Stronger

The road ahead may seem arduous and winding,
But, just take that first step and start hiking.

The stack of books may seem intimidating,
But, just open the first page and start reading.

The tasks and targets may seem challenging,
But, just pick one of them and start completing.

You have in yourself that strength and inclination.
Bring it out from under that pile of underestimation.

The universe is limitless, and so are the possibilities.
To tackle one moment at a time is all you need.

Hard work never kills, and reaching that goal may take longer,
But do you know? – What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Free or Free?

Am I free?
This is a question that haunts me.
Am I free to decide
What to do in my life?
Free to choose what to wear,
Eat, drink, think, love, and care?
The world is a giant yard sale
And many offers it makes.
But am I free to even see
That which pleases me?
Me?
How did I come to be?
I am not just the sum of my choices.
All my virtues and vices
Are the cumulation
Of the decisions of previous generations.
Would I be this same girl
If I could pick anything in this world?
All these restrictions and chains
Do I really want to break them?
This is a question that haunts me.
Do I really want to be free?

A Sky Full of Stars

It’s a morning like any other morning.
The rising Sun sees the world stirring.
The bell rings, and it’s the milkman.
The tea’s brewing; the egg’s in the pan.

Right next door, Mrs. Sawant is awake
Ready to begin her yoga and pilates.
Down the street, one hears a bell ring
As Mrs. Desai performs arti and sings.

The road is full of people on their way,
And Mr. Sabharwal is also one of them.
Racing against the clock to reach office,
He boards the bus driven by Mr. Tiwari.

The difference among them all is evident
In culture, race, language, and religion.
Yet, when I consider all these from afar,
I think about the sky full of little stars.

Each star twinkles with its tiny light
Contributing to the beauty of the night.
Never do they fight among themselves
As they shine on together like equals.

And far away, in another distant galaxy,
Any star gazer would think similarly.
The boundaries that we let divide us
Are so puny in this grand Universe.

Can we not learn from the night sky
That lets each star beam its own light
Realizing that each gleam is important,
And by doing so, achieves perfection?

Is it too difficult for us to comprehend
That each one of us is made different
Not to compete, but to complement
Like the stars glowing in the firmament?

We’re all pieces of a giant mosaic
And everyone’s needed to complete it.
Each one’s created with a unique design,
Yet connected by the tapestry of life.

One at a Time

It was that most dreaded of times!
The final examinations were nigh!
The panicked cramming had begun
Of all the chapters in the syllabus.

The textbooks were all piled up high,
And the space was limited in my mind.
So, as the clock struck nine one night,
My father found me sitting teary-eyed.

It did not take him time to fathom
That, with fear, I was overwhelmed.
He then calmly sat down next to me
And in a gentle voice, said reassuringly,

“How do you think the ocean forms?
One drop at a time – drop by drop.
How do you think walls are built?
One brick at a time – brick by brick.

How do you think a book is read?
One page at a time – page by page.
How do you think you’d climb a ladder?
One step at a time – higher and higher.

Yes, it’s important to start somewhere
And move along with a steady pace.
And that’s how you’d break a mountain.
You’d start by cutting a single stone.”

His words struck a chord deep inside.
It seemed that I could finally see light.
A line, a paragraph, a page at a time
Was how I studied on that dark night.

The exams and scores are long forgotten,
But not my father’s well-taught lesson.
For how do you think one goes on in life?
One learning at a time – time after time.

The Riddle

What is it
That abounds in the poorest home,
But is missing in castles big and grand?

What is it
That’s more valuable than gold,
But cannot be locked in safes and banks?

What is it
That no company in this world
Can manufacture with a logo and brand?

What is it
That everyone tries to hoard,
But then it slips away like grains of sand?

What is it
That each person longs for,
But each and every person also has?

What is it
That multiplies manifold
With the smallest thing that is shared?

What is it
That we think is lost,
But if we look deep within, it is there?

What is it
That can only be grown
With selfless acts of kindness?

What is it? What is it?
If you haven’t yet fathomed,
The answer to this riddle, my friends, is … Happiness!

Doors

Nia sat alone in her room.
With curtains drawn, shrouded in gloom.
Her mother slowly knocked at the door.
Then, entered it to find her sitting on the floor.
On seeing her mother, Nia started crying,
“Why, mom? Why? After all this trying?”
Tears ran down her big brown eyes.
As her mother sat near her and sighed.
Holding Nia’s hand, she gently spoke,
“When one door closes, another will open.”
“Really?!” Nia screamed incredulously.
“Why was this door open if it wasn’t meant for me?
And if the next one is indeed the one, what’s that guarantee?
It’s just hopeless!!” She tearfully said continuously.
“Nia,” said her mother, “Listen to me carefully.
Each door that opens has behind it a sea of possibilities,
And every door that closes leaves us with some learnings.
When a new door opens, those turn into experiences,
Which are guiding stars as we navigate unknown oceans.
Add hard work and determination, and you’ll reach your destination.
All you need to do is reassess your priorities and abilities,
And seek to improve in the areas that need it.
So, let’s see what you could do better for this examination,
And let’s also keep our minds open to other career options.”
Having said that, she drew open the heavy curtains.
As sunshine entered the room and brightened everything,
Nia wiped her face and got up from the cold floor.
She felt ready for whatever lay beyond the next open door.

The Last Invitation

When my time on Earth is done,
And my last day will have come,
I will lay the table for two
For a dinner with You-Know-Who.

There will be roses and candlelight,
Music and glasses of red wine.
I will greet Him with a bright smile,
And invite Him to sit with me and dine.

There will be no tearful conversations,
No pleading for my life’s extension.
Rather, we will spend the time
Talking about the afterlife.

To Him, I will narrate my stories,
Only the best ones from my memories.
I will ask Him about the folks I knew,
Those He whisked away to a place new.

And as our tete-a-tete ends,
He will then take me by my hand,
And across the sunset, we will go,
To a place more peaceful than I’ll know.

The Hopeful Bird

My heart yearns to be a bird
That sings her song at dawn,
A song of hope for the world
In the wee light of the morn.

She flits among the green trees
Picking notes along the way,
Weaving them into a symphony,
Which she sings the next day.

Come rain or cold or sunshine,
She never runs out of tunes,
For with those, the Sun will rise
And bathe her with warmth, too.

The world may not comprehend
The songs she sings every day.
But her songs, with the dawn, blend
To say that hope is here to stay.

The Questions of Life

A curious four-year-old Payal
Would often be full of questions.
Are Santa Claus and his elves real?
What does the tooth fairy do during the day?
Her mother left the answers to her imagination.

A bright thirteen-year-old Payal
Would often quiz her teachers.
How does the human brain work?
Does the Milky Way have other Earthlike worlds?
Her teachers told her to seek answers in encyclopedias.

A young twenty four-year-old Payal
Had queries about her relationship.
Does he really and truly love me?
Will we be able to balance each other’s dreams?
Her grandmother said that, with time, the answers would be revealed.

A happy fifty-year-old Payal
Often conversed with the Almighty.
What did I do to deserve this good life?
O Lord! Will I finally meet You after I die?
The wise told her to have faith and seek answers from the holy.

Not every question has an immediate answer.
Not every question needs an immediate answer.
Sometimes, these questions, unanswered,
Lead us down a path on which we grow and prosper.

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.

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.