Tribute

You are the candle I forget to light,
The flame I fail to guard,
You show a light, I do not see,
The warmth I turn to clod;
You are the shame that burdens my heart
The failure I carry through life,

You are a flicker that bursts into flames
An unsheathed sword of assault,
You are the soundless shout of our hearts
You inspire to stand and speak out.

The Unknown One

Unclothed I lay, broken,

A rag doll thrown to the dogs,

Did you not know me?

Or did you ignore me?

I am the Mother that cradled you,

The sister you vowed to protect,

The sweetheart you profusely loved,

The unborn you sent to her death;

I am the friend who stood at your side,

In your boyhood your teacher and guide,

I am your dream and your dreaded nightmare,

The Goddess you worship in fear.

I am a challenge, not a token mere

To let me breathe and live do you dare?

When I walk by, who do you see?

Is it a mirage or is it me?

A Mother, sister, or daughter you know, 

Yet strangely,a woman you ignore; 

For her no love nor tears; 

No space to play, to breathe, to live,

An object of lust, a prey

To stalk or kill at will.

My steps are bound, my freedom is caged

I am subject to your rage

Less than a beast I live and die.

With none to hear my unuttered cries

And few to feel my anguish, my pain

Yet from within strength I gain:

My fire burns in a desperate world:

My true nature I'll surely unfurl,

Beyond your known realm of the dark

I blooms, a lotus embedded in murk

A rising sun awaiting dawn

Surging upwards to my morn.

Mask

A mask fashioned for face,
One more for heart,

So snug they fit none can tell apart.

Face-mask worn all day,
Heart mask now and then,

World sees both and cheers aloud amen.

Day by day the masks grow in length, 

Day by day they go from strength to strength,

And lo! the hidden heart and face

Cry in vain, for they have lost the race.

Moods

When I am lonely I sing of sands

Of frolicking winds in distant lands;

When I am lonely I dance with the waves

With swift footed clouds I run a race.

When I am pensive I sit in caves

Step back from world of rants and raves;

When I am pensive I melt into skies

Suffused with sun rays I set and I rise.

When I am gay I bloom with flowers

I bask in glory of golden towers;

When I am gay I like to play

To lark along on my way.

When I am sad I hide in smiles

Lest my pain burst forth and shine;

When I am sad I open my heart

To twinkling stars so far apart.

Time Ill Spent

Often times I come to say

Just how much you mean to me,

My world steps in to claim my mind

And I move away.

Tomorrow is another day

Ample time to have my say.

All at once Death pounces in

To snatch at you, marauding through

Life’s corridor- and you are no more.

Broken- hearted I stand,

Ruing now the wasted hours,

The times I turned back words of love.

In Praise of Strife

My Child! Together we've walked on fire,

Not one fell blow, but sortie after sortie

Assailed to vanquish Strength; to subdue Hearts-

To pull down edifices of yore:

Fighting, turning, changing tracks withstood

Unruly winds, oft torn and bleeding,

We've grown from strength to strength in spirit

Head held high against hostile friends.

On crooked roads we've made our way,

On shifting sands we've built our homes,

To relentless strife we've pledged our hearts

Undaunted, striving, not for calm waters,

Ever reaching higher beyond earth's bounds,

Life in death, death in life we have found

Lesson of Life

I danced all night, to the skies took a flight
Filled each day to the brim.
And drank life's wine to the finish;
With work, with play I stuffed my moments.
I poured my strength, stretched its length,
Spun, and spun till o'er wrought.
When day was over, I learnt I'm not clever,
For there is sickness in my mind:
That outward spin cannot unwind
The sickness in a mind.

Song of Joy

Today I'll wait for Sun to set
For the day hours to fly,
Today I'll role back lonely waves
As a loved one comes neigh.

Tonight the stars will brighter burn
And the moon will gladly smile,
Today my heart will sing a song
As a loved one comes neigh.

Time was slow, it crept, it crawled
Like a babe about to ply,
And in my heart I yearned, I longed
For my loved one to come by.

And when I hold my loved one close
When heart to heart will cry,
Sadness of the past will melt
As my loved one comes neigh.

