Aloha

In life's grand story, a companion's grace,
Aloha bridges years, finding its rightful place.
Through wrinkles of time and stories they have seen,
Aloha's thread weaves connections between.

A screen can't obscure the warmth of their smiles,
Aloha speaks softly across the miles.
Venerable wisdom, a treasure to share,
Aloha listens, shows it deeply cares.

In heart-to-heart whispers, aloha takes flight,
Guiding their words through day and through night.
Amidst a span of years, a bond has been found,
Aloha's sweet symphony, love's ageless sound.

With every exchange, their spirits align,
Aloha, a friend in a world so benign.
In the chapters of life, stitched by and by,
Aloha, a constant as time drifts on by.

Still & Silent

when turbulent times
made her decadent
she would adopt
stretches of silence
flying low
to the depths
of her soul
to listen to
the waves
surging within
light as a feather
not deafening
the quiet
yet stoic
in her stillness
she would see the she
that wasn't the she
she should have been

in the tranquility
of the still and silent
she would find herself again
each time. every time.

Time is all we have and don’t.

Time is all we have and don’t
it is something we can never own.

the little moments that give us joy
we keep thinking will always be there
but once lost, they are gone
never again to be found

spend a second more, spend an extra minute
appreciating all that you never did
spend an hour more, spend an extra day
living your wildest dreams in your way

for time is all we have and don’t
it keeps slipping away, we can never own.

When I go...

when it's time, and
I fly off
into the
prismatic yonder
do not cry for me here
for here is not
where I will be
I may blend-in
with the gaia, aurora
or briny sea
whatever be
my transcension
know that
I did not die
I just winged away
with palpable
unbridled mirth
and, joy 

Belonging to Eternity

all our lives
we are made to believe
that we must live
to earn the goodwill
during our lifetime on earth
for the heavenly
afterlife experience
but it is not how it is
for there exists no time
there is only eternity, and
we are one soul changing forms
in the transient extraction
of timelessness
a combined amalgamation
of mass and energy
with an ad interim memory
moving with the universe
along with it's ever changing paradigms

we exist in the now, and
we exist in the then too!

Disconnect to Reconnect

consumed by the challenges
of everyday life
I did not realize
when time flew by

the dreams of the
once virginal mind
were long replaced
by a never ending need
to be a powerhouse
that provided a decent
life for loved ones
every time I tried
to make the ends meet
the ends only seemed
further distanced
the demands kept growing
gnawing me within
creating a chasm
between what I thought
would be me and my life
it went on and on
from days to months to years
till I asphyxiated
in my own realm
I could no longer endure
so, I paused

INTERLUDE

the pause worked
for all that was needed was
to disconnect from the outer world
to reconnect with my inner self
and, life moved on...

The Whole...

we sojourn outside
in quest of the whole
we delve inside
in search of the whole

when the time is ripe
for us to know
we realize
that it is from the whole
that the whole is materialized

there is more to understand
there is more to learn
about the mystical power
that designs the domains
even after the whole
is taken out from the whole
the whole still remains!

Emotions

she smiled

when all she wanted

to do was cry

she felt the storm

that was raging on her inside

years of pent-up emotions

that were stifled-in

had become fluid

and were overflowing

this surge, this force

emptied her of all feelings

and, she let it be

for

it was TIME

to discard all pretences

inhibitions, negativity

that weighed her down

and let the white LIGHT

with it's serene halo

seep in, envelop and protect her

in her journey from hereon...

One more TIME...

she saw opportunity 

when others saw nothing

for her the impossible 

didn't exist

she took the risks 

she survived the falls

an epitome of verve

encapsulated it all

till...

an extended phase of darkness

engulfed her for so long

she was distraught

she was torn

embracing solitude 

she withdrew her wings

stoned into numbness

standing still

till...

one fine night

when she was communing 

she realized that not all was over

that there was something inside her

that held her fragile self

from disintegrating altogether

she decided to give-in her all

one more time

she wanted to face life 

with tough resolve

one last time

as if on cue

her spirit soared

she felt hopeful once more

softly, she whispered

Oh! Universe, please conspire

help me tide this over...

Slow down, Amma...

I know Amma, I know that you are stressed

give me sometime to clear all the mess

I know Amma, you've toiled a long while now

leave it to me, to now pull the plow!

Slow down, Amma, you need to rest

Do you even remember when last you lived in zest?

Slow down, Amma, life has been a bitch

we can't help for that's what the premise of life is!

