A new year -2016

A new year -2016

Another trip around the sun

With a single stroke, a new year will have begun,

And with new vigor , resolutions ,we arrange

Will anything in this new year change?

Will we traverse the maze of unmet desires again

Swing the swing, between pleasure , pain?

Or will we find our way , the direction, path between

In this new year of two thousand sixteen?

--shubha 

Moments of the night

Moments of the night


Nights strung together

With moments tenderly gathered


Moments of unrequited longing

Moments of happy belonging


Moments of festivity, celebration

Moments of lonely suffocation


Moments of quiet, wakeful serenity

Moments of stress, unrest , resolve, gritty


Moments of sweet slumber peaceful

Moments of many dreams colorful


Or perhaps,moments strung together

Through nights, gratefully in memory, tethered.




--shubha

P.S. Happy to share this poem won second place in a fortnightly theme competition in a poetry group.

The stare

The stare

Somewhere far away

A little girl sits on the grass,

Smears of soot against her skin

In a dirty, torn dress

That was once violet

A shocked, vacant stare

Looks out of the newspaper

Another day , another violent event 

Another lost home, another lost childhood....

 

And yet that stare..

Traverses the latitudes of separation 

Jumps the barriers of reason

Blazes its way out of a city,laid to waste

To mock my lazy decision of helpless apathy

Fashion of this season of selfcenteredness

To scorch my conscience.

--shubha

Foggy secrets

Foggy secrets

Night's secrets condense
Earth's warm lips smolder quiet
Hide passion in fog


--shubha

Night's hope

Night's hope


Night stretches endless

Renders everything colorless


Sketches stark shapes in gray

Reveals stories, unsaid during the day


Houses the ghouls of suspicion, dread,fear

Serenity of silence, dew drops' gentle tear


Yet, every night, of gain or pain

Carries in itself the next day's grain

Sleeps in the dreams,of a new days' hope

Those dreams, strewn stars, envelope

Thus I traverse this endless night

In hopes of a new day, new light

Filled with your presence, bright

--shubha

Night , the temptress

Night , the temptress

Nosegay of a heady scent swoons

In her tiara , the resplendent moon

Gown of blue velvet, star strewn

Hear the crickets, a welcome,croon

Twirls softly, pulls under her trance soon

Night, the temptress, sashays, sways

Lures to dream, to rest,a tired day

--shubha 

Generosity

Generosity 

Blow you gusting breeze
Carry away the last glowing embers
Of my pent up anger 
At injustice
And scatter them 
As benign leaves of fall

Leave me bereft 
Of any residual bitterness
As I stand proud, tall
Complete in my surrender

Let me retreat 
Into myself 
For winters' restful meditation 
Where I strengthen my faith

That come the warmth 
Of your spring
I will be willing, able 
To bloom 
Spread fragrance to all
Without holding back

--shubha 

Faith - for Chennai

Faith - for Chennai

Familiar names of my childhood float
As does a living , thriving city
Inundated by nature's excesses
And in hindsight perhaps its own
And over this floating debris
Rises human compassion
Understanding, patience,resilience
That forms resolute bridges
To those in distress
While the concrete ones ,submerged
Remain impassable
And as the flood waters will recede
My faith in goodness
That informs humanity at its core, increases.

--shubha

P.S For the flood stricken citizens of Chennai battling floods after an unprecedented deluge who have shown remarkable resilience and compassion for their fellows in distress 

Scarred and whole

Scarred and whole

In deep swallows of hard lumps
I drink up , drop by little drop
Of presumed rejection

With searing rip after rip
I tear out the pain
And let it fly in the breeze
Of gentle forgiveness
One shred at a time

In silent sniffles
I let out fragments
Of a building scream
To find my way to silence

With each wound, a new hole
I plug with forgiveness
To try and fill this leaking heart
With love

With every small attempt to love
Despite the hurt, I heal
Grow a little more scarred
A little more whole

