The Red Coat

The red coat hung in the display.
It caught her attention at once.
It was a deep yet bright red,
With shiny, black, round buttons.

On one side was the price tag.
The figure was her year’s salary!
Now, her interest really piqued
And she quizzed the shop lady.

The coat was made in a village
In a faraway and foreign land.
It was created by craftsmen,
Over many days, with their hands.

As she went to bed that night,
She thought about that coat.
Yes, she loved and wanted it.
It looked every bit its worth.

As she pondered further on,
A question arose in her mind –
What was it about that coat
That made it one of its kind?

Was it the warmth and softness?
Was it the color and buttons?
Was it that it was all handmade
In a faraway village by artisans?

But, wasn’t it just like… her quilt?!
The thought came so suddenly,
She turned on the light to see it –
It was her old grandmother’s gift.

Years ago, her grandmother
Had hand-sewn this cozy quilt
With cloth pieces in varied colors,
And patterns, and a cottony fill.

It had warmth and softness!
It had colors and buttons!
It was definitely all handmade
By her grandmother, like an artisan!

The coat was then just a dream
That looked perfect in the display.
Even if she bought it, it seemed,
She’d never wear it every day.

She turned the lights out to sleep,
And yet, her mind was clear as day.
For the thing she desired so deeply
Was something she already possessed.

The Day

An ordinary day.
Busy with countless chores to do.
Cooking, washing, folding, rearranging,
Dusting, and in all this, you overlook
Everything that’s extraordinary, like
Flowers, sunshine and … being alive.

PS: This poem is an Abecedarian.

The Portrait

‘Twas the portrait that did him in.
The night was cloudy and stormy.
And, darkness shrouded the cottage
Where he worked as a servant.

But, his heart was even darker,
For, in reality, he was a burglar.
As he stuffed his bag with silver,
Lightning flashed with thunder.

It was at that moment he saw it!
Her portrait above the mantelpiece.
She seemed to stare straight at him
With the piercing eyes of the living.

As the light crackled in the window,
He saw her smile with an “I know.”
Across the skies, the thunder rolled,
As he started sweating in that cold.

His bag grew heavier with treasure,
And he tried to escape from her.
“I know! I know!” Her shrieks echoed,
As he made a mad dash for the door!

The next morning, the police arrived.
Near the door steps, a man had died.
The medical report said, “Cardiac Arrest.”
‘Twas the fourth, in the haunted cottage.

Seven Sisters

Seven sisters in a box,
Handed down over generations,
They can cook up a storm
In every Indian kitchen.

Be it a daily meal
Or grand, festive celebrations,
They are always ready
To create magic on any occasion.

Just a pinch or a teaspoonful
Brings great satisfaction,
And all the items on the menu
Become artistic creations.

Experts they are
At instant gratification –
Blending aromas and flavors
To turn foods into delections.

They are my friends for life
Melding me with traditions –
The box with seven spices
In my little Indian kitchen.

Flowers

When I was a little girl
I loved plucking the flowers
Growing on the side of the road.
Drawn by their fragrance and colors,
And their soft petals and buds,
I loved crushing them with my fingers.

When I became a teenager,
I was enamored by the flowers
That I received as gifts in bouquets.
I would put them in books and papers
Leaving them to dry between the pages
And marvel at how beautiful they were.

When I grew into a woman,
I was mesmerized by the flowers
That were woven into garlands.
I would wear them in my hair.
The air would bear their fragrance.
I felt it enhanced my beauty for hours.

In the autumn of my life,
I am reminded by the flowers
Of the moments of bygone times.
Yet, I don’t pluck, crush, dry them in papers
Or for beauty, yearn for their sacrifice.
I’m just happy when they bloom…in bowers.