Love in Our Times...

"Once upon a time, there was a bird. He was adorned with two perfect wings and with glossy, colorful, marvelous feathers. In short, he was a creature made to fly about freely in the sky, bringing joy to everyone who saw him.
One day a woman saw this bird and fell in love with him. She watched his flight, her mouth wide in amazement, her heart pounding, her eyes shining with excitement. She invited the bird to fly with her, and the two traveled across the sky in perfect harmony. She admired and venerated and celebrated that bird.
But then she thought: He might want to visit far-off mountains! And she was afraid, afraid that she would not feel the same way about any other bird. And she felt envy, envy for the bird’s ability to fly.
And she felt alone.
And she thought: ‘I’m going to set a trap. The next time the bird appears, he will never leave again.’
The bird, who was also in love, returned the following day, fell into the trap and was put in a cage.
She looked at the bird every day. There he was, the object of her passion, and she showed him to her friends, who said: ‘Now you have everything you could possibly want.’ However, a strange transformation began to take place: now that she had the bird and no longer needed to woo him, she began to lose interest. The bird unable to fly and express the true meaning of his life, began to waste away and his feathers to lose their gloss; he grew ugly; and the woman no longer paid him any attention, except by feeding him and cleaning out his cage.
One day, the bird died. The woman felt terribly sad and spent all her thinking about him. But she did not remember his cage, she thought only of the day when she had seen him for the first time, flying contentedly amongst the clouds.
If she had looked more deeply into herself, she would have realized that what had thrilled her about the bird was his freedom, the energy of his wings in motion, not his physical body.
Without the bird, her life too lost all meaning, and Death came knocking at her door. ‘Why have you come?’ she asked Death. ‘So that you can fly once more with him across the sky,’ Death replied. ‘If you allowed him to come and go, you would have loved and admired him even more; alas, you now need me in order to find him again."

Somebody's Mee

Still can't believe you are gone
You have left me alone!
You were my solitude in loneliness,
And now, am swinging between slumber and consciousness.

Memory shall play its tricks and mind games,
Make it worse than it already is, buzz me with your name,
Along comes time the dual gambler,
Runs and changes and has to be the winner,
Twists and turns fate on its finger,
Strips off both smiles and tears!

Staring into the blank sphere,
Wondering how I lost it all and where?
Days are long, nights get longer,
Atleast tell me how much stronger?

Scattered pieces of my soul
Amidst the chaotic array of different roles
Ties of blood or bonds self-avowed
Friend within the distance or stranger in the crowd

Classroom Diaries

Sitting In The Classroom
The Pedant Professor Blabbering On
Sweat Dripping Down My Being
My Thoughts Shuffling Between 360 B.C and 21st Century A.D

Plato’s Philosophy of Art
Or Global Warming At Its Peak
Which One Is More Significant?

The Cellphone Buzzes..
A Child of Technology
Suddenly to Rescue

But, I am still stuck..

Man! I should concentrate
Or I won’t Score
And B’coz I can’t be a Geek
They’ll think I am a Jerk.

Besides, half the class is sitting straight-faced
The other half attempting to make sense
Vaguely distinguishing Noise from Words

Remembrances

Hey…is it time to bid adieu?

But in my heart you are stuck like glue

The gossips, the jokes and the mystery of studies to find clue

Every moment every thought will remind me of you

The joy and excitement of first discoveries

The tears and laughter of never ending memories

With the beginning of the first departures

To the panic and clinging on through unknown answers

Your name in the sands of my memoir

Your smile of assurance when life seemed a satire


Is it already time for the last act?

I step down from the vehicle
My feet say they can’t do it anymore
Then the baggage remind me of tasks to be performed
And I put on the persona and walk through the door

I walk through the throngs of people
Each with a destination in mind
Me, the sole wanderer of my destiny
Move on within the constraints of time

I gaze through the gates of understanding
Trying to figure out the meaning in each eye
When my sight lands on the mirror
And I am struck by the vagueness inside

I sit amidst loved ones
Listening to the hustle bustle of everday lives
Within a whimper chokes me
Memories and worries playing with my mind

I switch on the idiot box
Flipping the buttons of its mouse
When pictures of disaster shake my soul
And I am filled with horror and futility of it all

More such events occur around
Anger,Frustration and I wonder the presence of that divine
When a little child smiles at me
And I realize yet there’s beauty in the rhythms of life

There’s something about the sound of silence
There’s immense pleasure in an artist’s work
Within these confines lies the art of living
Tuning the strings and strumming the chords!!

Leave nothing Unsaid..

Every now and then we come across people in life….people who make a difference, who teach us that life is not necessarily about doing things for rather its about living for others, doing things that could bring a smile on a depressed face. People who make us realize that love is not about giving or receiving, its not about expecting things and the path is not always easy, there are obstacles to be crossed with patience and positive thinking.
People who bring a ray of hope from somewhere within a terrible storm, People from whom we learn that its too easy to shout and fret about your problems but your strength lies in accepting the challenge without losing the glitter in your eyes and then, winning over it….