Death of Mountain

O Ye Mountains standing tall
Head held high while eons pass
You feel not humanity's pain
Your innards so hard and harsh.

I see the winds bang their heads
'Gainst your rocky breast:
I see the snows sweep in gales
Chilling your face in vain:

Unmoved, un-moving you stand,
Nor warmth, nor rage cross
Your far stretched lands
Challenge to Time's flux.

None your own, none to call thine
Like man-created monoliths
That guard heritage to sustain
All progress made thru' ages

So hard to move, harderto bow;
Proud, erect withstanding blows till
Onslaughts unbound bring you
Crashing to the ground.

Wedded

And then came love-

Tripping on pretty feet

Dainty and soft; enticing

Beguiling, bewitching dance

Till hearts fell at her feet:

And her rhythm’s crescendos

Whirling wildly spinning

Out of control.

O! The fall

That brought down edifices,

Once proud heads

Now biting dust,

No more revered. No more courted,

Wedded to dead life.

Empty Heart

Let me love; if not, then let me hate;

An empty heart is a lonely place

An unpaid tribute to life, displayed:

A desert, with no bright or shade.

Golden glows might dim to translucent lights,

Burning fires end in ashes of night,

Yet, they live, they change, make spirits grow,

There life fills heart, death comes slow.

An empty heart is a begging bowl,

Hawked around, spurned, met with stares cold;

A cringing prey, ever on verge of flight,

Desperate for warmth: bonded to plight.

A grave for life to rest ere it dies,

Gasping for breath, vain its tries.

Did I Live Then

When I took from sun and air

Unthinking of their wear and tear

When I lived like a growing tree

Sucking succour into me

Did I live then?

When I spread my branches wide

Held them out with due pride

When I welcomed playful winds

Danced and played with kindred minds

Did I live then?

When I grew pensive and dark

Like a moonless night stark

When the days grew wild and long

And my inner soul stood strong

Did I live then?

Road To Nowhere

At that crossroad, I take a left
on to a shaded avenue;
slivers of sunshine peeps
through a canopy overhead,
bathed in  muted light, a mile
I walk; but a few steps on
 the road narrows,shade lost,
a blazing Sun frowned on
my hapless head. No shelter neigh
I stumbled on, not knowing
where I go or why; till
my path meanders into a nowhere.

An Island

Sparkling lights, music and dance
Sound of laughter all around
A sea of faces, happy, proud
Surrounds an island staring about.
Am I a part? Am I involved?
I am but a silent wall
Standing tall dividing worlds
I know not why I stand,
I know not how to fall,
I stand, and stand and stand
Like a lifeless wall.
But my ears still catch
The whispers that abound
My eyes drink in
The beauty of the sea;
Alas!  Alas! my lips move in vain
Their sound in my heart remain.

Wishes and Dreams

If wishes were birds, they would fly,
Soar to the Heavens, spread across skies,
But wishes are wingless, caged and pale
They creep through blood stream to no avail.

When wishes are dreams, they dwell in the eye,
They fire our thoughts and in hearts lie,
They urge and compel, strong and hale
They run through blood stream futures unveil.

Lullaby of the Soul

Sleep, O weary soul! Sleep in peace now.
Strive no more to reach shores,
Walk no more on paths of yore.
Sleep, lost soul, sleep a while.

Shed your burdens, undo strife,
Many a day you strove to win,
Many a time you fought, to cling
With vigor, or joy, or relentless whim.

Your efforts done; give up, give in,
And while you sleep world will turn,
Flowers will bloom, fires will burn
When once more you are awake
With new hope your flag unfurl.

Moon and Cloud

O silver Moon, celestial orb,
With lone abode in yon sky,
Calling to the earth-bound waves,
They yearn for you, they laugh, they cry.
They surge, they swell to reach your dwell,
They ebb and flow with your glow
You stay untouched, and fail to flow.

O dark rain clouds, floating high
Speeding on your wings by hours
Thirsting earth calls out to you
To stop a while, to rain down showers
You growl in thunder, flash with light
You frolic with the winds and gales
And tumble down for earth to hail.

