Abandoned Poems

Abandoned poems like abandoned houses
Wistful, ethereal, grave
Some shy, reticent, hesitant
Like strays hiding in corners
Few left by the roadside
Waving down cars


Some more yet in hiding
Hidden away, locked and bolted
Beautiful still, steady, strong
In glorious colours, moods; tinged
With emotion, heart, soul
Alive and resonant!

Touching with fingers

Touching with fingers the naked body
Of my dreams, I jump away with a cry
Singed fingers, a heart more singed
Still. Dust arises all around; fingers
Discarded of yore. Burnt, crumbled,
Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust

Knotted

Knotted since I swam out corded
  My touch, my smell, my feel, my taste
My companion, vision, shadow
 Heart breaker, healer, shaman!


I break each time you touch
I don't mend if you don't
Bound, gagged, slave or mistress
I hate yet crave you, O life

Death is larger than life

Death is larger than life
An ache, the bigger hurt
Quiet, the louder sound

A face turned away, eyes shut
Heart cold. My acceptance
The deadlier severance



June 2013

Phool aye hain

Rishton pe khizaan aa bhi chuki
Faasle, duuri, adawat hai bassi hui
Ab na hasrat hai aur na zaroorat
Baat kab ki khatam ho bhi chuki

Par jis paidh se ik bharri ru't mein
Tum ne mujh pe phool thay barsaye
Hai wahin aaj bhi woh aur ru't hai wahi
Phool ayain hain, barse nahi abhi


April 2013

Sometimes a memory climbs out

As sometimes happens, a memory
climbs out; sits down, hugs you tight

Of rain that patters and whispers
Of home, of the sun like second skin

And I am 11; life shines
All is right with the world



April 2013