God is Near

Some say He resides in the Heavens
and can only be reached by penance.
Some say He can be found in temples,
big or small, as per the many religions.

But the truth is this, and it’s what I say.
That He is near and just a prayer away.
Sometimes He’s in a hand that helps.
Sometimes He’s in a voice that tells.

He is the creator of the entire Universe.
He could never be bound by stone walls.
He is in the air we breathe every day.
He is on the paths we take on our ways.

His will is what keeps our hearts beating.
His words are a guide for those listening.
With Him, the stormiest night I can face.
For I know that He’s just a prayer away.

How I Played Holi

It’s Holi morning! I want to play with the colors.
I pick up the packets of red and yellow powders.
And run with these to smear on my elder brother.
But he gets away as he can run much faster.

I think my baby sister would like to be colored pink.
So I walk to her small cradle, shouting, “Happy Holi!”
But I’m shooed away quickly by my grandmother,
Who said, “If only she was a little older, and I, a little younger!”

So then, I decide to spray the colors on my mother.
But she’s making sweets and should not be bothered.
Finally, I feel my father would surely celebrate with me.
So I search the house, but he’s at the market – shopping.

It’s the festival of colors. Who do I play with?!
Suddenly, I see Kanha in the prayer room beckoning.
I rush there and color His face with the gulaal.
No one saw it, but I played Holi with Nandlaal.

Memories

Memories of the past surround me.
Sometimes, I’m sad; sometimes, elated.
The paths of Fate are indeed cruel.
They meet only to be separated.
When I saw you first,
my world became anew.
I had never guessed
my heart was going askew.
Shy as you were
like a beautiful deer,
You were always close to me
and so very, very dear.
When you laughed,
the strings of the sitar rang.
When you talked,
the notes of the flute sang.
When you would cry and shed a tear,
the music of the veena filled the air.
So simple you were.
Unaffected by modernity,
and yet complete in every way.
You were an ocean of beauty.
Your eyes were like unfathomable lakes
At the bottom of which shone bright stars.
You were my true inspiration.
I was a lock, and you – my key.
Your unending love always besieged me.
I loved you, and you loved me.
Your face is engraved in my dreams.
Your memories, in my heartbeat.
My mind will always search for you
when cruel loneliness surrounds me.

A Christmas Feast

Just a dollop of happiness
with a sprinkle of cheer.
Nothing more and nothing less
for everyone on earth.

Just a serving of kindness
with a side of true love.
Nothing more and nothing less
for everyone on earth.

Just a slice of peacefulness
with a spread of contentment.
Nothing more and nothing less
for everyone on earth.

This is my wish for Christmas –
A feast for all our souls.
Something spiritually scrumptious –
A feast for one and all.

This is my wish for Christmas –
So we may learn to give
and make this world a better place
for everyone who lives.

On Happiness

So, since when did happiness become a problem?
Didn’t God make all of us in a likeness of His own?
We spent millions searching for a gene or chromosome,
and describing all the neurotransmitters in tomes.

Did we find the secret to everlasting contentment?
A pill, powder, or syrup to eliminate all resentment?
Could we capture exuberance in a little bottle
for a shot of exhilaration to put life in full throttle?

Why did it take us centuries to finally realize
how happiness can be manifested in our lives?
That, at times, we need to stop spinning on our axes
and seek within ourselves a state of pure bliss.

A touch, a melody, a fragrance, a taste, a picture
that revives a memory or creates a feeling of rapture.
Being thankful for all that was, is, and yet to come.
And giving away things to those who have none.

Not all of us were born with a silver spoon,
but we all have what it takes to be happy as a boon.
Just like a basket is spoilt by one rotten apple,
a smile easily spreads the jollity virus in people.

Light is best appreciated when there is darkness.
Just so, life is balanced by cheerfulness and sadness.
And if you need guidance, take a look at the little ones.
So, since when did happiness become a problem?

