Posts

Waiting

Waiting For the world to get better, When masks do not matter, Waiting Waiting For social distancing to end, And the curve to bend, Waiting Waiting To stop worrying about tomorrow, And break the cycle of grief and sorrow Waiting Waiting For Alarms to be snoozed after ringing, And school prayers to be sung every morning, Waiting Waiting For a free run and walk in the morning, And a carefree hangout in the evening, Waiting Waiting For the empty roads to welcome commuters, For long lines on Metro and Bus counters, Waiting Waiting For the sleeping Assembly lines to awaken, And Limbs to ache and sweat to run Waiting Waiting For Pin up and post-it tasks, And water cooler talks, Waiting Waiting For a long late night drive, Playing an old tune to jive, Waiting Waiting To order a favourite delicacy, And break the monotony, Waiting Waiting To walk and sit in a dark hall, And enter a world that enthralls, Waiting Waiting, For champions to b...
Post a Comment
Read more

School Days...

Image
At far I could see the red gates and green trees, And entering it I remembered days of joy and abandon Dusk was just setting, and light painted an orange hue The church lay in silent testimony, to days long gone, Of students gone staying near, some gone far away I shuffled and walked through the corridors, In the past it was full of people, now I walked alone Empty now, silent… The quadrangle where we assembled in prayer, The stage where we made joyous songs and plays, The bell that rang every evening, signaling freedom, The stairs where we used to race up and down in joy, Empty now, silent… And I climbed the stairs, walking past classrooms, Where we learnt skills that we would cherish forever, I remembered teachers’ voices echoing through the hall, As they patiently and lovingly devoted their life and soul Knowing fully well that like younglings in a nest, We would fly away one day, and rarely look back their way Empty now, silent… ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Swayamvar of Draupadi

Image
They had come from far and wide to marry the fair maiden, Crossing many a mountain, river, valley and ocean But she would marry only the man, who was the best, And to choose him, she had arranged a daunting test On the top of a high wooden pole, in the centre of the courtroom, Was a wooden fish, rotating around the pole on a mechanism The suitor had to hit an arrow in the eye of the fish, By looking at its reflection in water kept below in a dish Many brave warriors tried to lift the heavy steel bow, but failed, They now had fallen silent, all pride gone, hanging their head Just then, there was a sudden flutter in the crowd, like a breeze of hope, As a handsome man stepped forward, dressed in an ascetic’s robe His skin was a golden tan, strength rippled in his arms, His sharp eyes exuding an alert and wakeful calm He bowed before the mighty bow, as it lay still on its stand, Touched his fingers, clutching it, and suddenly lifted it clear in his hand He looked up at the fish, rotating h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Faith n the Fruit

Image
Asked a student one day to his Guru, “Master, I have a question for you” Said the Guru, “Ask, and I shall tell, For the well of life is as deep as you dwell” The student asked, “Why do we worship idols of stone, Why does logic sometimes leave faith alone? Why do some worship the Sun, why some the moon, Why do some build temples in the sea, others in sandy dunes? Why do some light lamps, some light candles, Why do some burn the dead in white, others bury in black cradles?” To this the Guru said, “See a banana, and what have ye, The peel is religion, the core is spirituality Not many see the fruit, and instead fight over the skin, And thus does mankind commit a deadly sin Blinded by faith are they, for they do not realise, That all skins have the same fruit inside”
1 comment
Read more

Gladiator-Part 2-The Nemesis

Image
I knew Grutas ‘the invincible’ was true to his name, As yet undefeated, he was in the gladiator’s hall of fame One amongst us would be free today, one would perish, And I sensed this would be a deadly duel, a fight to the finish Grutas was light on his feet, and moved with an easy grace, As we circled, watching each other’s moves, pace after pace Grutas moved first, charging, slashing down his sword, I blocked it with my blade, the crowd now erupting in a roar Steel clashed with steel, all our strength behind hilts, Our bloodthirsty eyes locked with each other through the helmet slits Grutas let loose suddenly, slashing his sword backward now, My shield now swinging up, blocking the lethal blow Just as sudden as he charged, Grutas lightly stepped back, And I watched his moves, readying myself for the next round of attack I charged now, swinging my sword at him with all might, In the same motion, slashing my shield up left to right Grutas’ sword managed to block my sword’s pace, But my ...
2 comments
Read more

Gladiator-Part 1-The Genesis

Image
In the dark pits below the Colosseum, I lay pensive and silent, Watching eyes of others, they seemed merciless and distant I gripped the hilt of my sword, it felt solid and reassuring, Unsheathing it now, the edges felt sharp and cutting In the blade I saw screaming faces and eyes, Eyes of opponents who had lost their pathetic lives They say I was found in a battlefield, wounds bleeding profusely, With only a black raven standing guard near me They nursed me, fed me, and I woke up one day on a bed, Brought back to the realm of the living from the dead They told me that I was now their captive, a gladiator, And would be free only when I got back my honour They called me ‘Raven’ and soon began a game, On one side stood death, on the other, glory and fame The rules were simple-swift and sharp you must strike, You wound, you kill your opponent to survive I learnt quickly, killing and maiming without mercy, Always winning the crowd over with my twisted bravery Till one day, they told me we ...
2 comments
Read more

Ride the Storm

Image
I had sensed it in the air, the deathly calm, The stillness, harbinger of the perfect storm Dark clouds appeared from nowhere, staring down menacingly, As people on the streets looked up at the skies fearfully I looked up at the storm, which willed to put me in harm’s way, There was no way that I could still call it a day Lightning flashed, a thunderclap, people now in a hurry, Running for shelter, like rats on a sinking ship scurry I flipped my hair, and zipped up my jacket, Kissed my locket, and put on my helmet I walked out into the dusk, and jabbed the key inside My bike’s ignition, and mounted it astride She looked at me from the doorway, as if saying, "I still care", My eyes replied what I had to say, by a glacial stare I turned the key and kicked, the engine coming alive and vrooming, Like a stallion straining on a leash, restless and neighing The tank, I knew, was full to the brim, A storm brewed outside, but a bigger one was within I pressed the clutch and shifted th...
6 comments
Read more