Meenas Poems

Ashtami and Navami

 being the forbidden days

 in the Hindu calendar,

every fifteenth day 

they knock the door,

the most unwelcomed ones.

They count

eighth and ninth days 

from Full and New Moons.

A belief, that seems unbelievable. 

says they are days which land 

one in grief.

This is mere superstition,

 I tell my friends, just ignore

 and go ahead.

 It is between you and me, so to say 

I fear Ashtami and keep away 

from Navami. 

A noise free evening

 being a Sunday. I watch

 the lane, emptiness 

abides.

The vacuum before me

 triggers a nostalgic feel.

 a communion with infinity 

an interaction hitherto not felt.

Trees stand still

 Leaves keep quiet

 Even the grass stays stiff.

My ears turn inert.

Tuning them I hear  

a palpable sound, silence 

activates rhythmic notations

similar to the song of a brook.

A sweet song permeates

a gentle up, a shallow down

goes the melody, The red ball 

diffuses into an orangish hue.     

Bemused to see make up women

with lipstick, mascara, foundation 

concealer, compact.

Looking at the way they carry themselves 

turns an entertainment. Blouses with 

intricate embroidery, deep low-cut necklines,

expose the skin, the underneath fleshes

 bulge and project. Provokes  

and detracts.

Not that I am averse to fashion

 I expect a modest, decent 

 and respectable outfits.

The ones that raise the stature

 that reflect your culture

 that command dignity.

 I am in two minds

 to do or not to do

 an Hamletian one.

I call, listen, read, hear,

as faculties turn sharp.

my heart disallows.

What to do? How to go?

 I cannot afford to be rash

 nor become a sponge.

I remain helpless 

like a boat struggling 

in the violent current.

The fever subsides,

 I decide to traverse 

the path least approved.

Hamlet within me 

escapes fast, knowing 

I am strong. 

 I receive a purchase order

 the writing is a scribble.

Forward the same to the vendor

whose reply is a scrawl.

 I hold both for a minute 

 scratch my head for an hour,

Wonder how did both make out?

 decide to test my eyes.

Light, thunder and rain,

a regular feature of monsoon.

Rivers inundate, roads flood

traffic in chaos.

Schools, colleges announce closure

 office goers wade through waters,

Dengue, flu, fever is on the rise

 stuffed noses are a common sight.

Precarious is the Indian monsoon 

 some years heavy, some very slight.

 Marked by drought or flooding

marshalled either by famine or deluge.

Touched by a message from abroad.
Starting with” Million apologies God ma
on missing out wishing you a Happy Diwali.”
I stand speechless.

I bore three sons; never did I yearn for a daughter,
till I met this girl 14 years back.  We were drawn
to each other, a mother daughter relationship
on the anvil.

She is from a different race, speaks English fluently.
Our eyes speak volumes.  Once, her scream, “God ma,
God ma” in the middle of the night wakes me  I call , she
in a time zone ahead of mine, breaks  down uncontrollably,

My beautiful daughter, pleasant and affable, is stressed out. 

 Personally, she is not happy. mired by deceit and treachery. 

Ditched by her spouse, she makes good

of her days working hard to advance in profession.

Once during her visit to my place, she ran up to me
hugged me  tight, I could feel her body shiver.
Holding her gently, running my fingers through her hair
 I whispered, ” This will also pass”.

Every house has a cupboard
when thrown open skeletons jump.
which look mysterious,
when poked, tell tales
disastrous.

Every house has steps
some have very few,
most too many, Each step talks
high and low of happenings
which stumbles on a concern.

Every house has walls
made of bricks and mortar.
They echo happiness and grief
stand testimony to the embrace

with love and fights with fury.

–

A solar eclipse, partly visible

 but in most areas invisible

 occurs between four and five in the evening. 

 A solar eclipse, partly visible 

comes with a big warning 

asking to stay indoors all evening

A solar eclipse, partly visible

hovers in the sky mostly invisible.  

Crackers burst with thunder.
flowerpots go up with a splendour
Fascinating to watch the fireworks display
the sky dazzles in the play.

Pujas in the temples release a divinity
aarti in the sanctum add to the piety.
Diwali brings in prosperity in the session.
Good vanquishes evil being the impression.