Semblance of Calm Sept 18, 2007

graceful and effortless
upon the surface they glide
in a silence
worthy of such adulation
gentle ripples
carry the diminishing rays
beneath like crazy
webbed feet paddle
working hard to keep
semblance of calm

Silenced Tempest Sept 21, 2007

exterior displays a calmness
almost surreal in its serenity
kind words uttered
soft squeeze of hands
tight warm hugs
relay more than spoken words
within the realm of consciousness
tumultuous and volatile
each new dawn each day's dusk
brings not forth the peace sought after
silence heavy impenetrable
the storm rages on inside
no visible signs
captured nor seen
of those carrying
the yoke of suffering
silenced the tempest
resides unavoidable

Antakshri About Love

As previously attempted, these couplets must contain the word 'love' in them ...

Here's my humble servings ...

**************************

Tears shed in the name of love;
Cannot be erased by giving flight to doves

**************************

Warms my blood your love so dear;
Makes me bold and tread where I used to fear

**************************

Much was he missed as festivities continued unaffected
and loved ones waited, empty, sad somewhat distracted

**************************

Game to fall into this trance
and to begin the love dance

**************************

Deep and dire are emotions felt
when love is found to have packed and left

**************************

Grounded for life when noose is placed
tied in tight knots for love sake

**************************

Fun no doubt those that love desire;
when bun's in the oven, they perspire

**************************

Savour succulent the headiness of love
let us meet in secret, head speedily to the cove

**************************

Click snap flash immortalise
Love sometimes creates lies

**************************

Task done in the name of love pure
have magic to success ensure

**************************

She wondered as to her plight to no end
without her love beside alone she was left to fend

Antakshri Attempted

This are couplets written in English taken from the idea of Hindi/Urdu Antakshri which I have previously penned on an online network I belonged to.

Am sharing the several lines played in response to the postings of others ... hence the disjointed feeling ... bear with me ...

And so we begin

sow seeds and watch them grow
in full bloom, in pretty rows

---------------------------------------

Sound of a heart breaking in two;
Have you ever heard it too?

----------------------------------------

Honey from buzzing bees;
Whilst birds sing in the trees

---------------------------------------

Wife and children marriage brings forth;
Man must ensure to keep out the rot

---------------------------------------

Way To Go ... was the heard cheer;
And yet inside she trembled with fear

---------------------------------------

Dish all colourful and artificially flavoured;
Tantalises palates and is much favoured

--------------------------------------

Wife seems to generate brickbats and laughter;
And yet without her stoically by your side you falter!

-------------------------------------

Curls frame my typical Mallu face;
As I arrange fresh blooms in a vase

------------------------------------

arranger of words so lyrical
evoking emotions mystical

------------------------------------

Dearth of ideas in my head;
Leads me to just say dead

------------------------------------

fire raging burning bright;
when heart's on fire of what a sight

------------------------------------

Hate is the extreme of a sweeter emotion;
That of love and such deep devotion

-----------------------------------

Hubby an affectionate term for the man in our life;
Wifey sometimes is heard used for the wife

-----------------------------------

understand me please, was all she asked;
he turned and walked away from such a task

-----------------------------------

Wine really gets very fast to my head;
Hence if advised I don't please take heed

-----------------------------------

Fame and fortune come as a prize;
Usually too at sanity's price

-----------------------------------

Den in America is where the family together chills;
But in Africa is where the lioness takes her kills

------------------------------------

Ilk I have no clue what to say;
Take the milk but be sure to pay

------------------------------------

Recovery from scars and wounds from battle
Just goes to improve one owns mettle

------------------------------------

fires raging inside, bodies entwined, passions a flare;
night's adventures abruptly ended in the sun's bright glare

------------------------------------

Face the truth as frightening as it seems;
Let the course of law resolve as so it deems

------------------------------------

Books by the dozens lined upon my shelves;
What is a dozen if not counted in twelves

------------------------------------

Sublet I to nut cases my rented premise;
And truly riotous as they did promise

------------------------------------

Forever is a long undefined time;
And often broken like wind tinkling chimes

------------------------------------

Ground into fine white flour;
Shaped and kneaded into dainty flower

------------------------------------

Light was the touch of breeze;
Right before winter came in to freeze

------------------------------------

Pandora's box now open and let loose;
But how do we get a hold of the moose?

------------------------------------

Bleeding is natural after you slay;
From now I will write only in Malay

------------------------------------

Fuss often a reaction when left out;
What other option than in a corner pout

------------------------------------

Rowing down the river Thames in fours;
Crazy boys at all odd hours

------------------------------------

Miles and miles the distance between us now;
You keep promising happiness, please tell me how

------------------------------------

Sink it did Titanic the most expensive ship;
Thankfully in cargo there were no sheep

------------------------------------

Shred the chicken and the cabbage toss the salad;
Mix the mayo, and the carrots, come tantalise your palate

------------------------------------

Say I to you you're the one I need;
Too late I find you've planted seed

------------------------------------

fool are you who thinks to cheat death;
for all must end with Creator met

------------------------------------

Mix the fruit, pour in the milk spoon in the flour;
One careless mistake and everything ends up on the floor

