Monday 16 December 2019

इन दिनों....




     इन दिनों
 बहुत देर से आता है सूरज
 फिर भागता चला जाता है  क्षितिज की ओर
 लौटने की जल्दी  हो जैसे ,
और देखते ही देखते अचानक
 हो जाता है अंतरध्यान भी

इन दिनों
पहाड़ लपेट लेते हैं अपने आपको
बर्फ की सफ़ेद चादरों में
शायद यह उनका अपना  रक्षा कवच है
शीत के प्रहार से बचे रहने के लिए

इन दिनों
उड़ते चले आते हैं सुदूर हिम प्रदेशों से
 प्रवासी पक्षियों के  झुण्ड पर झुण्ड
 गर्म जलवायु की तलाश में
 जीवित रहने की आस लेकर

इन दिनों
शीत रक्तवाले जीव जन्तु
 गहन निद्रा  में चले जातेहैं धरती की कोख में
ताकि जीवित रख सकें  अपने आप को
 प्रतिकूल  परिस्थितियों में भी

इन दिनों
 धनी और  सम्पन्न लोग तो
 ढूँढ लेते हैं आनन्द के नए स्रोत
  मौसम के बदलते  रूप में  भी
  क्योंकि शीत के प्रकोप से बचने के
  सब  साधन सुलभ हैं उन्हें

 किन्तु अभावग्रस्त निर्धनों के लिये ,
किसी क्रूर आक्रान्ता से कम नहीं होते ये दिन
जो अनचाहे ही आ धमकते हैं
उनकी कठिन जिंदगी को
कुछ और अधिक कष्टप्रद बनाने !.

 


छाया चित्र , साभार
@ Dreamstime






Monday 16 September 2019

, When Words Fail .....

  


                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                When words fail to speak, tears do,            
                                And his tears were not the usual ones,
                                we see welling up in the eyes,
                               In the wake of immense sorrow or joy.
                                                                                                                                                                    
                  

                            Springing up from the painful feeling
                            Of honest labour turned fruitless
                             His tears were indeed priceless,
                             In their true essence.

                           They were neither 'unprofessional ',
                           Nor a sign of weak spirits,
                           But a proof that he is a human,
                           And not an artificial machine.

                           And it was not only he that cried,
                           As he was instantly joined,
                           By millions of  his countrymen,
                           In those midnight moments.

                            His silent tears pronounced,
                            In the most significant way,
                           That intellect and emotions are,
                           But two facets of the same coin.

                            It's the perfect blending of the two
                            That places humankind,
                            At the highest pedestal of creation,
                            Above all other living creatures. 

                           Hence, if you feel an urge for crying,
                            Don't try to stifle those tears,
                            As they are nature's unique gift,
                            Awarded only to human beings.
                                                      
                                                                    
                                                                 

                                                                           
                                                                             
                                                                                   







                                                 
                                   

Wednesday 11 September 2019

THE KIND CRUELTY

 An enemy hidden in your  body, 
Strikes  suddenly  in the thick of night,
       Making you suffer from the kind of pain
 You never felt before.

 With the first rays of the sun,
 You rush to your physician, 
 Who refers you to a surgeon promptly 
Making things even scarier.
             
                    
                                                        And the gentleman in  green apron,       
                                                       Consoles you with a smile in the O.T.
                                                     " You will be fine soon, don't worry "
                                                        With his voice fading into silence.


                                                     Two hours later you are told,
                                                     That the culprit has been nabbed,   
                                                     And taken out for good to ensure,
                                                      The end of all the trouble.

                                                                  
                                                    You stare at the big stone in horror,
                                                    But also feel  blessed  and enriched
                                                    With  true understanding of the phrase
                                               "THE KIND CRUELTY OF THE SURGEON'S KNIFE "                          


Saturday 29 June 2019

THERE ARE TIMES


NIGHT IS STANDING AT MY DOOR


LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN


ON A PIECE OF PAPER


THE NIGHT AFTER FULL MOON


WRITING


MY ROOTS


WISH I COULD BE


UNABLE TO SLEEP


WORDS


LOOKING UP AT THE SKY


ONE STEP AT A TIME


THE SECOND WEEK OF JUNE ....


GOING WITH THE FLOW


GOING WITH THE FLOW




         Going with the flow,, 
    Makes the movement smooth,
    And quite effortless at times,
    Making you feel comfortable, 
     And even somewhat excited. 

        Going with the flow, 
       Spares you the struggle, 
     You need to undergo,
      In making a way for yourself,
      Leading to a destination. 

     
     But going with the flow, 
     May not be wise always.
     When other options are available,
     Better choose your own goal,  
     And chase it with self-confidence.


The World Does Not Need



















        The world  does not need,
        More metro cities,
        With high-rise buildings,,
        Labs and factories, producing
        Weapons of mass destruction.