--shubha

Pink promises

Pink promises


Streams of pink promise

Among gray boulders ,splashes

Golden dawn trickles




--shubha

Children's day pledge

Children's day pledge

I see the hope of the future dance in your eyes
Your laughter , smiles, their freedom, trump any prize
I wish I could smooth your way , so everything is nice
But sometimes best intentions, best efforts do not suffice
And there are those days when life is a compromise
Others when it feels threatened by hatred on the rise
And I may leave you a world ,full of its' own caprice
But I would have failed you only if I give up , capsize
With every blow of ill will, let go of faith, in a trice
And let the dreams, hope die in your eyes
So today I promise , I will never give up , whatever the price
And though I may be unable to leave you a world quite so nice
You will have the comfort that I tried , for all that I prize

--shubha

Fraternity

Fraternity
For Paris , 13/11/2015

There is a pall over the city of lights
As it mourns the souls
Lost to the darkness of hatred
That rears its' monstrous head
to lick the blood of innocents
To feed its' insatiable appetite
Of engendering more of itself

Yet in this night of nightmare
I cling to a flickering hope
There will be tears , shock , anger
But it will exhaust itself in love
Compassion , resurgence

That the city of lights
Will shine once again
Display the principles of
Equality, Liberty, Fraternity
Without the blood letting
And a fraternity broad enough
To embrace all the innocents.

--shubha

P.S. After the terrorist attacks in Paris 

Diwali greetings

Diwali greetings

Wish you all a dazzling Diwali , full of joy , cheer
May the bright lamps light hearths, hearts dear
May the sweets sweeten our tongue, sounds we hear
May the celebrations brighten every day, through the year
May we be blessed with health , peace ,far and near
May abundant grace overflow , overcome every fear,
May this dazzling Diwali, with joy, gratitude, love , endear.

--shubha




( Pic from the internet )

Empty nursery

A couple of micro poems on the prompt of shadows/heart/ball


Empty nursery

Small shadows bounce ball
My hearts' empty nursery
Echoes with longing


Light up joy

Peel off balled shadows
In hearts' dark corner, let fly
Light it up with joy

--shubha

Shadow and light

Shadow and light

As the morning glows, brightens
Shadows stretch,lengthen

Stretching from the night to day
A changing , growing , shrinking link, say,

Between light and dark
One, the other's absence marks

Inseparable, is this winsome pair
Light and shadow, in life,space share.

One the source , another the projection,a show
Remove the object and there is no shadow

In turning to the light,dissolving our ego
Its' projected sorrows, life's shadows, we let go

--shubha

Light and Shadow

Light and Shadow

In the dappled light,by the creek,
Light and shadow, play hide and seek,
A look here, a glance there , a little peek
Opposites meld,separate,meet,
Enhance nature's mystique.

--shubha

Honeyed Autumn afternoons

Honeyed Autumn afternoons

In thinning golden canopy,
Sunlight that ribbons through
In yellow rivulets
Warmth wrapped around
A pleasant coolness
In mellow overtones
In sweetness that drips
Thick , viscous
To melt a leaden heart
To coat every memory
In its' own taste , hue
Comes a honeyed autumn afternoon.

--shubha

Momentary choices

Momentary choices

The clouds cleared to frame the peak
A beautiful sight,to me,did speak

A transcendental moment, drawing goosebumps
To others,a great photo opportunity,that trumps

As tourists gathered around for a good shot
Lovers cozied up,not giving onlookers,a thought

Yet from this wondrous sight, one man had nothing to gain
With his back to it, he surveyed the mall in growing disdain

What is so great about this place? , he complained
We can find all these things at home, cheaper, he exclaimed

Oh mountains,he snorted,seen one, seen all
Fancy coming all this way,to see them stand tall

I stared at the man,blind to the beauty,so magical
But recognized his own truth in his outlook,practical

Understanding dawned to its own surprise
And in accepting this differing view, I did realize

Every moment carries in itself , an amalgam of hues
The one we see , is the one we choose.

