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 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.

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.

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.

Dream On

Wise men say we all arrive alone.
And alone we will be, when we pass on.
But about this, I have a different opinion,
For, in this world, when we are born,
We’re given a dream by the Holy One.
This dream is a reason to keep on going,
And, in many ways, it keeps reminding
Us to take action for its realization.
Sometimes, at night, it comes as a vision.
Sometimes, it’s in advice or admonition.
It will continue to strive for recognition,
And seek through us, a manifestation.
When we see it through the commotion,
We need to nurture it with true intention.
This dream will exist with us all along,
And will come to life only if we want.

The Joy of Music

There are many things
That make me glad,
That brighten my days
When I feel so sad.
But none lift me up so much
When I’m feeling bored
As the black and white keys
on my musical keyboard.
Sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, and ni-
These notes bring joy to me.
Alankars, ragas, and melodies-
To my heart, they all appeal.
With them, I have realized
Music, in everything, resides.
Be it the hum of the microwave,
Or the beats that a clock plays.
To perfect the notes of a song,
I can practice all day long.
If not once, then twice or thrice
Till I can get the tune right.
There’s a song for every situation.
There’s rhythm, even in silence.
Yes, Music gives me happiness,
For it finally leads me to myself.

Lullaby of the Stars

It has been a while since the Sun said goodbye.
A blanket of darkness is spread out by the night.
And, in the pale glow of the crescent moon’s light,
I hear the twinkling stars sing a melodious lullaby-

“Lie down on your bed and close your droopy eyes,
Sail slowly across the prussian blue midnight skies
On the ship of dreams drawn by iridiscent butterflies
As it takes you to the shores of a beautiful paradise.

On the way, see the magical fairies twirl and smile
As they waltz to a celestial tune with the fireflies.
Look at the rainbow-colored waves fall and rise
As golden mermaids, on their crests, take joy rides.

Take their hands and dive into the aquamarine tide.
There’s a many-hued oyster with its mouth open wide.
Rest your head on the pearly bed laid for you inside.
And sleep till you hear the birds chirping at sunrise.”

My Favorite Thing

The gold inches across the skies.
Night discards her veil of darkness.
The haze lifts from before my eyes.
I breathe deeply with thankfulness.

The birds chirp away, singing melodies
Melding with the song the radio plays.
My heart dances to this lovely medley
Creating a new tune to which I sway.

The wayside flowers seem more colorful
Nodding their heads in the cool breeze.
The dragonflies and beetles wake up, too.
With more buzz than the news on the TV.

In a distant temple, bells start ringing.
Their chimes lead to an inner awakening.
For the beauty of this wonderful morning
Was even more due to the tea I was sipping.

The Rain Fell

The rain fell,
And it washed the green leaves covered with dirt.
It also took away the colors from my tie-and-dye shirt.

The rain fell,
And it cleared the air of dust, smoke, and pollution.
It also took away the scent of the roses in the garden.

The rain fell,
And it brought forth saplings from the earth.
It also took away lives when the rivers overflowed.

The rain fell,
And it whispered constantly with a low pitter-patter.
It also took away the tranquility with the roaring thunder.

The rain fell,
And it cooled the heat of the summer nights.
It also took away the twinkle of stars and the moonlight.

The rain fell,
And it made the peacocks sing aloud and dance.
It also took away the solitude by kindling romance.

The rain fell
And it changed everything –
Life itself… and how we live it.

Know Thyself!

Know Thyself!
Not in the “what the mirror reflects” kind of way!
Not in the “what riches you possess” kind of way!
And surely not in the “what people say” kind of way!
But know yourself like the still, clear waters of the ocean
Reveal everything in their purest, unadulterated versions.
Know yourself like the eagle gliding in the blue expanse
Never misses the slightest movement in the grasslands.
Know yourself like the map of a thick tropical forest
That has every bush, every tree, and every dirt path plotted.
Because only if you seek to know your self from yourself
Will you be able to traverse the maze of this worldy existence,
And, only if you are aware of all aspects of yourself
Will you be true to your life and all you expect from it.