The Question Mark Tree

In the garden of my mind

A tree with bent trunks and curvy branches, I find

 

Looking at it, from different sides

A different story, it provides

 

A ‘what if’, through the leaves out here

A ‘why’, peeping out somewhere

‘Did I’ , ‘Should I’ , the hanging fruit

And ‘Am I’ sitting, at the root

 

I water them with sleepless nights

restlessness fighting respites

feeding them on my anxious thoughts

pruning them with my fears, lots!

 

As the tree blossoms – the tangled thoughts

Leaving me all foggy, tied in knots

Taking me round and round in circles tight

Paralysing, no solution in sight

 

All this very Exhausting – endless

 

 

In the garden of my mind

A tree with bent trunks and curvy branches, I find

Dignity

Shreds of Dignity, like confetti strewn,

Once whole, but now torn

In the silence echoes remain

Of what was once only a grain

As I look at the scattered bits 

I long to be whole again

Overcoming every pain

No matter how deep they are

Heal every scar

As I gather the scattered bits

each mocking, not valuing and taunt 

returns as powerful and continues to haunt

once more and equally hard

hurt by every shard

As I hold the scattered bits 

I will need my resilience

And a lot of patience 

To hold the fragile parts

So they don’t fall apart

Echoes of Rhythms

 On a bench, the lake I face

Staring at the gentle grace

Following the path the ripples trace

I see the dapchicks in a race

The water's hush, silence profound

Multitude of thoughts in the background

Broken by the Walker's chatter

A little girl in conversation with her Pater

Hopping and skipping she runs around

Bringing me joy abound

I return to nature's rhythmic beats

Of Chirping crickets and bird calls repeat 

Listening, in anticipation 

To my heart in syncopation

walks in lalbagh always define 

Moments when knots untwine

Torn

 In matters of the heart

Where do I start

It is a tough phase

Let me cut to the chase

 

In a relationship status - committed

A doubt has emitted

There is one who tugs at my heart

And from the other draws me apart

 

What have myself into I got

It has put me in a spot

The head is in a muddle 

And I am in trouble

 

I can’t ask 

any help in this task

though I know you are there 

and do care

 

It is so deep 

That I’m losing sleep

How do I choose between the two

I don’t know what to do

 

A Hero

For Swami things took an unexpected turn

Not a coward! Title he had to earn

 

It was the news of the boy who kept the tiger at bay

By fighting it from atop a tree for a day

What do you say to that? Asked father

It can’t be a boy who did it! Said swami, A grown up rather

 

Wiser than a newspaper? Are you? Said father with a sneer

Courage is everything, strength is nothing when it comes to fear

But said swami, Father, How can that be? 

What can courage do if a Tiger should attack me?

 

Let alone fight a tiger, it will suffice

Tonight if you sleep in my office, alone to be precise 

An attempt to distract

Was disposed without tact

 

Seeing no way out his luck he cursed

Can I start from the next month’s first?

Father nodded his head

And into the office he was led

 

Dusty office, hidden scorpion

Nothing could change his father’s opinion

Lamp in the room? 

It was too much to presume

 

An open door was his last ask

Only if he promised to complete the task

Or else at school the story

Would be told in all its glory

 

As he lay alone in the room

He could feel the impending doom

He hated the story in the newspaper 

Why did the boy have to do such a caper

 

With the passing of time

And with every chime

Rustling of leaves or the owls hooting

Sent his heart beat shooting

 

Noticing the flickering tree shadows on the walls

Mani’s encounter with devils he recalls

Covering himself fully with the sheet

He could hear his chattering teeth

 

Hurriedly he spread his bed under the bench

Felt the comfort of being in a trench

Covered himself from head to toe 

Unknown to himself he fell asleep so

 

His sleep wasn’t so sound

He saw a tiger and was stuck to the ground

The tiger pounced on his back

And sharpened his claws ready to attack

 

Scratch, scratch Swami heard 

And a light thud

It was right next to him

It wasn’t in the dream

 

He tried to open his eyes

Unsuccessful were his tries

He realised he was alone

He suppressed a groan

 

Something moved in the dark

Was he the devils mark

His end was near 

That was clear

 

Why wait in horror 

He crawled out in terror

Hugged the intruder’s leg tight

And bit it with all his might

 

‘Aiyyo’, cried the man in pain

Trying to free himself in vain

In a flash came father and servants with a light

The man gave up without a fight

 

The next day the news was out 

The headmaster said he was a true scout

Swami was showered with praise

And it went on for days

 

For Swami things had turned

A hero's title he had earned

 

I want to be with you

Once I was with you
I felt the feeling
A feeling so good and true
 
A feeling you made me feel
A feeling so special
That it is a big deal
 
For me to share
The feeling that comes
And lay myself bare
 
Of the pain I hide
The pain of missing you
Of you not by my side
 
Fighting tears and aches
I want to be with you
No matter what it takes

Dreams

I lie on a pillow
waiting for my brain to slow

 

for my sleep to be sound 

to wrap me all around

and be fully bound

 

even as consciousness leaves

the sub-conscious weaves

and my brain heaves

 

a landslide of situations

different associations

and many manifestations

 

through adulthood, childhood, adolescence 

maybe fears, fantasy, experience 

and happiness, tragedy, violence 

 

Asleep on my pillow

In dreams I wallow