New Year Wishes for 2015

New Year Wishes for 2015

Two years at this moment meet
As one leaves,the other stays,each other,greet,

Thousand memories is all that is left, in parts,
Having gifted time,the old year departs

Fifteen minutes of fame,or a lifetime's fulfillment,may this new year,see
As it gifts hope,for all that, could be,

With the twin gifts of time and hope, may your dreams soar,be seen,
Here is wishing you a happy, blessed 2015.

--shubha

Poetry breathes

Poetry breathes

Poetry breathes, in pregnant pauses,
In the emotions evoked, feeling, it arouses,

Not just in the words,that it, make,
But in the nectar, that ,your burning thirst, slakes,

Not only in rhyme,meter,form or length thereof,
But that, which your heart recognizes, in love,

Poetry resides, not just in pages,
But in your heart's own knowledge, of the ages.

--shubha

Nighttime lullabies

Nighttime lullabies

How quickly it becomes dark in winter,

Twilight squeezed out between gray afternoons 

And the ever encroaching night,

That swoops quickly,to descend,

In ever quickening moves 

Gathering onto itself the faded colors

Coating the trees, structures in its own shades

As the trees hold up their branches

In stark contrast

And the passing brush, melds,rests

In night's dark embrace,

That gathers all,into it's fold

Humming it's own silent lullaby.

--© shubha 

Holiday wishes

Holiday wishes

May your lives be full of goodwill, plenty, cheer,

As you celebrate the holidays, welcome the new year,

May the gifts you exchange,

Be of love, acceptance,of self,one another,change,

May the twinkling holiday lights,

Remind you of blessings received, your heart delights,

May the star, be your guiding light,

Through the year's tests, a hope, bright,

May you find much joy in each other's company,

Spread that joy around, to brighten lives, many

So as you open your presents, feast,celebrate

Give thanks, and to the less fortunate,

And may your lives fill with peace great,

That guides, sustains, all your desires,sates.

--shubha

Wish List

Wish list

I have made my list,checked it twice,
Sometimes been naughty,but mostly nice

So Santa can you be a dear,
And grant me what I do desire,
No war, more amity,less strife, fear,
As we trundle towards the new year,

Diamonds ,may have been very nice,
But not with the blood of innocents, as the price,
Instead could you fill some hungry bellies with enough rice,
Would you do that if I ask, real nice?

I know there are lists, clamoring for world peace,
A verdant earth, free of poverty, hunger, disease,

But I also have learned, the world cannot be set aright,
Just by wishes, on one magical night,

So gift me ,the strength, the will to persevere,
That I may do my best, spread goodwill, cheer
That your magic continue through the year.

--shubha

Numb, is my refuge

Numb,is my refuge

Numb, is my refuge
How does one begin to feel the horror
Of the school carnage?

Confusion, my excuse
How does one begin to understand
Such senseless, inhumane violence?

Mute, is my witness,
Although I want to scream, not one more,
How do you make yourself heard
To a militant terrorist, deaf,to the call of humanity?

Helpless my stance,
What can be done, one lone self,
Against the aggressive onslaught of countless injustices?

So let us feel, think, voice, show our outrage today,
Until we chase the next trending hashtag,
The next tragedy
And I will re-post this remonstrance,

Or until it hits home

Till then, numb is my refuge.

--shubha 

P.S This poem came to me after learning about the horrific killing of 140 children in school in Peshawar on Dec, 16,2014 by terrorists. Deeply saddened and heartsick by the tragedy.

Cold is a lonely thing

Cold is a lonely thing

Cold is a lonely thing
That seeps in
Looking for every ounce of warmth, it can wring,

Chills you down to the marrow,
Seeking warmth it can borrow,
Yet, if you embrace its' sorrow,
Share your warmth, your hope,for tomorrow,

This needy thing, that makes your breath appear,
Melts, mellows, dissipates, disappears.

-- shubha

Thanksgiving wishes

Thanksgiving wishes

As we sit down to a thanksgiving repast,
Give thanks for all that is, all that is past,

For the family, with whom we can share your bounty,
Be it in mansions, homes, apartments or shanties,

May our turkey have the satisfaction of effort, made with, single mindedness,
Drizzled with the  gravy of exquisite kindness,

May the plates have stuffing, flavored with joy,laughter,success achieved,
Cranberry sauce that recollects with thanks,blessings, received,

May the bread rise with our gratitude
For the life's shortages and it's plenitude

As we pause,to give thanks,for the joys of living,
Wish you all a very happy thanksgiving.

--shubha

Golden Squares

Golden squares

The sun streams in, heralding a new start,
Lingers a while, doodles, some fine art,
The bare branches sway, filigree this space, share
Light and shadow play, in these golden squares.

--shubha

An Autumn Keepsake

An autumn keepsake

I carried home, a bit of Autumn now,
A five-pronged ,flaming ,tale of love,

A bit of blazing passion, my cold winters, to bake,
A memory, of riotous color, an autumn keepsake.

--shubha

Foggy Mornings

Foggy mornings

Against the fluid pearly white fog
A tree coalesced into being
Etched in the fluid rapid flow of thought
Formed a recognition,solidified as understanding.

--shubha

Barnum, beagle's alphabetical tail ... (tale)

Barnum, beagle's alphabetical tail ... (tale)

Although you may think us all the same,
Barnum,beagle,is my name
Chasing cars, my tail
Down the narrow alley lane
Everyone, greeted with a wagging tail,
Friendly spats ,with the guy, who delivers the mail,
Growl at some strangers, a few,
Happy hours spent walking, too,
Is that it ?? Are we done?
Just as I was having fun ???
Kisses as licks for that special someone,
Loyalty, love, I cannot be outdone,
Melt your heart, with my love true,
New tricks , I learn, to please you,
Obstinately, I look for the stick, in my quest,
Persistently I return when we play fetch,
Quell any fear, when I am around
Rest assured, I hear every sound
Softly, I snuggle, when you are down,
Twist around,many a frown,
Usually ,never one to lag,
Vet visits, are a drag,
Wags, woofs, wonderful times, galore
X-ray intentions, smell fear and more
Yet with all my playful frivolity
Zen like calm, still, I can be.

