Month: April 2018

I wake up in the midnights
sit on the bed for a while
” have not  completed the homework,”
I cry.

“What did I not finish?”
interrogation follows.
Struggle to recollect.
I fail.

“How can I?” It is
decades since, I graduated from school
or college whatever might be.
I smile.

The unfinished duties
show up in my dream.
Perhaps a reason, a signal
forcing me to accomplish.

The days fly. Time waits for none.
I understand. Now resolve
to fulfill the commitments.
Hope, I do.

He is like a cat on the fence,
a  connotation to fickle mindedness
the cat and the mouse game
one of  a popular sport of the kids
as stealthy as a cat,
a characteristic feature
are the allusions to the little mammal

The long whiskers twitching
striped body in mixed colours
yellow and black, or black and white
A poor cousin of the  ferocious tiger.
cantankerous and less harmful,
whose small eyesglitter in dark
decipher the slightest.

Nursery rhymes “Pussy Cat”
“Hickory Dickory Dock,”
read from childhood
create a bond,
the kid and the animal relate.

A friendly creature,
a pet at home is but
considered  an ill omen
in Hinduism, the cat
walks in style like a hero
on the walls of my house.

I cannot interpret,
fail to identify
what could it be?
I speculate.

The character is ambiguous.
I eye him from an angle.
The impression he suggests
diverges from his self.

He acts, assumes
he is a saint,
above judgment.
He is a Satan.

The world believes him,
mean not the larger section
that of his circle,
talk of him high.

The  shield of righteousness
ruptures with  time
the face props, shows
anger, greed and deceit.

His coterie turn aghast.
Is he the one we eulogised?
An antithesis of the earlier,
They stay disillusioned.

Vegetables, milk and fruits
constitute my staple diet.

Consume little
adequate for sustenance.

Live in tranquility at home
read and write.

Walk finds its way
into the alibi.  An exercise.

These keep me going at ease,
neither active nor sedentary.

Munching chocolate
with the saliva dribbling
the kid runs to his mother
dressed to attend a wedding.

Mama tries to get elsewhere,
jumps to the other end,
climbs on the chair
hides behind her husband.

The child creates a tantrum
negotiates through the space
catches her and wipes his lips
on the sari.

Helpless, she lifts him
her trousseau is marked
by fingerprints. The boy kisses her.
Chocolate  over her face.

Sticky and afflicted, she sits
at home with her son,
being the predicament
of young mothers.

Those around me
behave impeccable
flattered, I
lose my feet.

This could be
in front of me , extend
a smile and a bow
an accomplished  acting.

Impressed by their charm
I stay happy,
assume I am
great and terrific.

I do not believe them,
profess to do so
play the fool with discretion
a strategem I only know.

With that we go
consenting to everything
whether we like
comply with a smile
being the means to survive.

Years before, dissented
and picked quarrels,
expressing the discontent
groan with a grunt
unaware of the sustainability.

Age contributes  wisdom
a broad grin and a big nod
help us  cross the obstacles
a kind of ploy precious
to cohabit and achieve.

The place  is strewn with notes,
required and unwanted.
They lie there for years
I never bother to arrange.

They fly when I turn the fan.
The table  looks chaotic.
I do not pick them
feel lazy all the while.

I neglect my duties.
look distraught
so are my possessions,
unkempt and in disorder.

This has been my program
right from the school days
when my books and notes
reveal  a disarray.

I am the same decades later.
As they say habit dies hard
I continue to live in a deviation,
a distraction hard to overcome.

I am on the beach,
the waters ebb and flow
once mild,
most  ferocious
– fathomless.

I climb the hilltop
steep and winding
the road continues,
breathtaking in the go
– amazing.

I wander through the meadows,
extensive tracts of verdant green
where sparrows proliferate,
the pasture dance in the breeze,
– invigorating.

The sensibility I experience,
beyond  versification. am
overwhelmed by the depth,
majesty and grace,
-awesome.

It is the Indian practice,
greet guests with a Namaste,
offer pure water in a pitcher,
a custom of significance.

You miss out the embrace
and the handshake.
The sparkle in the eyes
extend charm.

Pleasant conversation follows
while the dinners get ready,
The visitors depart with content
a full stomach and a happy heart.