Night and Day

Essence  meanders for vowels

Toddler ambles for playground

Camouflage deceits woods

Another day sleeps to night

Placid lake restive for crescent

Threads  tied to distance

Carcass  bridles  infinity

Another night wakes up to day

Memories

Memories clinching  cramped

Ruffling obliterated pages

Moments wheezing nimbly

Sousing expanse of fugitive time

Thoughts treading sprightly

Coasting through errant mind

Hope

When smoky path glistens dry eyes

Silent meadows drown noise inside

All wisdom lays to rest

And  steps falter each time.

When hands drop fragility to numb heart

And dreams pause to let life afloat

All clarity obscures within foggy haze

And fear grips each breath.

Hope rears  within mammoth turf

To return magic to the wand

All  winds  regain lilt across

And tulips blossom each morn.

Stir

Words aplenty, not one to speak?

Crowds breathing, individual dying.

So much to feel, what numbs us though?

Thoughts to share, fears lurking deep.

Forests to traverse, what enchains the beast?

Groping hands, empty souls.

Rains to drench, why desert winds surround?

Sunlight to kiss, darkness abound.

Skies to rejoice, why horizon eludes?

Open palms, everything anew.

Drops

Drops filling empty urn

Soothing pain long due

Ending thirsty journey

From pond to brook

Each pebble shiny grey

Corals and crabs bristle

Mystery fish breathing bubbles

Reaching surface molten gold

Drops brimming full urn

Aggravating pain long due

Wish

Meet her on the horizon

As doting sun peck the earth

Hold her hand on the hillock

As tender wind brushes the valley

Walk with her on banks of Ganges

As arduous waves caress the sand

Whisper to her in the meadow

As the pansies whistle among grass

Cruise with her to the stars

As the fond night breathes moon

Brim her with resplendent dreams

As the time skims through warped life

Bend

It’s not the end

Just a little bend

Can heal it with kindly heart

Can fix it with tender touch

Can wash it with melting tears

Can hold it with renewed faith

Can resurrect it with loving care

Can forget it with this dying night

Can rejoice it with that new day

It’s not the end

Just a little bend

Bazaar

Pals stride a few miles, she follows them

Through the lanes and by-lanes of bazaar

Spirited shops all at display

Of their finest masks and hoods

They pick a few and wear with aplomb

She gazes at new strangers so close

All smiling cold but sulking deep

Steaming pots curdling simper

Those sans mask wander alone

Through the highways of desert

Spreading affection and silken red strings

Soon to be lost in maze picking up veils

To breathe and live, to walk a few steps

Through the lanes and by-lanes of bazaar

Conversations- 13

“She may say a thousand chapters to the world. But it means nothing if you don’t hear a word. She may paint blue and green oceans. But it means nothing if you don’t add a drop. She may stumble and fall and be picked up a million times. But it means nothing if you don’t lend your hand. She may sing an album. But it means nothing if you don’t contribute your lyrics. She may think a forest of ideas. But it is all worthless if you don’t approve. She may dance a ballad. But it means nothing if you don’t lilt. She may walk a thousand miles. But it means nothing if you are not along. She may hear the cacophony of the concrete. But it means nothing if she can’t decipher your silence.”

The lone Mynah whimpered to the indifferent Moon about the starry-eyed Earth.  

Story

Fast paced road, Frail footsteps

Strong gusts of wind, Withered wings

Imminent darkness, Flickering candle

Devilish whip, Effete flesh

Boiling blood, Wax nerves

Stormy sea, Tattered mast

Tough Almighty, Faltering prayers

Mid Summer

If no grain then why this hunger?

If no drop then why this thirst?

If there is no road then why this journey?

If there is no balm then why this hurt?

If no words then why this conversation?

If no answers then why these questions?

If there is no moon then why this night?

If there is no sky then why these wings?

If there is no rose then why these thorns?

If there is no shoulder then why these tears?

If there is no saviour then why this storm?

If there is no companion then why this loneliness?