--shubha

Tired clouds

Tired clouds

Speeding along as behind me the sun set,
Painting the rear view a brilliant orange-red
The clouds descended on either side,
Nestling in the inviting arms of the trees,held wide,
Tired, after a day, of scurrying by,
As the trees swayed, crooning a lullaby.

--shubha 

A Sigh and other poems

A sigh

Alone
I never knew,
I was holding my breath,
until I saw you,
and exhaled
a sigh.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a friend

If ever my life is measured,by my words, at the end,
Let it be known, that they gained their meaning, in the shared silences,
With you, my friend.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The offering

The leaf waited, still, broad,
To catch the swiftly descending rain, outstretched,
Allow it to roll slowly off, trembling at its' edge,
A offering,to Mother Earth,as a gentle drop.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quivering silences

Poetry the art of spun magic
With words that thunder, tease, tremble,
Finds meaning, in the quivering silences, between.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conch shell

Conch shell clarion calls,
Curling incense smoke may fade, dissipate
But Mother prevails.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kiss of life

Reanimated the dry leaf rose,
spiraled astride,
the wind,
that blew it another,
Kiss of life.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Autumn moon

the young, autumn moon
hung low opposite, watched wide-eyed
a colorful sunset.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crunchy smiles

You hear the leaf blower for many a mile,
As it herds the wayward leaves into neat piles,
Jumping thereon, the children gather crunchy smiles.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--shubha

Halloween poem

Halloweeeeeeeeen poem

There was a ghost who loved to say Boo,
When he popped out from behind a shoe,
He lived on the porch ,with his friends, the orange pumpkin and the vampire,
As he hung by the wire,
Together they had a lot fun, scaring passersby  when the day was done,
They saw the neighbor set out the candy bowl,
And came up with a plan foul,
To steal all the candy,they sought,
But as they had this wicked thought,
The werewolf hooooowled into the eerie night,
And gave them all a real fright.

--shubha & v

P.S. I wrote this poem with and for my son about a neighbor's Halloween decorations . It was his idea that I set to rhyme and he claims it for his own. Sharing due credit...

Shedding Ego

Shedding Ego

Said the Lord, shed your ego, offer it to me,
Remove this blindfold of duality,
Let fall your desires, your pride, your sense of exclusivity,
Like in fall, the leaves, of the shedding tree,
And remember, as the drifting leaf , the tree,
The sky through the threadbare canopy,
All belongs in me.

--shubha

Diwali Greetings 2014

Wishing you a happy Diwali !!!

Pic credit: Google pics

The scent of longing

The scent of longing

Gathering dark clouds rumbled,
Threatening downpour,
Shed a few drops,
To titillate the earths' thirst
And release
The scent of her longing.

--shubha 

Defiant no more

Defiant no more

Often, when I passed a construction site,

I would stop and marvel at a inspiring sight,

A lone tree, in the middle, proud, tall, defiant

Against all of man's machine might,

I hoped that of felling, it had been spared,

When I saw it standing, swaying there,

But I could not fathom man's greedy scheme of the land,

Who could not find room, for even a sole tree, in his grand plans,

So today as I passed the site, my heart lurched at the sight

The empty expanse of the sky seemed to mourn its' plight,

And my heart crumpled at this knowledge,sore,

Cried for the fallen tree, defiant, no more.

--shubha

The best cake I ever ate

The best cake I ever ate


Outside the shop, I saw a street urchin, with hunger, shake

As he devoured with his eyes, the pink cupcake,

The one, that sat on the counter, covered by a fly shade,

The one, that mama, always forbade,


As for my mother I ran the errand,

Collected the fresh butter, bread, bun crescent,

Well that leaves a few pence, the kindly shopkeeper, said ,

Would like the toffee or the éclairs instead?


I shook my head, my decision made,

I would rather have the cupcake,

The shopkeeper surprised, gave his head a shake,

Still handed over the treat in a newspaper package


As I stepped out the shop,

I turned and made an abrupt stop,

Held out my little gift,

To the hungry boy, his spirits to lift,


He drew back a little wary,

Even as he grabbed the package, eagerly

Turned away to find a seat

Then I watched him eat,


With great tenderness he opened his treasure,

With greedy eyes, its’ size, did measure,

Then a pink tongue poked out, to lick, the icing, plum,

Relished each bite, until there wasn't even a crumb,


And although, I never knew, how the pink icing, did taste,

It was the best cake that I ever ate.




--shubha

Clear mountain streams

Clear mountain streams

What is that allure, of a clear mountain stream,

That the heart lifts, at the sight, of the river's nascent dream,

As she falls over boulders , rocks, in reckless abandon

Makes us stop,dangle toes,in the crystalline current,

Perhaps we do it in the hope, as freely she does, roam,

That we could carry away some of the magic, of her spirit,the magic, of her woodland home.

--shubha

Shallow puddles

Shallow puddles

In the cool of the morning, hopeful, whole
Returned, empty, hollow
This hole in my heart , too raw, just a muddy puddle, shallow,
Not deep enough to be a pond,to sustain fish, darting, bold , shy,
Not the crater, to hold a lake,that hides in its' bosom, a reflection ,a piece of the sky.

