Whispers

Born to be Free

2011-11-22T15:11:00.003+05:30

As the wind blows,
as the rains fall,
as rivers chart their own path,
They were all born to be free.

As the flowers flutter in breeze,
as butterflies roam the earth,
as the birds enjoy their day,
we were also born to be free.

Make your own path,
Think your own way,
Do as you like,
For you were born to be free.

Paths less taken

2011-01-20T14:15:00.005+05:30

Where chaos rules the roost,
and money fuels life,
Men decieve not others
but their own heart.

Here comes the new age,
when society falls to doom,
but ego wins hands down
for those one or two.

Loud words win over,
Sensible talk fails all,
Proving yet again
Success stays not for long.

Amid crazy races in directions many,
searching for the fertile mirage
run one and all, hurting all over
but stopping not till the end.

I walk alone, through lone paths
amid deserted streets and mighty trees,
Reveling in every moment
in the peace and bliss it holds within.

Roam around the world

2010-04-14T09:23:00.005+05:30

Roam around the world,
O free spirit! Worry not,
about home or belonging.

Sand and stone that kiss
your feet, belong to all,
and not owned by one.

Countries and states,
mere lines drawn by men
not on earth, but in their minds.

Cultures change, habits vary,
languages many among men.
But spirits of all unite into one.

Trust Nature, the mother of all
to nourish and cherish every soul.
Go with the flow, sing along with joy.

Mountains of the wild

2010-02-18T14:19:00.009+05:30

Cool breeze against my face
echoing eerily, stifling my breath,
I once stood atop mountains
magnificent, with snow capped crowns.
Looking down to find deep plateaus,
ruled by nature loving Indians.

Horizon expands, showing more mountains
raising and falling, decked in green,
with silver streams interlaced,
trimmed with ribbons of man-made roads,
feet fixed deep in dark green moss,
In awe I stood, my heart racing fast.

A voice within gnaws at my heart
to break free from bonds of duty,
to fly back to wild mountains;
where spoken words exist not, where
silence talks of violence and peace,
where realization dawns without prompting,
where wild beauty reigns; a
hiatus to refresh my spirit and soul.

.

Beauty

2010-01-18T15:05:00.006+05:30

Beauty I see everywhere,
in every living face carved
in curves and straight lines
combined to form perfection.

Crown of hair of every colour,
thick or thin matters to none.
Straightly carved forehead,
falling into soft depressions,
housing windows to the human soul
verily are they a pair of beauty,
combining science and creativity.

From depressions rise soft mounds
like smooth hills carved to perfection.
Curves on all sides joined to form
the epitome of beauty called
the human face.

When every curve and straight line
boasts of beauty in every way,
how then do men rate
one as beauty and another as ugly?

.

Whispers... of a poetic soul

2009-12-31T11:19:00.007+05:30

Ever slowly, pictures flash
frames of joy, shots of anguish
across my mind they appear and vanish.
Inspired by nature and earth,
I write and create.

Image from www.victoriantradingco.com

Thus spoke a lone tree

2009-11-30T11:06:00.007+05:30

I stand alone among fields,
facing mighty mountains to the east,
kissing the whispering breeze,
gazing at the borderless sky,
Now and then sheeps stop by,
resting under my open arms,
nibbling away the lush grass,
chatting animal tales,
while sleeps a lazy shepeard
dreaming of woollen bundles
gifted from heaven, at his doorstep.

Grey clouds showering rain,
mid-day sun warming the land,
winds arising from hills afar,
I grow stronger with them.
Beacause of nature I exist,
in nature I merge myself,
for, what exists on earth
distinct from Mother Nature?

Maze

2009-11-03T09:44:00.004+05:30

Silent garden, noises none,
works the spider weaving one
crazy web of threads thin,
spreads the maze, sparing none.

Behind this web, gardens widen,
beyond which zooms a world driven
by speed and progress interwoven,
spreads the maze, sparing none.

Speeding vehicles going around,
cities where men roam around,
racing with time, chasing the wind,
spreads the maze, sparing none.

Photography: A view of Chicago downtown in 2007. I shot this from top floor of Sears Towers.

Native to this land

2009-10-19T09:28:00.007+05:30

Dogs native to this land,
high spirited friends of man.
Love to be on their own,
thriving in cities and farmland.

Long forgotten by men of this land,
roaming in groups along our streets.
Shades of brown, black and white,
with dirty paws and wagging tails.

