Musings on Death

What is the formula
To measure our lifespan?
What is too young?
When is the right time to be gone?

Ephemeral Life

Even exhilerating joy
Does not forever last
So also sorrows deepest
Soon from us they part

The Drop

It was vain and proud
As from Heaven it dropped
Unique and blessed
It swaggered and showed off

From Several Million Square Feet Above

I waited in my car,
stuck in a traffic jam,
thoughts about life flowing
more freely than the cars.

The Ungrateful

We settled around you,
venerating your presence.
Making our homes
where you let us.

The Heart of the Matter

Eyes closed,
In a new world I wander
Where am I
Lost, I wonder

A Light in the Dark

A world, only imagined?
Where I see the hero brave
Roaming unbridled
On a horse, straddled
With a bow and a sword
The courageous one swaggered

The Release

I stared into his grim eyes
Signalling me to follow him
So uncompromising and firm
For, it was already time.

The Free Spirit

A laugh gurgles within me
As I watch you celebrating

Branding me as slave and free
Enjoying in the name of democracy

Who can chain me, who can bind?
My spirit roams free and fine

The Beginning, The End

Why did I arrive crying?
What did I hate leaving?
What comforts was I missing?
What future was I fearing?

Be Still

The calm lake,
Fire within the cave
Placid and still
No hint of a wave
Words like pebbles
Make it ripple and sway

The Deception

Strong and imposing, broad and tall
Standing silent, towering above all
Oh hills, what depths in you reside?
Tell me, what secrets do you hide?

Dancing Feet

The tender feet
pink of hue
Stamping the ground
turned a deep blue

Flow of Life

I sit idly, and thoughts about life flow.

Does it have a beginning and an end?
Or does it just flow around the bends?

The Raised Hands

The hands rose
To cut the trees
The hands rose
To raze the green
And raise tall buildings

The Size of Trouble

When it was far
Insignificant and small
I laughed with glee
Ignoring the loud footfall
Nearer as it loomed
Growing bigger and bigger
With every step it zoomed
In my heart, fear it triggered

On my head
The sky was falling
I cowered and shivered
At the troubles appalling
Sobbing and whining
Wishing it away
'Why me' the question
Didn't help anyway

When I stood up straight
The troubles dispersed
My steady eye it met
And looked away in despise
It didn't vanish
Nor did it grow
Meeting its match
It just sank low

Never fear
For help is near
Right in your heart
If you let it say its part.
No greater friend
No greater foe
Your mind is where it is
If you really want to know.

Never No Time

Honey, she called,
Seeking but a moment
Not now, he replied,
Pointing to his work

Why did you call, mother?
Chafed her teenage daughter
Classes, parties, friends,
There is a lot I must attend

Will be out all day, ma
Son said as he stepped out
Don't wait up for me, he said
And yet she did just that

She was wife, ma, mother
Around this revolved her world
It seemed shrunk in size
And she, the only one to reside

Her eyes crossed the horizon
Worlds beyond they sought
New challenges they met
Many battles they fought

Though her world expanded
Beyond the lines that limit
Encircling it within her arms
She carried it where she went

Honey, husband called
Mother, daughter cried
Ma, son thought
Her new responsibilities beckoned

Not now, dear,
No time for you

Never for a moment 

Did she even think to say.

Democracy Hijacked

By, of, for the people, they said
But the people's protest went unheard
They played the numbers game
And the calculations were not the same
Between devil and the deep sea
Sold easily, and that too cheap!

Betrayed, and not even by someone trusted
Held for ransom, the entire state protested
Rules and laws too turned traitors
Making the turncoats legislators
The hated gang seems to be smiling
Despite their well laid plans failing

Rival families must be celebrating
While pretenses they are good at keeping
What, oh, of the man on the street
Wailing today for his own misdeeds!
What you sow, you reap
Hope you see the lesson it has to teach.

Democracy hijacked by kings and princes
Even nephews and niece get to eat the pieces
What shape will this drama take?
How will this unravel, what is at stake?
From chaos emerges clarity, they say
Will the dark nights bring a brighter day?

I Pray

Photo courtesy: Srikant Ranganathan

I pray, I pray, I pray

For what?
The mortal body
That will leave us one day?


For health?
That will fail
As we slowly age?

For wealth?
Which we will leave
When our soul flies away?

Demon-it-is-e

It has us in its vice grip
Making us spin and trip
Filling all our thoughts
That is all we ever sought