What always soothes!

                                                            Men may let me down
                                                            they often do
                                                            Music may not elevate my spirit
                                                            sometimes it fails to
                                                            Books may not give me the solace I seek
                                                            rare ---but it happens too
                                                            But the hues of Nature, its infinite charm
                                                            never fails to soothe!

Another terror attack?

Another bomb blast ----
Some dead, some injured
Shocked spectators, grieving families
Press, TV, VIPs, FB statuses
Official statements, scathing reactions
Experts, news anchors
Oh yes! the police and NSG

Are all the elements present?
Is it any different from the time before?
No, names and numbers don't matter.

Let's move on.


(Priya VK Singh)

Resolution

the road stretches ahead endlessly

no rest, no respite

from the rain and wind

the sun that scorches mercilessly



I lift my hands despairingly

no help, no grace

from Him ---if He be--

meets the hope flickering weakly



So be it.



I return to smiling cheerfully

no regret, no tears

in the eyes---dry as dust--

that blink, and blink again resolutely



to see beauty in the rain

power in the wind

warmth in the sun

and measure the distance to eternity.

Birthdays

samosas, gulab jamuns and hot tea
that's how I remember birthday parties
my father would stop at the halwai
park the scooter, walk in with a smile
announce to whoever cared to hear
its my daughter's birthday, you see
nothing on display would satisfy him quite
he'd insist on everything being freshly fried
those were days when love counted, not calories
and it was ladled out in sweetness and ghee
the polythene bags would be nestled in the basket
that carried vegetables, fruits, and the groceries
he'd come in smiling, humming a Devdas song
and I'd grumblingly protest Devdas got it wrong
life is joy and doing and sharing and loving
its not about loving and being morose on losing
you have a lot to learn, Gudiya, he'd say
though I pray no insurmountable sorrow comes your way
then my mother would join the conversation
adept as she was at rendering order out of commotion
she'd send me to fetch the plates and make the tea
my brothers would join the small family party
no cakes to cut, no candles to blow
just good wishes and lots of love to bestow
on their cherished daughter, the beloved sister
who'd bring in tea, steaming hot and sugary
and gulab jamuns and samosas in unmatched crockery
my brother would sing, we'd all listen raptly
his voice would weave a spell , as if cast magically
my younger brother would threaten to sing as well
a tuneless song,and we'd smile and hug and let him
because these were the birthday presents, you see .

No matter where life takes me, how hard the struggle
those birthday parties I"ll be grateful for forever.

(Priya VK Singh )

Raahein

सिसकती राहों को छोड़ कर मैं
जब राह नई कोई चुनती हूँ
तो टकरा कर गम के पथर से
गिरती, संभलती, उठती हूँ

फिर आँसू बहते हैं ऐसे
की थमने का वो नाम ना लें
इस राह पर तो फूल ही थे
काँटे क्यों दामन से लिपटे

क्या राह कोई भी सुगम नहीं
और कोमल हाथों को भी
लड़ना पड़ता है कदम कदम
दो मुठ्ठी लेनी हो जो खुशी

(Priya VK Singh)