Two Poems
Satyananda Sarangi
Dreams
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Do dreams have hands, and feet and eyes,
a brittle heart
That fail to understand these sighs
in whole or part?
Do dreams befriend, and then betray
the hopeful stance
Of human toil and fade away
without a chance?
Do dreams, disguised as poets, mark
on walls of rhyme
Their grievances, across the dark
expanse of time?
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First published in Shot Glass Journal​
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​Satyananda’s notes:​​ “Believed to be invented by the great Jared Carter, the ‘alexandroid’ form comprises six lines written in iambic hexameter, with two segments (four-foot and two-foot) and an abab rhyme scheme. The real task lies in enjambment and flow – which is key to the overall meaning and structure of the poem. On a personal level, I’ve always found that an alexandroid with a questioning tone turns out to be the best.”
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Breath by Breath
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An orb of light in darkness flickers out
To halt the marching steps of eager trust;
As trembling nerves bite down into the dust
And sense the slow but pressing clout
Of imminent defeat. Thus, breath by breath,
The lonely heart must wander, losing sight
Of measured wealth, of love and sheer delight
To find its place beyond all planes of death.
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Satyananda’s notes: “‘Breath by Breath’ was written a couple of days ago on a December night. The purpose was simple – to seek a greater meaning of life with the help of self-introspection, especially when the year was about to end. The lines came together really well at the end – the perfect setting for readers to delve deeper into consciousness, especially at the time of the New Year. But then again, the poem could fit well into any moment that triggers the human urge for self-awareness. A poem for the New Year as well as for all other days!”
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Satyananda Sarangi is a young civil servant by profession. A graduate in electrical engineering, his works have featured in The HyperTexts, Shot Glass Journal, Snakeskin, WestWard Quarterly, Sparks of Calliope, The Society of Classical Poets, Page & Spine, Glass: Facets of Poetry, The GreenSilk Journal and elsewhere.
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His poems earned an Honorable Mention in the Annual International Poetry Competition of The Society of Classical Poets, New York for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. In the Fall of 2024, his poem ‘The School Bell’ was put up on public display by the Poetry Box Organisation in Portland, Oregon, USA.
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Apart from a career in public service and literature, his other interest subjects are International Relations and Motivational Speaking. He currently resides in Odisha, India.
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