Yo! Yo!

[Notes for a ballad about Yoshitha Rajapaksa]

When the mighty fall

There is a crash,

Happen when big meets floor,

And when the high and mighty fall

There’s a roar

a smirk amplified

By collective discontent

A from-the-ground endorsement

The higher,

The louder.

You were high, Yo!

Mightily high.

Should’ve known better

Is a comes-too-late whisper

But now you know

Of high and low

The laws of gravity

The sting that waits

And finds its mark.

“Selective!”

Did I hear you scream?

Oh! But of course Yo,

That’s the come and go

And going around

Out there

There may be the worse

And maybe they’ll stay free,

But that’s weak defense, you know. 

As for selectivity

Witch-hunting and revenge

Well, two can clap

So if you see no yaha

In this here palanaya

It’s just name-change at the top

And name-change where they made you stop

This name and that name

The Maithri and the Vairee

But that’s just a proper nouns game

What was

Is

still

And that’s no consolation, true

Got to go with the stiff upper lip

Do the grin and bear

Of incarceration-commonality

Give or take a few

From the Merchant Ward,

Small mercies, Yo

Say 'thank you' and 'please'

It won't hurt. 

There was cheer when you did soar

And now that you’ve fallen

loudly will they roar

There’ll be jeer

For every tear

For there is your father and his son

As there were other fathers and other sons

In your father’s time and long before too

You are public Yo

Not others though

And so much grief

Is private and confidential

You might not know

But your father does

Yes now he does. 

‘Yes, he damn well does!’

Did someone yell?

Well we can ask

‘Did you always have such voice?’

We can, Yo,

But you,

You cannot, no.

Now you are just one of many

A number and not a name

You’ve gone to a place Yo

where others have been

And still others are yet to go

And who can tell

When the jailed and jailor

Their places exchange;

It’s happened before Yo

And you for sure would know.

So Yo!

Take heart bro!

You are written about

Jeered yes,

But it’s all recorded.

Other who came before

And those who will come later

Of them there won't be word

Save those that are swallowed

On account of 'what's-the-point'

Think about it. 

You have time.