Take time to let such people know how grateful you are for their kindness, how much you care and how deeply you appreciate the beauty they have bestowed in their world by just being dere…..
Remember, the most b’ful gift God gave His children was the ability to speak so that they can share their thoughts with each other, express the power of words!!!
Sometimes, we remain standing with our fists closed without realizing that the sands of time are slowly and steadily slipping away and when we actually bother to open our eyes, the slightest grain too has fallen of….
Like they say,
“If you know you are gonna die in the next five minutes and you have just one phone call to make, whom w’d you call and what w’d you say and what are you waiting for?????????”

The better part of life is spent saying,"its too early and then its too late"!!!


Its only once in a lifetime that you come across someone who becomes a damn significant part of your existence…someone who teaches that there’s joy in life’s little things too and happiness is nothing but a state of mind independent of other beings, someone who makes you realise the beauty of our own dreams, somebody who cherishes and cares and makes u feel like holding on to forever but when the moment comes over you are ready to let go because the memories are so incredible that they become the everlasting fragrance of the pages of your memoirs!
That person in my life once told me, "its not about letting go, but not holding on".
(And you know I have never been able to reply that much as I needed to, I could never afford the luxury to...)

Its a bittersweet symphony that is life...
Amidst these conflicting thoughts, the fact remains that when the time comes to say goodbye (if ever it does)..nothing should be left unsaid. Leave no space for regrets. Embrace the beautiful as much as you can b'coz those are the moments which are really remembered, everything else is washed away like the footprints in the sands...

I M Waiting...

For the day,
When you’ll say,
You’re the one, baby!


For the date,
When you’ll break all gates,
Bring me loads of chocolates,
And propose me to be your mate!


For the morning,
When there’ll be nothing,
Except beauty ‘n’ our love,
B’coz for me that is everything!


For the night,
When the dreams w’d fright,
And you’ll take me in your arms,
And say, “Its ok! Just sleep tight”!


For the moment,
When we’ll watch together the sunset,
Spend the night in a tent,
Talk of times when we first met!


For the floor,
Where while dancing in rhythm,
The eyes would explore,
Only to find myself in the heart’s core!


I am waiting…..
Because I know once in a blue moon,
Love knocks at your door,
And the soul whispers, “couldn’t have asked for more”!

Living between two worlds
Trying to be loyal to both
Misplaced Identity
Obscured sense of duty

Living a lie
Just because the truth hurts
Knowing it won’t last long
Still believing it must

Choosing between dreams and expectations
The growing dominance of the need
Irrepressible urge of desire
On each yet none the psyche feeds

Looking for the meaning of satisfaction
Defining happiness in senseless terms
Swollen egos or treasured self-respect
Misery of visceral conduct

Sitting at the crossroads of life
Traffic passing from all side
Trying to figure out where to diverge
When the only choice you have is no choice

Subjecting the self to tormenting afflictions
Searching through memory the meaning of tense
Fluctuating among binary oppositions
The bittersweet anguish of existence

Giving up what you want
Frustrated but can’t do much
They say you are born free
And keep reminding the possessive touch

Knowing too well yet accepting not
Wanting to understand the unknown
Lack of faith or too much belief
Self is responsible for one’s own

Challenging situations to tackle
Waiting for some miracle
Alone among loved ones
Everyone has to fight their own battle

Shuffling together the scattered pieces
Different sizes, varied cuts
Somehow they still fit into the puzzle
Resolving over the ifs and buts

The story of my life
May run parallel to yours
We still have our own sides
To tell amidst the unanswered divides!!!

Life's Theatre

Years back on an ordinary day

God conceived an idea from some clay

He moulded another human form

Not much hard work, just the usual norm

Then he devised another fable of strife

And gave me a role in the drama called Life

He decided himself to be the director

And found assistants to play the various characters

So, here I am working in stereotypical divides

Sometimes the lead, sometimes just watching from aside

At times I don't want to be on stage anymore

Open my eyes to find it all cast on a distant shore

Existing as daughter, sister and wife

But not living the miracle of life

With consciousness came civilization's rules

Culture, language, morals and other societal tools

I too became a part of the system

Sometimes my own and sometimes other's terms

People have so much venom in their heart

Only need a spark to start

Full of rhetoric questions

Searching hidden motives in every word and action

They want to put two and two together

But wonder how can the answer be four

In this play I often get the advise

From those who call themselves older but often the wise

How to dress, express or speak my lines?

Why the stars in the sky shine?

Even I became a comrade, a friend

Defining, condemning and taking stand

Limiting or glorifying as much as I can

What an experience to be human!

