On the Day of the Loss

She stood by the doorway,
A little bewildered,
There were too many visitors,
Walking in and out,
Of one room or the other,
All making it seem as if,
This was what they were here for,
Quite purposelessly,
It clearly wasn’t an ordinary day.

And yet so purposeful,
Just sitting around,
Aren’t these the,
Happy people,
Who were always,
So pleased to see her,
Ready with a hug and a kiss,
Why do they look away,
Today clearly wasn’t an ordinary day.

“Will they be bringing him here?”
Someone whispered,
An ordinary query,
But it just stayed suspended,
Seemingly for ever,
No one was willing to pick it up,
Or deal with it in any known way,
Today clearly wasn’t an ordinary day.

The room was cleared,
Bereft of furniture,
The marks against the walls,
Looked forlorn as if,
They were the intruders,
The fan whirred at a desolate pace,
The street vendors seemed to,
Shout at a softer pitch,
Today clearly wasn’t an ordinary day.

She walked into the kitchen,
A glass of milk appeared,
Like any other day,
She balanced the glass,
And gulped its contents,
If she drinks it without spilling,
Maybe everything will be ok,
Grandma was there. Strange,
Gave her a death squeeze hug,
Today clearly wasn’t an ordinary day.

She saw grandpa in the verandah,
Shuffling the newspaper,
She nudged close to him,
She pushed away the paper,
With the corner of her foot,
He pulled her up into his lap,
There would be no walk today,
Maybe this was the start of,
Some other kind of everyday.

Resolve to Read

I walk up to the bookshelf,
Pick out an old book,
Blow away the dust,
Flick a few pages,
Put it back again,
Maybe another day.

I pick up another,
It’s an old book,
A little dog-eared,
A jutting bookmark,
A few missing pages,
I think I'll make my own story.

Shared Sorrow: On Grandpa's Lap

Why are they crying?
Because they loved your father.

Don’t I love daddy?
Yes, you do.

Then, why am I not crying?
Because, you don’t understand death.

Didn’t you love daddy?
Yes, I do. I always will.

Why are you not crying?
Because I have you.

Don’t you understand death?
I never will.

By the Sea

Nebulous thoughts,
Leave behind,
A dappled path,
Of shadows and light,
I trace each line.

Stray thoughts,
Leave a trail,
I match my step,
To the footprints,
You left behind.

Random memories,
Ebb and flow,
In rhythmic waves,
I follow each breaker,
As it ripples away.

A surge of emotions,
Fill me up,
I know you’ll
Wave back at me,
Today.

On Janamashtami

Early morning,
lazy day,
an hour here,
a late lunch there,
the dull pace of a holiday.

A god was born,
Somewhere today,
Shouldn't there be,
Rituals to follow,
In a celebratory way.

The morning rush,
A vague sense of delay,
The petty pace,
Of a routine workday,
I miss it on a holiday.

Two giggling girls run away,
They've stolen flowers,
I indulgently, smile it away,
That's my way of,
Commemorating God's birthday.

Speak up

Thoughts crowd my head,
They rush hurriedly,
To mold into words,
But not all feel right,
My thoughts remain unsaid.

All those things,
I want to say,
They flutter a bit,
Almost reach my lips,
But they disappear.

Words tumble around me,
I pick some,
I string them together,
The words I leave behind,
look a little forlornly.

I want to say something,
Or maybe say it all,
But even in my head,
They don’t sound so pretty,
I nod my head very quietly.

I stay silent, 

There is too much to say, 

Where can I begin, 

And once more, 

I say nothing. 

Away Once More

I imagine you,
Sitting in a bar somewhere,
Ordering a drink,
And reading a local paper there.

I imagine you,
Order another drink for you,
And maybe one for me too,
Even though I'm not there.

I imagine you,
In deep conversation,
Or maybe just listening,
To the music blare.

I imagine you,
Sitting in a bar somewhere,
Nursing a drink,
Wishing I was there.

There is no Hurry

I know we are late
I hurry and I charge
I make that last minute rush
I call out to you

You are lost in your thoughts
I want to interrupt
But, something makes me
Just stop

And I see your face
I fall in love once more
with that brooding
look of yours

Reach Out

Soft summer breeze,
The darkened sky,
Distant rain sounds,
Fill up my senses,
With thoughts of you.

Some leftover passions,
A few damp emotions,
Little soft sighs,
My sentimental thoughts,
Did they reach you?

School: The Daily Drill

That hurried breakfast,
Uniform, shoes, bag and bottle,
A long wait for the school bus,
Sudden panic for the forgotten homework,
Happy chatter in the school corridors,
That sing-song ‘Good Morning’ for the teacher,
Noisy slamming of the desk lid,
Mad scramble at the sound of the recess-bell,
The rainy day holiday,
I think I’ll give myself some holiday homework today.

Last Night

Last night, you were there,
I felt some magic in the air,
Did you feel it too?

Last night, we walked,
Hand in hand, for a long time,
Do you still feel my touch?

Last night I dreamed of the rain,
My pillow, my cheeks are still a bit damp.
I think I looked for you.

Rapunzel Revisited

She gathers her dark, heavy tresses,
Into a firm knot at the nape of her slender neck,
Taut with tension, there’s seems no release.

She swallows once, sucks her breath in,
And takes a determined step, away from her shadow life,
Her fixed gaze, looks beyond the horizon.

With a renewed vow, she let's her hair escape, and
Cascade all the way down her spine,
Proclaiming her resolve to escape a dull peripheral existence.

My Summer Solstice

I do a pagan ritual,
& twirl my summer wine,
Raising a toast to the ancient shrine.

The earth swirls like a dervish,
And tilts to its own lilt,
As it greets the Sun this solstice.

The Wait Cycle

The crimson blaze dims,
Lending a violet sheen,
Trees cast their shadows,
Welcoming another dusky night ...

The night sky, awaits,
She waits for the kiss,
From the first ray of the sun,
And the brightness to engulf her.

Meeting

She stands waiting,
At the corner stop,
On the busy road,
Every evening.

Amidst a myriad shadows,
Her silhouette,
Catches his eye,
Every time.

Their eyes meet,
Across the crowd,
They carry on,
Their separate ways.

The Sea Eagle

The waves rushed to kiss the shore. Again & again. Quenching its desire.
The sea eagle spread its wings once more. Wanting to reach the sun.

The Azure Sea

She sauntered out to meet the azure sea.
His firm footprints were there to greet her.
She walked alongside.

Carry On

I walk in the labyrinth of your memories.
I stumble. I stop. Thoughts of you. They carry on.

Wisp

The sunset catches the glint of my longing.
The breeze sweeps it away.
I’m a wisp of your imagination.

The Grass Blade

The grass blade stood tall.
It’s emerald desire glistened.
The wildflower leaned closer.
As if it was the breeze that had swayed her.

You are There

I wander aimlessly.
I love you without knowing.
You wait. You know. I find my way.

I see you. I cannot look away.
I flounder in your gaze. I drown.
You hold me tight.

Stray Thoughts

Yes, I tremble.
Like a leaf in the summer breeze.
The gentler your touch, the more I tremble.
I squeeze shut my eyes.

The red, the amber, the flame licks and caresses.
And, even as I’m engulfed by the blaze, I blossom.

Waiting to

Small talk on a
Rainy day
Lazily walk on a
Rainy day
Stare & gawk on a
Rainy day
Nothing...
Just enjoy another rainy day.