--shubha

Fall leaf

Fall leaf

Let it fall
This dried up, shriveled leaf
Of hurt
To it's own death
Let it flutter
To it's resting place,
A pigmented memory
Of trifled trust
After all the bitterness
Has dried out
Carry the knowledge, power
Of surrender
Let it fall
As a colored emissary
of acceptance


--shubha

Navrati prayer

Navrati prayer


May Mother's compassion nurture our nascent dreams

May she endow us with vigor , power for the effort

May our endeavors be victorious by Her grace

That we offer with gratitude at Her feet

From her , onto Her may all our thoughts, words , deeds

Arise and subside

As she rides into our hearts this day.



--shubha

Zindagi

ज़िंदगी

पुराने नए बीच झूलते पल में

ज़िंदगी अपनी मंज़िल ढूँढती है

सफ़र में अपना आशय पाती है

-शुभा


Purane naaye beech jhulti pal mein
Zindagi apni manzil doondti hai
Safar mein apna aashay paati hai


Translation


In this swinging moment between the past, future
Life searches for its' destination
Finds its' purpose,is the journey




--shubha

P.S. Sometimes life sends you a pleasant surprise , that came to me in form of these few lines in Hindi, which is not the language I think in . Perhaps it is the influence of some beautiful poems, I have had the privilege to read . Many many thanks to my friend, Mugdha W for her help correcting and editing my first attempt at writing in Hindi . 

A new word

A new word

It tempts, a flitting butterfly

Inducing chase

To settle fluttering , hesitatingly 

On my tongue

Run rivulets of feeling 

Through the ridges of my brain

Stains my memory

With its' singular sound

Until at the edge of

Understanding , experience

It coalesces as a drop

To reflect it's meaning

And in so surrendering its' mystery

Settles into the folds of familiarity

In giving its' all 

Is how it claims me for its' own.

--shubha

Windows of hope

Windows of hope

Bright, blue butterfly 

Unfurls among the gray clouds, 

Chance window of hope

--shubha

Secrets of the heart

Secrets of the heart

What secrets do you hide,my beating heart ?
That I am,what I always was from the start ,
That there is no beginning , end, no meeting to depart
That the illusion of separateness , plays a part
In obscuring the real , the true , the one in every heart
That I discover , lose , discover in starts,
When my heart beats for another , that love imparts
Is how I lose in Love, my own heart?


--shubha

Smudged moon

Smudged moon


Bosom of clouds hold
Secrets of nights' rendezvous
A smudged moon betrays


--shubha

Story of time

Story of time

With a yellow finger
The sun traces, the story of time
Upon my breathing walls,
In lengthening, shrinking, lengthening shadows
Measures,in distances, its' passage
As I watch , at rest,
Collecting the blessings of quiet.

--shubha


Inspired by a poem, Tranquility by Poonam D on  a facebook poetry group.

Meera's call

Meera's call

You smile in every flower, tree
In every breath, every heartbeat,free

You are in every grain of sand
In each giving, receiving hand

When you reside in all that be
Where can you hide from me?

Why then,Oh playful cowherd do you make me seek?
Vanish from the recesses of my heart,in nights bleak

You who manifested to assuage your devotees' pain,
Will you let Meera's plea, go in vain ?

--shubha

Immersion

Immersion
For Ganesh Chaturthi

Come into my heart ,oh large-eared one,
Let me open my own , listen, to the music of truth
Seat yourself in this heart for endless days
Let me worship you with endless devotion
Focused, wise , accepting, pleasing
And as the world bids you goodbye through immersion
Let me bid goodbye to all bondage , by immersing myself in you

--shubha

Of love and bonds

Of love and bonds

Make not a bond of love
For bonds, simply hold down

Love demands expansion with every breath we own
Forfeit self, hurt, expectation, worldly renown

Yet those bonds of love, that I have known
Untainted by expectation, have steadily grown

In me, seeds of love have sown
Lets me expand into the unknown

Love subsumes bonds into it's own
To untangle them,set you free, in love,grown.

--shubha

P.S. this poem came to me in response to a prompt ( bonds of love) on a facebook poetry group, wordsmiths . With apologies to Khalil Gibran fro the first line which is similar to one of the line sin Marriage- The Prophet . 