Alone they can never reside,
with family and friends they prefer,
forming groups, marking territories,
ruling over streets and lanes.

Never too rude and never too lazy,
racing cars and chasing flies.
Bathing in the warm sun all day,
jumping into puddles of mud in gay.

Give them food or water,
ever faithful they will remain.
Roaming all day long in the wild,
returning back to rest by your side.

.

Celebrations

2009-09-25T10:16:00.009+05:30

Once a month, twice a month,
many a festival to celebrate.
Fasting at times from dawn to dusk,
Feasting in joy for the rest.
Silk Saree's rustling in pomp,
Shimmering bangles chatter along.
Scent of jasmine flowers,
Aroma of ghee oozing sweets.
Ramadan, Diwali and Christmas,
Religions do not matter.
Gifts given in plenty,
to make everyone happy.
Spirit of celebration in the air,
filling warmth and joy everywhere.

Over there in a Little shack,
sweating over a greasy pack,
rough hands at work as always,
washing away dust on scooters.
Dents and grease fill their life,
fighting for food their only fate,
Celebrations do not matter here,
for those called the filthy poor.

Rains forever

2009-09-14T14:57:00.015+05:30

Grey spreads over the horizon,
casting its dark shadow on
cheerful trees awaiting rain,
little flowers smiling at heaven,
ploughed fields, red and barren.

Drops as soft as a feather,
fall from heaven to water
pretty little creeks of wonder,
winding down to end where
ploughed fields lie bare.

Here and there a few drops,
dances a pretty peacock.
Showers end, downpour starts,
filling streams over the hillock,
as gushing creeks wet all fields.

Drenched animals safe in caves,
rats and insects deep in burrows,
huddle together cats and dogs,
birds rest in cosy nests,
and it rains, rains,rains,..., forever.

Mysterious Mind

2009-09-07T09:39:00.008+05:30

Will I ever understand you?
Growing within me slowly,
defining me, nurturing me,
yet distinct from me.

Detailed plans you abhored,
Unknowing which rules I defined.
Hurting myself from within,
trying to achieve the undefined.

Path of wilderness you chose,
beckoning me into new lands,
of undefined horizons, where
thoughts wander at their own pace.

Rugged paths lead to peace,
here time knows no haste
revealing hidden treasures,
long lost in thoughts deep inside.

City of abundance

2009-08-27T09:34:00.015+05:30

Land of evergreen natural beauty,
Unabating it's spirit of gaiety.
Riches abound in forms many,
farms and mills raise in plenty.

Pristine water ways winding
through freshly sown fertile lands.
Merging with majestic rivers
turned into drains of chemicals.

Pearls of humour and peels of laughter,
accent with respect mark this frontier.
Customs and cultures mix and mingle,
races many together built this empire.

Gates to the outside world,
opened for the sake of riches there.
Drought never known here, but,
dearth of intellect an eternal bane.

Forest of mighty old trees

2009-08-13T09:48:00.012+05:30

Raising high to threaten the skies
stand in attention, soldiers in rows.
Their green heads swaying wildly
brown arms open wide trapping light.

Bursting out of mighty rocks
arise the might banyan trees.
Roots digging deep in to earth
seeking water among rocks.

Peels of bark stripped out
by elephants that roam about.
Tiny nests adorn their crown
feeding creatures all around.

Primitive men to tribal folks
rested under its shady leaves.
Lives on this silent witness
watching evolutions fold out.

Art

2009-07-07T18:00:00.019+05:30

Rhythmic strokes in random hues,
lovingly stroked on mediums many,
speaking out loud for those,
who love to see and listen.
Ori
Struggles of life in abstract,
desires flowing out as colours,
silent beauties of still life,
mysteries of human soul as portraits.

Pen and paper not always needed,
to savor the joy of creation.
Materials many and waste none,
for art knows no narrow boudaries.

Cotton clouds woven into royal robes,
Silky fabrics sculpted to perfection,
Swirling clay forming shapes many,
Hard rocks born again as dainty sculptures.

Eternal language, silent but strong,
binding souls with mother nature.
Power of creation bestowed on her,
gifted to one and all born in her womb.

Prophets of free minds

2009-03-19T16:23:00.011+05:30

Path of wonder, path of light,
not in heaven, but on muddy earth.
Woven among wilderness by bare feet
of wise men who dared to walk alone.

Head held high, eyes shining bright
walked forth they did, fearing none.
The light of reason their only weapon
to guide mankind, from ignorance to light.

