Swordplay

entranced, the spectator follows every beat

a sworplay between equals, building heat
faces hidden beneath scarves, color of beet

battling wills, first clash and then retreat

mutual respect shone as eyes meet and greet

attack and defend, both warriors so elite

an artform majestic, energetic and neat

sinewy movements with a grace discrete

entranced, the spectator cannot take a seat!

*****

For the last day of NaPoWriMo, I give you an artform I really enjoy.

Drugs

a memory, an experience

strong enough to bruise

and erode multiple hearts

sharper than a knife-edge

drawing bloody thoughts

yet one i would relive

over and over again,

till death ends it all!

don't you see? clearly
i am past the point of
no return where regrets
matter, then again not!

for i am captured, addicted

an obedient slave,

with no gate for escape-

without regrets, but waiting

for death to end it all!

******

In response to Sharon's "What do you not regret, though you should?" . This is again an

addict's perspective, or what I imagine to be an addict's perspective. no, I don't do drugs, but

I have encountered a few who do and it is saddening how low a person can sink once addicted.

Life

an array of distractions

punctuate our mundane lives

birth and death iterates

a known process called life

an unexpected votive flicker

lighting paths unknown, hope

comes in handy when life

begins to molder- bruised

by splinters randomly thrown!

Handle such exceptions with care,

or be prepared to lame for life!

*****

For those in the software industry, you are bound to see the basics

often used in a work environment! For others - if you haven't noticed them already

- 'array', 'process', 'handle', 'exceptions' are some of the most common

ones.

*****

In response to Michelle's Friday Five and RWP's jargons prompt.

His & Hers

is that a 'he' or a 'she'?

for the face looks his,

while the form seems hers:

muscled forearm, ragged frame-

their souls are entwined

like him and her combined-

oh yes, i am definite,

it is a she in a he!

two sharing one whole,

dreaming to calm the soul!

relaxed the face,even asleep -

i long for a window to peep

into the hearts buried deep!

*****

In response to Michelle's Monday Mural

Utopia Exists

i seek perfection, true completion

i long for a place of absolution

i have traveled most every corner

searching, digging every quarter-

for as outrageous as this will sound,

may be it is Utopia i want found?

why don't you make with what you've?

why do you run seeking what you cannot have?

if happiness can't be found within -

how will you grasp what lies beyond?

so utilize all that you've at birth

let Utopia flourish on this earth!

*****

As they say, 'Where there's a will, there's a way'! I believe everything is within our power to make what we want of it. Mother Earth could be a close replica of Utopia, if collectively we made the effort to do so. Yeah, I have been accused of being a dreamer, an idealist, maybe I am one. But I prefer the positive outlook that leads me forward as opposed to the negatives that turn me stagnant. When it comes to Earth, I am forever optimistic and hope that more people gets some sense knocked into them before She decides 'Enough is Enough' and take things into her own hand. I would avoid her anger in all possible ways I could and hope you will too.

******

For Michelle's prompt, For WI's prompt, For SS's prompt. What a shame! I wish I could find some jargons to fit in to RWP's prompt as well! :)

Sing & Dance

buzzing bees:
singing in harmony-
wind provides chorus.

flowering tulips:

dance to the live beat -

of fluttering butterflies.

****

In response to One Single Impression

My Belief

be a warrior, have plenty of faith

not one or the other, but both apace -

for victory belongs to one so brave

willing to fight yet having faith!

when life throws hurdles one by one

pick up your strenth, forward face:

do your best, stretch your limits

then leave the rest to your faith!

faith has power as you would know,

but not for one who will not show-

courage and spirit combining faith

to win over life's impossible maze!

so be a warrior with plenty of faith

not one or the other but both apace.

****

My mantra, my belief, one that keeps me going is to be a warrior with lots of faith.

For Michelle's prompt on mantra.