Janmashtami prayer

Janmashtami prayer

With these tiny steps, enter my heart,
To steal it, O' charmer of charmers,

Let me glimpse the cosmos in You, enshrined,

Even as I learn to see You without and within,

Through the forest of my fears,
Lead me with your divine music,

In the moonlit clearings of Your joy,
Dance with me , to ecstasy , to bliss

Through my questions, my trepidations, my life,
Be my charioteer, my teacher, my guide,

Through my everyday illusion of trouble
Be my sustainer, to bear and comfort me,

Be my light, O' Krishna,
Lead me unto you.


--shubha

Lament of the sea

Lament of the sea

Desperation boards rickety vessels
To sail, to a chance, at a life
On an unwelcoming shore

Overburdened with the masses
Daily seeking refuge
Why us? , they ask
It is too much to bear
Too many, to care
Put up walls of fear

Greed preys on desperation
To desert them to their fates
These migrants, who are, not quite people

Hope capsizes, in storm of apathy
The sea, no longer able to hold
A cold world's discarded souls
Washes up on the shore, a corpse
Of a small child
As a mute question
On the present state of humanity
And its’ bleak future .

--shubha

For Aylan Kurid , a five year old Syrian boy , whose copse washed up on Europe's shore after a boat carrying him and his family capsized during a desperate bid to sail to Europe in order to seek asylum from the civil war in Syria.

Silken Fortress

Silken fortress

With tied silken threads
I build myself a fortress
Protection of love

--shubha

On the occasion of Raksha Bhandan a festival in India to celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters.

Rosary

Rosary

Moments pickled in memory
Acquire glass shells of definition
Hues of different emotions
To become colored beads
Of a rosary threaded by nostalgia
That I recall everyday, with love.

--shubha

Moments

Moments

Moments ,a dew drop
At the edge of time,hold
A brief reflection

--shubha

Just Be

Just be

Don't try to catch me, own me
I am,the moonbeam in your hand
That slips away , but fills your empty palm
With silver

Don't try to imprison me, keep me
But in memory
I'm the fragrance that wafts,
Tickles your nostrils, 
Leaving behind a sweet scent

Don't try to capture me , seal me in pictures
I am the moment, the frame,
To flicker,but a brief second 
On your consciousness 
And leave behind residual images

Accept me , as I am
Fleeting, flowing, free
And  enjoy me ,here and now
Not in memory
Or projections of what will be.

Find your freedom to be
Just be.

--shubha

Independence and interdependence

Independence and  interdependence

In a world of growing interdependence,
As we celebrate our independence,
Know, growth lies in bridging the distance,
Acknowledge our distinctness, presence,
But remember the oneness, coherence,
That has been our message, our deliverance
Freedom hard won by a generations' penance,
May it shower the blessings of unity, compassion, abundance,
On the anniversary, of the country's independence.

--shubha

P.S. On the occasion of India's 69th Independence day 

Ever the migrant

Ever the migrant


Meandering paths we roam,

In search of a place to call home,

Gather memories, false belongings

Resume journeys of restless longings

Answers lie just beyond, believes the wanderer

New vistas will provide answers, their secrets surrender

Thirst torments, new restlessness, no answers


Yet if we pause , look inside, therein

We find we carry our home, within.


--shubha

In memory

In Memory

RIP Dr A.P.J Kalam sir

Some leave behind a loving, grieving family
Some leave behind memories for a few people they've touched
Some leave behind a legacy of their achievements
Some leave behind their ideas to ignite others

But blessed are those who leave behind
A family of strangers, touched,bound by love received,
Memories, that become the narrative of a nation, in humility
A legacy,of inspiration for those that follow
With unassuming charm
Ideas, to spark the imagination of a generation

Leave behind a role-model
To look up to ,to emulate

Soar high,to your home well earned
And we left behind,thank you
For having shared your years, wisdom among us.

--shubha


In memory of DR. A P J Kalam , 11th persident of India who passed away July 27,2015

Alaska Trip 2015

Sharing some pictures and impressions from a recent Alaskan cruise . Hope you enjoy them...