--shubha

Returning Home

Returning Home

Tell me O'wind, what messages you bring today,
As you whistle around my ears, on your merry way ?

Tell me the tales, of ocean mists, sprays, waves
Or what the gurgling mountain stream, really craves,

But mostly tell me, of my beloved, is she the same,
Does she ever turn to you and whisper my name?

Expecting return, the pathway lamp, does she,still light,
With her hands, then glass shield it from your playful delight?

Has all changed, or can the lost years of separation, still, be overcome?
Returning home, is there, still, a welcome?


--shubha

Rustling Protest

Rustling protest

In a raspy, scratchy voice,

The dry leaves, mumbled their protest,

Even as the breeze rustled them down the road,

With a sly, delighted mirth.

--shubha

Navratri

Navratri

Nine nights of festival bright,
A reminder to fight the good fight,
Vanquish the evil within ourselves
Rejoice in the good, help it triumph,
Allow ourselves to dance with joy,
To give in love, negativity destroy,
Remember the strength of Mother divine,
Invoke her blessings, grace in our troubled times,
Navratri, the festival of nine nights,
May it bring joy, grace, victories in our lives.

--shubha

A mottled story

A mottled story

As the days swiftly turned,
Ushered in a cool nip, where before it burned,
Her complexion turned mottled with age,
Those age spots,the story,of a journey,to the next stage,
Red, yellow, orange, she lay in pigmented glory,
Heralding the beginning, of another colorful fall story

--shubha

The butterfly

The butterfly

Lift up the mirror
See yourself in the light,
That surrounds you,permeates,
Let not the claustrophobic confines
of only your own concerns,
be your cocoon,
You were not sent to to shrivel
into your self and die,
But to break through,
bring light, laughter, color to others,
Like the butterfly.

--shubha

Storm

Storm


Last night it stormed
Both, inside and out

The wind blew,howled
my rage to the world

Clouds hung low
as self-pity, covered,

The rain, splattered
in torrents against
the window,
my wet face

The raindrops, splashed
in the disturbed pool
of my heart

Then it passed,
the fury, the drama, the disquiet

Left behind
crisp,clear, clean,calm
for a fresh, new start.


--shubha

Catacombs

Catacombs

You, who left me,

My shredded heart ,in my tear rimmed eyes,

To wallow in my grief,

To you , I owe,my gratitude,

For unlocking those catacombs of my heart 

That can,both bear great pain , great love

And yet beat stronger, evermore.

--shubha

Return to me

Return to me

Return to me , my innocence, my belief in happily ever afters,

Return to me, the magic of imagined travels on the light rays through the rafters,

Return to me, the make believe of a friendly world,

Return to me, the eyes that saw everything in rainbow colors swirled,

Return to me, the ears that heard the music in the songs of the birds,

Return to me , that bold naïveté,

Return  to me ,this inherent belief that this world would not hurt me,in anyway,

Return to me, my childhood, my delight in me,

Return to me

Or rather, return me to you.

--shubha

The bird in our garage

The bird in our garage

The bird in our garage, spires to the ceiling, in frightened frenzy,

While the garage door yawns, open, to let it free,

Why must it always spiral up, in flight ,

When the exit is plain, within sight ,

Still the heart aches, at your frightened plight ,

Why should the way out always be up, do you reckon?

Fly out lower , to the blue sky that beckons,

Try another route if this one does not satisfy,

Fly out little one, you belong ,with the clear blue skies.

--shubha

Onam

Onam

Overflowing with plenty , joy great

Netherworld visit of a beloved king, celebrate,

Adorn the path with flower designs, beautiful

Marvelous feasts ,fit for the king, delightful,

Onam , the yearly token of gratitude, marked by festivities,

Tiger dances, boat races, ripples through the villages, towns and cities,

May this new year, fill  our lives, homes with joy, prosperity.

--shubha

Who am I

Who am I

Who am I, do I exist?

Am I that flickering shadow,on the world's magical screen ,that persists?

This quest for self, the search for identity,

An exercise, in defining that shadows' form and boundaries?

Or can it be,just a little more?

Perhaps the search, for the lights' source .

--shubha

Guru

Guru

Gifts us love, light and knowledge
Use their skills, to help us ,blossom to the next stage,
Reacquaints us, with our potential, the story of our hearts,
Urges us , this journey of self discovery, to start,
Guru, the teacher,guides us to our path,
Rejoices in our attempts,in our journey, blesses with the lessons taught.

--shubha

Love is

Love is

Love is, the store declared, the teddy bear in the window , gifts galore,

Anything that helps you spend on that special someone, more,

Love is, said the novel, the first blush,racing heart, entwined hands ,

As you walk together, at sunset, over golden sands,

Love is, said the lover, the way the moonbeam traces your features, asleep,

The tightness in my heart, the shortness of breath, in longing steeped,

Love is, said the harried wife, finding a clean sink, at the end of a long day,

The affection you feel for that man on the couch, mouth agape, snoring away,

Love is, said the old couple on the porch, to sit together, having nothing to say,

To revel in the knowledge that you traveled far together, until today,

Love is, said the bereaved, the memory, that veiled presence at bay,

The bitter sweet nectar that in our heart stays,

Love is,said the philosopher, not what you receive, but what you give away,

Through the gouged channels of selfless charity, is how love flows your way, 

Love is....

It just is..........

It is all that is..............