    The world does not need, 
     Mindless warmongers,
    With unbridled power,
    And insatiable greed,
   To dominate the world. 

     The world does not need, 
    Self-proclaimed godmen,
     Beguiling innocent  people,
    And exploiting their emotions, 
   To meet their own selfish ends. 

        The world does not need,
         Narrow-minded fanatics,
         Misinterpreting religion ,
         And  dividing  humanity,
         In the name of God






The World Does Not Need


Thursday 9 May 2019

LITTLE THINGS

 A little speck of light 
A little speck of light, 
Can remove the darkness,
  From around it. 

A little smile can  initiate,
A lasting friendship,
Even with a stranger.

A little touch of empathy,
 Can  halve the  pain,
Of a heart full of sadness.

A little sprinkle of water,
 Can revive a tender plant,
 withering in the burning summer.

 A  little hug by a mother,
 Can heal all  the hurt and bruises,
  Caused by unkind words. 

 A  little interaction with Nature,
  Can teach  the purpose of life,
  Better than any religious preacher.
                              

Sunday 5 May 2019

ERASURE












                               Sometimes I feel my mind,
                               Cluttered with unsavoury pictures
                               Engraved deep in the subconscious, 
                               Occupying most of its vital features.

                               Memories of hurtful behaviour, 
                               Of  ingratitude and betrayals,
                               Failures and painful partings,
                               Keep haunting the present,
                               As dreadful nightmares. 

                               How often do I wish,
                              To find  a magic  eraser,

                               That could wipe them for once,
                               Leaving  the canvas of mind,
                               All clean for fresh entries.

                            Paintings of uplifting emotions,
                           Dwelling deep in the abyss of heart,
                           Paintings of tough life- lessons,
                           Learnt in the school of the world.
                         
                         
                         
                         

                              

Wednesday 1 May 2019

I WISH I COULD BE ...



G



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                              I wish I could be,
                    Like the flowers in the wild, 
                   That bloom unconditionally,
                  And be the reason of smile, 
                  For bees, butterflies and birds.

                            I wish I could be,,
              Like the flowers in a remote valley,
                      That bloom in sweet silence, 
             And  make the surroundings fragrant,
                 With no admirers nearby. 

                         I wish I could be,
              Like the flowers of a desert cactus,
                That bloom in the burning sand,
              Defying the unkind climate,
               With a spirit of forbearance.




Tuesday 30 April 2019

MY ROOTS

                           






                         My roots inspire me,
                    To keep growing upward,
                   Yet remain grounded all along, 
                            Bound fast to the mother earth.

                          That I gain strength enough, 
                      To withstand the changing seasons,
                         And be able to bear  boldly, 
                        The vagaries of unkind weather. 

                   They provide me with the succour,
                    Needed for growth and wellness,
                    Keep helping me to flourish,
                   Without seeking a return favour. 

                   I can never cease to belong them,
                      And can hardly exist  alone,
                  Am here because they support  me,
                Though remaining ever underground. 

Saturday 20 April 2019

WRITING

                                       




                                                  Writing makes me feel,
                                   Relieved of the undue stress,
                                  That hangs over me sometimes,
                                   Pushing my spirits downwards,


                                   It makes me feel lightweight,
                                   As if  freed from some burden,
                                   Making me free to think afresh,
                                 And regain my waning confidence.

                                  Writing rejuvenates my mind, 
                                  And lights up the memory store,
                                  As I search for appropriate words,
                                  To carry what I am keen to share. 

                                    It helps me build up a bridge,
                                   To connect with the outside world,
                                    Enabling me to share with others,
                                   What I  feel to be of some worth!





WRITING



Friday 19 April 2019

A PIECE OF PAPER





  •                                      I pour down my feelings,
  •                                        Onto a piece of paper,
  •                                       Which silently absorbs, 
  •                                        Whatever I spill upon it.

  •                                      It asks me no questions,
  •                                    As to why I'm upset or glad,
  •                                    Nothing seems to bother it,
  •                                     Whether I'm happy or sad. 

  •                                  I mind not its indifference,
  •                                  As it's just a piece of paper,
  •                                   And not a bosom friend,
  •                                  Supposed to feel concerned.

  •                                   Yet I take this inanimate thing,
  •                                     As my most trusted partner,
  •                                  Who listens to me with patience,
  •                                  Without ever being judgemental!





LIFE .....



              Life would have been less complicated
                      If it were allowed to happen
                      As per a self scripted play
                      Scene after scene, act after act 
                And we had known what to do next 

           There would be no room for confusion
           No uncertainties, nothing undesirable
               All results known beforehand 
           And the ending be always perfect
            With every player duly rewarded!

     But if ever I were offered such a gift,
                        I may hardly be willing to accept it,                            For a life as smooth as that 
Will be lacking in reality,
           And the joys of natural living.           
                                                               






THE WORLD OF MY DREAMS






                                   
                                                       On the bank of a beautiful river,
                         There is a calm and  quiet hamlet,
                         Decked with little cute cottages,
                          And green grass on the ground.
                       