Alaskan Cruise Photos

Starry nights

Starry nights

Tired day sinks to rest
Valley cradles setting sun
Dreams of many stars

--shubha

Roosting birds

Roosting birds

Mind's bare branch festooned
Roosting birds sway in the breeze
Scatter thoughts in flight

--shubha

Tripping

Tripping


Cloud chased by the wind
Trips over the moon to drop
Gathered shining stars


--shubha

Awakening dreams

Awakening dreams

Golden light filters
Lingering dreams gather gilt
Sleepy mist stretches


--shubha

Homework battles

Homework battles

Tears, threats, refusals, tirades
Make up the daily homework crusades

Complaints " You never let me have any fun"
Threats , " You will never see your game control till the work is done"

A snack, a back rub , many a cajoling, later
Finally sit down to get to the matter

Finish up quickly, to my disbelief
Homework complete, to everyone's relief

Tomorrow there will be another battle story to tell
But until then, alls well that ends well

--shubha

Phoenix

Phoenix

When you left
Drew a dagger out
To leave behind, my jagged breath
Carried away our songs
To leave a hard lump in my throat
Took away all warmth
To leave my heart cold, frozen
Butterflies in my stomach followed you
Leaving a never ending void
Barren, breathless, cold, leaden

Yet from this emptiness
I will wring out the last drops
Of laughter, life, love
Rise again
Blaze into being
Ever the Phoenix

--shubha

A red carpet story

A red carpet story 

A million lights flash

To loud thunderous applause 

A green earth sashays 

--shubha 

The Miracle cure

The Miracle cure

Did you know Kanan 's old grandpa is sick

The rumor, traveled the village quick

And the village gathered to commiserate 

The young daughter-in-law,educate

It is very sad , the end is nigh

In hushed whispers, they did sigh

Advised,to put him on a diet of thin rice gruel

To ask his body to digest anymore would be cruel

Each passing day poor Thatha* remained unwell

Villagers shook their heads, waited for the funeral

Until the schoolmaster's son returned  to everyone's delight

A doctor, the village's future bright

Who knew that little imp, the naughtiest in the crowd,

Would one day,make the village proud

Off he went to see Kanan, his old friend, heard the tale

Of his ailing grandpa, so sick,so frail

Moved by the sight of a once jolly man, broken, bent

Asked to be left alone,with his patient

Came out grave, stern, face creased with care

There is still hope, he did declare

The treatment is complicated, for it's efficacy

I must insist on it's completely privacy

Every morning, the young doctor arrived as norm

A neatly wrapped newspaper package under his arm

By and by,to the surprise of all

Thatha recovered with each doctor's call

Until one day , to the exclamation of all and sundry

He sat up and declared he was very hungry

The village came together to celebrate 

The young doctor, on this miracle cure, felicitate

Asked the headman his reverent best

Would the doctor,kindly share his secret ?

The doctor seemed abashed , amused too

Said it was no miracle cure, he knew

Old man was tired of the gruel diet, he led

Begged for some idlis instead

The idlis I bought him from the nearby store

Are the reason, for his own cure

The old man chuckled , and said

No my son, it was your kindness, instead

And when all else fails , kindness is the miracle cure

That stems by grace, from hearts pure.

--shubha 

Watermelon summers

Watermelon summers


On hot, sticky afternoons

Meet me with a smile

Let your ice-cold juice trickle

Down my parched throat

As you melt in my mouth

With a satisfying crunch

Comfort of memories

Of many childhood summers

Held together in a triangular slice

Of sweet,juicy watermelon




--shubha

 

Postponing goodbyes

Postponing goodbyes


What are you looking at ?, he pried,
Nothing , she hastily lied,

I am etching this moment in memory,
Trying to carve in your face for eternity,
Savoring this togetherness, for all it can be
Stretching this minute,for as long as you agree,

Postponing the inevitable goodbyes.


--shubha

Potter's wheel

Potter's wheel

On the spinning wheel of time
He skillfully shapes nothingness
Encapsulates it in fragile clay
Creates vessels to hold a bit of eternity.

