Where the Earth Meets the Sky

The meeting of the Earth and sky
Is but a mirage to the eye.
It is Nature’s whitest lie-
A beautiful limitation of human sight.

The meeting of the Earth and sky
Is the furthest point seen in light.
Were I to try and chase this line,
Then, around the Earth, I’d take a ride.

The meeting of the Earth and sky
Is the brink of my knowledge, or might.
With experiences of a newer kind,
I can push the boundaries of my mind.

The meeting of the Earth and sky
Is also the edge of where I am in life.
It may be difficult to get to the far side,
But the possibility beckons all the time.

Ode to Turmeric

It’s finally the day of the wedding,
With the couple pledging to be together.
O Turmeric! They first seek your blessing.
Yours is the most auspicious color.
Amidst the song, dance, and celebration,
You protect them from evil spirits.
Paving the way for a life of prosperity.
You give them the gift of purification,
And their complexion reflects your glitz.
As you take away the tension and anxiety.

As families unite for the beginning,
Of Fortune, you are the harbinger.
The color they wear needs no guessing,
As for them all, you are an icebreaker.
A secret for natural beautification,
Adding oil and milk increases your gifts.
To quell depression, you have the ability.
No chemicals are added for preparation,
And you rid all of artificial cosmetics,
With you, good health becomes a reality.

O Turmeric! Your virtues are unending!
Grace us with your presence forever!
Technology may keep progressing,
But you are a friend in every weather.
From generation to generation,
You’re the reason for stories and myths,
And for increased memory and immunity.
You have been a part of our tradition
As the world battles to own your secrets,
You will be in our kitchens for posterity.

Call of the Mountains

Caught in the traffic, slow and crawling,
I long to run away from this life in the city.
Far far away, I hear the mountains calling.

This mundane existence is appalling.
I drown in wave upon wave of self-pity.
Caught in the traffic, slow and crawling.

I want to go to a place that’s enthralling,
Yet, be enveloped in peace and serenity.
Far far away, I hear the mountains calling.

Clear blue skies in which I’m free falling,
Evokes in my mind an image so pretty.
Caught in the traffic, slow and crawling.

The heat, dust, and smoke are all galling.
O! To listen to a fresh spring sing a ditty!
Far far away, I hear the mountains calling.

I hear their songs, which I keep recalling.
And wish my dreams will turn into reality.
Caught in the traffic, slow and crawling,
Far far away, I hear the mountains calling.

PS: This poem is a Villanelle.

Traditional, yet Contemporary?

Wise men say – old is gold, and they say it with reason
Like this lesson from yore, from a Hindu marriage tradition.

In one of the ceremonies, the groom shows the bride,
The twin stars, Arundhati and Vasishta, shining in the sky.

This calls upon the couple to be synced in everything,
For they are now equals, like the twin stars twinkling.

The secret to this tradition was later uncovered by scientists.
In most twin stars, one is still, and the other rotates around it.

But, Arundhati and Vasishta are so unique because
They both rotate in perfect synchrony around each other.

This tells the bride and groom that to be the ideal couple,
Neither should feel the need to dance to the tune of the other.

How did the sages of those ancient times without modern equipment
Know about this difference of this particular star system?

Traditions are like that – mysterious yet moving us to action.
In fact, I’m sure that you all would agree with me, friends.

Anything contemporary that withstands the test of time,
Ultimately, gets transformed into a lasting and intriguing tradition.

On Monotony

Of what use is monotony in life
With its tedious repetition and routine?
Is it worthless like a long drive
On a highway with scenery unchanging?

Well, if you take a microscopic view,
Monotony exists in our DNA molecules.
With mind-boggling details, these repeat
In every cell that, in a person, constitutes.

And if you look at it macroscopically,
There’s monotony in the ocean waves.
Wave upon wave rises up and retreats
With every wave created just the same.

Yes, monotony is also Nature’s creation,
Less valued and even less understood.
It has benefits that deserve attention.
Following a routine does a lot of good.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed
By tasks and activities you have to do,
Know that if you follow a set routine
You can focus on what matters to you.

And, it may seem very contradictory,
But monotony will boost your creativity.
With fewer decisions to take in a day,
New ideas are generated by your brain.

So if you want to be immune to it,
Know that it can be your best friend.
It’s like the magical lamp with the genie,
But it can grant your wishes with no end.

The Roses

That night,
As you walked out of the door and my life,
All that you left behind
Was a note in which you apologized,
And a bunch of roses – my favorite kind.

The roses.
They reminded me of our relationship –
Full of deep, passionate intimacy,
Yet so ephemeral and impermanent
Like the petals, now wilted.

The roses.
They exuded a musky fragrance.
Like the special something we had,
Or so, I used to think, but I was wrong.
For now, that fragrance was long gone.

The roses.
You often compared me with them.
You said I was more alluring,
And they less, but those were all lies,
Like that faded bouquet you left behind.

The roses.
I will never grow to hate them.
I don’t know how, but I will move on,
And the only thing that will remind me
Of you … and us will be their thorns.

Overthought

So I thought aloud a thought
That differed from your thoughts.
Then I thought some more thoughts
About what you would’ve thought.

This led to a pile-up of thoughts –
The what-ifs and whatnots thoughts,
And I ended up with more thoughts
That I should not have thought.

I know you may not have thought
Thoughts that I thought you’d thought,
Yet, my mind dreads the thought –
You may have thought those thoughts.

If anyone has any possible thoughts
Of how I can stop these thoughts,
Then tell me so without a thought
And to try them, I’ll give it a thought.

To Learn from Children

Children are our teachers.
Of that, there is no doubt.
They may not be preachers,
Yet, they show the way out.

Children are very curious.
They like to do new things.
At times, trouble is obvious,
But that’s just a learning.

And regarding imagination,
They’re full of ideas to the brim.
They look for ways to use them,
And possibilities have no limits.

It’s easy to befriend a child.
They love making connections.
So, reaching out helps in life
To build and maintain relations.

And of the most importance,
Is that quality of fearlessness.
They face new experiences
Without fear of consequences.

The Rebel

“She’s a rebel! A renegade!
She doesn’t conform to our ways.”
Ever since she was born,
She couldn’t adhere to the norms.
Yes, she was very different
In her ways and opinions.
But, little did the haters know,
She had within her a diamond’s glow.
Her difference became her distinction,
And she left a lasting impression.
The same crowd now calls her the best,
And they yearn to follow her footsteps.

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.