The Color of Love

O golden Sun!
Why do you blush
as you say goodbye
in the evening skies?
Are you in love?

O silver satellite!
Why do you smile
as you shine bright
in the nighttime?
Are you in love?

O blue ocean!
Why do your waves
rush to embrace
the shores of sand?
Are you in love?

O crimson rose!
Why do you bloom
unabashedly bold
in the winter’s cold?
Are you in love?

As I wonder
about the answers,
one thing becomes crystal clear –
Myriad are the colors of love.
You only need the eyes of a lover.

Love is in the Air

Love is in the air.
It makes me see you everywhere.
And even though you’re far away,
This is what you will hear me say –
My darling, I love you.

Love is in the air.
With you, this love I want to share.
Let not this moment go to waste.
Feel my heart beating as you say –
My darling, I love you.

Love is in the air.
A love that’s timeless and so rare,
that even diamonds and roses pale
when we kiss slowly and we say –
My darling, I love you.

Love is in the air.
We are the ones who put it there.
And we won’t ever let it fade away.
With every breath we take, we’ll say –
My darling, I love you.

On the Path of Truth

It was a very simple question,
“Who ate the cookies from the jar?”
that Mother asked her children.
Three pairs of eyes looked at her
thinking about the repercussions –
the rebuke, the beating with the ruler.
The possibilities scared all of them.
Silence and fear filled the atmosphere
broken by Mother’s question again.
Till the little culprit stepped forward
and with a tremble, said, “I ate them,”
while the others thought, “He’s dead!”
Then, Mother did the most unexpected.
She smiled and hugged him, and said,
“As you spoke the truth, you are forgiven.”
What the children learned that day was –
The path of truth may be frightening,
but it is the right one to be on…always.

I will Rise and Shine

You can tie stones to my feet
and push me in an ocean deep,
but swim to the surface, I will,
and glow like a precious pearl.

You can dig a bottomless pit
and bury me deep inside it,
but grow like a seed, I will,
and bloom like a golden orchid.

You can scale the highest peak
and throw me in the deep valley,
but fly in the blue skies, I will,
and soar like the mighty eagle.

You can light the biggest pyre
and burn me to ashes in that fire,
but rise like the Phoenix, I will,
and live on like the legend lives.

No matter how difficult it gets,
I will overcome all challenges.
I am the superhero of my life.
I will always rise and shine.

A Bouquet of Love

Let me gift you today
my love in a bouquet.

No flowers do I bring.
They wither in a blink.

No soft satin ribbons.
As they end up fraying.

For you, I have moments
etched in togetherness.

Kisses, hugs, and smiles
for your entire lifetime.

I will listen to you speak
about all of your dreams.

I bring to you my heart.
I accept all that you are.

And I know you feel, too,
this love I have for you.

For you only, is my bouquet,
and it will never fade away.

The Last Flower of Spring

The last flower of spring
had a sweet song to sing.
Swaying in the cool wind,
to the past, it didn’t cling.

It sang of snows melting
and the chill relenting,
of buds awakening –
a new spring approaching.

It sang with tones lilting
of the sunrays kissing,
the fragrant air drifting,
of butterflies flitting.

Of hope, its words did ring,
spreading the good tidings.
Even the summer growing
in silence was tiptoeing.

The last flower of spring
sang of hard times ending
and the best times coming –
A song everlasting.

The Last Wish

If I ever met an old-lamp genie
who could grant me wishes three,
well, what would those wishes be?
And should I really stop at three?

I’d wish the aurochs would return
and also, the pink-headed ducks.
I’d wish the tourtes could fly again,
and cheetahs roam the Asian plains.

I’d wish there was a magical cure
for every sickness in this world.
I’d wish we had the supreme power
to realize that we are the cause.

I’d wish we did not need sadness
to know the value of happiness.
I’d wish the desire to oppress ends
and we could walk hand in hand.

The wishes I have are more than three,
so the third and last wish would be –
to make a wish for three more wishes
till there were no wishes left unfulfilled.