DECEMBER, I LOVE YOU

December,
to me is the Spring time
of memories -
December to me
the birds of
memories flying back and forth,
December to me,
a cock-tail of sweet, delicious,
painful memories, emotions.
Recall me those misty
nights,
the whole city,
awashed with frothing milky light
the blue expanse up above
with stars mischievously
glinting with joy and the moon
casting quiet smiles
upon all the
children of God on Earth.
Recall me those days
walking along with him down a
straight tarred road
like a ribbon unrolled.
Both sides lined-up with
flats embellished with
colourful, flashing, scintillating X'mas stars
bunches of balloons, festoons,
chandeliers
X'mas cradles,
twinkling X'mas trees
like stars up in the sky
both he and me
wrapping shawls around
our coats

WHEN HE MISSED HIS VILLAGE LIFE

His youthful days in the city
have robbed him off the names
of flowers, plants, various
species of birds,
insects and animals
barring a few.
The names of the ones he was familiar
with during his childhood
days and teens
unfortunately are forgotten.
The surging crowds,
the speeding vehicles,
the trains blaring their
horns like tigers roaring and long hours
lost due to journeys
and round the
clock duties in which he immersed himself
to be precise, the mechanical life
spent in the mechanized ambience of
the cosmopolitan city
all took away from
him the  attractive
colours and fragrance of  various flowers,
the serene, calm and beauty of
the sylvan  surroundings
the pure air
the flowing streams which
gurgling  like girls wearing
anklets while walking
t...

FACES AND NAMES

Faces and names
we like or detest
refuse to leave us
though we want them
vanish from our memory
which however
disappear from the recesses of our mind
like a few sentences
written over the sand of the sea-shore
are wiped  away by
the surging waves within seconds.
Faces and names
we love, like hate or fear
however are etched on
the walls of memory
in other words
our minds like bloating 
papers absorb them
within split seconds.
Beauty or personal magnetism
are not the criteria
If so,
how come rough,
wicked and wily faces
stick to the walls of our minds.
There are no apparent reasons
to explain why such a
puzzle or could we call it phenomenon
lingers which is subjective
subjective only…….

IMMATERIAL

Once,
a young man started
scaling the highest mountain of knowledge.
His one and only
aim was nothing but
conquer that mountain
before others forge ahead of him.
With the passage of years and years
reaching the half-way mark
his store-well of strength,
will and determination
gradually started drying up
which forced him to
abandon his mission
return to the point
from where he began scaling
up the mountain.
Like a rich man turning bankrupt
due to unexpected collapse of his business
the person who dreamt of conquering the
mountain of knowledge
could never fulfil his ambition.
Conquering the highest
mountain remains beyond the approach of each person on the face of earth…….

MY MIND

My mind is a sea
sometimes cool, tranquil and quiet.
Sometimes the same
sea boils, roars and turns violent
depending upon my
fluctuating moods.
With the sun rising,
with the landscape peaceful
cool breeze  flows from the sea
which is pleasant during morning times.  
With the sun moving
slowly and gradually to the west 
the sea turns  hot-tempered
and boils under the blazing sun
and roars with rolls of waves
lashing their heads
on the rocks on the shore and retreat.
And return  to the sea-shore
with more vigour, anger and strength.
My mind at times
evolves into a violent sea
when something unpleasant,
inviting wrath gets on my nerves.
True, my mind is a sea or like a sea
it all depends upon my fluctuating moods….

PUBLIC MEMORY

Riding the crest of popular wave
he found himself
catapulted to the throne of 
the leader of the nation.
A visibly moved he,
sporting a beaming smile
addressed an ocean of cheering crowds
waving hands, displaying ‘V’signs
delivered a prolonged speech
driving his subjects drunk with joy unbound
like his predecessors who one by one
occupied the saddle
riding the crest of popular wave
made themselves endearing
to hundreds of thousands of masses.
They too delivered
fiery speeches with sugar-coated
pledges and promises
to wash away the grime of corruption,
terror and violence 
elevating the masses to
a plain of sky-high dreams,
happy days of prosperity and hopes aplenty
unfortunately the suffering millions
found themselves taken  for a ride.
Now a new man in the garb of
a benevolent...

