Assumed Liberty

You let me in your garden
Picked me flowers I admired
I started plucking myself
It was the liberty I'd assumed

You shared the song that you wrote
Each word honeyed and love dripped
If I saw myself in every note
It was the liberty that I assumed

Flooded you with whens and what's
The line so fine just got so blurred
Drowned you with all the why's
It was the liberty that I assumed

A tiny space in your heart
Where I will stay long and ever
Not a liberty that is assumed
But one that you gave me dear

Anything eh?

What the hell does this mean – “The desk is all but quiet and noisy” … ?

Strange how you can write anything under the name of a poem and get away with it. Though people might notice it, they would just think that maybe there is something in the “poet’s” mind that they don’t understand. I couldn’t just let it be … this poem is so close to me … and I am saddened that I need to do a patch work on this …

The desk is all but quiet ,it is noisy

And there is clutter aplenty

On the desk sits the lonely vase

Its sitting pretty, sitting empty

Morning Duet

There he is, sharp at seven
Did he descend, from the heaven?
Stands and waits there by the window
Greets me as I walk through the door

How much ever I beg and plead
Doesn’t budge and I finally accede
Eyes on me, he is full of anticipation
As I ready myself, into the shower I step in

I open up and lend tune to the song
He joins in, the beats getting strong
Together we sing, blending in each other
Our voice becomes one, and joy no other
I am sure our song reaches the skies
With a promise to return, to the horizon he flies

Precious You

Every little drop of tear
When shed in your name and it fell
It became as precious as you my dear
And so it turned to a beautiful pearl

Every moment in your presence
Brimming with joy and full of cheer
Each of those are treasured always
Precious they are and cherished ever

Every time I am away from you
Escapes my lips, a heavy sigh
Turns to a breeze as sweet as you
When precious memories are close by

The thoughts that turn to sweetest smiles
Trials become light as drops of dew
Together when we walk those miles
Each step precious and fresh as new

I know I am a part of you
Blessed I am, makes me precious too
Embrace myself is all I have to do
When all of me is Precious You...

All for a social cause

Any festival, the environmentalists start off screaming from roof tops… Ganesha chaturthi – ‘don’t pollute the lakes, don’t get bigger Ganeshas which are painted’; Holi- ‘Please use eco friendly colours’ and Deepavali – well… . Though festivals are meant to be fun; lets leave the fun part aside, and lets look at the social cause that we are serving by having fun.

Why do people consider bursting crackers during deepavali a waste? According a well known ‘environmentalist’, cracker industry provides employment to so many people, so, it is in the public interest that we indulge in fireworks. He says it would be good if we can identify an open space and burst crackers as a community. At least the debris will be in one place. What a noble thought isn’t it? Its not his fault if you think it’s a politician speaking, you are just being cynical. So, if we indulge in fireworks, buy crackers it is not money we are burning, it is for a social cause, we are providing employment for thousands of people and we are probably the reason that their kitchen is functional.

That would make taking up smoking and drinking also a social service too. There are thousands of people who are employed in the tobacco industry, loads of people working for the distilleries. we are actually sacrificing ourselves for their cause, we should raise above being selfish and thinking that our family is of utmost important to us. “Sacrifice a life for a family’s cause, a family for a town”, what can be nobler than that? Deepavali is probably a good time to start smoking and drinking if you already haven’t, considering gifting alcohol is a norm during this festival.

Why should we be worried if the animals are hyper sensitive and crackers induce a lot more stress on them? If dogs are hypersensitive to noise, they go to hiding… which is good! Street dogs have been such a nuisance everywhere, and bursting crackers probably seems a great idea to get rid of them .. at least for a few days. Who cares if the birds of our city are gone, what use are they of anyways? Some environmentalists, animal lovers create noise about noise pollution created by crackers, try to make us look at the fact that we need to learn to co-exist. Animals don’t try to make the world unfit for others to live, but them being present in ‘our’ cities make it unfit for us to live. It is their fault that they are here, they should go and live in ‘forests’.

The other issue that’s talked about often is the effect of noise and chemicals on the unborn child. Yes, agreed that the baby squirms inside the womb every time a loud noise is heard. It is said that unborn child subjected to noise pollution can develop deformities. In a country which is going through population explosion, it’s a crime to become pregnant, bursting crackers is probably a far less crime compared to it, isn’t it?

Occupational hazards? Where doesn’t it exist? This industry is providing employment for a large number of people, the hazards caused by the dangerous chemicals, some of which might be passed on through generations should be an acceptable risk. This industry actually takes pride in being one of the top industries which provide employment for the underage. It makes the next-gen of our country self sufficient by teaching them to earn when they are still growing. Some people may call it child labor, but they are closing their eyes to the positives that come out of this.

