Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts

Monday, October 16, 2017

The Fun Young Swing

Sunny skies, flowers in full bloom
Children in the park, filled with happiness and laughter.
I looked at them and pleaded as I creaked
Slowly in to motion, feeling a gust of wind.
Come here and sit on me,
I’ll take you to great heights,
As I fill you with bubbly laughter
Through every link in my chains.

Suddenly darkness! Clouds gathered in gloom,
Dark figures filled the park, a lonely silhouette-
A shape shifter stood out;
I looked on in dread, fear spreading
Through every link in my chains; my seat, stiff
From the day’s work; Aching I looked on,
Pleading with unseeing eyes,
Don’t come near, don’t sit on me.
I know you’ll take me under, deep
Into cavernous places;
You’ll break my chains, detach me
From reality; you’ll break my seat
Until nothing but splinters remain.

I can feel your sweaty face,
Your ravaging hands,
The weight of your large base
Tearing through my planks.
I can feel my chains giving way,
Tearing away from the reality
That is mine, your weight pulling me down;
Your breath acrid fills my very being
As I fall deep in to the abyss
Of a never-ending universe;
Filled with darkness, the voices of beasts,
The smell of disgust, the taste of a thousand
Fetid corpses; an eternity of this.

I know you’re gone, now that morn has come;
But I dread the evening sun;
Bringing with it the shape shifter, that silhouette,
That destroyer of dreams, that killer of innocence.
Here I am, a fun young swing
Destined to spread laughter,
To take children to newer heights;
But your abuse leaves me broken and
Desolate, snatching the laughter
From every child who walks the park. Ever.

Note: I wrote a prequel to this poem "Give Me Strength" back in 2007. Ten years later I had to revisit it and make it mine once again.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

The Stirrings of an Ineffable Soul

She closed her eyes,
As she felt every part of her being
Immersed in a consciousness, alien to her.
The voices in her head, faint whispers
To begin with, rose to a cacophony,
As the consciousness reached
A crescendo of its own!

Suddenly, it was all over;
She could hear the crash of silence
Against her pining soul.
A silence so loud, she wished
For the cacophony of the voices
In her head again.
Unknown to her, every bit of her soul
Transformed, mutated and altered
To soak in the silence,
Silently creating a sound of its own.

Exhausted, she lay, waiting
Patiently, for the pain,
The angst and the clarity
Of the unknown.
She relinquished her ego;
She relinquished her name;
She welcomed the unknown
With open arms and
Closed eyes.

In darkness of the sun,
It crept up on her,
Shrouding her being,
Purifying her soul,
Lightening her mind,
Brightening her body, and
Freeing her dreams;
Until all there was left
Was a single unity;
An unknown one.

There was no her;
There was no soul;
There was no light;
There was no pain;
There was only
The pureness of being.

Friday, September 16, 2016

No More...

If you gave me something today,
I would give you something for tomorrow.
If you broke it tomorrow,
I would give you something for the next day.

If I thought you'd give me something today,
I would dream of what I'd give you tomorrow.
If I thought you'd break it tomorrow,
I would dream of something to give you the next day.

If I saw you breaking something I gave you ever,
I would stop giving you anything...
Today, tomorrow and forever.

Right here, right now, it's just a muddle of words;
Contradicting emotions and
Ramblings on a September afternoon,
Nothing more, nothing less.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

The Journey

Austrian Landscape

Lost everyday
In the mundane,
In the living;
The soul gladdens,
Expands and accepts;
That which is lost,
Deep within us,
At the center of the cosmos.

I look into myself - 
Surprised, amused and
Nonchalant at what I see.
"This is being."
She tells me.

I close my eyes,
With my eyes
Wide open.
I see myself
As I unsee myself.

What, you may ask,
Is this contradiction?

You see, this is
No contradiction.
This, is coming undone,
When you are so together.

Looking up, I see,
Truly see, the expanse
Of the universe;
Yours and mine.

Let's put a dent
In this universe,
That's neither yours
Nor mine.