Her

a picture, a pencil sketch

etched in black and white

stopped me in my tracks,to gaze-

glimpse in bewiderment, in awe

of reflected familiarity,my own?

wait, it can't be, how could it be?

as i trace the features one by one

many an emotion skip my mind

she seems so young, was i ever so?

she was carefree, she lived life so

who is she? why do i feel connected?

stop, she is not me but she is in me

even though we are so disconnected?

i should've known the answer was close

yet it gave me great pleasure, to know

her eyes spoke to me, just as her words

rang in my ears, i knew her deep down

within my heart, the knowledge took shape

just as she walked in to announce

as only she, my adorable ammoomma can do

'Appoopa sketched me, I was seventeen'

****

This is for my Ammooma, my grandma, who is a role model for me, her grace and her charm

beats no other and she is indeed a woman to be reckoned with. Also fits the prompt for 3WW.

*Appooppa is what I call my grandpa, he was a lucky man.

Lost Spring

flip-flops slap the pedicured feet,

bikinis sway in the scorching heat!

shorts and skirts out and about,

sun tan season is here no doubt!

days are longer, nights even shorter,

summer has overtaken spring for sure!

i am disappointed to say the least -

since i consider spring such a feast!

*****

In response to the TOP prompt

Detachment

ugliness is inborn

just like goodness,

mixture of the two

does not cause harm

but only compliments-

should they remain

like oil and vinegar:

together yet apart,

embracing yet detached,

separate identities,

preserving character-

easy to move aside,

when time arrives!

key of detachment

is easy to loose:

beware of its risk

when mixing twos-

for negatives arise

as attachment is born,

and flavours bring war

unlike oil and vinegar!

****

In response to the prompt from Read Write Poem

Damayanti

red attire drapes

beauty sparkling gold:

white swan admires.

***
eyes dreamy black-

brown gaze notice,

lost look blue.

***

red lotus petals

compliment pillars golden:

silvery sky awaits.

***
messenger listens green

pink feet planted:

thoughts colored grey.

***

This is in response to the prompt from One Single Impression on Colors. This is also a form I have been wanting to try ever since I caught it at lissa's and Christine's blogs. It is called Rothko,

1. A Rothko (poem) can only be written while standing in front of a Rothko (painting).2. A Rothko is three lines, three words per line.3. Three of these nine words must be colors, and their position in the poem must be a tic-tac-toe.4. Like all rules of poetry, break at your own risk.

****

A little on the painting, this is an oil painting from Raja Ravi Varma, a famed Indian artist on a character called Damayanti, follow the link for the story on Damayanti here and here. Please click on the link here to see a bigger version of the painting itself. I have a framed copy in my personal collection and thought this would be perfect for this poetry form.

****

My NaPoWriMo for friday, Saturday and Sunday are all done today...whew, I thought I am gonna miss these out. But the prompts took me on a roll.

Bravery

Don’t be mere survivors,
heroes are true revivers -
fight your darkest fears
triumphs always have ears!

*****

In response to the WI prompt, I think I will take this further, but for now, here's the

draft as I consider it.

Unmolding

voice your sigh

compose a mold

fill brim high

with thoughts of gold

open your heart

break the mold

free your spirit

let peace be the goal

*****

In response to Sunday Scribblings

Indecision

what am i abandoning?

i can't help wonder

was it worth exploring?

the road least journeyed

what am i missing?

i am no risk taker

what am i loosing?

i have to ponder -

as I continue to follow

the experienced traveler

before mine.

****

This was triggered by a favorite poem of mine from Robert Frost. It is an inspiring poem for me, one I wouldn't mind reading over and over again every time indecision captures my mind and plays havoc with it. This is for the Poem In Your Pocket piece I would like to remind my readers of...

****

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

******

A play

stage is set

actors in place

touching scene

plays its pace -

starting at the

beginning, till it ends.

for each spectator

looking deeply in :

visibility spectacular

acting real -

where beginnings begin

with endless ends!

life is such,

as you will agree:

different views,

different worlds,

depending on the

beholder's eye -

full of beginnings

with no visible ends.