Hear me, Amma, you need sometime for yourself

enough of all the sacrifices, strain n' duress

Hear me, Amma, I want you to live your life

live every moment by your code and enjoy the ride!

In the quest of surviving in the realm, we are in

I focussed on the outset to bring the monies in

little did I realize that time would not wait, and

I've lost most of them now, it's a little too late!

Off whatever is left, I want to give them all to you

let's let our hair loose and get into the groove!

Spend some time with me, Amma

we have so much to talk 

everything else can wait
but this cannot

let's banter, let's chat, or,

in your garden, let's just squat

sing, dance, walk, shop n' hop

let the merriment go on non-stop

the memories that we create, today,

we will cherish forever

along with the umbilical love

that has connected us together!

UnBelonged

dislocated within
she did not know, whether
she was fighting it all
or giving in
to the warped time
that had shrouded her
powerless, emotionless
she did not know, whether
it should have mattered at all
or have been overlooked upon
as all that had happened
had wrecked her heart
and numbed her mind
the endless tirade
had rummaged her bind
she could no longer relate
with the world around
she felt misplaced here
she felt UnBelonged..!!

Undying HOPE...

when they first crossed their paths

they knew that they had given each other

a special place in their hearts

from strangers to friends, their journey was short

for their bonding was strong, right from the start!!

he made her feel special

and called her an angel

she helped him realize his dreams

and gave him back his self-esteem

though they talked endlessly, they never met

yet, this was something they never regretted

till, one fine day...

when he disappeared from her life

without uttering any good byes

just as he had come, he had gone away

leaving her wondering what led things astray

she cried n' cried over the void he had left

she found no answers n' moved on bereft!!

years passed and, again, one day...

he returned as if he had never gone away

she asked nothing and accepted him back

and together they continued the journey of life

he set the child-woman in her free

all he craved for was her company

together, they dreamt new dreams

and this time around, they promised to meet

but this was not how it was meant to be

such cruel was their destiny!!

time compelled them to travel different paths

even when they yearned for each other

they were forced to live, anonymously, apart

she did not know what to make of her strife

whether to accept him as an anam cara

or a traveler in her life?

for what had happened once had recurred, again

and deep in her heart she was numbed with pain

yet, she longed for him to come around

so, she kept her faith alive and her will strong

she prayed that when they meet again

which she hoped that they will

all that was there, would be there still...

Anyway

Life offers it's own twists which do not make sense at that point in time;

Keep moving, anyway.

When people around mar you more than they make you;

Ignore them, anyway.

What's taken you years to build, gets destroyed overnight;

Build again, anyway.

When you are questioned for your well meant intentions;

Do not answer, anyway.

When your dreams turn to dust;

Vacuum them, anyway.

When you seek answers deep down yet they seem evasive;

Give time, time, anyway.

As a sole wanderer with an unprejudiced mind

take on the journey of your life

looking out for the signs of the universe

that will guide you on what barriers to navigate,

what bends to take and what roads to rise,

to conquer the untouched apex and summits

with its new horizons, sunsets and sunrise..!!

At times...

At times...
my mind gets stuck in the past, and
replays memories buried deep within
over and over again, tormenting me
making me acutely aware
that I am merely existing
and not living..!!

At times...
when I am in such freeze mode
where I sit mutely feeling numb 
I stare intently at time 
right in its eye wanting to know from it
how much is too much, and
when would enough be really enough?

At times...
when I know I can't burn the bridge behind
I feel like walking away from all the known
and going to a place never before explored
where I choose to remain a person unknown
allowing my soul to heal myself
living so long, a life of anonymity..!!

A Journey called Life

Life is a journey to be lived for
and not a destination to be reached
it begins the day you were born
and ends when you breathe your last
it is - short, mysterious n' exacting, but
we only get to make this journey once
so, its unto us to make the most of it..!!

Its a journey of thousand miles
that you begin with one step, and,
then you just keep surging ahead
never looking back, come what may
for you're never going to go that way
you'll travel across lands, rivers, deserts, 
valleys and a myriad of earth's dwellings
where your heart n' thoughts take you
you'll live amongst people, understand them
learn how few stand by you no matter what
and the plenty others conveniently disappear
your emotions n' feelings will all be raked
for you to experience each one of them
you'll have your highs juxtaposed with the lows
its a part of life where everything happens 
for a reason is what we are told, but
how long do you wait for the reasons to unfold
till you draw your own inferences no one knows
as you travel through times n' tides
you'll have choices aplenty enroute
make wise decisions, for time isn't at your will
its unto you to imbue the best n' worst
of it all that this journey offers, and
create memories black o' white n' colorful 
for that's all the imprints you'll leave behind
when this journey would've ended making you - YOU
before your body is set to pyre, and 
your ashes get sprinkled across the sacred ganges..!!

