I Know You Care

I know you care when you choose to pick
litter from the streets to keep them clean.

I know you care when you choose to speak
words that inspire instead of causing injury.

I know you care when you choose to sow
seeds that make evergreen forests grow.

I know you care when you choose to give
food and water to fellow brethren in need.

I know you care when you choose not to throw
chemical waste into the pristine rivers that flow.

I know you care when you choose not to spread
pollution that kills life with every breath.

I know you care when you choose not to assault
the ones who are weak and without any fault.

I know you care through what you do every day.
Your actions show more than the words you say.

I know you care when you continue on this way,
and I’ll follow you in this evangelism of caring.

Mind Matters

The mind is a trickster.
It’s like a shape shifter.
Searching for patterns
in realms of confusion.

At times, it falls in love
at the very first glance.
At times, it breaks up
after years of romance.

At times, it sees hope
in situations so dire.
At times, it gives up
after dousing the fire.

At times, it’s dreaming
of things so unreal.
At times, it’s thinking
of answers to riddles.

At times, it convinces
to walk down the path.
At times, it debates
the decision for hours.

Failures or successes –
Webs of perceptions
woven with the senses
by the lord of intellection.

What’s fruit for one man
is poison for the other.
Yes, it’s all in the mind,
my sisters and brothers.

Wings

This is the story of little Louie.
A story that tells the truth truly.
One fine day, he was on a tree
doing his bit chomping leaves.

And suddenly, what did he spy?
His own image in a pond nearby.
A lumpy green thing with eyes,
and short legs; he was surprised.

He shook his head with dejection.
Unhappy with his pudgy reflection.
In shock, disbelief, and depression,
he was dismayed at his situation.

And when the tears had been cried,
he went back to what he did in life.
Munching leaves with all his might.
Eating, eating without knowing why.

And there were times he did stray
towards the pond and see his image.
Repulsed he was with his ugliness.
Reviled, disgusted and so helpless.

And all he did was eat the leaves.
He did not smile, nor did he speak.
Rounder and greener became he.
Gobbling and nibbling on the tree.

Then came a moment on one day
when everything came to change.
Around himself, he spun a thread
spinning it till he covered himself.

Alone, he stayed in the darkness.
Not knowing what days lay ahead.
Memories reshaping in his head.
His body evolving in the little bed.

Hours ticked by, followed by days.
On the branch, his cocoon swayed.
The leaves he no longer craved.
The pond forgot he ever existed.

Till an invisible force shot through
his body, and all he did was push,
breaking the walls of the cocoon,
emerging in the dark like the moon.

Exhausted he was, a little confused,
suddenly aware of his form anew.
Wings on both his sides so colorful.
Spreading into a flight so beautiful.

The pride of the garden and bowers,
sipping only on nectar from flowers,
little Louie had come a lot farther
from his days as a pudgy caterpillar.

Oh, happiness and happiest of times
come to those who patiently abide
and believe in all the powers divine
to reveal the true wings of their lives.

Introspection

In moments that I can call my own,
Negotiating with my muddled mind,
Turbulent thoughts shout and echo
Reaching out for help but can’t find.
Opens then my third eye to look within,
See through the forest of confusion,
Peel away the layers that mar vision,
Enlightening myself by introspection –
Concious and deep inner examination
Till the muddy waters settle to reveal
Inside me are the answers that I seek.
Overcoming all that’s overwhelming,
Never forgetting and forever evolving.

PS: This is an acrostic poem penned by me. Do join the first letter of each line and see the word that is revealed.