Fundamentally Not Right

In the great books of any country
Are the fundamental rights of its people.
For, the preservation of human dignity
And everyone’s development is essential.

But there is One amongst all of us
Who is not given equal consideration.
And day by day, it becomes obvious
That no one cares about Her exploitation.

Her forests are cleared to build cities.
Chemicals are dumped into Her oceans.
Harmful gases in Her air are released.
Every day, a species faces extinction.

As the Mother, She tries to give Her all
To fulfill the wishes of all Her children.
The constant taking will be our downfall.
When will we humans learn our lesson?

We wax eloquently about basic freedoms
Like speech, expression, and equality.
Yet, no one acknowledges the realization-
Mother Earth is fighting … to just breathe.

The Place I Call My Home

I am but a traveler.
In the expanse of this world, I roam.
And often, I wonder,
Where is that place I can call home?

Is it my mother’s womb
Where I took form and shape?
Is it the house from my childhood
With memories of idyllic days?

Is it my school or college
Where I received knowledge?
Is it the holy pyre
That my soul takes for its final travel?

Turns out it’s where I have a bit of it all –
Warmth, love, freedom, and expression.
My home is not just a roof and four walls,
But, of myself, it is an extension.

The Real Enemy

Every problem can be solved with empathy.
Maybe if you are open to accepting
Perspectives that are different
And take those few steps
To reach middle ground,
Helping each other,
Yet understanding,
A war is not the answer.
Nothing can come of bloodshed.
Dead men can’t love, laugh, and share.
With war, entire generations are scarred,
And all that’s left in the aftermath is hate.
Recognize the real enemy and let peace prevail.

PS: This is an acrostic poem. Join the first letter of each line and see what you get.

Chinese Whispers

Ah! The vagaries of youth –
A game of Chinese Whispers, too
Is a chance to profess, “I love you.”
Or, could it be too good to be true?

His plan was to say the words,
Whisper them in the ear of another,
And for that one to whisper to another,
Till it reached the ears of his love.

He: “I love you so much, it hurts.”
Friend 1:”I shoved you, so does it hurt.”
Friend 2: I shopped for you a red skirt.”
She: I should have you got a shirt.”

O Cupid! Your arrow strayed again!
The message was lost in the game!
What transpired of him and his secret?
Like the game, we’ll never really know it.

The Monster Under My Bed

In the deep darkness under my bed,
There lurked a monster, evil and undead.
It had gnarly, green arms and long nails,
And yellow eyes and hairy barbed tails.
It came to life in the dead of the night
Calling out to me in its rough voice.
I dreaded stepping out of my little bed.
For what if it just grabbed my legs?
I felt I’d be protected by my blanket,
But the monster just waited to yank it.
The Moon’s pale light did not help.
It got shadows-the monster’s friends.
“There’s nothing there,” my mother said,
The next day, as we peered under the bed.
But only I knew that it would be back,
And scare me to death by its attack.
It took me years of introspection, instead
To figure – that monster was in my head.

Dear Silence

Dear Silence,
Thank you for just showing up and being there.
Without you, there would be cacophony everywhere.
And with you, the noise makes sense.

Dear Silence,
Your value is beyond measure.
Just like pearls are discovered in an ocean by a diver,
The mind uncovers wisdom in your presence.

Dear Silence,
It’s paradoxical, but you are an excellent orator.
Of things left unsaid, you are the messenger,
And you have salvaged many-a-worsening situation.

Dear Silence,
I appreciate you being such a life-saver.
Serenity abounds with you as the mediator.
Thank you for creating the perfect balance.

Broken … And Fixed

It started with a fight.
We argued, shouted, sweared, and called each other names.
I stomped up to the attic.
My face flushed and teary-eyed in a fit of rage.

I somehow had to end this.
The only way to save myself was to conciously separate.
This relationship that I cherished,
A year later, had become stale.

Just then, my eyes fell on a wooden chest.
It was an old one made of wood and nails.
I mindlessly opened it,
Rummaging through the bric-a-brac it contained.

Suddenly, I found myself holding my dolly.
She was small, with a blue dress and a pink face.
Her arms were covered by bell sleeves,
But they were held to her body with tape.