Let's be. Let's truly be;
In this, here, now,
Together and alone

Monday, August 10, 2015

Crumbling Walls


You saw me through the veil,
Through a carefully constructed
Façade I had over my face,
Until you reached my core.
You became the mirror I was afraid of,
Shining a bright light in to my eyes.
Neither love nor friendship
Ever gave me this feeling
Of being bare;
Completely and utterly naked
Face to face with myself.

I wonder if you truly see me,
Or is it still just a reflection you see
That I have shown the world…
Every single day, every single night?
Memories may fade, of laughter
And tears, of happiness and sadness;
But this cloudy night will remain
Even as the universe dissipates
Into another unholy big bang.
I will stand still remembering,
Sighing and tearing up but never crying.

See me my dear, truly see me
Not today, not tomorrow,
But in the multiple nows
That make up life; both yours and mine.
As the night turns to day
I will remain standing here
Gazing in to my own eyes
Seeing you see me,
Looking deep within, with that familiar frown
Adorning your face, a faint smile
Creeping into your eyes.

Yes, you see me, you found me
And now I am lost unto myself.
I’ll stand right here, mourning
The death of a life that could have been;
Silently standing...
Gazing in to my own eyes.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Eternity

The wind howls.
The skies bellow.
Deep inside, she trembles.
Drowning in the downpour,
She is squished like a bug.

Years later she yawns
And stretches, as she wakes up.
Her soul rattles in the aftermath
Of a storm so long ago,
It seems but just a dream.

Gliding down from open skies,
She lets the wind guide her.
Gently landing on a blade of grass,
She melts into the earth;
Lying down to rest... now and forever.


Monday, March 02, 2015

The Vagabond

An empty bottle by my side;
“The rum gone?!” I wondered,
“It was half full when I lay it there last night.”
And then I saw her dead, by the roadside.

She lapped it all up through the cold night… that mutt!





Friday, February 13, 2015

So, here’s the world, remade!

If I had to remake the world, I would keep it just the way it is with just two changes. There is a lot wrong with the world today but these two things are all I would change and then hope that all other things wrong will sort itself out.

The problem with the world as it is today began with the evolution of human beings. Food and shelter being primary needs, humans began ravaging the earth to ensure that they survived. In order to have control over resources where food and shelter was abundant. There began a struggle to have and control more than others. As the world transformed, those with more energy and power had better access to food, shelter and more than is needed to survive.

The other problem with the human race today that I would like to change stems strongly from inequality. The foremost and oldest being gender inequality. Controlling women meant increasing one’s tribe and thereby having more people to work and create more wealth and thereby more power.

The first change in a world remade…
Imagine a world where trees thrive.
Trees with leaves that were solar panels;
An end to fighting over food and energy.
Imagine a world where trees thrive.

The second change in a world remade…
Imagine a world where each human would thrive.
Both men and women would bear children;
An end to power control and rapes.
Imagine a world where every human would thrive.

Oh yes, there is the problem with population so…
A human could bear a child only once in their lifetime.
Sorry, but that’s the way it would be in a world remade
Remade by me… Remade by me…

“So, here’s the world, remade!” I would beam.


I am participating in the #TheWorldRemade activityat BlogAdda in association with India Today #Conclave15. This is my take on what I would change if the world was remade.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

There Are No Monsters Under The Bed My Darling

And so she went, this morning, like every morning.
Her hair tied up in two neat little ponytails,
A smile on her lips and a large, heavy school bag.
I smiled and waved out to her as she got in the bus.

My day was as ordinary as any other.
I had tea with friends and a book I read.
Not one to turn on the idiot box in the mornings,
I did so today, don't ask me why...

My heart sank as I saw a familiar building,
A building I saw at least four times a year
At least two PTA Meetings..
One Sports Day and an Annual Day

And that was yesterday.
Today, my life is empty.
My soul is dead.
I feel nothing.
I do nothing.
I think nothing.

She doesn't smile at me any more
And I feel nothing.
I am as dead as she.
I am as dead as you.


NOTE: This is my very small dedication to over a 100 little souls that were lost yesterday at the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan killed by Taliban monsters in the name of religion. I cry as I write this yet I cannot refrain from writing it. There is nothing that can set this right. The world is not in order. Not one bit.



Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The World Seems Dark

"The world seems dark!" He said to himself.
"They'll never understand you." They whispered in his ears.
"I will fight it out!" He shouted aloud.
"They don't need you." The whispers continued.
"They do love me." He said silently.
"You are just a burden on them." The voices grew louder.
"They will be better off without me." He silently gave up.

He walked for miles and reached a cross-road;
He sat on the side and looked up at the sky.
The sun shone bright behind dark clouds.
All he could see was the darkness in the clouds.

She walked up to him, slowly, purposefully...
She lifted him up toward the sky;
Took him beyond the dark clouds.
There it was... cotton candy clouds;
White, pure and glowing.
"This is just one side of the brightness."
"The other side is gloomy, I agree." She sang to him.

Back at the cross-road, he looked up at the sky.
He saw the glow around the dark clouds;
Bright light fighting its way around the gloom.
He smiled and continued on a road that beckoned him.
He walked on under cool shaded trees...
Over dried, fallen leaves.

"The world seems bright!" He said to himself.
"And I will walk on." He sang aloud.

NOTE: This is my small dedication to Robin Williams, a talented actor who is said to have lost his life battling depression. 
Please stay connected with people who care about you so they are able to raise red flags if they notice anything wrong with you especially your moods et al.
Please stay connected with people you care about so you can watch out for them and raise red flags when you notice anything wrong with them. 
Depression is a disease and needs to be accepted and treated holistically. No one likes to be depressed but it is a condition. Luckily there is treatment available and somewhere the perception towards mental illness is changing for the better.

I am not qualified to diagnose depression but my life has taught me to look out for my loved ones.
My learning has been to look for some or all of these tell-tale signs - constant talk of feeling hopeless and/or useless, change in appetite (eat too much and constantly or eat seldom and very little), insomnia or too much sleep (thereby increasing the feeling of hopelessness) and signs of very very low self-esteem.

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

A New Dawn. New Words. Just For Today.

As I sit early this Wednesday morning,
The stories in my head find their own links,
And together they write themselves.
And I tell you, it's not so much writing
As it is breaking my very own jinx.

As I pour myself a cup of tea,
Warm a chocolate cupcake too,
These stories are dead,
The moment they are born.
It's true!

Today as it is every day, is special,
Not because it is a new day;
Nor because it is a new year;
Because it is my connection
With the universe... now, here.
Tells me not to go astray
Instead to just say
What I've always wanted to say!

This is a fine new day.
Dunno if it will be sunny,
Or may be the clouds will have their way...
This moment, now, here,
Is all I have at present
And with this I am content,
With this I shall stay content...

Friday, October 04, 2013

Honest Open Smiles

Can it be this tough?
Wearing masks all day long;
Passing by the universe.
Every day. Every night.

Needs. Wants. Desires.
In that order please...
Make mine with
A sprinkling of soul dust.

Rains feeding streams,
Leaves leaving trees,
Cups upturned in sinks,
Music. Laughter. Life.

Let the cookie crumble.
These cookie cutters 
Were made all wrong.
Honest open smiles,
It isn't this tough!

Firewood gathered,
Hunting done,
The roasting begins!
On this Friday noon,
Dream up your dreams.
It ain't tough at all...

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Humdrum

Humdrum, a word I love...
It paints a picture of buildings and nests
Of pathways and forests.
Why it plants this tune in my mind,
I can't say.

On this Thursday eve...
As twilight threatens to disorient the mind,
Humdrum, just plain humdrum.
Why this world seems all right,
I can't say.


Monday, August 12, 2013

The Streets of Venice and Crete

This is a poem written by Vedha on 9th August 2013, as I was busy making Biryani to celebrate Eid. She wanted it posted on my Blog so she can be "world-famous" according to her! :)

There's someone I want to tell you about,
I might as well shout it all aloud.

Since there's no one around me,
I might as well let it all out,
So here goes:

We walked up the streets -
Of Venice and Crete.
We went to a place,
To get something to eat.

We talked and laughed,
And we hugged and loved.
As huge as a heart,
We sat by the hearth.

- So that's what happened
In Venice and Crete.


