Fragile Dreams

Did your parents tell you of your birth 

That you were born because of a dream?

In you they found all their worth

Your success made their eyes gleam!

“Dream big”, you were always told

Nothing is beyond your reach, you know!

To work hard, you were cajoled

And with that belief you began to grow.

Your dreams found themselves on a list

A vantage spot on your tac-board!

With determination clenched in your fist

Everything depended on how much you scored.

That reputed college and a degree

You’d get the dream-job you were told;

The dream so distant, you couldn’t see

Lost to reservations and seats that were sold.

Whatever happens, happens for the best

The refrain you oft heard to rationalise!

As you looked ahead with renewed zest

The list on the tac-board still caught your eyes.

“Don’t give up on your dreams”, you were reminded

It was just a matter of a detour, you know!

Some ups and downs and roads winded

You reap only as much as you sow.

As the journey of life took you along

And you continued to dream on;

The list on the tac-board seemed all wrong

But things would get better with a new dawn!

The dream of love plucked at the bud

A tragic tale of lust and a broken heart!

That sea-side house you always wanted

Built of mud it was a piece of art!

The list on the tac-board caught your eye

The marks of changes you had made;

Wondering if your dreams were set too high

Might things have been different had you prayed?

And as you grow, you realise

What a lotus eater you have been!

There’s much more to life than the prize

All that money could ever mean.

If only someone had told you soon enough,

What matters is peace and all it brings along!

Everything else is a matter of fluff

With your list you may not have gone wrong.

But who can stop the mind from dreaming

For love and happiness, money and success;

Some fragile like glass, some strong and gleaming

The perfect combination is anyone’s guess!

The Road to Love

Close your eyes and come with me

Hear your heart beat so free

Hold my hand and lets just be

Forever and ever until eternity!

Smile always, it brightens my day

Throw every sorrow far away!

For once just place your faith in me

Trust me, we’ll be happy until eternity.

Through all those tides, high and low

Paths of roses and thorns, we’ll know

That together we are strong as can be

Hand in hand, until eternity.

You’ll have your faults and I’ll have mine

But our love will make things just fine!

We’ll just add up, you will see

Solve it with limit to infinity!

Every grey strand will have a story 

And every wrinkle a tale of glory;

Our bodies frail, eyes weak to see

But love we shall, until eternity.

And somewhere in the heavens

Our souls will meet again

For I’m meant for you and you, for me

Forever and ever, beyond eternity!

My Sihi Story - A Note to Sihi

[sihi: sweet in Kannada]

Life has taught me that learning can come from the least expected of sources at the least appropriate of times. This got reiterated when I met Sihi. I am almost convinced that she came into my life with a purpose, just as I did into hers, with an objective. That she coped with the chill winters, out in the big bad world of other inhuman dogs and dog-phobic humans, apart from surviving a swing-fling-fall on the ground, proved that this girl had the grit and determination to survive.

She lay on the road, down, but not out; beaten physically, but spirit intact. This was a time when I, too was feeling the same way from a personal experience. And I guess it was God's way of bringing us together to walk a while in Life. The two weeks that I belonged to Sihi taught me more than I could imagine. It took me into a world where cruelty to animals and indifference to life made me angry, sad, helpless and hopeful, all at once.
It's hard to imagine that someone who's been with you for just two weeks could have such a great impact on you, while others who may have been for two decades may have none!

Being a part of the CUPA group in Bengaluru has been an eye-opener. It showed me how an animal as a pet becomes more fortunate than an animal on the street. It juxtaposed the contrast between a life that mattered more than life itself to one that was immaterial. The many cases of abandonment of pets, testing on animals, cruelty against animals and disrespect towards their life according to a Human's myopic judgement, shook me into disbelief. It has been the efforts and compassion of other members that reinstated my hope in the goodness that still exists among the Human people. I also greatly admire the team for having rescued almost 300 beagles from the testing laboratories.

