Blog 113 - Poetry - Vikram Seth

Finally, I got my hands over the poetry book that I had been looking for since a long time. It is wonderful when one’s office is at a stone’s throw distance from two cozy bookshops.

If you are wondering why am I so much animated about this? Read these two poems from the book.

Voices

Voices in my head,

Chanting, “Kisses. Bread.

Prove yourself. Fight. Shove.

Learn. Earn. Look for love,”

Drown a lesser voice.

Silent now of choice:

“Breathe in peace, and be

Still, for once, like me.”

Sit

Sit, drink your coffee here; your work can wait awhile.

You’re twenty-six, and still have some time of life ahead.

No need for wit; just talk vacuities, and I’ll

Reciprocate in kind, or laugh at you instead.

The world is too opaque, distressing, and profound.

These twenty minutes’ rendezvous will make my day:

To sit here in the sun, with grackles all around,

Staring with beady eyes, and you two feet away.

I do not need to describe more, just that a few more, Vikram Seth poems can be read at minstrels, where I came across my first Seth poetry.

Blog 107 - Hope is the thing with feathers...

Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Some more of Dickinson's poems can be read over here.

Blog 013 - A Race called Life.

Somewhere, somehow,
And I don’t know when
It all began.
Was it for fun?
Or,
Was it for fame?

I saw people run,
Where and for what?
I didn’t know.
But it seemed fun!
So I put on my running shoes
And joined the race.

People crumpled
But I didn’t care.
Beautiful places passed by,
But I didn’t stop
The race continued
And I ran along.

Adrenaline is still pumping
And the race is on.
But I feel lost.
How long?
Or,
How far do I run?

Is there,
A finish line marked somewhere?
A dais set to welcome a hero?
A-Cup-of-Life.
Or,
Do I turn back?
And live life.

Blog 005 - A Crumpled Piece of Paper

A sweet introduction to your soul,
An anchor for the purest thoughts,
A rendezvous with the tale of love,
Its presence dignified the lords and tsars
But now lays a crumpled piece of paper!

A colorful blend of poets' thoughts,
A messenger of the holy sermons,
A medium for the artists' expressions,
A beginning to a sweet little dream!
But now lays a crumpled piece of paper!

A friend of every innocent eyed child,
A tutor to the wise and blessed,
An inspiration for a life long renaissance,
Eternal like the drops of dew
But now lays a crumpled piece of paper!

How long does it take?
For the things to change,
Pain to unmask your life,
A silent death to arrive
And from life to a crumpled piece of paper!

Blog 002 - Hero at Heart

Standing just around the corner,
Flashing his intoxicating smile.
Or, lost in the crowds,
Cheering for his superheroes,
Or, a face in millions,
Which passes our eyes - Unnoticed.
Does he, need an introduction?

Indeed this world belongs to him,
The common man,
The public rallies during elections,
The victory laps by superheroes,
Are incomplete without his mention.
Often remembered and soon forgotten,
Yet victimized by Life.

Little unknown to this world are,
His fantasies eclipsed by realities,
His strife for success
And his bouts with failure
Sorrow behind his smile
And selfless compromises made,
Just to ensure people around smile.

There Icons, superheroes and stars
Amidst them a few bother,
To look besides their shoulders,
And there he stands,
Arms outstretched.
Just peep into his eyes,
To witness life distilled

A salute to the hero at heart,
The common man.