                       There are no imposing buildings,
                        No markets  with buzzing crowds,
                        No shining vehicles in the streets,
                        No aeroplanes crossing the skies.


                       The people here are simple, 
                      With very few needs and desires,
                       Believing in peaceful co-existence,
                     Which they practise in their behaviour.

                      They live in harmony with nature,
                        And respect it as their mother,
                        They live like one loving family,
                        With concern for one another.
   

Picture  - 
Flam Valley 
Norway

THERE ARE TIMES





                 
                                        There are times
                When everything goes against you
                            For reason unknown
                You feel bruised and broken
                    And existence becomes a burden 

              The whole world appears to be hostile
                 No hope or help comes to comfort 
               The darkness keeps on deepening 
                 And light seems out of sight 

               But it is often in these darkest moments
           That there suddenly appears from nowhere
                   A ray of light dispelling all despair
           Restoring your faith in the power of prayer!

A POEM



                          A poem is not a poem,
                 If it isn't born in the heart, 
                 And flows down from there,
                 Like a mountain river, 
                To bless everyone on the way.
                   

              It is hardly worth the name, 

              If it doesn't go deep down, 
              The heart of the reader, 
              And touch the softest spot, 
              To evoke the desired emotion. 

               It's not a living thing,

               If it breathes out not,
              Some of the lovely  feelings,
             Hidden in every human being,
            Love, empathy and compassion.

               And it isn't a poem at all,,

               If loaded with heavyweight words,
               And  highly  embellished phrases,
               Needs to be taught and explained,
               To make one feel entertained.
             



                    

Thursday 14 March 2019

HOMECOMING OF A WARRIOR




                                          It needs superhuman courage,
                             To stay fearless and composed,
                              In the midst of deadly threats,
                               To your very existence.

                              Treated in the most painful ways,
                              Tortured in body and mind,
                              All alone in the enemy camp,
                              You manage to remain poised,

                            You refuse to yield to pressure,
                            In the toughest of situations,
                           You deserve all praise and honour,
                           Your name becomes a synonym of valour.

                            You come home to a hero's welcome,
                            To the immense relief of the nation,
                            Proud and content as a  real warrior, 
                            Returning from a scene of battle!



                               

Monday 4 March 2019

A POEM IN THE MAKING






                                       I composed a little poem,
                                       Pouring my heart into it,
                                       But finding it to be too simple,
                                       Asked my mind to improve it. 


                                      The mind made several changes,
                                       Replacing what I had written,
                                      With many a figure of speech,
                                      Till the draft appeared brilliant. 

             
                                     But going through the new piece,
                                     I was rather disappointed, 
                                     As the soul of the poem was lost, 
                                     In the maze of unfamiliar words.
 
                                      I decided to resume its original form, 
                                      Strongly realising the truth,
                                      That what issues from the heart,
                                      Is generally the most beautiful.
                                .
                                   
                                     
                                
                            

    

Tuesday 26 February 2019

IT IS THAT TIME OF THE DAY

                                                           




                                        It is that time of the day when, 
                           The mighty Sun lord,
                           Goes down the horizon,
                           To the other part of the world
                           Leaving this side of the sphere,
                             

                          It is that time of the day when,
                          The silent void of the sky, 
                           Is filled with the noise of birds,
                           Flapping their desperate wings,
                           On way to night shelters. 

                          It is that time of the day when,
                          Lamps are lit everywhere,
                          To guide the wayfarers,
                          Lest one should miss the way,
                          And be lost in the dark.

                                        It is that time of the day when,  
                                       Most people return to their homes,
                          At the end of the day's labour,
                                      But some,  for the safety of others,
                                      Keep awake through the odd hours.
                            
                                                 
                                                 
                                           



Wednesday 13 February 2019

WINTER IS LEAVING ....

                            


                                                 Winter is about to move on,
                                                 To  the southern hemisphere,
                                                  Stuffing into a travel bag,
                                                  All its accessories,

                                                   Its frost and snow and hails,
                                                    Its piercing winds and gales,
                                                   Are all packed up for now,
                                                   To be soon carried away.

                                                   And Nature is busy once again,
                                                   In making everything  perfect,
                                                   With  music, colours and  fragrance,
                                                   To greet Spring, the royal guest.

                                                   Who arrives with the pomp of a king,
                                                   Making everyone feel  delighted,
                                                   With renewed life force and vigour,
                                                   At the end of the unkind weather.

                                                  I notice the sun shining brighter,
                                                  Emanating more light and warmth,
                                                  Helping leaves and grass grow greener,
                                                  And the tiny buds turn blossoms.


                                                   I can see birds hopping merrily,
                                                   Picking up little twigs and straw,                                                                                                                  To build  their nests and forward,
                                                  The eternal process of creation.