*****

In response to 3WW, and Michelle's 'different views of the window'

Blind Perspective

slippery cool to my skin,
gurgling musical to my ear,
fragrant breath to my nose,
healing nectar to my tongue-
i love to see your face
just for a moment, just once.


you quench my thirst,

you fulfill my need:
you are life-giving,
quite simply the best.
i feel you, i sense you,
i smell you, i taste you
i long to see you, meet you.
just for a moment, just once.


does it matter what color
you are? if i could see,
if these eyes of mine
could see, like i see
in my mind's inner eye,
you will be the color
of the rainbow for sure.
so maybe it is best
that i am blind and cannot see
for surely my dreams would flee -
if i see you, meet you face to face
just for a moment, just once.

******

I did two prompts in one, this in response to

Sharon's "What color is water?" from a blind man's

perspective as well as Michelle's 'I've never seen the face'

Sleepy Rhyme

day without end

eyes feel pinned

sleepy and tired

i nod off my head -

clearly

its time for bed!

****

'night.'night.

Krishna

playful and mischevious

you capture many hearts

your charming sweetness

span across generations

with lores full of gloss

i long to hear your stories:

fun and adventurous tales -

i heard them a million times

but would listen over again

a role model for several

your tales full of moral

thief of hearts you are known

innumerous souls you own

you are darling Krishna

famed the world over,

a Hindu God you might be-

mentor and friend to me.

*****

Krishna is a famed character from the Hindu literature, my favorite, so I decided to use him as the subject for the last two

prompts from TOP, one on mythology and the other on the Person.

Glory

ray of sunshine:

i basked in it's glory

warmed inside out.

glorious smile:

spread from ear to ear

rising sun.

*****

In response to one single impression prompt.

Plea For Help

how could you let me die?

after giving me this life -

for you know that i am alive

from the day you concieve'.

dont judge me please
first get to know me

listen to my plea
give me my voice

my sex shouldn't matter
my resolve will not shatter

i am as good as a 'he'
i am no helpless 'she'

allow me my basic right
let me solve this plight

give me one chance
to prove my stance

a reason to be heard
thus spread the word

fearless let me fight

with all my might

my heart will take flight

the future will be bright

allow me this life

don't kill me please!

*****

A few weeks ago, a chance encounter got me aquainted with Roop Rai and her blog unchaahi where she talks of 'sex-selective abortion'. Thanks to Roop for taking me to her space. To my delight she requested me to write a few words regarding her cause, the fight againt female genicide in many countries including India. I have been thinking how best to spread this message across, it is a sad state of affairs but it happens and measures need to be taken to prevent it. I request all my readers to visit Roop's site and contirbute your thoughts in the best way you can. There's lots of information here. I believe in her cause.

I also thought this fit the prompt at ReadWritePoem to 'speak freely' on behalf of those who cannot voice their issues. A female foetus in my opinion is the least fortunate and if one could speak, I am sure her plea would be heart rendering.

This looks to fit my Sunday Scrbblings prompt as well as WI prompt. And finally for Michelle's prompt, I choose my favorite words as the highlighted ones. These last three pieces I fit in as I wanted this voice to be heard by maximum number of people.

My Weapon

i write, i type, i deliver

with ten fingers poised

pouring thoughts at will -

rarely do i acknowledge

this weapon at my tips:

one taken for granted,

one least appreciated

but never ever, never once

accredited, recoginzed!

what if i lost them?

what if they paralysed?

where oh where would I be?

how oh how my life lead me?

this life would simply

waste away, it would be

worse than dying surely-

living ghost that i would be

so when i glimpse

these palms of mine

i feel thankful, grateful

totally blessed.

