you say

you are somewhat bored

the pandemic makes you

want to dash out of the door

i say

i feel somewhat zen

it is ok i don’t know

when the pandemic will end

you smile and look at me

your eyes convey a story

i close mine

pause my worry

love to just lie on the grass

so warm and green

share secrets

and some orange blossom ice cream

Photo by Mash on Unsplash

you ask 

would i prefer gold or silver trinkets

i say

i’d love the wind’s anklets

the ones that make beautiful music 

as the sun rises 

the ones that make the dusk

a time for sweet surprises

you ask

would I prefer to talk or be silent today

i say

let’s take a walk along the english bay

where the glorious red sun 

gently sinks into the turquoise waters

you ask

and that’s all that really matters

Photo by Esther Wilhelmsson on Unsplash

 

they ask me where i am really from

that is a good question i say

i ponder for a moment

my stillness goes astray

the waters are turbulent and brown

i search for answers in black and white

my wandering mind

wants to remember the one out of sight

i answer i don’t know where i am really from

that is interesting they say

they ponder for a moment

another lost connection in another day

we arrive and depart from the universe alike

me they you and more

why does it matter

where we are really from and where we go 

they ask me where i am really from

that is a good question i say

i ponder and decide

i will not let my stillness go astray

 

Photo by Ave Calvar on Unsplash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

twenty six alphabets in a foreign tongue

can’t convey what’s on my mind

a brother murdered

a partner and sweet child left behind

why does empathy and love

get snuffed out by hate and tyranny

why does the beauty of difference

scare so many

precious life the gift of breath

may i always remember to be kind

twenty six alphabets in a foreign tongue

can’t convey what’s on my mind

 

Photo by Tamara Menzi on Unsplash

 

when you stand on firm ground

remember water flows beneath you

when this and that mix

you get beautiful blue

when you lovingly feed someone

remember you may get hurt

the kind and cruel 

are nurtured by earth

i think i know

why the wise ones say

nothing stays the same 

tomorrow and today

senseless violence

searing pain

everything will be washed away

like golden motes in the grey rain

 

Photo by Daoudi Aissa on Unsplash

 

somewhere

the sun sets

the moon rises

the heart never forgets

that first moment 

when my baby cried

looked into my eyes

and for the first time smiled

i will always love you to the moon and back

you know why

twenty summers

how the years have gone by

 

~HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY TO MY AWESOME SON, NIRANJ~

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

 

the last time we met

it was a warm summer day

we sat across a table

was it april or may

we talked about the weather

politics and politicians

drank green tea

and talked more about music and musicians

we walked around the garden

with silence our loyal companion

making sense of the mixed emotions

another long-awaited reunion

we are like the stars are we not

seem close but are miles apart

amidst the formality was there a moment

where we wished it was not the time to depart

it was probably

just my own wishful thinking

one can cry

with no tears streaming

just around the corner

another summer

if we meet again

i promise i will be braver

i will look deep into your misty eyes

and remember all that we have been through

when you say tell me

i will whisper green tea makes me blue

 

Photo by Alisher Sharip on Unsplash

i welcome the angst

into my mind

there is a pause

to the grind

time

to ponder

find you

let my mind wander

become still

reach the place

where i can let go

be one with you…solace

 

Photo by Osman Rana on Unsplash

 

 

amidst gray skies

that cried silently all-day

the winter sun rose

on february’s second day

missing someone

who loved like no other

beautiful woman

a special mother

summer flowers

monsoon rain

an abundance of memories

and pain

for life

without you

for many

a rainbow without hue

 

 

Dedicated to dear Hema Aunty…

Photo by 五玄土 ORIENTO on Unsplash

 

i hope

i am not on your lists

this winter

for seasonal gifts

don’t bother

going to the store

for what I need

is not some stuff and more

i want to make memories

share a meal and sip some wine

this winter all I really want

is the gift of kindness and time