------------------------------------

Sad now with forced separation;
Let me not succumb to desperation

------------------------------------

soon the sun bright orange in the sky;
is that a rainbow on the horizon i spy

------------------------------------

Cue given at the raising of the curtain;
Hero's line forgotten was most certain

------------------------------------

such telling music filled all ears;
it's sad lilting filled eyes with tears

------------------------------------

Unfurled and majestic billowing in the wind;
Sacrifices of her heroes cannot be repaid in cash or kind

------------------------------------

Dust covers the memories of my mind;
Cobwebs hanging is what you'll find

------------------------------------

Book the hall the rooms, arrange for fine dining;
There's a wedding in the planning

------------------------------------

Dew drops glisten in the the morning rays;
Happy laughter of child as he plays

------------------------------------

Yield an annual rate of return on an investment, expressed as a percentage;
Field is something that also might be measured in acreage

------------------------------------

Most often such effort it takes from me;
To rhyme hence giving up I let it be

------------------------------------

disguise only momentarily hides the reality;
better effort be put in working out its feasibility

------------------------------------

Mark in collective we together have made;
Ahsan ji's thread vibrant alive, will not fade

------------------------------------

Crate of Ginger Beer send as fee;
Later together we'll sip some tea

------------------------------------

Fee I paid;
To have my bed made

------------------------------------

Disappears like steam into thin air;
Where else can lyrical souls bare?

------------------------------------

never forget the blood they spilt;
thus never let peace into turbulence tilt

------------------------------------

Few are the people I now can trust;
Most are just fools full of lust

------------------------------------

elsewhere is heard merry making and happy cheers
there across the border flows sorrowful tears

------------------------------------

hosts in a flutter
shocked at all the clutter
guests arriving in droves
caterers present gastronomical treasure troves

------------------------------------

fun to you is not so to me
you carry one, I let you be

------------------------------------

races all diverse such interesting blend
mix and match marriages are in upward trend

------------------------------------

us is you and I
looking into each others eyes

------------------------------------

Bent and out of shape
from feet to nape

------------------------------------

ferry ride across the channel
into his arms cozy like flannel

------------------------------------

waylaid dreams cause much grief
focus committed ends such strife

------------------------------------

shade from the big bo tree
somehow always set my heart free

Cyber Copulation May 29, 2007

two beings on different continents
brought together over fibre optics
and deep sea cables
armed with webcams and fast typing
their journey into the erotics begins
what pray tell spurs them and million others
to undress before flickering monitors
displaying arousal and bits meant for copulation
to a perfect stranger as surreal as his handle IDIE4U69
is it loneliness then that drives them
are they inadequate for the real thing
that they hide behind pseudonyms and keyboards
living out fantasies that should be lived with real partners
she watches him shake and shiver
he watches her squirm and shudder
spent with glazed eyes they type sweet nothings
promising tomorrows of undying love and togetherness
they bid their goodbyes as they sign off
and login with new handles and yet again trawl cyberspace
for another round of explosive cyber copulation

Butterfly Jul 11, 2007

My thoughts were tumultuous

Disturbed and in disarray

I hum-ed and haw-ed

Slightly distraught

Outside my window

Twelve floors high

Sunshine and fluffy clouds

Happy birds in flight

Two swifts in sync

Merrily in the gusts of wind

Swoop by carefree

Unlike earthbound me

How totally liberating

It must feel

To spread ones wings

And soar uninhibited

My eye catches sight

Of a single butterfly

Struggling against the wind

Unwilling to succumb

Upon my expressionless face

There cracks a reluctant smile

We are the same

That butterfly and I

Where Are We Going Jul 10, 2007

Give me your hand
We are going on a ride …
Life rollercoaster
Come if you are not faint of heart
Come as you are unmasked without pretense
Come laugh merrily or shed sad tears
Come with eyes open wide
See the pains and the sufferings
See the joys and the sharing
See both aspirations and disappointments
I request to give me your hand
In trust, in subjugation, in resignation
Hold forth that question forming on your tongue
Ask it not and dispel the magic of the moment
It brings me bitter frustrations
When you ask Where Are We Going?

There Jul 04, 2007

There beneath the frangipani tree
Her body sits in quiet contemplation
Scattered around white petal frangipanis
With their rich yolk yellow centers
And their sweet decaying scent
That intoxicates
There she is devoid of tears
Having cried till she felt blinded
All words have been erased
She has none left to emote
The typhoon raging inside
Shall also pass
There beyond yonder horizon
Sits he the oppressing tormentor
Regaling admiring listeners
Of conquests and trails of broken hearts
Belittling the love those women
Showered upon him
There now lays her lifeless cadaver
A disturbing presence amongst the tranquil trees
Undiscovered she decomposes into the earth
Flesh falls off the bones casting unbearable stench
Mixed with damp soil and rotting flora
There she remains in silent anonymity

Marriage Remarriage

Part 1

Is there a man
His heart so big
Who might wish
To make me his
And partake of the love
From three ladies hearts