PUBLIC MEMORY

Riding the crest of popular wave
he found himself
catapulted to the throne of 
the leader of the nation.
A visibly moved he,
sporting a beaming smile
addressed an ocean of cheering crowds
waving hands, displaying ‘V’signs
delivered a prolonged speech
driving his subjects drunk with joy unbound
like his predecessors who one by one
occupied the saddle
riding the crest of popular wave
made themselves endearing
to hundreds of thousands of masses.
They too delivered
fiery speeches with sugar-coated
pledges and promises
to wash away the grime of corruption,
terror and violence 
elevating the masses to
a plain of sky-high dreams,
happy days of prosperity and hopes aplenty
unfortunately the suffering millions
found themselves taken  for a ride.
Now a new man in the garb of
a benevolent...

THE DOOR OF FREEDOM

Despised and hated by majority
loved, feared and respected by minority
the malevolent dictator is always at the
mercy of a silent majority
which ‘he is unwilling to acknowledge
simply because of his loyal forces,
the so-called minority
the obedient dogs
always wagging their
tails before their master.
But when the silent majority
reach the bottom-line of their patience
they turn eloquent
gather under one umbrella
fight against the loyal militia
until the eloquent majority
arrive at the door of victory
and dethrone the dictator.
The boot-lickers of the ruthless dictator
flee for their life leaving their master in the lurch
who by that time will be chained
and imprisoned and brought to justice.
At last freedom knocks on the door of the nation
which was under the iron grip of
a merciless ruler
and a n...

HURDLES

Hurdles, hurdles all the way
many a hurdle jumped
countless await to be jumped.
A short relief after each hurdle
it’s better than no relief.
Hurdles, hurdles all the way
many a hurdle jumped
countless await to be jumped
if a man/woman with much effort
jumps all the hurdles.
Then lie a long path
sans without hurdles
straight at times
long winding at other times
hair-pin curves at another times
Relaxation not allowed
and no turning back permitted
albeit the path is
littered with sharp stones,
thorns and pot-holes
barefooted is each man/woman.
Hurdles, hurdles all the way
many a hurdle jumped
countless await to be jumped
intricacies of life are strange
none knows what is yet to follow
each second, each minute, each hour
human beings are in a state of
suspended animation....

DRIVE-IN-PARLOUR

Driving down a tarred road 
of an unknown village
enjoying the greenery all the way
he came across a board – ‘Drive in Parlour’
with an arrow painting
towards a building a few feet back
which seemed like  beckoning him.
Though a teetotaler since fifteen years
the scent of nostalgia overpowered him,
enveloped him
while recalling the days
he had spent with his close friends 
in several bars and toddy shops
got intoxicated and danced with them
singing aloud.
While on his way
to maturity and subsequent marriage
he decided to put a full-stop
to his wayward life.
But now after fifteen years
on his way through
the unfamiliar, beautiful
landscape of the village
which enthralled him, enchanted him  
a temptation took hold of him
to visit the ‘Drive-in-Par...

THREE PHASES

In the sunrise of his life
cool, breezy sun enveloped his body 
planted kisses on him,
fondled him, elated him.

In the noon of his life,
when the sun was at his peak
a fresh life rushed down his veins 
like a stream
made him vibrant, energetic and dynamic
dreamt and wished an everlasting
noon throughout.

Time doesn’t have a stop
dragged him to
the precipice of sunset in his life
and like the sun loses his steam
towards  the end of the day
slowly, slowly
moved down in the western horizon,
he too lost his verve, vigour and virility
and was pushed into
a corner of his existence
with no sign of turning back……

WINDS OF CHANGE

Winds of change have begun
blowing across the nation
Winds of change have
started uprooting the
venomous trees of dictatorship.
Centuries and decades of
one-upmanship, slavery and
corruption have started
facing threats of extinction.
Dreams of bright morrow have started
brightening the eyes of
mankind
whose eyes were gradually
losing glimmer of hopes
and confidence.
Rivers of
blood might be flowing
in the not too distant future
lo and behold, all for
a better world, thus
we need to believe.
Listen to birth pangs of a new
era, a new beginning.
For all gains, some losses
ought to be expected.

SO FAR YET SO NEAR

Never ever in my life I can say I hate you since the spring of love won’t ever get dried up. Never ever in my life I can say I don’t like to see you since in the mirror of my mind I always see your innocence and dream for your charming presence by my side. Never ever in my life I can say I don’t like to listen to your mellifluous music since it is so melodious like that of a nightingale. Never ever in my life I can say I detest your dance, since your dance is enchanting and enthralling and delighting lifting me up to an ethereal world. Never ever in my life I can say I dislike your beauty since you are the prettiest lass I have ever seen in my life. True, we are miles apart even while I feel like we are so near…………………………. ...