Sunday, July 28, 2013

To Listen Was to Hear

She stood in the rain, at crossroads with herself.
'Should I move straight ahead or follow the fallen leaves?'
She closed her eyes and continued to walk.
The path was chosen, she felt it with her bare feet.
She smelt the air and followed the mixture of scents calling to her.

A week passed by as she continued walking,
Seeing nothing, for her eyes were shut.
She heard every sound, 
From the distant rustle of birds on a tree,
To the blade of grass stepped on by beasts.

Something, somewhere caught her attention.
Was it a sound, a smell or a feel on her bare arms?
She couldn't say.

She knew she had to stop, for this was her calling.
This was where she had to wait till she grew a new tree.
She dug the earth deep and sowed the little seed.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Open to Empathy

My words to you will be none...
My feelings for you will be many.

I listen to your troubles
When you speak;
I cry with you
When you shed those tears;
I feel the rage
When you share your anger;
I experience your loneliness
As you spin tales about solitude.

Oh no! Your troubles are so huge!
Why do you cry so?
How dare they treat you so?
Don't worry you won't be alone for long.
I won't say none of these...
I won't claim I know any of this.

My troubles are bigger than yours,
My tears more genuine.
My anger runs deeper,
And... my isolation more terminal.
None of these will be words I utter,
'coz today It's not about me...
It's not about me...

I'm here for you,
With empathy in my thoughts,
In my actions and in my eyes.
I promise I will learn
What it means to be empathetic.
I promise I'll pass the word around.
I promise I'll pass the word around.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Comparisons

Today the poetry is lost in me
The words flow yet there's no poetry
Pardon my grammar and ignore the
Lack of punctuations.

I am as happy as you are
I am as sad as you are.
Don't read my words with envy
I won't listen to your music with envy.

My thoughts lay out bare
While you protect yours.
Read between these lines
I will see beyond your perfect world.

The world seems normal
Despite all the chaos.
Do you see the chaos
Can I see the calmness?

These words need to stop now
I might just add to your chaos.
The calm in your mind
Is the calm in mine.
The chaos in yours
Is the chaos in mine.
This universe is balanced...
And will continue to be.

Friday, July 12, 2013

These Are The Good Old Days

Tomorrow you will be happy,
Tomorrow you will cry,
Tomorrow you will be full of fear,
Tomorrow you will soar high.

Can't guarantee you any of that...
Today is what it is,
Can say this to you my dear;
These are the good old days.

Yesterday was filled with toys,
Yesterday was all about friends,
Yesterday you made your mistakes,
Yesterday you chose your path right.

Don't know anything about that...
Today this is where you are,
Can say this to you my dear;
These are the good old days.

Today you are jumping with joy,
Today you wake up to tears,
Today your voice trembles,
Today the music fills your soul,

Won't judge you by any of that...
Today is your day and mine,
Can say this to you my dear;
These are the good old days.

Monday, July 08, 2013

As The Moon Saunters Along

Many moons ago, you sat in solitude,
Heading towards the unknown...
A strand of hair sweeping past your face,
The shine in your eyes, barely visible.

'Defining moments, these...'
You whispered to yourself,
Seven days a week,
Four weeks a month,
Twelve months a year,
Many years a lifetime.

The silent waves from the womb
Of the Universe swept past -
You, me and everyone around.
Taking with it the solitude,
Bringing with it blessings, sorrow and joy.

Wake up! Look past the moon,
The waves and the days...
The infectious glint in your eyes
It spreads humour and laughter; Hope and joy...
To me, you and everyone around.

Wednesday, July 03, 2013

A Concept of Simplicity

Sun dried tomatoes and olives in pasta
These my dear are a thing of the past.
Waking up to the silence in the soul,
Listening to the calm of the mind
These are what I look for now.

The sun hides behind dark clouds.
The moon revels with the stars around.
The rains that kiss the ground,
The path that is lit for me to walk,
Today is that day, now is that time.

Sinking into the earth, bringing forth new life
As the navel of the universe lights up...
Yet again, yet again.

Mastheads of sailing ships in the horizon
Fifty feet high waves rise up.
Come into my arms, let me take you to the top,
Beyond the waves and past the sailing ships.
Life, laughter, tears and sorrow - 
All become one, all become one.