Wednesday, April 30, 2008

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.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

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.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

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

Saturday, April 26, 2008

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! :)

Friday, April 25, 2008

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

Thursday, April 24, 2008

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.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

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.

Monday, April 21, 2008

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

Sunday, April 20, 2008

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




Thursday, April 17, 2008

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...


****




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.


******

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

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'

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

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'

Monday, April 14, 2008

Sleepy Rhyme




day without end
eyes feel pinned
sleepy and tired
i nod off my head -
clearly
its time for bed!

****
'night.'night.






Sunday, April 13, 2008

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.




Friday, April 11, 2008

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.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

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

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

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

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Tidbits



loosing interest-
like night without the sky
encountering blank.


feeling stagnant -
like bird without wings
bereft existence.


****


Monday, April 7, 2008

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.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

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

Saturday, April 5, 2008

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.

Friday, April 4, 2008

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.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

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.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

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.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

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.