IN THE DEEP SEA OF SLUMBER

Look, the child is sunk
in the sea of deep slumber
face down on the sea-shore.
Clad in his glittering,
exquisite red shirt
and tight blue jeans
and black shoes
he might have reached the sea-shore
without informing his elders.
See, he is always fond of 
the vast expanse of the blue sea 
which must have prompted
him to run away to the sea shore from home.
No one knows when he
reached the sea-shore.
One thing is certain
it was hours ago.
Wandering down the sea-shore
for a long time
under the blazing sun
he might have got tired and exhausted.
That might have led
him to fall asleep on the sea-shore
face down on the sand.
‘Aylaan, Aylaan, Aylaan’ -
somebody, perhaps his father or
some other elders from home
was heard calling him in a frightened voice
...

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

Down the flotsam and jetsam of the city 
on a fiery sunny day
wandering along the
streets of the cosmopolitan city  
I was praying earnestly
for a secluded, serene, calm and tranquil corner
of the city which is ‘far from the madding crowd’
where silence, peace, coolness reigned supreme
in order to release the red hot lava
flowing down the volcano of my fretting and fuming mind
since more than an hour.
To my surprise and embarrassment
some unseen force led me to this Hall of Silence
to the music of silence.
In the pin drop silence
where almost hundred
people had assembled and meditated 
I too joined them and took my seat in one 
of the concrete chairs and started meditating.
How long I sat there, no idea 
But I experienced the comfort of peace,
tranquility and serenity.
From that day...

THREE PHASES

In the sunrise of his life
cool, breezy sun enveloped his body 
planted kisses on him,
fondled him, elated him.

In the noon of his life,
when the sun was at his peak
a fresh life rushed down his veins 
like a stream
made him vibrant, energetic and dynamic
dreamt and wished an everlasting
noon throughout.

Time doesn’t have a stop
dragged him to
the precipice of sunset in his life
and like the sun loses his steam
towards  the end of the day
slowly, slowly
moved down in the western horizon,
he too lost his verve, vigour and virility
and was pushed into
a corner of his existence
with no sign of turning back……

MAYA

Many a time I have seen her
in the metro at different places,
different moments.
Enthralled by her bewitching beauty
an intense desire
overwhelmed me, overtook me
to get in touch with her.
Many a time upon seeing her
our eyes get locked
she would hang her head
without even casting a smile at me.
Many a time I find time to pursue her,
with the intention of
knowing her whereabouts,
where she goes, where she resides,
where she works if she works somewhere,
each time she performs a vanishing act
pushing me to the ditch of disappointment.
Is she a character from a fairy tale,
is she my illusion
sometimes I feel.
Once, when our eyes met
she cast a smile at me,
a captivating, bewitching,
fascinating smile it was
and it was no surprise
that I was elated, rejoiced
and elevated
to an...

SUM TOTAL OF ONE’S EXISTENCE

Sitting by the side
of a calm and quiet pond
the transparency of
which could reflect
the blue sky up above
with no ripples whatsoever
to upset the calm and silent waters 
I was enquiring myself
the sum total of my existence
on the face of the earth.
With no answer forthcoming
with despair and gloom in my eyes and face
I left the spot.
Wish I possessed
a device to measure the sum total of
my existence.
I am seated at a secluded place
where peace and tranquility reign  supreme.
But no, my  inner self intervened
and whispered in my ears :
It is too early to
calculate the sum total of my existence
since it is not in my  domain
but in the hands of posterity
and that I should have
to traverse a long path
so as to enable the coming generation
to measure the sum total ...

THIS METRO

I like the surging
waves of crowds of this city
I love to be a part of it.
One among thousands,
a faceless being.
It rids me of false sense of my identity
of my excessive pride,
of my hubris.

I love the hustle and bustle of this city,
the spell binding noises,
piercing  my ear-drums,
the wild music.
The louder my voice
the higher the wild music,
like the incessant thunder showers .
it drowns my false sense of my loud voice
at its peak 
which could sink
the wild music of this city.  

I love the high-rise buildings of this city,
the multi-storeyed noises
that top - of the - world feeling
when I stay rooted
on the balcony of the top-most floor.
The thick concrete
forests along the
length and breadth of this metro,
reminds me of the top hills,
the verdant hills,
...

OLIVE BRANCHES

A dove with olive-branches 

between its beaks

was flying from afar.

A hawk perching on

the branch of a tree

was watching the dove stealthily.

It was an accidental coincidence that

the dove espied the hawk

while flying nearer and nearer.