--© shubha

A Sunset Story

A Sunset Story

"Let's go, we need to get to sunset point , fast,"

"There it is said, we can see the most spectacular sunsets, memories to last", 

The sun will set soon, at quater hour  past,

Mother and son set off at a brisk pace, following the throng,

The little boy running, trying to,follow along,

Keep up ,with his mom's strides,long 

Till he slipped and almost fell, the mother turned with a frown,

"Come on, little one, we are very near the crown",

"Let's not slow down", 

"But mama, I am so tired, can't we stop?",

Said the little boy, the tears, threatening to drop,

 "I cannot keep up, all the way to the top"

"Just a little further, we are almost there",

 "Chin up, just a little more to bear", 

"But mama, aren't sunsets beautiful everywhere?"

The mother, stopped short,

Understanding, dawned, tears to her eyes, brought,

Turned slowly to the child, by guilt, wrought, 

 To value something that, by others, is sought,

To blindly follow the crowd , without a thought,

Leads to naught,

She smiled and said, "You are right, sunsets are beautiful anywhere",

"Particularly, if they are shared."

To know you were blessed with another day to love , to care,

So the mother and son separated from the tide,

Sat on a bench, side by side,

To the curious looks, of passersby,

Watched the orange and crimson bleed,

Through the filigree of the trees,

Listened to the song,that rode on the evening breeze,

Years later,looking back, at all the picturesque sunsets ,that had blessed,

This one, stood out from the rest .

--shubha

Teller of tales

Teller of tales

The wind blew by gently as a breeze, 

Whispered and gossiped to the trees,

Quivering excitement, it spread,as it revealed its mysteries,

The trees to themselves, nodded, winked, bent,

As they swayed with delight, merriment,

Perhaps the news that the wind brought,

Was the one that they eagerly sought,

Of a quenching gift from the rain gods,

That a end was nigh,for their travails,

Was that,the message passed,by this teller of tales?

--shubha

Journey to Freedom

Journey to Freedom

On this day of celebration, of remembrance
As we celebrate our independence,
As we look back on our failures, achievements,
Resolve to greater glory, improvement,
Pause a minute, to remember those, who made the great sacrifice,
To allow us, the choice of our own fate, paid a great price,
Let us not, this great opportunity, responsibility,in petty squabbles,lose,
Above our own gains, the needs, of this land,our brethren, choose,
Let not, this country degenerate, with atrocities, corruption, power fiefdoms,
Arise, awake, let us begin the journey, from independence to freedom.

--shubha

Lines of hatred

Lines of hatred

The bombs drop,

The shrieks , the cries, the violence never stops,

As people battle for control,of the earth, water, the skies,

The minds, their allegiance , powers' illusory prize,

Divide the earth over which they have but,little claim,

For in this strange world, where,by might, lands may be won, by a push or shove

They are only claimed by giving your all,in belonging in love,

And all that is achieved by these walls, fences, lines on a map, that part

Is to draw the lines of hatred in our hearts.

--shubha

Varalakshmi prayer

Varalakshmi prayer

Let us, enshrine, the goddess of wealth, in our hearts
Even as we invite Her,into our homes,

Let us,invite Her benediction, into our lives,
Even as we invite our friends to partake of her blessings,

Let us, fill our ears, let flow through our tongues, Her music, divine,
Even as we fill our homes, with hymns in her praise,

Let us, rejoice in the wealth, with which ,She enriches our lives,
Even as we realize, that true wealth is amassed,by its' distribution.

--shubha

Waterfall

Waterfall

The waterfall rushed headlong over the edge
Into the base reflecting pool
Hoping to catch a glimpse of its own beauty
In the depth of it's stillness.

--shubha

Creases

Creases

At the end of the road

Mountains rose

Majestic ,in purple haze

What beauty lies,in those creases,

On the earth's surface

--shubha

Eid wishes

Eid wishes

Enormous joy, spread in receiving in plenitude,
Infinite blessings of divine pulchritude,
Demands we give thanks,spread this blessing in humble gratitude,
Eid, the day of joy, greeting,feasting
May it be blessed by pulling down of walls, in harmony, minds meeting.

--shubha

Miracles exist too

Miracles exist too

Everyday,the depressing news streams,

In blood, gore, mayhem, hatred , the world is ending, it seems

And nowhere,does love reign supreme,

Airplanes blasted out of the sky ,fall

Body-parts,debris, burned beyond recognition,let out a mute ,piercing call,

Ticker symbols count out ever-growing numbers of those killed,

Collateral damage, of bloody conflicts,

The gruesome images, continuous broadcasts document,

The dissipation of humanity, cement

But as I move away from that bombardment

Look at the flower dressed in morning dew,

See a stranger stop to pick up a child's' fallen shoe,

See friends share a meal, a laugh ,or two 

Know the connection ,you feel, when you help ,another like you,

I am hopeful yet, that in this crazed world,miracles exist too.

--shubha

Pony tail

Pony tail

Expertly she smoothed the dark waves, deftly tucking the wayward strands,
That she held with her other hand,
I never knew, until then, that clouds could be gathered,secured with a rubber-band.

--shubha

Teething Troubles

Teething troubles

The first tooth broke free of the pink gums,

To the happiness and delight of mum,

Then they came fast , those pearly whites

To allow solid foods, a plethora of tastes, I could chew and bite,

The early school days, of fallen teeth,

Hidden under the pillow for fairies,that left treats,

The sore mouths, aflame ,with exam tensions,

That subsided with the passing of the exams and mother's many ministrations,

The dreaded visits to the orthodontists' chair,

The painful braces, on each pair,

The chafing, the scolding , the restrictions, galore,

All, for that perfectly aligned smile , to flash, some more,

The aches , the pains, the cavities,

Innumerable visits to the dentists, the dental tragedies,

Fillings, more than there are teeth,

Root canals, extractions, the pain, is hard to beat,

Perhaps all will be well, I will venture,

When my teeth rest beside my bed, as dentures.