Self respect for all man kind
vital to live, yet denied to men.
Rode forth the destroyer of castes,
attired in black, awakening common sense.

Subtle rivers of poetry in torrents,
burning narrow thoughts on its course,
flowed forth from the noble laureate,
from his abode of eternal peace.

Towering souls many did come,
provoking rusted minds to think aloud.
Awoke a few, simple yet enlightened souls,
many more to rise in ages to come.

Journey together

2008-08-17T19:08:00.007+05:30

Lost in endeavors for a better world,
dreams of a heroic warrior dared
not to step near my determined soul.
Lovely plans had mysterious mother nature.
There opened a solitary path before my eyes,
never ending, fruits of wisdom adorning it,
winding its way down lanes of sensibility,
taking me along in a leisurely pace.
Opening on to the path of an unknown twin soul.
Hand in hand exploring life together,
we journey,existing as yet two other awakened souls.
Every life on earth an unassuming,
handcrafted artwork of mother nature.
Possible not to lose individual identities - yet
happy confluence of two simple determined souls
in a journey together, through pain and pleasure,
uniting to explore the peerless love of mother nature.

Ball of fire

2008-07-05T11:07:00.005+05:30

A ball of fire lights the sky,
awakening the earth every glorious day .
Rays of light energise the earth,
Giving warmth with food to every form of life.

Rose this red ball of fire, one fine morning
awakening the birth of a red army, armed with
a social ideology - "to each as per his need,
and from each as per his might."

Red, the colour of blood and anger,
the colour of strength and bravery.
Red, the bold gift from nature,
to kindle mankind's socialist nature.

My dearest

2007-09-29T04:44:00.005+05:30

Our journey together started
with my inception in her womb.
So nice she made my stay there
that I gained too much weight.
I entered this world upside down
too heavy for her to deliver.
Unbearable was her pain and agony
yet she welcomed me with a smile.

Lovely as an angel is my mother,
fair and beautiful she is forever,
her heart as tender as a flower.
her spirit still as strong as ever.
She made my early years joyful
when abundance graced my childhood.
She made my adolscent years meaningful
when health and wealth bid us farewell.

Seldom does this world spare
an innocent soul as my mother.
Betrayals many did she face, yet
innocence clings to her forever.
Freedom and honesty I learnt from
my father, as innocent as his wife.
Sans desires my parents live
their children's success their only aim.

Many a value my father taught
not by mere word or thought.
His every action enriched my heart
his goodness and love taught me a lot.
Love for inlaws a rare trait
long forsaken by mankind.
But not by my father though, who never
learnt to say no to a loving heart.

Strong and hard my parents' battled
unseen enemies for days without end,
head held high admist sufferings
their innocence winning at the end.
A loving family is indeed a gift
fortunate are we who receive it.
With parents as good as mine
never will my life have any pain.

Little servant

2007-06-16T05:01:00.003+05:30

Sparkling eyes radiating innocence,
marks of beauty on a child's face.
Happy mind and cheerful laughter,
every child's birthright.
Separated from the rest
here comes a little servant.
Dirty clothes piled on her hands
trudging to the river bank
to wash the heap of clothes,
first of her many chores.

Tender arms working without rest
sweeping, cleaning and washing.
Tiny legs busy rushing everwhere
obeying orders from her masster.
Pen and pencil have not the fortune
to be held by her dirty fingers.
Schools a forbidden place - engraved
in her mind as a fort that imprisons kids.
Sisters and brothers to tend and feed
infancy long lost in life's struggle.

Blind are those who see her
on streets, in temples and homes.
Stopping not to think twice,
rushing through life amassing wealth.
Misery and filth everwhere
ignoring it is not fair.
See the truth, feel the pain,
do what you can to stop this crime.
Child labour a shame to mankind,
stop it before it ruins the world.

About Me ...

2007-05-12T07:35:00.002+05:30

This mystery I try to unravel,
Much have I yet to discover.
Everyday I endeavour,
My findings surprise myself.

Definite description of me,
Still a distant dream to me.
My growing blossoming soul admits
That verily is the true me.

Pearl of the orient

2007-03-25T01:49:00.002+05:30

Behold the lovely land, a tear drop
adorning the pristine blue waters.
Behold the palm fringed paradise
stunning those who dare to explore her.

Nature brought forth man to this land,
in semblance of her loving spirit
for of what use is beauty to a maiden
sans admirers for her pastoral charm.

