Gurbani 7

" jo mange thakur apne te, soi soi deve "

oft times, I am blessed
with that which I had not sought
watching, slipping through the cracks,
that which I had yearned for

is there a design beyond my ken
or is it randomness, that often
in abundance I receive
and as often, am left to grieve

(pvks)  © 

they

The maali is here, my son told me
Could you ask him to prune the tulsi
pull out the onions, pluck the chillies.

I'm on my way to the gym, he replied
So with a grimace and a sigh
I stepped outdoor
to talk to Mirza Noor.

The heat hit me like a wave
I thought I'd get carried away
in a dead faint , or half crazed.

Mirza Noor stood in the sun
as thin as the hosepipe he held
an inquiring look on the gaunt face
covered with grime and sweat.
Half ashamed , I stepped back
to return with a glass of mango shake.

sweat, blood and toil on sun baked lands
is the price they pay for the food we eat
yet their troubles do not crease our brows
to their plight we pay no heed.


(pvks)  © 

eternity

if i close my eyes
i can hear the stillness of the mountains
the birds perched unseen in tall trees
that reach out to the heavens
and bring back the cool breeze
that soothes troubled minds
and weary hearts
so that hope remains alive
and plays its part.
from terraced rows wafts in the
fragrance of ripe peaches and apricots
and they linger in one's sight
long after dusk, when the mountains
and the skies above are lit up
by countless lights that
gaze down at the
solitary figure in the window seat
still as the mountains, a speck of eternity

humility

were it not for the wind chimes
i would not know
that the wind blows
incessantly.
so much else there must be
that unheralded arrives and leaves
so much that we do not
or cannot know
yet harbour a
sense of superiority

a mother's heart

some day, my child, you"ll know
a mother's heart is made
of the sternest stuff you
can get hold of.
no setback, no failure
leaves a mark,
she can take
the harshest blows.
your affection may vary
you may weary of admonitions
rudeness may tempt you sometimes 
perhaps also rebellion 
on a mother's heart
these are like watermarks
that tears wash away 
and she is fresh as new 
the very next day 
to help you live your dreams.

hearts of stone

hearts of stone
that tears leave
a smear upon
and no more.
washed away
the next day
when tears
fall again.

my reading glasses

what I like best about my
new reading glasses
is that they are new
unlike my distance glasses
which remind me of life's imperfections
or my rose tinted glasses
that keep alive my unwavering optimism
or the dark glasses I put on
when I wish to not see that which
I cannot change, like poverty
or the contact lenses that serve my vanity.
the reading glasses are new,
and suddenly I can read the fine print:
seize the day, there's no time for ceremony

joy

Come on in, Come on in
I beckon to the bright days
that peep over the beaucarneas
lining the path to my doorway.
They look a little uncertain
of accepting my invitation
Come ON in, I plead in desperation.
Is that my flaxseed banana shake,
I hear my son asking from the kitchen
turning back to answer, I see in a flash
the reason for THEIR reluctance -------
How much of a good thing does one deserve any way !!

phenomenal woman??

I am no phenomenal woman, not me
yes,there are moments I am phenomenally weak
and others when my strength surprises me
but mostly I am fragile, prone to sentimentality
tears overpower me whether I'm sad or happy
sometimes its me, sometimes the world, sometimes my family
whatever it is , I'm never quite bereft of worry
yes, life is beautiful, there's no dearth of joys in this journey
but I'm no phenomenal woman, not me

Gardens

with a will quite its own
my garden grows
and it grows better this year
without the lavish care
I had bestowed the years before
leaving me quite satisfied
as to His design
gardens and children apropos
when one has done all one can
and the soil is ready
I suppose its time to let go

India

who cares if India dies
neither you nor I
a Lok Sabha seat my criminal record ensures
a Rajya Sabha seat your billions can buy

who cares if India dies
neither you nor I
while we negotiate a Ministerial berth with NDA
the lines of communication remain open with Sonia tai

who cares if India dies
neither you nor I 
I flaunt diplomatic immunity
your cars flaunts a red beacon light

who cares if India dies
neither you nor I
your child is in Harvard
mine is headed to Carlyle

who cares if India dies
neither you nor I
the world is our oyster
an HNI is welcome where he flies

who cares if India dies
neither you nor I
Mercs line the street outside my home
you vacation in Australia or Hawaii
(pvks)

radiance (2)

orange, pink and white

radiant roses fill my sight

The Sun, Earth and Wind

have wrought this miracle

only for my delight.

if my heart is bereft of gratitude

and counts not the blessings but the slights

is He to blame or I ?
(pvks)

radiance

the secret of beauty

is radiance

He who so designed it

must grieve at the dull

patinas of duplicity

(pvks)

Uday (on your 18th birthday)

may you find the answers you seek
in physics or music or philosophy
may you find a joyous, loving heart
to walk besides you in this journey
may the darkness of despair never
blight your day
and contentment meet you every
step of the way

undying love

the days are long
but darker yet
the songs
that gently fall
and colour red
the ground that
sweeps along
your receding steps
and consigns to
molten flame the
roses and rubies red
sparkling in the
the mesmerising eyes
that sang the songs
of undying love
(pvks)

Dhruv

more and more and more
the feeling grows
that all else besides,
moments spent
creating,nourishing
alone define Life.
(pvks)