It pains when you read the newspapers the day after, but I tell you … the media misleads you. It highlights how many kids got their hands burnt, how a rocket actually went through a child’s eye, or how a few people even lost lives. We should not be deterred by these. Look at the bright side, in addition to whatever was said above, think about the good that this has done to the medicine field, so many nursing homes, chemists and doctors were benefitted. Why do we have to look at the negatives and feel for the kids who lost their eyes?

The youth of the nation need not waste time thinking about solving the unemployment problem, if one is not creating the problem by trying to go away from crackers. Its wiser to just live with it instead of trying to solve it, and maybe look at opportunities to create more business out of it.

We should be considerate, try to burst in fields as a community, something is better than nothing you see, we cannot reduce the contribution to the global warming and ozone depletion, at least the debris will be in one place … one harm less. And anyways, by the time the earth actually becomes unfit for life because of all this, we will not even be here. Yeah, maybe it will be our children or our grandchildren or their children… we will only bring pain to ourselves thinking about all this, and that is why it is said we need to overcome our weakness for attachment. So guys, go ahead … buy crackers in loads … burst them and enjoy. And oh! Make sure you ask for extra plastic bags when you purchase…. Even the plastic industry employs a lot of people!!

Happy Deepavali to everyone!
‘Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya’ ???!!!???!!!

A Morning Walk

As the winter sets in, Sun decides to sleep in; The dawn breaks later making it more and more difficult for me to get out of bed in the chill mornings. It gets tougher everyday when I have to tear myself out of the warmth of the blanket, off the softness of the cushions and away from hubby’s arms which also doubles as a comfy pillow. That Sunday morning I opened my eyes reluctantly as the alarm went off, my eyelids seemed to be made of lead which refused to open. I just wanted to snuggle back into the comforter, put my head on hubby darling’s chest as he peacefully slept … the rhythm of his heartbeat would lull me right back to sleep.

I couldn’t….

The prospect of enjoying the crisp fresh air outside, the temptation of feeling the energy running along my veins as I walk through the silence of this otherwise noisy city, anticipation of feasting myself to the sights as the darkness lifts, light glistens and the stars fade into the sky as it brightens, pulled me right out of the bed.

Not wasting much time, I got ready and was right out on the dark street. As usual, I steered clear of the parks which have neatly laid joggers’ / walkers’ paths. They are too crowded. I chose the way for the day and set out for my morning walk. A brisk walk is what is recommended to me so that I can get my heart to pump faster, increase my metabolic rate and probably be able to burn some of those calories which is promptly replenished very easily by the chocolates I indulge in. But, I end up walking at my own sweet pace, taking in the surroundings, I see no point in hurrying as if your tail is on fire especially when the streets of Bangalore allow you the luxury of slowing down and enjoying.

It was much more quieter than usual with most people wanting to catch up on sleep on a Sunday morning. Just when the sky was getting lighter, my eyes caught the outline of the old couple. A look at them brought a smile on my face, stirred up some emotions deep within. To be able to hold hands and walk along with each other, enjoying the unspoken yet understood words after spending so many winters together has to be a satisfying feeling. The man was using his umbrella to support himself as he walked and his wife was holding the other hand as they took their small steps together. I was lost in my thoughts and reveries when it suddenly started pouring without any warning. Good for that couple as the man was carrying an umbrella, and good for me that I was not carrying one! The sudden down pour of huge drops of water made me jump, but a rain is always welcome. I enjoyed the water splashing on my face, drenching me head to toe within minutes. I continued to walk looking at the little puppies scurrying behind their mother to get to a shelter. I was filling myself in with the relaxing smell of damp earth, a boon that comes with the rains and I was interrupted; interrupted by another smell. The intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I followed the smell to see a small coffee shop where the lady of the shop was brewing my favorite beverage. Pouring rain, chill morning and a shop where the plastic cups have not yet replaced the old ceramic ones, what could stop me from indulging in some coffee now?

The lady poured out a cup of coffee for me which I sipped peacefully standing below the small shelter she had. The warmth of the brew was soothing, the bitterness of the coffee giving me a new high. I gazed up at the sky which was a golden hue now, the sun slowly tearing through the clouds, his rays searing through the drops of rain. It appeared as if it was raining honey. The rain stopped as suddenly as it had started, the cool breeze made me shiver. I held the cup of hot coffee closer letting the warm steam touch my face. I sipped the coffee, relishing every sip along with the view in front of me. The rain had given way to a lovely rainbow, the leaves on the trees appeared to be laughing having enjoyed the shower, the flowers on the potted plants in front of the houses were smiling, the earth was smelling heavenly. I stood there taking in all this, I enjoy rains… immensely. But this time, I was reminded of the nature’s wrath … death and pain the floods have caused … how can something so wonderful as rains cause pain … but then, isn’t nature full of such contrasts? The giver of life can drown you, the fire of life can burn you, mother earth herself can swallow you.

My mind was quiet as I walked back home.

Just when I thought

Just when I thought its all grey and dark
Just when I was on the brink of giving it all up
A message from the heavens, gesture so stark
Restoring faith with vivid rays of hope