Or perhaps, it is when it will double,

This ever constant saga,of teething troubles

--shubha

Minds' lullaby

Minds' lullaby

Listen O' mind, where do you wander today,

Be still, listen to what the wind has to say,

Listen, to the songs that the breeze sings,

The messages ,from your lost lands, that it brings,

Chasing shadows of vagrant thoughts, why do you stray?

They are but momentary guests, they come not, to stay,

Hush now, quell, what you have to say,

Listen to the rhythm of the trees , as they sway,

And in this moment, in stillness, rooted stay.

--shubha

Life and death

Life and death

What is life, but death by parts,

And what is death, but a life in memories.

--shubha

The lament

The lament

Yesterday, I came across a pretty sight,
A mother bird, followed by her young one, running in delight,
A delightful pair they made,
As they scampered , looking for worms, in the shade,

Again when I passed the same way,
What a different story it was today,
The mother ran dazed circles in the hot sun,
Around the lifeless copse of the little one,

O' what a cruel twist of fate, I thought,
Seeing the little body in the parking lot,
Did it fall prey to the talons of a predator?
Or was it run over by a car parked in thoughtless ardor?

My heart ached and did rend,
Watching the mothers' silent torment,
Why does nature sometimes demand the blood of the innocent,
Seemed to be her dazed lament.

--shubha

Childhood Sparkles

Childhood Sparkles


As a child, I often wondered

If the dew drop was the lights' swing

If the ray of light, the dust bunnies' slide

If the sparkly web of the fresh raindrops glistening in the sunlight

A fairy princesses' jewels

I still wonder at their beauty,

But have lost the vocabulary to describe them.


--shubha

Fleeting thoughts

Fleeting thoughts

Where do you go in such a hurry?

Run past, in such a flurry,

Why don't you sit and take a deep breath,

Have silence and you,met?

The very one, that you came from, and where you go,

Don't you want to take a minute , for him, to know?

Must you, always flit about so,

Is it this movement, that you,with life endow

As you flutter across the mind like a fleeting shadow

And if ,you should ,stop and dwell,

Will will dissolve and disappear into that silent spell?

--shubha

Distant echoes

Distant echoes

The same words, the same sentiment,

Resound in hollow echoes,

No more to say, all that was said,

Reverberate in dull staccato.

--shubha

Independence

Independence

Indignation at impositions swells,

No longer this yearning for freedom, can we quell,

Depletes the soul, this seeking others' validation,

Erodes the spirit,this privation,

Push aside, this heavy yoke of dependence

Embrace the arduous path of self-reliance

Not an easy path is to traverse, armed only with faith and sense,

Demands courage, sacrifice , confidence,

Ever vigilant against the niggling doubts that sap our strength,

Not confuse cooperation with reliance

Cast aside those chains of fear that bind,

Establish firmly,freedom as the goal in your mind,

Independence, the elusive prize, the first step to freedom's gate,

Remembering those that fought, for everyone's right to be ,architects of their own fate,

I hope you will be free of the mind's prejudices, fearful binds, from today

On this, the nation's Independence Day.

--shubha

Wow

Wow,

It is the only word that comes forward,

That floats upward,

In the deep void, between my full heart and the empty cavern of my brain,

I looked for other expressions, in vain

This simple word that is equally at ease,

One that gives teenagers' faltering conversations, a new lease,

In describing an expensive pearl,

Or the beauty of a pretty girl,

The latest stunt by the daredevil set,

The glory, of the colorful sunset,

It is all I have to offer,

This ineloquent refrain,

That my admiration and happiness can barely contain,

Yes, it is the word, that should suffice now,

This, little exultation of wow.

--shubha

Full pots

Full pots

Two clouds like old women, their black skirts, billowing,
Lugged their heavy pots, of water,that they had been carefully, collecting,
Rumbling ,grumbling,
Rolled slowly, their looming shadows cast,
When suddenly, out of nowhere, the whistling wind blew past,
Like a young lad, on his cycle,without a care,
Pushed one old cloud into the other, without turning a hair,
When the pots crashed and broke with a bang,
The tiny drops ran out in glee and sang,
Tumbling, tinkling,their chorus of pitter patter,
Gurgling with delight, even as they slid down the gutter
Made their way down in a hurry,
To wet the earths' dry lips , in a musical flurry.

--shubha

Magic rings of destiny

Magic rings of destiny

Through the rings of whirring glow sticks,

My son called,I am making magic, amma, come quick,

I looked at the two little hands shackled by the rings of light,

Eyes that lit the dark room with sheer delight,

Thought to myself that it was magic indeed,

That the hands that were tied, it seemed,

Were the ones controlling the whirling,as if in a dream,

That we were the ones, that added movement , every moment,infinitesimally,

While we rued an illusion of being shackled in the magic rings of destiny.

--shubha

Waking dream

Waking dream

The older I get, more foolish I seem,

The wisdom that supposedly accompanies age, a distant theme,

Realize,that we all play our parts in a waking dream.

--shubha

Fishy tales

Fishy tales

On either bank they were both fishing,
One was sprawled beside his pole, lazing,
Hat over his face, listless , gently dozing,
The other was a picture of poised alertness,
As he stood at the water's edge,
Relaxed in meditative awareness,
As he shifted his weight from one long foot to another,
Watched the river, intently for a glint any further,
Until a bee buzzed to close the first ones ear,
He awoke with a start , sat up in fear,
Startled the other , who spread his, beautiful wings,broad
Soared into the sky, leaving the earthbound fisherman with his dangling rod.

--shubha

Summer

Summer

Some short poems on Summer and Summer heat

Indian summer

The heat rises in shimmering waves
And crashes upon itself
While we seek momentary circles of relief
Under the whirring ceiling fans,that spread the hot air around
Under the shade of cool, spreading trees wilting in the sun's wrath,
In the closed AC rooms, cars , restaurants , cooled malls,
While the green raw mangoes, ripen to golden sweetness
To mimic the blazing sun,
As the summer heat, has just begun its climb to its crescendo.

