | 325 |
| Stanzas | 10 |
| Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1 |
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"May we pass brother?" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 22 Jan. 2025. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/209570/may-we-pass-brother?>.
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