Solitude

You are alone
The little voice echoes
I try to ignore
She continues, hoarse

You cannot break free
From burdens that bring you down
You may die trying 
With not a soul to mourn

I shrug off the voice 
She slowly dies away
But I'm lonely inside 
Have her words already slain?

Am I really alone? 
Thought many were here to stay? 
In this life and the ones to come by 
Won't they walk with me all the way?

I hear a bubble break
Castles pulled down far away
They are merciless, unkind 
Voices tell me to hide

I dint choose to be born
But I chose to be strong
Wish I'd chosen a life instead 
Where I dint lead, just bowed down.

Lifeless lights

It was the yearly festival of lights.
It was immensely bright. Even in the night.
I was the only one, thrown, out of sight
I remember - it was the night of the festival of lights.

I was broken, I was cold, yet I put up a fight
The crowd kept moving, laughing in delight
Only if someone, would take note of my plight!
I am lonely and dying, unable to fight.

I can see my children, out of hunger, turn white
If I had wings, I'd fly to them, with all might
But alas, I'm stuck here, with no hopes to reunite
with my children, who are hungry, and turning pale-white.

I was hit by a biker, speeding across a red light
I fell at a distance, thrown from a height
The motorist sped on, as if out of spite
I fell at a distance, thrown, out of sight.

I assure my blurry vision that I will be all-right

I howl to seek help from a crowd - moving in delight
It was the festival of sounds and brights
My howling gets lost, amongst the crowd's chaotic recites.

I've turned bright red, like this festive night.
A cracker bursts loud, it can no longer instill fright
I move on silently. For I have no right.
I'm a mongrel of a city - a city bustling with lifeless lights.

Dudu's Onam

So Dudu couldn't celebrate Onam this year because her dad's grand dad passed away a couple of days ago. My sister had a hard time explaining the concept of 'no celebrations for one year' to her. 

The only thing she had to say with a sigh was "I'll pray no one passes away next year cos I want to make Pookalams for sure".

Enriched

I helped a beggar!
I beamed with pride
"Money gone wasted",
came the remark in snide.

I fed a poor puppy
that had lost its way
"You should have saved that
for a rainy day"

I held up the traffic
to let a blind man cross
"That's ten precious minutes
of yours just lost!"

I aid my mother,
she's eighty, she's old -
"She must really be thankful,
for many parents are disowned"

As a nurse, I treat lepers
badly diseased
"No wonder you remain
in a house on lease"

I volunteer for charity work
whenever I'm free
"Why not a part time job
or another degree?"

I've got the job.
I'm so happy, daddy!
"Finally I get some money back.
Hope the take home is hefty?"

I said 'Thank you' to the cabbie.
Boy! he seemed pleased!
"But what can he do for you?
It's your boss you should appease!"

My heart thumped hard
as I raced into my winning lap
"Sad she's into a sport
that media never taps!"

I preach God's words,
would you like to learn?
"Oh spare me, wise man.
But can you teach me how to earn?"

The wealthy widower died,
leaving his children in despair
"Wonder who he's named
his legal heir!"

Motherhood

Motherhood is a blessing,
they all gush with pride!
But what if it bore
a thankless child?

A form that took form,
as you’d bleed
Is a grown-up who now sees you,
as a mouth to feed!

A hand that reached out,
all its growing years
Won’t offer a finger,
to wipe away a tear.

Feet that stepped on,
now step away
Eyes that looked on,
now see you as stray.

Is it upbringing at fault?

Or a young mind at flaw?

Is motherhood worth a risk?

Who gets to take a call?

Circles

Those who spat
Get spit on
Those who cursed
Walk into misery

Those who rose from grief
A happy life, they lead
It does come to full circles
Life! What mystery!

Home

The walk back home
Is both long and short
Long to the paining joints
Short to the craving mind.