--shubha

Summer woes

Sun burns unrelenting in the heavens,
Under which the baked earth, browns, rusts and in places ,is broken,
Mocks the plight of the burning, sweating populace
Mistake it seems to step out under his unflinching gaze,
Every thing seems to burn in his embrace,
Rains, as a relief,are awaited eagerly, the summer heat to erase,
Summer, that time of languid days, vacation fun,
Quickly becomes onerous under the burning sun.

--shubha

A poem that includes the words Ice/Sun/Kite 

Flying kites

At the beach , the sun blazed,
Over the warm sand, a fluttering kite in their gaze,
Two children ran, shouting in delight,
Strangers at first , a charming way to break the ice.

--shubha

First smiles

The warmth of your smile
Melts , the awkwardness of first meeting,
Like sun melts ice,
And let my aspirations soar to heights,
That mocks, the flight of the kites.

--shubha

A couple of poems on a picture of a sapling rising from the cracked earth....

Summer love

Although I may be broken,
In the glare,of your scorching indifference,
I send you this offering, a chance at redemption,
That rooted in my wet bosom,
Alive in your light,
This promise of life
May grow, mature, ripen,
In the the summer of our love.

--shubha

Parched lips

From her parched, drying lips
She uttered a blessing
In defiance, of the heat that strips,
From her damp depths,
Sustained life,
That is ,
Our benediction,everlasting.

--shubha

Lessons at the raspberry patch

Lessons at the raspberry patch

Early in the day, in the cool of the morning

We stripped the raspberry patch of the pump berries,glistening,

Found some bitten, a few,

Gross, said my son, who ate those too?

Perhaps the birds, I replied, as if on cue,

Then smiled and said, we have so many , we can spare them a few,

My boy stopped and pondered this, a second or two,

Why are they ours, amma, couldn't they belong to the birds too?

Why indeed, I thought, how true,

Why do we lay claim to,

Seek to posses,

All that that pleases,

All that the mind,chooses,

Why don't we instead,

Play our small parts , in the larger scheme of things,

And revel,in that sense of belonging?

--shubha

Scorcher

Scorcher

The burning sun, beat down relentlessly,
Chasing the shadows into ever tightening corners,
Seemed to consume the very air,
Heating up the earth, water and atmosphere,
On a day ,that was a scorcher.

--shubha

Daddy dearest,should I change?

Daddy dearest , should I change?

Sometimes at school they call me fat,

I know you said I was your pumpkin, but does it mean just that,

Should I measure my worth by the scales' range,

Daddy dearest , should I change?

You told me ,to learn,you go to school,

But I would like to be looked on ,as cool,

Follow the latest trends, my own frumpy look, rearrange,

Daddy dearest, should I change?

Yesterday, he casually brushed me aside ,a touch ,

Said, I really, talk too much,

I know you have said ,you ,love our exchange,

But tell me, daddy dearest, need I change?

He says I don't, our finances, tend,

Too much on little frivolous treats, spend,

Show responsibility, economy some,

Did you ever find my little wants burdensome?

Should I ,my wants, curtail , my priorities arrange?

Daddy dearest, must I change?

I know you said ,I should define my own worth, above all,

But I really do crave his approval,

He says he criticizes for my own improvement,

Where do the lines blur between betterment ,

And acceptance?

Must I ,my expectations and inadequacies manage?

Daddy dearest, should I change?

--shubha

Fatherhood song

Fatherhood song

I sent you,a black and white picture of little shoes,

In your head, you may color them pink or color them blue,

For God willing ,the little joys and agonies of fatherhood will soon come to you,

And although little feet may adorn these shoes or go quite bare,

You will find yourself, often carrying them there,

First cradled in your arms as fragile wonders,that grew,

That let you rediscover the world,anew,

Then in your arms , on your shoulders, or your back

As they pepper you with questions from their never ending stack,

But always in your heart, like a familiar song,

Where you can hum the tune, but get the words wrong,

That gives you the reason to persevere,to cherish,to right every wrong,

And the courage to go on.

--shubha

The passing

The passing

The trees stood still in the afternoon's sweltering heat,
Not a leaf moved, no branches dipped to meet,
Until a gentle breeze , passed that way,
Bounced the branches , made the leaves flutter and say,
The breath of life may pass from form to form,
But it's underlying truth prevails,
And what animates ,
And that moment of animated truth,
This eternal relationship display,
Leaves behind the pleasant sound of rustling leaves,
For the listener, as it passes on its way.

--shubha

Invisible child

Invisible child

I am the child ,of your excuses,

Your neglect , your apathy, your uneasy truces,

The one that scrambles over the landfills of dirt, to salvage , backs burnt,

Fills those firecrackers with gun powder for you to burst in turn,

Serves you tea in your  offices, busy

Sells trinkets at traffic signals, the one ,you pretend ,not to see,

The child who walks your dog, cares for your children, runs your errands galore,

Have you ever wondered if I wanted more?

To learn, laugh and play as I should,

A chance ,at the semblance of a childhood,

Although I toil in the bright sun, I know I am invisible to you,

But this my silent plea ,don't you hear that too?

-shubha

Thoughts of you, a journey

Thoughts of you, a journey


Bemuse,bewitch,bedazzle,
Besotted

Bechance meet,befriend,beholden,
Beautiful

Busy , badger, bicker,
Blue

Bifurcate,

Bewildered,befuddled,baffled
Broken

Burdensome, bruising, biting
Bitter

Becalmed, benevolent, blessed
Better

Your thoughts, our journey
Become
A part of me.