Man thus brought forth to the land
failed to cherish the rustic lure.
Divisions within, many did he form
questions of origin became the norm.

Honourable existence for others,
reduced to a state of illusion.
Equal existence still a dream,
but cannot be held back by the mean.

Free is nature's spirit and soul
so is every living heart and soul.
Snatch not the rights of others
for are they too not your brothers?

Silent protests quelled by fire,
signalled the start of disaccord.
Never ending wars arose in pursuit
of a land of fraternal equality.

In woe stands mother nature,
watching her children suffer.
Bidding adieu to families
setting out in search of a future.

Battles on land persist unabated,
sufferings multiply beyond control.
Nonetheless cries of freedom louder
more than ever for the world to hear.

Land of equality not a dream,
Equality not a utopian scheme.
Battles or talks whatsoever the means,
may freedom dawn and suffering end.

p.s... This poem depics the war torn island nation of Srilanka, about its ethnic crisis. It depicts the civil war due to problems of one ethnic sect denying equal rights to the other sect and the other sect taking up arms in turn, and the resulting humanitarian crisis.

I walk in search of...

2007-01-28T06:52:00.004+05:30

I walk alone lost in silence,
now my mind calm and serene,
at times depressed and frightened.
My mind's play ocupies me all day,
yet my heart steers me tenderly
leading me away from fear, which
does not exist, but is imagined to be.

I walk with love that shines forth from
everywhere, rooted deep within me,
Searching for which I walk in haste, not
knowing that I am the cause and effect.
Halting at the foot of the almighty I realize,
the joy of being that which I had longed for.
knowing not what I want, I walk in search of...

Dance with the wind

2006-12-03T12:06:00.005+05:30

Winds blowing strong over hills,
singing eternal notes of bliss.
Dancing elegant eucalyptus trees,
slender leaves swaying madly.
Strong evergreen redwoods in ballet,
waving it's sturdy branches gracefully.
Maple trees coloured yellow and red,
their joyous dance a sight to behold.
Bushy shrubs shaking in glee ,
fallen dry leaves racing in circles.
Behold the beauty of nature,
as earth dances with the wind.

Eternal melody of nature,
never abating music of wind.
Resonating from days of yore
when plants ruled earth.
Humans thou find yourself here,
enjoy the dance of nature.
Throw your worries to the wind,
with mind as light as a feather,
Spirit as free as thin air,
true and pure as nature - let not
civilized culture hold you back
Dance O pure spirit,
Dance with the wind.

Worry no more

2006-08-31T10:25:00.002+05:30

Chirping birds always happy
they have not sacks of wheat,
not boxes of worms stacked
in fear of dark gloomy days.

Every day with new hope
In search of food do birds go,
worms and wheat await them plenty
No day leaves them hungry.

Every day brings new hope
For those who are armed
With faith and patience
Shall find the way to victory.

Bright days beckon us,
A happy future awaits us.
Worry no more for a
Happy heart attracts success.

Nomadic Life

2006-07-18T09:40:00.002+05:30

Family and friends I left far away,
riches and career have their way.
Changes color my life
permanence long lost its shine.

Roomies change when seasons change,
our paths meet to part again.
Little lessons of pain and pleasure,
enlighten those who care to listen.

Busy hours spent at office,
bugs and issues choke my life.
Need of my home and hearth felt,
only when sleep kisses my eyes.

Nomadic life has its own pleasure,
every place reveals a treasure.
Lessons learnt on my way,
precious than all the wealth I make.

India

2006-07-06T05:57:00.002+05:30

Gone are the days of foreign rule,
heroic deaths on battlefield,
untiring struggles of non-violence.

World awoke to greet free India,
Angel of equality and fairness,
Messiah of peace and unity.

Heroic wars were many fought,
Famine floods ravaged not her spirit,
yet her own sons drained her spirit.

children on streets begging for food,
Women fighting for respect and safety,
freedom long won yet struggles aplenty.

Sons and daugters more than she can bear,
yet no Jhansi rani enforcing women's rights,
yet no Bhagat Singhs to slay the corrupt .

Yearning

2006-06-17T04:29:00.002+05:30

Yearning for comforts ,
I crossed seas and mountains,
onto far away lands.
Comforts many did I get ,
only to realise no comfort,
can equal the love
of my mother land.
Yearning for her embrace,
hardening my heart,
I continue my life in a strange land.