--shubha

Valley of consensus

Valley of consensus

Egos stand tall

Tower over agreement

Trying to block the path

Each trying to outdo the other

In height and girth

Even as understanding

Starts as a humble trickle

Channeled towards a goal

Runs as streams, rivers

To cut a canyon 

Through the mountain of egos

And in the valley

Where ego flattens

In humility , submission

Meadows flower

Orchards bear fruit

In the consensus of love

--shubha 

Science of art

Science of art


Is there a science to art?

A way to measure, compare, break it down into its' constituent parts,
Is it through this process of dissection, that discernment starts
Or is it mere savagery on the patron's part?

The process of developing taste,
Is it merely shoring up of our own bias?

Can beauty truly be understood?
Or is this endeavor a futile exercise, misunderstood,

Perhaps beauty is just that which the heart latches onto quickly,
To be accepted, enjoyed with its' inherent mystery.


--shubha

Finger painting

Finger painting

The cloud streaks gray lines
Across morning's silver streams
Finger paints with glee.

--shubha

Dare not feel

Dare not feel

With deep dread
I avoid that hole in my heart
That aches, trembles
For those dealing with the aftermath
Of Mother Earth's tremors
Lest I should lose my equilibrium
And fall into that yawning hole
That seems bottomless

With pretended deafness, loud music
I turn a deaf ear to the whistling rockets
Screeching sirens , rat-a-tat of bullets
That are the sounds of a war-zone
Home to so many

With a practiced indifference
I turn away from appeals
To various charities
Hide my paralysis by fear
Under the onslaught
Of the world's endless problems
Under the guise of helplessness

Cease , stop , desist
This heart can bear no more
Stop, I dare not feel
I dare not stop

--shubha

Earthquake

Earthquake


Deep within the bowels of the earth, the plates grind, grate,
Send tremors through our insulated lives, our belief in our own immunity,shake,
Cause much suffering, upheaval and shock,
The movement of the cracked crust on a ball of molten rock,
Reminders of our insignificance, connections, that earths' bounty is not,only to take,
The rude awakening of a shuddering earthquake.


--shubha

Oasis

Oasis


Thoughts flood, wash me away in their deluge

Yet don't satisfy my thirst, are not my refuge

I string my days together, with sips at your tranquil oases,

As I wander lost, the vast desert of my illusions, biases.


--shubha

Spring green

Spring greens

From my window, I see

A sylvan wonderland,pretty

The promise of growth,as it be

Green upon green,dances free

As I collect a bit of calm, spring ecstasy. 

--shubha 

Happy Tamil New Year

Happy Tamil new year- puthandu vazhutukal

May this new year flower with hope of the neem
Hold the promise of sweetness of the raw mangoes
Brighten your life as the blazing, powerful sun
Wishing you the joy of a new year
Filled with grace, blessings for growth.

--shubha

Thirst

Thirst

This illusion of aloneness,separation
This unquenchable thirst,of desperation

For a few drops to satisfy
A yearning deep, rectify

A myriad of desires,chased
For momentary happiness, quickly erased

When all the while , in the journey, endeavor,
Breaking down the dam of ego, we find our reservoir

--shubha

Tension and Resonance

Tension and Resonance

Distances yawn, stretch
Taut, tense with misunderstandings
Strengthened by the silences
Of fear, apprehension
To snap and throw apart
The once tight pairing
Vibrating with resonance
And inherent tension.

--shubha

Wars were won

Wars were won

The cost of war
Is estimated in the billions
Of broken infrastructure
That needs rebuilding

In the loss of life
Of the fighters
The civilians
And those left behind
Whose life cannot be rebuilt
As it was before

In the numbers displaced
Homeless in an alien land
As refugees
As they bide their time to return

In the loss of innocence
Among the children
A childhood snatched
For the insanity of their elders
A debt, rarely repaid,

So many different ways to measure
The loss of a war,
Yet , history reports,
Wars were won.

--shubha

P.S. This poem came to me in response to a photograph of a of a terrified little girl in Syria with her hands up , because she thought the photojournalists camera was a gun.