Finally

Finally,

Autumn ceased with sprouting leaves

Wet eyes paved inroads for gleaming smiles

Harsh sun ushered in soothing rains

Parched lands renewed with tender harvest

Dark tunnels shimmered with holy light

Finally,

Silence broke with soulful words

Doubts culminated into breathing hope

Stillness rejoiced with frenzied dance

Faulty blindness faded with clear vision

Loneliness blossomed with togetherness

Safari

Lying on languid grass under the tree

Watching the nearby streams hum

Grasshopper hopping over bushes

Cricket singing in lost wilderness

Why the urge to get up and ploy?

Why to lift the bag and hit road?

To head for the ruthless city

To give up peace for deafening life

Counting drops melt from candle

Listening to tangy stories of stars

Breathing scarlet roses in backyard

Rhododendrons swaying with Gulmohar

But far off land sheepishly harks

To return where it all starts

Chase waves again on longish seas

Till ship embarks on placid shores

July Tale

When the petals fell apart

Cusp clenched Rose together        

Shores braced drops warm               

As waves ebbed in reflux

When the dove fumbled                             

Moon succoured with lyrics

Winds wiped them awash

As grass sweated in sun

When clouds floundered in dim

Stars glistened purlieu stark

You wove her tussore texture

As she lost her notched yarn      

Box

Who is it that speaks to us and we want to hear?

What is it that we can’t listen what it wants to say?

Who is it that perplexes us as the words display?

What is it that we want to do but can’t undertake?

Who is it that we want to feel yet cant grip?

What is it that we want to see but can’t gaze?

Who is it that we want to push yet want to stay?

Fly

You fly. You do. Have seen you flapping your enormous pristine glossy wings over the azure on the hills. From where the view is breath taking. Every single thing looks the same. Everything looks minuscule, tiny. So tiny that it can be espoused. That it can be held between arms. That it can be captured in the immaculate lens of the magical eye. All things red or yellow, cold or warm, soft or rough, weak or tough seem to melt in the heat of your intense rays. If all melt then why do some images re-reflect in the mirror? Days, weeks, months, years, even decades later…

Mirror that was long lost in the battle field. Assumed to be trampled under the heavy foot of mammoth. But it shines once again when the clouds get overcast. When the dark waters from the fringe inundate. When the spirit refuses to wake. Suddenly giving hope of the sun tomorrow. Of the seed emerging as sapling. Of the broken pieces coming together.

But you fly. You do. And again you will. Over the lush green valleys. Over the singing streams. And where will the mirror go? Fly away with you or stay in the closet this time? Forever…

Conversations- 12

“Let’s call it over. Yes, I finally mean it!” She said fuming.

“Every time it’s me thinking what wrong I said. Can’t get where I falter”. He said submissively.

They didn't talk for a few seconds but a million messages exchanged seats between their hearts.

“OK, I am sorry. I know I am bad. I hurt you always.” She was repentant

“Yes, you do. Always” He said hurt

“Hug me. I need you. Today. Forever” She reached out her trembling arms to him

“I know one day you will leave me and go” He said with that fear looming large in his small eyes

“Yes I will. And return the very next second as well” She said laughing in her usual candid manner

“I am a black hole. I can only pull people towards me. Once you are a part of me you can’t escape. You breathe in me. You cry in me. You smile in me. You drift in me. You lose yourself in me. You find yourself in me too.” She held his hand and clasped it close to her bosom. 

Yet

Ocean leaves the urn empty

Yet a single drop brims it to full

Whole conversation seems abstract

Yet a sentence makes it most meaningful

Garden of blossoms looks bleak

Yet a scarlet adds iridescent hue

Miles of journey take nowhere

Yet a few steps lead to destiny

Years of togetherness leave vacuum

Yet a second of encounter gifts happiness

Barrenness

Barrenness of human life

Loneliness of Jungle wild

Aridity of desert robust

Depletion of separation long

Emptiness of hollow existence

Sterility of mute cognition

Dryness of numb minds

Infertility of waiting eyes

Fruitlessness of spoken words

Bleakness of haunting memories

Barrenness of human life

Loneliness of Jungle wild

Words

Words and lattice of words

What lasts in heart lives

What doesn’t fades,

 Like cold frigid touch

Unnerving skin at first

Annihilating on fervid palm

Some drowning strength

Others soaring life

Into tepid skies