The Silver Lining

 

                                          We often fail to see,

                               The bright silver  lining,

                                Hidden under the black clouds.

                              The darkness of despair,

                              Is too deep to penetrate,

                              And make us believe,

                            That something golden,

                             May really be lying,

                             In the very core of it. 

                              The bird in the cage  may sing,

                               With full-throated ease,

                               If only she nourishes the hope,

                               That someday, somehow,

                               The cage will be broken,

                               And she will again  be blessed,

                              With the joy of flying to freedom,

                               In the  boundless open sky,

                              And enjoy herself as before.

                               

                              So, never let hope leave you,

                              Even when bruised by despair,

                              For the sun  is sure to  heal up, 

                              Every bout of rain and thunder.

यात्रा -- हिमालय पुत्री की

रजत शिखरों की गोद में बसे,

अपने सुन्दर घर- संसार को छोड़ती ,

निकल पड़ी वह नन्ही सी बालिका,

एक अनजानी, सुदीर्घ यात्रा पर.

घर की सुख-सुविधा, सुरक्षा से दूर, 

एक अनजाने पथ पर, बढती चली गयी,

विघ्न-बाधाओं का सामना करती हुई,

जानती न थी ,उनका कहीं भी अंत नहीं.

 अनायास ले लिया  यह कठिनम प्रण उसने, 

 कि  रुकेगी नहीं, कभी भी,कहीं भी,

 समय की गति के साथ  बढ़ती ही रहेगी,

 अपने अभीप्सित लक्ष्य को पाने तलक.

कठोर चट्टानी दुरूह  वन -प्रांतर में,

 निर्भीक,अविचल   बढती रही वह,

 कभी  सघन जंगलों से गुजरी  तो,

  कूद पड़ी निडर कभी गहरी खाइयों में .,

    संकरी घाटी में स्वयंको सिकोड़ कर 

   आगे निकलने का  बनाया था रास्ता   ,

   कभी मानव -निर्मित बांधों में बंध कर,

   कुछ  पल अपने को दुर्बल था पाया.

    किन्तु शीघ्र मुक्त हो शान्त स्वरुप  धर,

       बढ़ चली आगे सब कुछ संवारती,

   अमृत- जल  से अपने तटों को   सींचती,

  सुख -समृद्धि बाँटती निष्पक्ष जीव जगत में.

    

       धैर्य और साहस से जीत सारी   बाधाएं

       सहस्त्राधिक कोसों की दूरी  यों नाप कर,

       जा मिली अंततः  अतल  सागर  से,

         एकाकार उसमें हो अनंत से जुड़ने!

       

      

   

     

    PHOTO CREDIT 

      Ritu Mathews  

  

  

Musings amidst Covid menace

        In this night of  fear and disquiet,

       With gloom prevailing all over,

       You ask me to sleep and dream,

       Of a bright, sunny morning!

        In the depressing absence of light,

        With hardly a spark in view,

        You ask me to  lit a candle,

        And spread hope and cheer around.

         While in the abyss of  despair  

          I lie indolent and sad,

         You ask me not to lose heart, 

         Hoping the storm will end soon.

        

  

             In the tumult of heart-rending cries,

             And the flood of helpless tears,

             You ask me not to get  nervous,

          But console the bereaved in earnest.

             

 

            It  won't be easy for me, though,

          To abide by your timely prudence,

          Yet, try  I will  what  you suggest,

           And fight this devil to its last.

            

                       

                      

                

     

   

         

         

 

Mother's Day -- 2021

            

        Recalling you on this special day, 

        Isn't a ritual for me to observe,

        Though formless and invisible,

        You are forever present in me, 

          My revered, adorable Maa!

          Inseparably mingled  are you,

           Into my very existence,

           Making your mark truly felt,

           In whatever I say or do.

             When tears well up in my eyes,

           Seeing someone reeling in pain,

            It's your genuine empathy,

             Surging up in me from within 

                When I  fail to check myself,

             From rushing to someone in trouble,

               It's but your passion for helping 

              Prompting me to do what I can.

                Whenever I'm vehemently critical,

                 Of cruelty and injustice,

                It's your  keen sense of righteousness,  

                Forcing me to fight the wrongdoer.

       

                    When overwhelmed with happiness 

                   At something good happening around,

                   I bow down to God  gratefully, 

                   Reflecting your way of  thanksgiving,

                

                

                

    

        

          

TONIGHT .....

           '' When  you have something to say

          Silence is a lie......''

       It's past midnight and I am still wide awake, the same has been happening for the last few weeks. As the second wave of the killer covid has started striking the unsuspecting people around and the death toll is growing higher day by day, life is again faced with the cruellest enemy ever. Day by day, it's getting increasingly difficult to cope up with the prevailing situation. The whole environment is flooded with depressing news, with little comforting vibes from anywhere.  This makes me feel so very nervous in spite of all my optimism and positive thinking. 

 Never before, had I felt so helpless and miserable. I hear about the illness and hospitalization of a friend or relative but cannot rush to be by their side to share their pain and support them in this tough time. Worse still, we can not be even with our close relatives or friends at the sad loss of a precious life. All you can do is to send a note of condolence or make a phone call to register your sympathy. While doing so, you very well feel the hollowness of your own words which can hardly be enough consolation.  yet,  ironically, that it is the only option left to express your sincere feelings.

  To say the least, never before had we come across such a painful, trying and terrible situation. How long this chaos will last, no one can know, except, perhaps, the Almighty God Himself who has been the ultimate resort forever, for all the believers. 

             May all our combined prayers reach His kind ears and exort Him to shower His mercy on the mankind reeling under the cruel effects of this unprecedented calamity!      

  May 2, 2021        

     

 

MY OASIS

 

                                                                                                                                                    

                      Deep down in  my heart,

                  In one of its  secret chambers,

                 There lies a cool, shady space,

                  I love to call my oasis.

                      Built-up of  fond memories

                      Crystallized as precious pictures

                       That come alive to  help me 

                     In facing the odds, whatever.

                         I slip into it  as often,

                        As the heat around gets higher,

                        And I need to feel  pampered,

                        In its cool, comforting bower.

                        I feel every one of us,

                    Should create a resort within,

                    Where sure refuge may be found 

                     In times of rough weather. 

 Picture Courtesy

Pixabay. com.

APRIL SHOWERS ...

                  

             ''April showers bring May flowers'', 

           But there is no trace of  clouds in the sky today,

           Should I still expect showers on this hot April day,

          Can there be rain without the clouds, ever?  

          Yet, I imagine them appearing on the horizon,

          Loaded with waterbags, ready to pour down,

            Give each one of the trees and plants its due,

                Here, there and almost, everywhere.

               For, I have  been an unfailing  optimist,

                Just like any of my village folk,

                 Simple  but strong in their faith,

                 Trusting God and nature forever.

                 My own faith, too, is as unfaltering,

                 Can never be bruised or  shattered,

                Or oscillate between hope and doubts,

                 Prior to or post a  real experience.