THE POEM OF SECRETARIAT

 Secretariat written by Anne Ranasinghe (1925-2016)

Anne Ranasinghe 

• Jewish - German born Sri Lankan English-language poetess.
• Her reputation in Sri Lanka is mainly based on her poetry which has won number of awards.
• She captures the truth of an experience.
• She was able to voice her thought and feelings through poetry.

      some of her well-noted works -;                                                                                                           Plead Mercy                                                                                                                 At What Dark Point                                                                                                     Atteriya                                                                                                                         Autumn Returns of Europe                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 SECRETARIAT   

So this is the summit of man's career-

Two hardboard walls, constructed shabbily.

A naked bulb and rotting wooden floor;

No windows but instead a door

Half hidden by a broken metal screen

From which a tattered piece of green

Curtain blows

The room has neither sky nor sun nor tree

Nor any kind of personality.

It is four walls two of them hardboard(bare);

A writing table(large)covered with baize

Stacked high with files. A rickety chair;

Two china cups-tea stained-with cracking glaze.;

Above, a rusty fan layered with dust.

In fact there is dust everywhere.

A room along the corridors of power-

What years of study, planning, sweat, chicanery

To win this foothold. Yet once there

Only a roughly scribbled name

Upon a crumpled piece of cardboard to proclaim

Who has the right to sit on just that chair 

Facing

A hardboard wall constructed shabbily.

Anne Ranasinghe