Dhruv (16th birthday)

on your birthday, my beloved child
what shall i wish for you
power? fame? wealth? kuch thir nahin
I pray instead
for courage when things get tough, they do
for kindness of spirit which forever wins hearts
for compassion that makes you belong to others
as much as they your kindred are
for steadfastness of purpose , for integrity.
go out in the world, my child, and find love
and laugh and cry and help and be helped
we have but one life, make the most of it.
(pvks)

बादल

बादल जब घुलते हैं
आसमां नज़र आता है सहमा सा
डर के मारे चादर ओढ़ ली हो जैसे
फिर बरसती हैं अमृत बूँदें
पुरजोष सुगंध मिटटी की
पत्तों पर चमकते मोती
करते हैं मंत्रमुग्ध ,खोलते हैं रहस्य
चादर में लिपटे अनमोल ख़ज़ाने का
(pvks)

my best

that elusive moment
when one can rest
and satisfied, proclaim
I have done my best!
(pvks)

what matters

must I have an opinion
on everything that matters
or even things that don't
and how am I to know
whether what matters is
that which matters to me alone
or must it matter to all those who approve
or disapprove or turn an indifferent eye to
the meanderings of a restless mind that leaps
from this to that and back again
and is still never
(pvks)

fragrance

A "No" to room fresheners

incense sticks that glow
and cast a spell as the
fragrance finds its way
into corners, behind
layered curtains, into
grateful hearts that
bow before Benevolence
formless, unseen but
palpable still
glistening marigold
the champa sparkles
peace settles over
troubled minds as
the chants grow louder
brass bells ring, resonate
with the stillness within
(pvks)

samaritans

we met at the Club
a motley group
the samaritan in his seventies
who cares about the city
the passionate home maker
who wants everything done better
the activist, informed and zealous
whose endeavours cease never
also an online contributor
whose domain is green file paper
over cups of strong coffee
we discussed teams and strategies
I returned with stronger conviction
there's no reason for pessimism!
(pvks)

backyard

butterflies, beetles, birds worms, weeds, wasps flowers, fruits, fronds redolence, rainbow brushed breezy, balmy, blistering silent, serene, sagacious accepting, awake, alive my backyard's a microcosm of Life (pvks)

tyranny

one
by one
they fall down
no more tyranny of
convictions!

Gurbani 1

Gurbani 1

the strains of gurbani fill the air
mingling with the fragrant smoke
my heart brims over with gratitude
to Him we mostly in trouble invoke
joyfully I breathe in the glory of the day
and embrace the promises it holds
(pvks)

silence

when silence tears you asunder
does music flow into the emptiness
or flowers or fragrance
(pvks)

Gurbani 2

Gurbani 2

"main kya maangoon
kuchch thir na rahaee"
the words do not soothe.
thoughts race, jostle, whirl
into storms, no patterns that
I can discern, emotions
tumble over and elude
the comfort of familiarity.
I stand on the edge of
the precipice, breathing
in such courage I would.
the void beckons -----
an enigma I must solve
if I am to return .

(pvks)

Gurbani 3

Gurbani 3

"deh shiva var moh ehe
shubh karman te kab hoon na taroon"
sharp as a steel edged sword
that cuts through the sloth
sprouting blood red resolve
that colours body and soul
the Guru's words resound
in the stillness of the morn
(pvks)

Gurbani 4

Gurbani 4
Kāhe re man cẖiṯvahi uḏam jā āhar har jī▫o pari▫ā.
Why, O mind, do you plot and plan, when He provides for you?

the words burn into my weary eyes
then tossing upon the stormy
waves of anxiety ridden dreams
dashing against stone wrecked desires
drowning in the blackness of despair
now entangled, now free
they soar into the calm, blue skies
and clothe me in peace
(pvks)

Gurbani 5

Gurbani 5

'aaj hamare grih basant,
gun gaawey prabh tum beant"

He gives, and in gratitude
I gather the fragrant blooms
and bow before His munificence

Gurbani 6

aape beej aape hi khaahu
you shall harvest what you sow

live in closer embrace of Mother Earth,
rake the soil, feel the rain soak through
watch the seed sprout, and grow
as you lovingly hold the fruit, you"ll know
aape beej aape hi khaahu
and not only because the Guru said so

acceptance

the
dark days
but singed the
soul,
as acceptance
spread its radiance
the soul was whole
once more

Valentine's rose

the Valentine rose that's
fragrant still, the years
notwithstanding,
fell on the berth
because you were late
as the train sped away.
it wasn't February 14th
but September 28th
and your enraptured captive
I remain, beloved, to date!

Superwoman

its a startling discovery
and unsettling too
once you don the superwoman mantle
it can't be taken off you
coping is your strength, you are told
so just do it
stop complaining, for God's sake
and get on with it
haven't you worn the millstone
all these years
uncomplainingly,
wipe away the tears and
drop the air of tragedy
oh! growing older, are you
too bad women lose so fast the resilience of youth!
listen, do what you have to
get the tests done
run through the consultations
swallow the pills
walk, run, join the gym
do what you must
but get back to work, ok
the world can't keep waiting!
you chose that mantle, didn't you
you grabbed it, in fact
you live and die with it, get that!

Joy 2

the wind blew
through
the chimes
the amaltas
and me
the chimes struck a musical note
the amaltas leaves fluttered ecstatically
I alone stood on ceremony
till I could no longer an observer be
and ah, the delight that lies in being free!!!

Joy

the day came
a glorious day
a day I hadn't known
I had awaited so long
when I stopped looking
to him or her or things
or words and much else besides
for the joy that within me resides
(pvks)