Adulthood

I wish I were a child...

Who could love
abundantly.
Who knows no right
nor wrong.
Who'd heed to none
when chided.
Who'd hold no grudges,
no memories.
Who'd fall into
slumbers deep.
And see each day new,
with no history.
Who'd grab and run
what the mind desired.
Drop it mid way
for something new to acquire.

I wish I were a child...

Who'd lighten up minds
and smile from within.
Give as much as I receive
Take all, hate none.
Demand what I'd want
Clasp to my heart what I'd won.
Give away, guilt free
And suddenly long for some.
Who knows no death
Nor lust, nor birth.
Nor games, nor blame
Nor judge, nor care.
Who'd run into open arms
Whether friend or foe.
Who gave second chances
or even three, yet kept no count.

I wish I were a child...
who'd whisper in my ears, that
I'm doing adulthood just fine...
And that I've fared well so far!

Nest

It wasn't love
It isn't lust
If you must know,
You were a nest.

Where for a while
I could rest.
Renew, reconcile,
And regain my zest.

Feel beautiful,
Admired and loved,
In ways that stood out,
From what was usually bestowed.

A nest to dry my feathers
Before I spread my wings
To stay during adverse weathers
And patiently wait for spring.

I'm an intruder,
Who can no longer bide
At your little abode -
As I've been gone for a while.

This has been a long haul
Though a pleasant one, I muse!
I can hear my home call
Soon spring will be here too.

Let's not sing farewell songs
Nor dig deep into reasons why
I was an unwelcome guest
Who stayed beyond my time.

I promise to move out stealthily,
Gentler than I came in -
And I've left your nest decorated
For other guests and passers by.

Stay Happy

Yes, I'm happy
Not because I'm fake.

I'm happy because
I've had a life

Where hunger pangs
were our lullabies

Where that figure
suppressed in our throats, our cries

Where knocks on the door
sent shivers down our mind

Where keeping us alive each day
was my mother's only fight

Where money was unheard of,
a full day's meal was unseen.

Where tomorrows were mourned
Where the future was drowned

Yes, there was a beacon of light
And we clinged on to that straw.

Yes, I'm happy today
that God gave me this day

To be able to give away
A meal, some money, some hope

To share my own stories
To help some one smile

Yes, I'm happy
And I'll be this way

Cling on, fight, stay alive
This too will pass

And you'll have your day
To shine!

12 at the station

Why isn't it 12 yet, some exclaim 
It's 12 so soon, some repent.
Some run and tumble, late for their trip
While some slumber in a coach, within.

Many journeys have come to an end,
A plenty more, wait to begin.
What better way to gauge life
Than to sit at a station, watching passers go by?

RIP Suresh Jayaraman

A young boy, of 25

Their only handsome son.

The sole, strong breadwinner

He passed away today.

He earned a meagre sum,

He saved it all for them.

For he couldn’t fail or fall.

But, he passed away today.

He went hungry many days,

And led a frugal life
He let go all the worldly fun

And passed away today.

His body, so much thinner
Than all the men his age.
He didn’t look 25.

But he passed away today.

The doctors declared him sick
He never paid heed

Worried, his medical bills could fetch
Another day’s meal?

He must have felt pain

But little did he care.

Did he know his time has come?

Yet, kept moving at his pace?

Every soul that knew him cries
“Had he…” and “If only…”

The boy died, trying to keep up
Despite all agony.

He left a void that’ll never fill
Some sobs, and memories

If only, I had extended some help!

But, he rushed and passed away.

Cravings

The human mind
It craves.
Beyond what it can afford.
Beyond what it can take.

It craves for lust
when there is love.
It craves ecstasy,
for happiness?


It prays for health.
It asks for wealth.
It sees life empty,
and seeks what’s next?


Is this progress?
Is this for the best?
Is this how we evolve,
from the feeble rest?


Or will this maddening chase
To fill up our nests
Take us away
From where we belong?


One day we will own
All – that we’d longed –
And know what’s at our behest
Are just trophies of our zest.


If only one could put reins
On the craving, daring mind
To not built castles in sky
But to live now, here, and smile.

Circles

Bring on that smile
Spread that deceptive cheer
You may be broken inside, 
But people don't really share.

Pin on that smiley, 
To your tattered self
Act all hoity-toity
In this world, that's all they care.

Is that a tear?
Tell them you laughed hard, dear
Don't burden them with stories
They have no time to spare.


Refuse any hand
That comes in to mend
Refuse any ear 
They may offer to lend.

Don't pour out your heart, 
Don't bare them your soul
Just build around a fence
"Good riddance', they'll howl.

Remember that promise 
To your friend you had made

Remember what you did

With the secret that was shared?

Remember the rooftop
Where your soul - you sold?
Remember how you goofed up
All those stories you retold?

We get what we deserve
But, don't we deserve worse?
It's all a vicious circle
Or is it, who decides? 

We pursue a journey
From fake to futile
The world was handed to us great
And look what of it, we have made.