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.

Death

Sneaks in
Like a thief
And walks out
Inflicting grief

Death - an unwelcome guest
Puts one to rest
Leaves the rest, bereft.

Goodbye Ananthan uncle. You will be missed. 

Worth-the-while

Jostled, I rub 

My half-awoken eyes

My voice has failed me

Yet I let out a cry.

I halt. I listen. 

I squint. Then pry –

The day’s just begun – 

Lot’s to be done, when there’s light.

To many it’s another day, 

That’ll just pass by.

To me, it’s a lifetime – 

To be lived in black & white.

Like ship-men who've embarked

To rummage in the dark

I switch on his PC

And it slowly comes to life.

Its white screen blinks at me – 

Awake, and bright

Now, that voice too has left me

Let’s give words a try.

Search terms also fail me 

For a ‘search’ now dropped

Among this war & cry, 

My loved one, I've lost.

He smiles at me from a distance,

It’s a snap clicked some time back.

I notice, his smile is hazy

And a tear, those dark eyes wear.

When you stop looking,

There’s so much you’d see.

And when you stop seeing

There’s a lot left to perceive.

The TV screams out updates –

It’s absconding, broke, or found?

I see him smile at me, 

From deep underneath, 

His black eyes glistening

From the salty seas.

Maybe my long wait, 

Is not worth-the-while.

With him gone

I’ve been left to scrounge.

With all might I push 

My wheel-chair around

(Didn't I tell my limbs failed me

the day he was born?)

Stuck

Stuck in a time zone
That repeats.
Mourning Mondays to sudden Sundays.
They just repeat.
Yet we long...
To relive events and emotions...
From days bygone.
Mindless mortals, we are all.
Stuck in time zones, of our own.