Of crosses and stakes

Of crosses and stakes

We all carry our crosses,
Across this life
The price of our sins
This spectacle,a lesson to others
That the burden we carry alone
Is the price of our separation
From our truth

Other times we feel
We burn at the stakes
Of an unfeeling world
For not conforming
To it's stringent measures
The price of our freedom
Their heresy

Yet neither crosses or stakes
Are our only truth
For beyond the nails,pain
Beyond the burning disassociation
Lies,the promise of deliverance
Of resurrection.

--shubha

Fool's birthday

Fool's birthday

Ah! the joy of a birthday,
On All Fool's day

The snarky or playful reminders,
The many witty rejoinders,

But it is not without some recompense,
For you can invite many a friend,
To a non existent party, without giving offense .

--shubha

Weight , my dear friend

Weight, my dear friend

Weight my dear friend
Will you stay with me till the end?

Sometimes I was your clinging need
Others, you, I did feed

Together, we make a inseparable pair
Through diets, workouts, or feasts fair

So many times your presence, did rue
But I could not have found a friend more true.

--shubha

Rama Navami pledge

Rama Navami pledge

The lord of the universe
Has not a place to reside
For we have banished him
From our hearts 
His chosen abode

And we mourn 
The distance
Yearning restlessness
That is our lot
When we separate 
Ourselves from that
which is our truth

On this holy day 
Let us clean the clutter
Purify our hearts
not just the house
Decorate with devotion

By His grace
Embrace the path of righteousness
And welcome the Lord
To reside, in His chosen home.

--shubha

The sonnet, an elusive beast

The sonnet, an elusive beast

The sonnet remains an elusive beast
Someday I will go a' hunting
Bring it home for the feast
But the prospect is daunting

The quatrains will come someday
Iambic pentameters fall in place
It will make sense in many ways
Memory of my struggles, erase

But till then rhyme must suffice
My turbulent emotions,describe
To wrap in lines , somewhat nice
Some meaning, wisdom,imbibe

But even with the sonnet won,no more wait,
Will the quest, thirst ever abate?

--shubha

Woman, I am

Woman, I am

Spark of the divine feminine
Wrought of inordinate strength
I am

The tenderness of a daughter
Watchfulness of a sister
Helpfulness of a mate
Guidance of a teacher
Mother,I am
Sustainer, preserver,nurturer all around
I am

I may be, soft, flowing , pliant
Your complement
But mistake not,my gentleness
For weakness
When the boundaries of decency,are gone
The Amazon
I am


A person,
Not the same, as you
But equal
Woman,
I am



--shubha

Color me

Color me

Color me pink, yellow, blue
Color me with joy, anew
Color me in every hue
Color me until I am the same as you
Color me till I blend in true

And as we lose our superficial separations
Dressed in myriad colorations
Let us see ourselves,as each other's reflections

--shubha

P.S. Wishing you all a very happy, joyous, safe Holi

Snow lullabies

Snow lullabies

Quietly dreams fall 

Rest on earth's fluttering lids

A white blanket lulls

--shubha 

Write me a poem

Write me a poem

Write me a poem
Not of pain or woe,
No trace of darkness, despair, let it show,

Write me a poem as delicate as a dew drop's gleam
That sings the song of the woodland stream

Write me a poem, daffodil bright,
That twinkles like the stars of the night,

Write me a poem, filled with hope,like a lark's call
That rejoices in color ,like the trees, at fall,

Write me a poem, as beautiful as this world,multi-hued,
But you have already,
Everything with your magic imbued.

--shubha

Modern phones

Modern phones


Hello , would you like to see some phones,
We have the gamut to choose from,all models, known,

Here is the latest one in the galaxy
The prized possession of many a fantasy

It has regular features, a clock, camera, more
Why it could be the key to your front door,

It comes in black, mauve, pink or blue
Doubles up as a status symbol too

In your car it can be your navigator, music store
Coverage from hill to vale, shore to shore

It records every step, every location to share
Let your friends know,you are there
That thing ,that is the privacy hawk's nightmare
But you aren't a terrorist, so you shouldn't care

It has apps for social media, galore
So you are apprised of every update, sublime to the bore

Do you have any questions, will that be all ?
Oh it even has an alarm in case you fall,
Bewildered I replied, but can I use it to call?