Tomorrow Never Comes

Drowned in the chaotic array of this animated land

Strained with the means to achieve intents

One grows wiser relationships take a backseat

Disheveled but constant in the race to compete

Burdened with deadlines and uncertainities of long-term goals

They stay together but minds are on different poles

One of these days we’ll sit and talk

Leave behind the inhibitions and go for a long walk

Over lunch he tells his colleague,

“Someday I’ll shower her with all my love and care

Tell the world that without her, there is nowhere”

Next day he walks in with a broken heart

Only to tell the same world that they have fallen apart

If only today was the tomorrow he had been waiting for

And he had understood the need to explain the ambitions were for her

Don’t ever take your beloved for granted, sometimes knowing ain’t enough

Little gestures and reminders of affection make the real stuff

Pamper your near and dear ones whenever you can

Because tomorrow never comes and when it actually does, you are just left with the
plans!

Sunrise

The dusk might end the day,

But soon the stars and moon pave the way.

As silvery cloak of the night sky,

Bids adieu, says goodbye.


Promises to return with its tranquil,

And the sun wakes up with a silent smile.


Shades of fire, air and earth merge with the cerulean,

To form layers of rainbow on the empyrean.

The morning star announced the arrival of dawn,

Life takes steps to move on.


A dew drop on the grass,

The ray that makes stone look like brass.

The exuberance of the living,

A time to start afresh and stop sulking!

Vanquished Soul

A silent tear that rolls down the eye,

The beautiful dream that quietly dies,

An inner voice that cannot lie,

The world that expects you to be shy,

The heart that wishes for wings to fly,

The rules and regulations which society applies...


Hey girl! What stops you?

From doing things you want to do

Why can't you be true?

To self and the world around you


Why don't you let the feelings show?

Is it because of some reticent vow?

How would the world know?

The seed of subjugation which society sows,

Maybe this is the way you were taught to grow

Try to raise that lowered eyebrow


I wonder whether you realize the prize,

When you readily give the sacrifice?

Do you become numb like ice?

When will return that lost voice?


Is it the age-old tradition?

Or are you bound by obligation?

At every step there is a question,

In every heart there is suspicion,

Memoirs are full of lost ambitions

Even a petty mistake lends humiliation


If it is the 21st century

Why are women still treated as cutlery?

Though there is a change in scenery,

Will, ever stop the struggle for identity?


Let us awake to a new dawn,

Where women are no longer treated like a pawn,

To subjugate, exploit and decorate the lawn,

Leave behind the innocence of a fawn,

Don't shrug this off like a yawn,

Remember, it’s the mother, an infant looks upon.

Life's Abyss

This world has become a big mart,

Be it fields of science, commerce or arts.

Emptiness surrounds every heart,

People seem close, yet are far apart.

Each mask uncovers a hidden story,

Reality is far different from the lands of fairy.


A child born to an unwritten fate,

Toddles in infancy, wishing to unlock all gates.

Does he ever wonder about the shadows

Or the encounters life bestows

Growing up in a secure world, life seems beautiful,

No Doubt, philosophies and lectures are so awful.

Adolescence with its zest and vibgyor,

One can’t ask for more

When the time comes to take a step out

Faith and Determination are all it seems about

The awaiting experiences outcasts the past ones,

Revelation comes along with the pros and cons

Dreams are shattered heart becomes stone,

The soul inside silently mourns.

The laughter that rang through the horizon

Its place, quietly, a plastic smile has taken

The little toddler is no longer a fool

Knows now the stupidity of lessons taught at school

The path may be different for one from the other

But at the end of it all- nobody is nobody’s brother


Its not just about angels and evils

Humanity is on the verge of peril

A new incident occurs every second, every day.

There is an urge to find the right way.

Perhaps if only eyes could speak and mouth left shut

People w’d be more honest and no one would ever hurt

Do you think the Earth will beautify like this?

Or should it carry on the way it is?

Man is a social animal, a single soul can’t decide

Society makes the rules and by it we all shall abide.

Opportune

Listen to the old and they will tell you,

They all in their youth must have been through,

When the mind’s full of hopes and young dreams,

Full of beauty the entire world seems,

Its only when the pretty vision shatters,

That the reality of words in your ears clatters,

It had happened in that unfortunate year,

When the heart was naïve and path unclear....

Even though you wonder over the years passed with surprise,

It isn’t new to the tears which slid down the eyes,

The past returns without any knock at the door,

Takes you back in to the world you dread once more,

The moments, the words, the smiles are all gone,

But the memories won’t let you stay alone,

Still when the right time comes you take a second chance,

Wishing things to go fine in advance,

Though destiny has it planned for very few,

You hope that you are a part of the crew,

Some day when the cupid will be certain it will be you,

And this time round the love will be true,

A new person will be seen on the horizon,

Whose warm smile shall be brighter than the Sun,

The pain would all be worth it in the end,

When you’ll find a true companion and friend,

So have patience while going through life’s sweet and sour,

Love will help you get over all that you so deeply abhor,

The bitterness would be all but forgotten,

The price which had to be paid will no more be a burden.