Leopold’s Blues September 14, 2008
Posted by dexspace in dex's poems, poems inspired by Shantaram, Shantaram.Tags: blues, books, leopolds cafe mumbai, Poetry, Shantaram
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Leopold’s Blues
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C’mon now step in through the arches, from Causeway
Watch the turbulent waves, as you sit on the sixty minute chairs
Inspect and suspect the images in the mirrors, they say
Elite residents and their paid girlfriends going up the stairs.
See the gorgeous abundant display of fruits, and the colourful tiles
But don’t be mistaken by the lovely people, and their styles.
The cool breeze of the ocean might reduce you to temptation
Agree at the table but strictly step outside to exchange the goods
Making two ends meet will positively earn you a fraction
But beware to always understand yours and their moods.
Taxi drivers and cops tilt the mirror for a small doh
In the interest of the order, if not of the law.
The small Afghan, he ran the underground market in books
The market ain’t seen enough blood, so there will be more
The small Afghan, he shut all the chandu smoking nooks
‘Cuz the garad, it was fetching him a greater score.
It’s the business of big politics and the politics of big business
Noone can escape the slaughterhouse of big business.
Some men will settle on power, while others will say its sex-on-the-go
Practicality will say its money, innocent hearts will choose love
For the man on the run, the best thing in the world is the freedom to say NO
Slowly fading to black, the existence of the white dove.
She says its her favourite place on earth, to be treated like rubbish
The place they call Leopold’s, is for some an inevitable fetish.
-dex
I couldn’t help writing this poem after the lovely description by Lin of the same subject. I’ve even been to Leopold’s Cafe to see if it still matches up with what’s been said about it in the book. Totally phenomenal. For all Shantaram fans.
The enigmatic, green-eyed Karla July 17, 2008
Posted by dexspace in Smarts from 'Shantaram'.Tags: books, qoutes
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Here’s the second dose of the street smart character of Shantaram. I know its dangerous to give out so much wisdom at once, but what to do, time is a factor n this modern time.
- “If we all learn what we should, the first time round, then we wouldn’t need love at all”
- “We all attempt suicide several times in our lives, and sooner or later we all succeed”
- “Praising people behind their back is monstrously unfair, because the one thing you can’t defend yourself against is the good that people say about you”
- “Heroes only come in three types : dead, damaged or dubious”
- “Luck is what happens to you when fate gets tired of waiting”
- “Everyone in the whole world was Indian in at least one past life”
- “The most dangerous and fascinating animal in the world is a brave, hard man without a plan”
- “Sometimes you break your heart in the right way”
- “Love is the opposite of power. Thats why we fear it so much”
- “Friendship is like a kind of algebra test that nobody passes”
- “Wisdom is just cleverness, with all the guts kicked out of it”
Some of these make real sense in all our lives. Others will become clearer after you read the book. I’m still waiting for people to tell me that they’ve read the book, and if they have, some comments about it pls…. Dex
4 basic rules… July 15, 2008
Posted by dexspace in dex's poems, poems inspired by Shantaram.Tags: books, Poetry, prison
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Street Fighting Man
Rule no 1, my friend, is never look down,
stare right into his eyes with yours so brown.
The second rule says don’t ever walk backwards,
unless you wanna be cornered by those bastards.
Never forget to get a tad bit crazier than him,
and don’t mistake it for one even if it is a dream.
Lay down an escape route or the finishing move,
and save some fule for it, if tommorow you wana groove.
Every passing day is a lesson to learn,
when you’re street fighting… in the prison.
-dex
Lin is in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. Very hostile environment. But he’s experienced from a Melbourne Jail. He educates us on the 4 points to remember if you wana bout. Very well described episode where he beats the shit out of the coward bully, Rahul.
The inscrutable, green-eyed, Karla June 28, 2008
Posted by dexspace in Smarts from 'Shantaram'.Tags: books, quotes
7 comments
The following are some smart things said by Karla in Shantaram… the character I love to hate and at the same time hate to love. Throughout the book she has maintained her primary characteristic, which is mystery, while always puking out smart phrases all along. It seemed to me that she had a silo of smart lines, ‘cuz she never seemed to run out of them. She had something to say about any situation, on the spot. Although I’m not exactly the biggest fan of Karla, I always looked forward to reading ’bout her, page after page, chapter after chapter, just to absorb the street-clever things that she says… if not to learn from them, just to be hit by them right on the face. Those of u who have read Shantaram, with at least some degree of interest, know what I’m talking about… If not for Karla, Shantaram would be bread without butter (or honey for that matter).
- “I’d only give you advise if I didn’t care what happens to you”
- “If fate doesn’t make you laugh, you just don’t get the joke”
- “Fear and guilt are the dark angels that haunt the rich”
- “Some of the worst wrongs were caused by people who tried to change things”
- “What characterizes human race more; cruelty or the capacity to feel shame for it?”
- “Men reveal what they think when they look away, and what they feel when they hesitate. With women, its the other way round.”
- “Happiness is a myth. It was invented to make us buy things.”
- “Truth is a bully we all pretend to like.” (my personal fav)
- “Depression only happens to people who don’t know how to be sad.”
There are lots more… I’ll save them for another day. I’d like to know how many people have read Shantaram. Please write to me or comment. I’m always happy to talk to a fellow Shantaram fan.
-dex
brain appetizers June 18, 2008
Posted by dexspace in Smarts from 'Shantaram'.5 comments
Nothing in any life, no matter how poorly or well lived, is wiser than failure or clearer than sorrow.
Heroes only come in 3 kinds: dead, damaged and dubious…