The Call of Life

Whispering winds speak to me
Twinkling stars urge me to see
Wild ocean waves tell me to sail
Their siren calls how can I fail?

Down unknown paths, uncharted seas
A lone, frail boat, I swiftly flee
Come eddies strong or swirling storms
Undaunted, glide to Isle of Morn.

Primrose blooms and thorny glens
Go trotting by on horses ten
Through dark and shade, shine and rain
Down running brooks of memory lane.

In harbor safe, I rest awhile
Then onward move for many miles
Endless my song, unstopped my voyage
Come ssunset time, to flee life poised. 

Why I must kill

You dare to muddy my stream?

Growled the wolf: but Sir, how can that be?

I am downstream, as you can plainly see.

Oh, don’t argue, you lout

In this forest I wield the clout

And if not you, your forefathers did

It’s all the same to me.

Why can’t you understand?

I hate the colour of your skin

And the way you stand.

The other day one of your ilk

Crossed my path sans fear

And my brothers in a distant wood

Thrashed your peers, I hear.

Now you can have no objection

To being devoured

Come, you must be overpowered.

Your Precious Gift

Will you give me your shoulder to cry on?
Your hand to hold in distress?
Will you laugh with me in joy?
Help me be my own mistress?

I'll call you friend then,
More precious than silver or gold,
Pains we'll share, joys multiply
And never let our bond go cold.

Will you denigrate my faults?
 Make me face the squall?
Will you pull down my life?
Bring on my downfall?

I'll call you friend  then,
More valued than treasures untold,
My hidden strengths you call upon
I see my wings unfold.

Dream your Dreams

Do you have a moment to spare?

To sit with me a while?

Can you put your work on hold

To walk with me a mile?

Your world I know, is brimming oe'er,

Many tasks in hand.

The world around is pressing in

It's hard for you to stand.

Stand back for once, let time flow,

Give yourself some space,

All at once a light will shine

To brighten up your days.

Dream your dreams, but live them too

Those colours of your thoughts,

They'll lead you down paths set for you,

Let them not be naught. 

I Wonder

Did you hold me in your arms tonight?
Or was it our past embracing me?
I wonder
Did we seal our love with kissing lips?
Or was it whispers of my longings?
I wonder.
Did our fingers entwine as we smiled?
Or was it clinging miseries entangled?
I wonder.
All the sweetness of shared togetherness
All our moments of love and joy,
Were they but dreams? Where they illusions?
Or were they secret hopes of dying hearts?
I wonder

A Salute to the Uncertain

My days go by in haze of certainties
Till, in an instant my mirror cracks
To reveal the fluidity of truth;
In life times of past or re-births to come
Change and newness are constants
That even death fails to humble.
My salute to that void of unknown
The absolute sway of the great Uncertain.

The Journey I want

Let me walk on the road few have taken
To reach my Never-never land;
Let me sail on unknown waters
To unlock hidden sands:
My voyage will not be smooth, I ken,
Wiley demons I'll need to slay,
Yet that is no reason, for you
To ask my feet to stay.
In other climes I'll find salvation
For a soul that finds no peace here,
In other fields I'll sow my seeds
What if it costs me dear?
My footsteps I know you can't follow
Stay afar, but laud my deeds,
In my new life I'll not forget
The days in your garden I spent,
My heart will etch those memories
To build an oasis of content.

Sorrow and Joy

My tears flow-

For the babe I carried in my womb,

For the infant at my breast,

For the child that played at my knees

And the man that pulled me through unrest.

My fears abound-

For the pitfalls in my child's path,

The thorns that'll sting that heart,

For the fears that will assault

And the unknown ways he will chart.

My heart swells-

With pride for my brave-heart,

For the joys of freedom he will find

For the mountains he will climb,

And his lonely journey steadfast.

Thoughts

Whirling and twirling, gusts of wind
Streaking 'cross skies in lightning strikes
This way and that; and a turn around,
Speeding along to catch sound,
Deep, as oceans that none do fathom,
Or airy and light, elves dancing around
A bonfire lit with feelings for matches,
Growling beasts, with bites and scratches,
Soft like butter, melting with warmth,
Cheezy or chewy or slimy or torn,
Waxing and waning, forever new
Lurking in minds yet never in view.