Life’s Musings…

In the stillness of the night

doing nothing at all, I,

envelope myself in deep silence

where I cast everything else aside

and, stop to pause to make sense

of my current state of affairs

musing over what caused it all!

In a pensive mode as I contemplate

asking myself whether is this person

whom I wanted to be all along, and

is this the place where I wanted to belong

the answer unveils in my reflection

where I fail to recognize both

for this is not how 'twas meant to be!

I reflect over the chronicle of my life

marked by my events of success and failure

where at every milestone; I revelled or learnt

and realized that it's the candle of life

masked as a cog in the moving wheel of time

harbouring me to the safe shores, whenever

I've lost my sense of direction n' purpose!

Such candles unexpectedly come n' go unbidden

the onus is on us to value n' savour every moment

of their guidance while being taken care of;

and then continue with our journey of life

renewed with vigor n' a sense of pure faith

that there's an angel up there for all of us

to watch over us and our life's musings!

WORDS

WORDS - an assembly of letters
that we write, speak n' read!

As a fragmented self they mean nothing 
but as a clique they have the power 
to make or mar one's life 
they can usher you into bright light
or throw you in a vortex of dark
they can encourage you to see the real
or discourage you by showing the surreal
they can express love or instigate hate
they can make you dance, sing or cry
for once they are formed n' delivered
you cannot reject or deny them
such is their power and influence!


How do we use them, then ~
discreetly, judiciously, prudently?
the onus of the choice lies only on us
for as we all know, how a cluster of WORDS
can shape our life from time to time!

Memories

Time after time; moment after moment
life ages away forming memories
of everything passing by relentlessly
be it the good, bad or the in-betweens
all are packaged as they occur
to last forever but as time flies 
some do fade while some remain 
vividly clear n' close to heart
ushering in smiles n' gleams of joy
as others unleash in the form of tears
when you reminisce them as you walk down 
on a trip in your memory lane
reflecting on the yonder of your past
thousands of memories spanning
your lifetime of how you've lived 
your life with all its non-rhythmicity
coalesced with splendor n' struggle akin!

Life is a collage of all such moments 
moments that become memories
memories that act as anchors
defining the "YOU" in you
as you tread towards the pearly gates!

As you travel through Life…

As you travel through life ~

you'll realise you're alone

with travelers in your life

who'll keep coming n' going

stop not at any crossroad

for the journey is intriguing

you might pause though, to ponder

when you've to take the hard decisions

where the solutions seem non-existent

but, stay rest assured that a new dawn

always awaits you, to help you move on

with a calm mind choose your path, and

set afoot thru' all the vagaries of life

succumb not to the ups n' downs you face

they are a part of life's journey

withdraw if you choose to, but

only to continue with renewed strength

the mysteries of nature are invigorating

and time is the quintessential master

who'll teach you what you've to learn,

unlearn n' relearn, and guide you

to evoke a deeper conscience within you

to be able to imbue the nuances of life

for that is the only way to surge ahead

to a world of your dreams, your goals

and, when you finally reach your destination

there'll be moments of exhilaration n' bliss

with a sense of accomplishment n' pride

never mind what prices you'd to pay enroute

the journey will always be a worthwhile one

and, you'll have with you a story of your own!!

A time to rend, a time to sew

She'd an unmatched zeal as was her pursuit

to learn the true n' real meaning of life

she embraced her quest n' set out in zest

but it did not take her long to realize

what the harshness in life had done to her heart

she was no longer a reflection of her true self

she loved company but felt alone in crowd

she wasn't lonely but she longed for a world

that was filled with peace, bliss n' love

she paused when she couldn't comprehend

the perils of life that consumed her whole

but she bounced back with her fiery spirit

piecing herself together to continue her transit

to seek what she sought, such intense was her will

as time flowed, she learnt more n' more

she never believed in the doctrines

n' always left it to the sands of time

to guide her through her journey of life

be it her fate, destiny or the winds of change

n' all the realities that she found strange

like a wise sojourner, she imbued the real

and felt exalted, liberated n' joyous

as she realized the meaning of life anew

that there is always "a time to rend and a time to sew"!