*****

For my tenth NaPoWriMo, I am using Michelle's prompt called My Hands

Good & Bad

remember the good old times

funny how the world chimed

theatre cost just mere dimes

not money but people primed

times have changed, full of crimes

not people but dollars primed

winds betray, altering climes

hearts vanish, heavily grimed

life tastes like tarty limes.

******

In response to the 3WW prompt

Tidbits

loosing interest-

like night without the sky

encountering blank.

feeling stagnant -

like bird without wings

bereft existence.

****

Aunt Trouble

There's my great aunt

whose tale would haunt

her life is history

her death a mystery

oh, she's tough to flaunt

****

This is for MK's prompt as well as ReadWritePoem.

Stranded 'kus!

forest fire:

lone bird in the sky-

stranded high.

***
gathering storm:

burdened thoughts at war-

stranded within.

***
flowing stream:

calms the inner soul-

happily stranded.

***

clear blue sky:

merry making birds-

stranded hearts.

***

In response to the prompt from On Single Impression

Betrayal

look me in the eye

when you truly try

don't you dare lie

when i bid goodbye

deduce the reason why

when you see me cry

for once, don't be sly

or regret when you die

Self-Battle

brave face crumbles

tears rain unheeded

her mask unmasked:

the shower turns on

her soul-clenching sobs,

merges with the whoosh

weak,gut-shaking frame

hides behind the steam

stranded within a maze

with no key for escape

she continues her quest

for the lost highway

her fear and self-doubts

rival, to pull thoughts

in opposite directions:

making victory impossible

and hence the unmasking -

hiding from the world

and letting go, to fight

her own personal demons

helps to mask herself

as she turns off water

and step out, to face

the world one more day.

*****

In response to the Writer's Island which I havent attempted in a long long time, also for NaPoWriMo.

Laughter

abundant laughter:

liberates the spirit

free prescription.

musical trickle:

balm for the pained soul

merry laughter.

contagious illness:

the only one welcomed

spreading laugher.

*****

Late for last week's One single impression, late for NaPoWriMo, well, I have fifteen minutes before midnight. So took the easy way out.

Moments

turbulent times

wavering mind

sheer will power

shakes then quivers

one day at a time

life drags on

heart surrenders

faith leads way

hope gives strength

dreams take over

one step to the next

life moves on

*****

My contribution for the third day NaPoWriMo, whew, so far so good.

Shadows

parallel worlds
though ours appear,
you are not me
and I am not you -
insurmountable walls,
mysterious boundaries
separate our lives
where beating hearts
find no returns.

don’t you see?
what divides us
is our thoughts -

separation is a myth
built in the far recesses
of our subconscious.

underneath we are one
our souls are one and
my heart bounce to the
rhythm of yours-
look deep and you will know,
there’s no such thing as
parallel worlds.

****

Thanks Pia for the inspiration, I was scratching my head for inspiration on the second day of National Poetry Month, and looks like 3WW came to the rescue. I do hope Bone's father feels much better soon. This is the second poem, twenty eight more to go.

Little Tufts

her soft baby curls,
downy to the touch-
too short for pigtails,
not long for ponytails,
perfect for kudumis!

so off i go,

and find hair ties
to pretty my toddler
with fancy dos -
that sit atop her tiny head.

*****

You can find details of traditional kudumis here but the style for kids are little tufts sitting atop a child’s head, not the shaved variety. One more for Michelle's prompt for the first day this month.

Life Begins

pitter patter

your dreams come true

does it matter?
how time just flew?

merry laughter
will soon find you

tender shatter

through and through

pitter patter
timeless wonder,

life anew.

*****

This is for a dear friend who recently discovered that she was pregnant, I am delighted for her.

Here's to hoping she has a wonderful pregnancy and a joyous time to look forward to.

Today is also the beginning of the National Poetry Month, I am hoping to do a poem-a-day. This is the first of my contributions. Here's the link to the Read Write NaPoWriMo, there's also prompts at Michelle's Poefusion if you need ideas. So come on join the bandwagon, if I can do it, you can too.