There was an inundation of memories.
Decades ago, my friend and I were engrossed in play.
This dolly was one of my favorites,
And when we both grabbed it together, her arms gave way.

We tried to play with her.
But then decided it was useless and to throw her away.
Just then, my grandmother walked in.
She took one look at the dolly and shook her head.

With scissors, tape, and, in fifteen minutes,
My little dolly was ready to play with again.
“When something is broken, look for ways to fix it.”
Her words echoed in my mind at that very moment.

All of a sudden, I felt like a bulb had been lit.
Yes, there was anger, frustration, and rage,
But, I was going to try and save this relationship
I walked out of the attic, ready to calmly explain what I felt.

The Spice of Life

Spices-there are so many
That make life worth living,
From happiness like sugar
To anger that’s bittersour.

But there’s a special spice
That makes all things nice.
It is the secret ingredient
That tops other condiments.

This spice grows in hearts.
When sprinkled, it imparts
A flavor that’s everlasting
With a freshness like Spring.

It has many superpowers.
It creates, unites, and cures.
But there’s also a caution –
To use it in apt proportions.

This spice is the only one
That makes us all human.
It’s a covenant from Above.
This spice of life is – Love.

The Binding Ingredient

Little John’s father was a big cheese in New York City.
He was an author whose books sold like hot cakes.
For little John, life was, indeed, a bowl of cherries,
But he wasn’t clever, so his plans were all half baked.

And in Beijing, Chun’s parents disapprove of Bo,
But she’s pregnant, so the rice is already cooked.
And, wish as they might, nothing could be done now.
They hoped that the ginger would get pungent with age.

At the same moment in Paris, Juliette was worried.
The mirror revealed she was as skinny as a string bean.
She aspired to become a model to earn some dough.
So she’d have to work hard on herself, oh puree!

And, in Frankfurt, Adele and her friend were arguing.
Her friend said that Adele had tomatoes on her eyes.
“It’s all in butter!” Adele said in defense of her new relationship.
“That is not my beer!” her friend angrily replied.

So, my friends, if you’re still wondering what I meant
By sharing these little stories from the world over,
It doesn’t matter where you’re from, but you’d comprehend
That food is the ingredient that binds us all together.

The Awakening

When the Sun rises in the skies,
And spreads around its rosy light,
Sleep vanishes with the night,
For a brand new day has arrived.

As I wake up and open my eyes,
I hear the birds singing outside.
The house is peaceful and quiet.
It mirrors the peace in my mind.

The window reveals a pretty sight.
Trees glitter like emeralds bright.
Birds dart about as they take flight.
The flowers bloom on the roadside.

And before the world comes alive,
And turns on its rollercoaster ride,
I say a prayer of thanks for this life.
I’m ready to take it all in my stride.

A Little Nonsense

If I was You and you were I,
And I lent you some money,
Do you owe me, or I owe You?
And, that would be so funny.
If you’d return what you took,
Then, I’d give it back to You.
And so, it would not be true
For me to say, “Ae! I Owe You!”
So, all is now settled, friends,
As, now, I owe You nothing.
And as this li’l nonsense ends,
I hope it leaves you laughing.

Love, Naturally

Would I be wrong if I say
Nature’s nature is to nurture?

The mountains that, in the sky, tower,
In their strength, resemble my father.

And the oceans with their waves
Soothe just like my mother’s lullabies.

But what about that emotion called love?
Was that overlooked by Nature?

The answer to that is “no,” my friends.
For love, she has a special expression.

On all her creations, her love she showers
With the beauteous, colorful flowers.

With shades of red, the winter’s roses
Boldly announce their passionate love

In the meadows, the spotless white lilies
Promise commitment and purity.

And the sky blue forget-me-nots
Speak of everlasting fidilelity and respect.

While the multi-hued carnations
Show their affection and admiration.

Of other blossoms, there are a multitude
That express their love so true.

Each with their own vocabulary,
Convey their feelings eloquently.

So, whenever you see these bloom
It’s Nature proclaiming, “I love you.”