I recollect the time when I had taken Casper to lay him to rest after his tragic demise. As I was filling in the details for his burial, I overheard a young man who was giving instructions over the phone regarding the rescue of a kite in distress. He was a volunteer with the organisation. It was around 10:45 p.m. By the time I filled the form, the young man was off on his bike to rescue the kite. My respect for the man swelled.

Sihi will have her own story to share of her experience with me. I may, or may not, be a part of her memory. As I was handing her over to her permanent family, my heart sank and I broke down. She had no comprehension of the events, and I am happy about that. Together we had rekindled our faith in life, in the power of hope and the curative powers of love.

She will write her own equation with life, just as I balanced mine. She will be happy and sad, but she will continue to believe in love, just as I do. She will learn to prance around and be happy, just as I have learnt.
I had written a few lines for Sihi, if she could read!

A Note to Sihi:

As you get ready to leave
For a home that'll be forever yours,
Remember the things I have taught you
And take a piece of my heart with you!

Don't be destructive, don't be dirty
And the food isn't as important
As the love laid out for you
Like the piece of my heart with you!

You'll live your whole life now
With a family that'll love you;
Together you will make memories
In the piece of my heart with you.

You'll grow big and you'll be gentle
You'll be loyal and protective
Be obedient and unconditional in loving
For a piece of my heart is with you...

As time goes by I will grow old
And you will grow old, too
A day will come when we will meet
And our hearts will no longer be two!

The Best is Yet to Come!

A new dawn, to watch the Sun rise again, 

Driving away the darkness of the night.  

A new chapter, to learn more about their love

Or how the mystery unfolds. 

A new beginning, to start with a clean slate

A chance to learn something new. 

A new year, to live some more 

A birthday, an anniversary, a celebration.

To read some more, to love a lot more,

To share a laughter, bring a smile;

To give selflessly, without holding back;

To learn a new language, understand a bit more.

To run and cover the distance to a friend,

To hold that hand, lost at the crossroads,

To lend that shoulder and a patient ear,

To hear stories of valour, love and sacrifice.

To swallow that pride and offer an apology

To hug a loved one and share some warmth.

To teach a child discover some wonders,

To help a grandmother relive her childhood!

To dream new dreams and fulfil old ones,

To work a little more towards that goal.

To share a meal with the less fortunate,

To be compassionate towards the vulnerable,

To respect life, even that of an animal!

To share a vision with the blind,

To sing along with the mute,

To listen to the birds chirp, with the deaf,

To walk alongside the disabled.

To empower the wronged with courage,

To strive to make the world a better place.

To watch a rainbow through the drizzle;

To feel morning dew moisten parched lips,

To sleep each night knowing the best is yet to come!

A new dawn, to watch the Sun rise again, 

Driving away the darkness of the night.  

A new chapter, to learn more about their love

Or how the mystery unfolds. 

A new beginning, to start with a clean slate

A chance to learn something new. 

A new year, to live some more 

A birthday, an anniversary, a celebration.

Beyond the Horizon

Why do we limit ourselves 

By boundaries, frontiers and lines

Love, learning, knowledge and experience

Their hidden troves and mines?

The heart that thrives on love

Just as the mind, does knowledge

The soul a casket of experience

But we rein in their carriage.

Break the rules once a while

Pat that dog and earn some love

Walk barefoot to feel the grass

That feeling as gentle as a dove!

Give to her what you cherish the most

And watch her smile dry up that tear

Share with him some knowledge

That could help wipe out his fear.

Lose your heart to someone

And discover yourself anew

The world will seem a nicer place

More than you ever knew!

Read that book on a subject unknown

Through the tunnel of ignorance

Your journey will lead

A positive change in your stance.

Go ahead and break that mould,

Walk on and conquer new frontiers;

Try hard to beat the challenge,

Don’t restrict yourself to the piers!

The Earth is an oblate spheroid

And what goes around comes around;

There’s only one way to know that

Pastures on the other side may be brown!

For the horizon is but notional

The line where the Earth meets the sky;

We deny ourselves the pleasures

Of treasures on the other side that lie!