--shubha

Colors of love

Colors of love

Surely the color of love must be those of a rainbow,

That blesses the sky with its ethereal glow,

Red, like the promise of vermilion on a blushing bride,

Orange, that symbol of love for the motherland, of valor and sacrifice,

Yellow, like the love of golden childhood memories,

Green, the love of a mother that blesses her children, with glistening treasuries,

Blue, the color of a youthful sky, filled with infinite possibilities,

Indigo, of a deepening twilight, that reminds of the creators' majesty,

Violet, that bittersweet color of a beloved's memory

Or just perhaps can it be that no one color ,or hue,

Can express love in its form,true,

That perhaps they all meld into the one white light,

To remind us that all originates in love, the infinite.

--shubha

Come walk the trail with me

Come walk the trail with me

Come, walk the trail with me, today
Follow its' winding and turns in assured equanimity,
Test your strength and endurance,
As you follow it through deserts, forest dense,
Speak to me of your fears and dreams,
But remember that all is not what it seems,
Not out of anger, spite did I send you on this arduous journey,
But ,that though the triumphs,tribulations,shame, glory,
You may recognize yourself,and through you ,Me
Come walk your trail with me

--shubha

The Magnolia

The Magnolia

As the long, languid days of summer, looms,
Around the bend, the magnolia,quietly  blooms,
And gently casts her enticing, redolent spell,
My vagrant , racing thoughts, I quell,
To pause, and take in her heady smell,
And as my nostrils fill with her delicate scent,
Reminds me,of the gift, of living,in the present.

--shubha

Silent Shame

Silent Shame

Shame hung from the tree as copses,

The shame that is for me,you,for our many lapses,

For each time we saw discrimination and turned away,

Not our problem, we reasoned, had nothing to say,

What does it avail, all this noise, protests in the street,

Nothing ever changes,what is the point to seethe,

Our own responsibilities refused to meet,

Behind  false veils of tradition, culture, honor, our daughters hid,

Taught our sons to view them as equals , we never did,

Pardoned savagery as justice,

Made the victims,bear the burden of our sins,

For how much longer will we avert our eyes,the destinies blame,

Not own up to our collective shame.

--shubha

Curtain calls

Curtain calls


The final curtain call,
As the curtain finally falls,

As the breath leaves in growing gasps,
The memories flood like the actors with various parts,

The comedies that brought about the smiles,
The tragedies wore you down many a mile,

The different crowded stage of thoughts that touched in bit parts,
The inspiration that gave one a new start,

That one love, that hovered as a star from above,
The masked monsters of despair that into their bottomless pit did shove,

For the final bow came every memory, fair, dark, blue, of every hue,
For the act was done , the story spun,

The audience applauded this final bow,in trite ways,
Left ,to act out their own plays,

The illusion of life, passed this day,
The stage emptied , the cast scattered away,

For another curtain call, another day, at the end of yet another play.

--shubha

Dimpled hope

Dimpled hope

A dark scar, ran down, like a tear-stained streak,
Even as fresh hope blossomed, as hesitant dimples on her cheek.

--shubha

Raindrops

Rain

Raindrops fall

Descend as mercy from heaven, 

Rinse the dusty surroundings clean, 

Obviates the overwhelming,oppressive heat, 

Pleasing smell of the revived earth, sweet, 

Sweating populace rejoices in the treat, 

Fine mists where the clouds, 

The mountains meet 

Rain drops 

as life 





--shubha

Heart's language

Heart's language

If the heart, knew not ,the language of love, what would it say?

In those ever dwindling  heartbeats , would any meaning stay?

The mechanical motion to pump blood in and out,

Would those many,many thumping beats,count?

Would each beat that flutters or swells,

Count as a moment lived, as well?

Perhaps it is well that the heart understands the language of love,

To fill each beat, of this life, with the possibility of joy from above.

--shubha

Bring our girls home

Bring our girls home

Bring our girls home,
No longer will they be pawns in power plays gruesome,
Return them to us  unharmed, unscarred,
That they may blossom the rest of their childhood, unmarred,
Let not this power of darkness overpower,
Bring back our girls, give us the strength to overcome this trying hour.

--shubha

P.S . This is the slogan for the releasing the school girls abducted in Nigeria

The yawn

The yawn

An epidemic broke out, in a hot classroom,by the far wall,
Where the heat and languor did sprawl,
Spread that contagious malady of boredom,
The stifled yawn.

--shubha

Glowering ends

Glowering ends

Glowering ends, a rasping cough

The years from a tenuous life

Snubbed out in stubs

--shubha

Unabashed flowers

Unabashed flowers

Open in directions four,
Spreading the fragrance that emanates from the core,
Cream colored petals , against a background of dark green,
Innocently invited the beholder to appreciate their waxy sheen,
Unabashed, curious, open,
Unlike some shy buds, that curled and drooped, in the hot sun.

--shubha

Beautiful day

Beautiful day
Vainly I try to bottle in a few words, the beauty on display,
To describe the elements on this beautiful day,
Grope for words that can adequately convey,
The blue of the blue skies or the green of the trees, that against it ,sway,
Search my stilted,stifled vocabulary,
For a word,to describe the free flowing, full river's majesty,
Look in vain,for that word that will bring,
The caress of the cool breeze on your skin,
Or the sound of the chorus that the ripples sing,
The warmth of the sun under my skin,aglow
Is there a word to convey that too?
Yes  in vain ,I try to condense the beauty of creation ,
That beauty that is available to all to experience, but defies description.

