The Girl in the Clouds

She was a fleeting vision
of translucent iridescence
as she strolled in silence
under the colored heavens.

Grey ribbons that tamed
her shoulder-length hair
beautifully complemented
her long, flowing dress.

And bell-shaped sleeves
billowing with the breeze
were matched by the wave
of the sash on her waist.

Her head leaned towards
a book held in her hands;
she was totally oblivious
of all the curious glances.

Then a gust hurried by-
She gazed up just a while,
gave a small, courteous bow,
and suddenly, she was gone.

Merging into all the shades
like water-drops on wet paint.
“Marvellous!” I thought aloud,
of the girl I saw in the clouds.

Marriage – A Knotty Affair

Some pertinent observations come to my mind
when mulling over affairs of the marriage kind.
I’m sure you too will give these some thought
to understand the implications of tying the knot.

So, at the altar, you and your would-be-better-half
exchange vows that you’ll keep for your entire life,
and it’ll be some years before you begin to realize
that you should’ve read deeper between the lines.

The first vow – be together come what may –
seems like fun and very easy you would say
till the moment you start losing your space
and can’t hang out anymore with your friends.

The second vow – to love each other for eternity-
seems wonderful and gives a warm, fuzzy feeling
till you forget to remember those very dates
of the days you both met, got engaged and wed.

The third vow – to give your best version to the other
seems like something you can do without any bother
till you see there are so many times when
the best version of you just goes into hiding.

The fourth vow – to love each other’s family like your own –
seems like a thing you can already consider as done
till you’re caught in the crossfire of their differences
and can’t decide whose side you should be taking.

And yet you want to hang on to that last bit of thread
in the name of loving and caring – well I’ll be damned!
So I pray that luck be on your side as you dare
to enter the world of this very knotty affair.