The Day I Met Myself

The lady I saw seemed so familiar

Grey strands and fine lines in the face

A subtle smile that hid many secrets

A gait that expressed an inane grace!

Quiet in a corner she sat

Almost as if she had nothing to say.

If only people would listen though,

For she did have a song to play!

Her face was clam in solitude 

Toes that had a mind of their own!

Bright eyes that searched the distance

For the love she once had known.

Her hair tied back in a delicate braid

A curl that managed to escape!

Holding her in a warm embrace

A saree she knew well to drape.

And when something she disapproved 

Her eyebrows would meet in a frown.

Strong shoulders that held a head

That lost the chance to the crown!

When she spoke her voice did show

Interests that came to the fore!

A thirst for knowledge that would grow,

A cheerful mind that searched for more.

No one knew beneath what they saw

Was a child so scared of being lost!

Enveloped by a great sense of pride

She would never admit it at any cost.

The more I saw the more I knew

That in the mirror I did see;

She certainly seemed like she were

A mirror image of me!

I stared at the image that stared back

It seemed like an eerie mystery.

This was the day that I met myself

As a lateral image greeted me!

In Search of Paradise

When I was young I had set out

With a bagful of education and fistful of dreams; 

My heart was filled with hope and desire

And my stride with the spring of confidence!

A map in my hand and the compass of love

Began my journey in search of paradise.

I stopped by to listen to the strains of the flute,

Played by a blind man who was destitute

He soothed my soul at the end of a hard day

After which tired on my bed I would lay

And trace my journey thus far;

Paradise still seemed a distance away.

I earned some money along the way

Stole a heart or two and gave mine away

I reached out to people who needed help

Wiped a tear, shared a laughter, sometimes a meal

Through the sunshine and the storms

Paradise was still a distance away!

The internet brought the world closer

And widened my own horizons.

Friends online became important

Their opinions mattered and so did their ‘likes’!

I knew more people than ever before

But paradise was still a distance away.

I met a young girl who was special

She didn’t have a mind, her mother said!

She pranced along though not aimless

And laughed her heart out even in distress.

I watched her tears turn into a smile

Was this paradise, I asked myself.

A home, a car, and some world travels,

Creature comforts and entertainment.

Pleased, I put my feet up on a stool,

Stretched my arms and felt beautiful!

‘This must be paradise’, I heard a voice say

But the road to paradise just curved ahead.

I see the world around me now

A mute spectator to all the despair.

Of people leaving their homes for peace

Losing some loved ones in the process

I clasp my fist tight to hold on to my dreams

In search of paradise my journey continues…

The Sun Will Rise Again

No matter how heavy the rain 

Or how stormy the night has been;

If you've lost more than your gain

And see no end to your heartache and pain,

Wondered why peace had gone down the drain

Then remember that this too will end

And the Sun will rise again!

When your body and mind feel weak

And everything around looks bleak;

If you are let down by a friend,

Your troubles don’t seem to end

And know not how the wrongs you will mend

Then remember that this too will end

And the Sun will rise again!

If you feel left out in a crowd,

Ignored because you are not loud

Yet fight to stand by what you vowed;

When reason seems covered by a shroud

And the sky is overcast by the dark cloud

Then remember that this too will end

And the Sun will rise again!

If you've lost your way in the journey of life

And everything is a struggle or strife

When you see no light at the end of the tunnel 

Under your worries you seem to buckle

And life seems like one big puzzle

Then remember that this too will end

And the Sun will rise again!

When you lose someone dear

Abandoned, you’re heart is full of fear

Hopeless and unable to stop that tear;

If nothing gives happiness and cheer

And you aren’t able to see things clear

Then remember that this too will end

And the Sun will rise again!

Standing on the shores you believe

There’s so little that you achieve

Watching the waves as they wash your feet

The Sun go down, the horizon to meet,

You feel so small the troubles to beat;

Then remember that this too will end

And the Sun will rise again!