Part 2

If bigamy is a crime
I should spend my time
Chasing more than I can care for
In hope that I might find four
And turn things right
Tie knots more tight
Happy me with polygamy
Out with dated monogamy

Second Chances Jun 28, 2007

He packed his bags and he walked out to waiting her
Never looking back not even once
To see the tears that fell in place of shattered dreams

Three months of silence passed
He rang to say he was coming home
‘Give me a second chance to prove my love for you’ said he

She stood holding the receiver willing self to believe
Still hoping reason would prevail upon his heart and mind
All cards she laid clearly before him for second chances come but once

When he walked into her arms, her heart broke yet again
For the insincerity of his displays of affection
Sliced through her still bleeding heart

When he walked out with vague promises to be home soon
Her thoughts were with her heart in unison they bid their final farewells
For she knew he left her yet again and returned to her waiting there.

Memories Captive May 24, 2007

I stare at the date on the calendar and it stares back at me

Goading me to ignore its significance

But I am weak and I succumb to the memories

Lurking there on the fringes of my mind

Was it not later in that evening sometime ago?

You held me in your arms as we stood in silence

Basking still from the sweetness of our first kiss

That left us breathless and stole my heart

In the sky the moon played hide and seek with the clouds

Down below I held you closer, not wanting to lose my moonbeam

You called me Jaanu, you called me Patni, and you called me Soni

You, in Hindi, sang to me and wrote me poetry

In each other’s arms, skin on skin matching heartbeats

You took me on a journey of our future as man and wife

Bit by bit you tore down my walls of caution

You had me there completely soul bared and vulnerable

Why then did a side of you rear its ugly head?

Each and every strike of those same hands that once caressed I still feel

No more sweet words came forth only curses and demeaning hatred

Unwillingly I was pulled into hell once again and shattered dreams lay around my feet

As those images and memories form in my head

My eyes grow misty, blurred with hot uninvited tears

The pain is as intense now as it was then, the wound is still raw

So much time has since passed Jaan

Yet I am still held captive in my broken heart’s unresolved struggles

She Speaks To Me May 24, 2007

She speaks to me
Lost is the innocence of one such as her
For her eyes have seen everything
Her heart has hurt along with mine
Every time I have fallen she has fallen along side with me
Each time I have picked up the pieces, her small hands help me
I draw from her strength and courage
She speaks to me
Alone in the nights when sleep escapes my eyes
I hear her soothing voice encouraging
Reminding me of goals we set out to achieve so many years ago
Gently egging me on, challenging me to chase rainbows
None can claim or challenge the fact
Her knowledge of me is complete and infallible
Unbeknown to the world
Ashka my conscience
She speaks to me

Wounds May 24, 2007

I sit here at my keyboard

Making sense of the words flashing on my screen

Reflecting a time before I’d seen that very phrase

And how merely forming it in my mind it shook my existence

Now he calls me Jaan, and I halt in mid thought

Knots form in my stomach, my palms become all clammy

How do I react without irony or cynicism creeping into my response?

Answers fail me as I try to distract his train of thought while evaluating my emotions

Nevertheless, unknowing unsuspecting blameless, he has reopened healing wounds

The Test May 22, 2007

Limbs entwined, enraptured

Heavy is the scent enamored

Short yet heavy breaths

Gasps and moans pollute the silence

Outside the ladies wait

Chewing betel leaves lips all red

They gaze into the crackling fire

Eager for dusk end and rising dawn

The first cracks of dawn

Stain bright the starless sky

The rooster crows with puffed out chest in pride

Slow stirrings as the world awakens

The ladies wait in hushed silence

Their eyes still averted from the hut behind

Dull ambers crackle and spit last flames

And smoke makes misty sleepy eyes

A dim shadow cast, ever so light

The man walks away in triumphant silence

They wait still now on their haunches

Like hungry jackals, tensed some their long sleepless night

Falling over each other they pick themselves up

And hurry into the object of their night’s fascination

Stillness and silence mixed with that heady scent

Permeates heavy the air, as their vision accustoms

There she lies in a crumpled mess hair all disarray

Crushed glass bangles and smudged sindoor

Yet coyly smiling at the faces

Who stare in suppressed elation

She holds in her hand her prized possession

Stained sheets from a nights exertion

The ladies cry out and beat their chests

Anxiety gives way to joy,

The girl has passed the test

I Heard Them Cry May 23, 2007

I heard them cry

But still I moved not

For I felt such a weight on my self

Inflicting immobility upon my being

I wished I could die and escape what lay ahead

I hear their cry

And still I ignored their innocent tears

The pain was ceaseless and numbing

Visions kept playing before me

Results of succumbing to defeat and humiliation

I heard nothing for a brief moment

Before ear shattering wails erupted

Their nightmares are over once they awaken

Mine remain faithful at my side

In waking hours all through troubled sleep

At last I move toward their side

And hum old lullabies patting them back to slumber

Whispering I am here and I love you

Their relaxed gentle breathing reassures me

I am needed here my work is not done

My previous melancholic contemplations

Are forced to take a backseat

I am reminded to view the platter before me

Nudged into making decisions and taking direction

Unresolved matters still require my attention … and so I stay