He with olive branches

between his beaks

was calm, quiet and fearless

flew closer and closer to the hawk

and perched beside him.

He looked askance at the hawk

meaning ‘why are you

sitting here’?

‘That is none of your

business’ was the angry

and curt response of the hawk.

The dove returned him a beaming smile.

The hawk was wondering

how come the dove

dares to sit near him 

and look askance at him.

He forcefully snatched

an olive branch from the d...

DESERT LIFE

Bereft of ideas
he wandered around 
sometimes hitting his head
sometimes hitting the wind
or gritting teeth.
Despite all his attempts
thinking even from different angles
though aware of the subject
ideas blessed him not.
Someone in him whispered in his ears,
thus he felt
to pen a beautiful poem.
First came to his mind
a sprawling beautiful garden
full of a variety of pretty flowers
and their fragrance
spreading all around in the cool breeze
of the morning with dew drops
dripping from the petals of flowers
and the beetles kissing
and sucking the honey from their lips.
The next moment
someone in him reminded
of several poems he had penned
touching the garden,
beautiful flowers,
and fragrance.
He dropped the thought 
of garden,
flowers and the fragrance
...

WORDS, WORDS AND WORDS

Dreams, fascinating
ambitions, sky-high
thoughts, innovative
nerves, steely
resolve, firm.
'Iron in the soul',
fearless to the core,
empathetic,
compassionate,
loving, caring mind,
his/her precious assets.
Been through
good and bad times
been through hunger and hardships
poised, serene, tranquil
none was there to guide
philosopher, friend and guide
himself/herself.
The blessings in life
husband, wife, children
well-wishers,
fame and defamation
as also personal animosities
all visited later,
but no not to be cowed down
under pressure or blackmailing
all, the boon of Goddess of
words
the boon of sculpting of words
Words ever powerful and mighty
ever
he/she knows for certain
the only companions
throughout, till
the moment of breathing l...

INSURMOUNTABLE TASK

Throw out the
garbage of evil thoughts 
piled up in the corner of your mind.
Scrub the floor, corners and walls
and turn it bright like sunshine.
Let the winds of fresh thoughts blow in
and fill your mind with them.
Though it is a tedious task
in this age and times
when evils are on the prowl
try, try and try to ward off them
and create wonders
thus exhort the great souls…..

Reservoir of Dreams

Hoping against hopes,
she lied down, her ear glued to
the pillow
for the music of crickets
from afar,
instead,
needles of loud roars
greeted her piercing her tympanum
she lied down convulsing
in excruciating pain.
She lied down on her back,
keeping eyes wide open,
hoping against hopes
for a beautiful verdant
landscape,
thick green forests,
vast paddy fields
sparkling
quietly, shyly flowing stream
each side lined-up with pandanus,
like a silver line,
dividing the sprawling fields.
Instead
she saw,
sky-rocketing concrete forests
all around,
a hazy metropolis,
smoke billowing out
into the atmosphere.
Aloud she cried,
aloud she burst out laughing
to reach her loved ones afar.
Her cries,
laughters,
all returned, ‘undelivered’.
Woke up ...

Reservoir of Dreams

Hoping against hopes,
she lied down, her ear glued to
the pillow
for the music of crickets
from afar,
instead,
needles of loud roars
greeted her piercing her tympanum
she lied down convulsing
in excruciating pain.
She lied down on her back,
keeping eyes wide open,
hoping against hopes
for a beautiful verdant
landscape,
thick green forests,
vast paddy fields
sparkling
quietly, shyly flowing stream
each side lined-up with pandanus,
like a silver line,
dividing the sprawling fields.
Instead
she saw,
sky-rocketing concrete forests
all around,
a hazy metropolis,
smoke billowing out
into the atmosphere.
Aloud she cried,
aloud she burst out laughing
to reach her loved ones afar.
Her cries,
laughters,
all returned, ‘undelivered’.
Woke up ...

Mother-Earth

Like a man caught
in the labyrinth of life
like a butterfly
caught in a spider-web
like an insect
caught by lizard,
like a hen faints
at the very sight of a fox
and falls into his mouth
like a fish
caught in the net of a fisherman
like a mouse caught,
trapped in the mouth of a cat
like a girl trapped
in treacherous love,
and gang-raped
and ends in a brothel
for life
like an innocent being
caught, charged with murder
and sent to the gallows
Mother Earth, day by day
minute by minute, second by second
gets choked and drained-off its
essence and being made
uninhabitable....