--shubha

Shivratri Prayer

Shivratri Prayer

Sinner,that I am
A puppet,of my desires
Accept me
Lead me from
My wayward journey
Chasing fireflies
Of empty desire
To the steep, rugged stillness
Of renunciation

Lead me from the
Pursuit of temporary happiness
To the search of the permanent
The truth

O' compassionate one
Who bears the poison
That your children not suffer
Help me bear my own
Yet not be embittered

Lead me from the restlessness
Of petty wants
To the stillness
That is you.

--shubha

P.S. MahaShivRatri is a day of prayer, fasting in worship of Lord Shiva , one of the trinities of the Hindu Religion . 

A different kind of love story

A different kind of love story 

As all stories, 

This too, is about love,

How the morning  and evening 

Wished to meet, now

But every morning would grow weary 

With duty of the day's work

Every evening lost it's way,

In the night's despair 

So once every summer, by the poles

They took little sojourns

To meet , touch ,play 

In an endless day

And as they separated 

Went their way

They sent each other,

Painted postcards,everyday.

--shubha 

Dams

Dams

Hurt puts up walls
To wallow in it's stagnant pools
Of self-pity

While outside , love pushes
Exerts pressure on these false barriers

The wind wafts the melody of bliss
Over the separation

Hope, is the swallow, that scrabbles
Against this mud embankment
With faith , it will find a perch,rest

Until a single shoot of tenderness, sprouts,
In that vulnerable spot,
Weakened by kindness
To send a lasting crack
Through the damaged walls

And the dammed defenses crumble
As love pours in
Reclaims it's own.

--shubha

Love Was

Love was

Love was,when I first saw you
Wrinkled, red, eyes screwed up tight

Love was, when I first held you
Traced the contours of your tiny fingers

Love was, when I first whispered in your tiny ears
And you answered with a resounding wail

Love happened,when you first smiled
That toothless, gentle smile, in sleep , of the angels

Love toddled , learnt it's first steps
Holding on to love's hands

Love grew , with you
With each milestone
With every breath

Love is ,wherever you are
Whenever,I outgrow myself
To see the world, as you.

--shubha

P.S. A song for my son

Birthday

Birthday

Birthday
Cake, gifts
Celebrating,gathering, giving
Gratitude for life with you
Wishes

--shubha

P.S. Birthday wishes for my Appa .
A didactic cinquian .
A cinquain is a five line structured poem. You can read some more about it here, http://examples.yourdictionary.com/cinquain-examples.html

The postcard

The postcard

The last edge crammed with words,memories,

Even as the ink fades

Trains caught, things left behind, loves lost, joys found

Bits and pieces of a lifetime, recorded haphazardly , momentarily

Witness,to smiles, sighs, laughter, tears

A postcard, refreshes a yellowing memory.

--shubha 

P.S This short poem came to me in response to a prompt of a photograph of an old.15 paise Indian postcard. The poem had to be six lines or less and am happy to share, was selected as one of the winners.

Eating sun

Eating sun

At sunset, looking deep into mine

He said, between us, my sunshine

Let us ,gobble up the sun

Come on,it will be fun

So I melted by degrees ,in his arms

The eaten sun turned into liquid warmth

That spread it's fiery passion in our veins

Our very breath with longing, stained

When we opened our eyes the sun was gone in traces of pink

Leaving behind a seared memory of a kiss, in indelible ink.

--shubha 

P.S. This poem came to me as a response to a prompt on romance in a poetry group and a poster for a movie, I saw somewhere. The protagonists were about to kiss with the sun in the background, hence the title .

Vermilion promise

Vermilion promise

She waited at the pond's edge

As her life flashed by in reflection

The pool, unable to contain 

Her beauty, her excitement 

Shivered with her anticipation 

Shimmered in her joy

Till the sun melted

Ran liquid gold

To fill the pond with

Vermilion promise

She collected

A pinch for her own.

--shubha 

P.S.  This poem was inspired by a beautiful photograph by a very talented photographer, Robi Chakravarty shared on a common group . The picture was of a young bride at the edge of a river at sunset.