Defeat

No clarion call now,
No booming guns surround
A quiet fading
As dusk dissolving into night,
Blazing sunset but a distant dream;
Whispers of defeat abound.
Glory of valiant battle denied,
Yet courage to endure
More glorious than this deathless death.
A smiling skeleton
Bare of flesh and blood;
No pain, nor grief, nor ecstasy,
Everlasting vigil
For Fate's unknown hand,
Like ash-covered ember
Waiting to blaze or perish, without regret.

Game of Life

This game I've played age after age
With tinsel bought, sold and bartered,
Plodded on from birth to birth-
Crying, suffering, longing for all I'm worth,
My captive heart knew not Truth,
Your realm of light was hidden.
You gifted me burdens to carry, to bear
How cruel was your kindness!
They helped me tear
My veil of ignorance,
To burn my dross in consuming fires
To cleanse my vision.
Celestial light came pouring,
Honey sweet and warm,
Bathing my days in joy,
Shadows depart as mists
In face of rising sun; I saw.
Your smiling face.

The World Moves On

Dreams die in eyes
Songs fade from lips
Hearts bid farewell to life-
And the world moves on.

Laughter dwells on lips
Smiles enliven eyes
Nectar drops from lips
Yet the world moves on.

Ebb and flow, come and go
Life has a changing face
Sweet and sour, turn by the hour
Oh the world's a strange place!

Love Don't Walk away

Love, don't turn aside

Please don't leave my side

No, don't walk away,

Let me hold on to you.

When you go away

I stare with helpless eyes

A lamb of sacrifice

Watching killer's knife;

Let me hold on to you
Like a miser hording wealth,

Like a hanged man's last breathe

Let me cling on to life.

It's My life

It's my life!

I'm gonna live the way I want
I'll tread the path I make
I'll live, whatever it takes
'For it's my life!

I'm gonna sing the song I love
I wont let you get me down
Whatever you do I'll win my crown
For it's my life!

I'm gonna catch the star I seek
I'll fill my days to the brim
Living my life is no sin
For it's my life!

The Dead Heart

And here, mounted and displayed,
You see a human heart.
Once it beat and pulsated,
Pumping life through man;
Hand-crafted by the Creator,
It was red with love in life:
Notice how pale it has grown.
No, it did not die, it was not killed,
Another hand replaced that heart
With a block of ice;
Plucked it from a living breast one day.
You ask for reason?
It was too soft, failed to deny
Calls of love!
One sudden stroke,
It beat no more.
Come, let us walk further.

The Last Challenge

Way ahead lost in mire-

Way behind thorn-strewn,

Ups and downs that form life

Upside down have turned.

Yet, for one more voyage heart yearns,

Last quest beyond what's known,

To dwindling strength and meager means

One final challenge thrown.

Victory not a target now,

No sorrow, should we fail,

Striving well with heart and soul

Through Gates of Death we'll sail.

Not for glory, our last thrust,

Not for name, nor fame,

They are but tinsel and dust,

To yoke of life pertain.

Beyond this realm, where finite rules,

In pure land of joy and light,

Where thrones for brave hearts wait

We'll claim them as our right.

March On

Soldier, your comrades fall,

Yon battle ground grows bloody;

Soldier, march on, there's no time

To mourn your fallen buddy.

What though you fought side by side?

What though you lived entwined?

'Tis time to take divergent paths

Two different hills to climb.

One day you'll meet and sing anew

Your songs of camaraderie,

You'll march once more, hand in hand

From toils of world set free.

Letting Go

I held the string, I tugged, I tugged,

But the Kite had caught the wind,

It would sail, it would soar

Far away, far away.

A paper kite, on twig stretched tight,

As flimsy as a thought,

Where did you find the will to fly?

To stand against my strength?

Unequal fight, unseen force,

My efforts vain, my battle lost,

I let go, I let go

But oh the pain, oh the pain!