The Dark Soul

The crow bared her heart to the dove

“Be my companion and we shall soar the sky,

A life we shall have of peace and love

For ever and ever until we both shall die!”

The dove looked at the crow, askance

“Pray, how can we make a pair;

What made you think you had a chance

When you are so dark and I fair?”

And so the crow asked her friend,

“Oh my dear, lovely, fair dove

Your colour, to me, can you please lend?

I need to be fair for the one I love!”

The crow went back to the dove

As fair as he was, alright;

“Am I now worthy of your love?

Like you I am, fair and bright!”

The dove looked at her surprised

“Oh, you are now nice and fair

But surely would be more prized

If doe eyes you had a pair!”

Off she flew to her friend, the doe

The ‘fair’ crow she did not recognise

She told her of her love, full of woe

“Please lend me your eyes, it would be nice!”

Off she flew, now fair and doe-eyed

Full of hope she would now be his pick.

But he spoke to her with words to chide

“You have a neck that is way too thick!”

Saddened a bit but strong in resolve

She spoke to her friend, the swan

“Lend me your neck, my problem it would solve

And tomorrow for me shall be a new dawn!”

Fair, doe-eyed and with a neck so slender

But no longer the crow her friends knew;

As she flew in love to surrender,

“What has she done in love?”, they would rue.

Her body aching but so deep in love

He said, “now, get a voice to sing me to sleep”!

But anything she would do for the dove

Even if it meant bearing pain that was deep.

Tired, but not defeated, with her body aching

She flew to the koel for a voice that was sweet

Suffering in pain she began shaking

Unable to fly, but the dove she had to meet!

“I changed myself all for your love,

But my soul you never did see!

With a soul that is dark, you are but a fair dove;

And I was beautiful just being me!”

A Fistful of Desire

As God looked down from the skies one day

The state of the World caused dismay

And so there was a voice to be heard

Loud and clear, was every word

‘A fistful of desire to you I do grant

Ask for anything that you may want!’

At first the World couldn’t believe what it heard

A commotion among the people it had stirred;

Then a helpless father asked, his voice so weak

‘A fistful of food for my children I seek’.

A tear from God’s eye did fill the man’s fist,

Bringing a smile to his face as it turned to grist!

And then one by one God could hear them all

Wishes from the people, large, medium and small;

A dying woman begged for a fistful of days,

To be able to love her family in a few more ways!

A fistful of warmth, the destitute asked for

To battle the winter that froze his every pore.

‘A fistful of money for me’, the poor lady beseeched

The cruel feet of poverty whose house had reached?

While the battered young lady did manage to ask

For that fistful of respect from the men in a mask!

‘A fistful of peace for me!’ said the little girl,

The fear in her wide eyes hiding behind a curl.

The farmer hesitated, ‘a fistful of harvest for me this year’!

So all the debts I may be able to clear.

The trader asked for a fistful of business

So his losses this year may be a bit less.

The politician wasn’t too far behind

A fistful of power he asked to find.

The distraught lover cried in pain

For a fistful of chance to see him again!

A tired soul raised its hands in prayer

A fistful of calm to sprinkle everywhere.

And then God asked, ‘what have you'll done?

The World was meant for you all to have fun’.

Lines that make us go round in Circles!

A group is disciplined if all walk in a line

And you’re drunk if you fail the test of the straight-line.

The essence of a poem lies between its lines,

But arguments are a result of ‘reading between the lines’!

A soldier puts his life on the line of fire

And a policy analyst defines poverty based on a line;

Discussions are most often about the fine line

Just as people are warned against crossing the line!

Luck is associated with a line on the forehead,

Fate, to the lines etched in the palm;

An artiste is passionate about saying her lines

Yet she would frown at the sight of a smile line.

Tolerance is about drawing a line

Even as two Nations fight across a line;

An accountant works on the bottom line

And you break a law by not towing the line!

The enter key takes you to the next line

And the Earth is just a curved line!

'Jhuki jhuki si nazar', Jagjit Singh for 'Arth'