--shubha

Change within

Change within

In a sunflower field, roasted sunflower seeds in hand,

Satiating crunch, roasted , salted or bland,

While a similar seed bursts open in the earth's wet womb,

To push through the soils' tomb 

And join its' fellow sun gazers 

The seeds in my hand,their nascent life,razored,

Only food to sustain another , no longer can grow anything,

What a difference it makes,if the change is imposed,or springs forth from within.

--shubha

Eyes

Eyes

Two dark eyes, stared at me, upbraiding, accusatory,
With more questions in them than answers,

I wondered how many memories, prisoners of pain, paced it's labyrinths,
How many smiles hid in those crinkles on the edges,

What sorrows swam in those thin film of tears,
And what joys, sparkled in it's twinkle,
How many times had they scanned the horizons, waiting,longing,
Looked into other eyes seeking,
That which they carried buried within?
I wondered what dreams hid under those lids,
What stories they had to tell,

These dark eyes staring back at me ,with understanding, bemused at my bewilderment.

--shubha

Light play

Light play

Through the shadowy woods, the little copse glowed in the fading light,
Lit up, as if in the spotlight , what a glorious sight,
Lifted up her verdant limbs in the sunset,
Like a camera-loving, posing, starlet,
And as the wind sighed her song through the boughs
Seemed to be irradiated with her own inner glow,
Until the reluctant rays slowly pulled away,
The curtains of darkness fell and she waited to shine another day,
In the setting sun's  light play.

--shubha

Whispered wishes

Whispered wishes

Heart's fondest desires,
In heart's own silence, dwells,
In fear of it's disappearance , the heart thuds and swells
Scarcely can I ,give it life ,by setting it to words,
Lest ,it dissipate and vanish like soap suds,
Or give it expression, in a river of emotion ,a song that gushes,
But only as a fervent prayer are heard ,these fond whispered wishes.

--shubha

The Coming

The Coming

As I hurried to the trail today with some rapidity,

The air seemed to be weighed down by its own humidity,

From the surface the heat rose,

To dance as droplets of sweat at the tip of my nose,

Every leaf seemed to be still and expectant,

Like holding their collective breath for the moment,

When the wind would spread the happy news along the way,

Hearing which the trees would lift up their boughs and sway,

The clouds will rumble dark and low,

To burst open and pour their joy on the land below,

Yes, all creation seemed paused in hushed expectancy,

For the coming of the dark faced lord, to dance them to estascy.

--shubha

Mother

Mother

Mother, god's representative on earth,

One to love unconditionally from birth,

Tremendous faith she demonstrates in our nascent abilities,

Her blessings and prayers carry us through many trying contingencies,

Ever concerned, ever loving in her cares,

Reminds us of the loving presence that is always there,

As we take a moment,to remember all that you are due,

And with gratitude ,wish a happy Mother's Day to you.

--shubha

A rainy day prayer

A rainy day prayer

What is it about grey on blue,
That reminds me of you,
What is it about the lining of silver rope,
That fills my heart with hope,
That a promise ,of a rainbow, that you will bend,
To let my full heart, a grateful prayer send,
The clearing for the dark skies to a starry night,
That holds me in your embrace tight,
The quiet of the cloudy night,
That dances, in the dappled moonlight,
And brings this belief ,that tomorrow will be just right,
When your joy, your creation, will paint another beautiful sight.

--shubha

Story of a sugar cube

Story of a sugar cube

Among others of my kind, jostling for space

I had lain, proud of my form and white surface,

Yet within my structured crystals , I thirsted,

To know sweetness, I felt existed,

Until one day I was picked up,

And dropped into a steaming cup,

And as I was stirred into that hot brew,

Lost the form and color I knew,

Dissolving thus to sweeten another's cup,with love,

I discovered the sweetness , that I was made of.

--shubha

Festoons

Festoons

Like delicate teardrops at the edge of the lashes, they hung,
I saw spring joy,that as purple festoons, swung,
And my heart filled with the melody of this celebration, that nature had sung.

--shubha

Evergreen Vigils

Evergreen Vigils

The evergreens at the periphery,
Lifted their glowing green candles heavenward,
In silent vigil,
Giving thanks for the new spring
At the altar of Mother Nature.

--shubha

Change

Change


Constant in every sphere of life,
Has often manifested in the form of strife,
Always present on the surface ,
Not in the depths that sustains,
Great turmoil in a short span sometimes it has wrought,
Else been a quiet creeping difference that unawares has caught,
Change, that constant companion of time, slyly deludes,
Coloring that constant and unchanging source in the ever-changing hues.


--shubha

Drifting apart

Drifting apart

How the vocabulary of friendship changes,
One that began with shared benches,shared lunches,
Sealed with the exchange of toffee foil rings,
Friends all around, what joy the memory brings.

Shared notes, feverish quizzes before tests,
Secret crushes that only the best friends knew best,
Conversations that couldn't wait,
Shared in traffic over the din,
Where one could finish the sentences that the other did begin,

Growing up , journey to our own fortunes in different ways,
Sudden phone calls still filled with plenty to say,
The delighted occasional meeting,
Yet, below the surface,the differences were seething

Moved away to different but similar houses,
Found directions  with respective spouses,
The tasks, the chores, the family soon overwhelmed,
And the regular connection stemmed

Now we meet in social media posts
A like on a picture , perhaps a friendly poke,
The conversations yawn,trying to bridge the gaps of many years,
Yet finds comfort in knowing we are both still here,
Sometimes at the change, the heart wrenches
A journey from best friends to close friends to friends to acquaintances,

And yet through the deluge and the ebb of feeling
We find we care about each other's well being
And perhaps that is the treasure of friendship
Not the time, the connection, the conversation,the said and unsaid fears,
But the knowledge that you matter, to someone over the years.

--shubha