Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu

ask me not grand questions

on the purpose and meaning of life

and existence, I do not know,

not a thing more than you,

seeking the essential facts of life

to the thick woods I have been

and the seas and deserts

spanning horizons; wisdom

of the recluses sought:  

know the happiness of being-

as I am just happy to be here

on earth, in the humdrum of being 

breathing, just breathing

in the glory of all creation

freeing myself from the mundane

burden of existence

breathe, breathe, seek nothing

or seek as much you wish

but return to

the happiness of just being-

live, love, laugh

in time

pass away

proffering a wish,
always and ever:

‘Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu’

'Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu' ~ the Swasthi Vachanam which translates as: ‘May happiness be unto the world’

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Where there is love,

‘Where there is love there is life.’ ~  Mahatma Gandhi

through the evening fog

I see her, at the far-end of the park

a little girl, another pale flower

standing by the winter flower-bed

her fingers soft, delicate

caressing the flowers –

her little hands,

I imagine, tender and red,

as I rub my time-worn hands together  

to ward off the December chill

her name I know not - I call her Hope

one more look and she’s gone

leaving a pallid sky

aglow -

for another day

Photo courtesy: as per original copyright at:

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Looking for You, O'

Looking for You, O'

Me and You
Life and Death
We walked together
Coolly so far
Hand in hand

‘You are so frail’
You would trap and tease
‘No worry,
You are so strong’
I would free and ease

And then
In a tease
You left me
To play
Hide and Seek

You became Terror
I became Fear
In the lasting game
I play with you
You play with many

You hide
Somewhere
In those bags
I look for you
In a child’s toy

You pat me,
From nowhere
I turn in vain
Round and round
Looking for you

You hide again
Somewhere
In those bins
I look for you
In a stranger’s eye

His eyes meet mine
Fear greets Fear
We smile in vain
And pass
Looking for you…

O' Death,

Fearlessly...

Coming to terms with terror and death,

on the streets in Delhi

after terrorist attack…..

Life gets back to normal,

yet one can't help

looking for bombs, death

in roadside bins, children's toys,

stranger's eye....

That's not easy.

Death with me hand in hand

was much more....

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What I do these days….

What I do these days….

'What d'you do these days?’ query they
Shadows from the past undone
Me? ‘I seize nature grey and green, yea
Gaining moments dull and gay’

‘You, an artist’ ‘Or a painter?’ wary they
Bothering with my choices unsure
Me? ‘My eyes can’t bear an extra lens, nay
My hands know not to hold a brush’

What d'you do these days? query they
Visitors from the lane across
Me? ‘I make future hale and happy, yea
Urging humans near and far'

‘You a Preacher?’ ‘Or a teacher? wary they
Venturing with my powers unclear
Me? ‘My mind can’t take a longer view, nay
My heart knows not to read a beat’

‘What d'you do these days?’ query they
Phantoms from the future shore
Me? ‘I build castles high in sky, yea
Guarding man in game and pain’

‘You a builder?’ ‘Or a planner? wary they
Bartering with my skills unveiled
Me?, ‘my tools can’t close an open space, nay
My brain knows not to scheme a plan’

‘What d'you do these days?’ query they
Commons from the days that pass
Me? ‘I live life in utter vain, yea
Marking flinty thoughts that bear’

'You a writer?' 'Or a Poet?' wary they
Guessing with my words unsaid
Me? ‘My sense can’t carve a perfect verse, nay
My soul knows not to sing a song’

‘I just do now what I know
Dream and dream and,
Dream and dream…

Yet, I venture in my small ways
Hoping that my dream comes true!
Hoping that my dream comes true!!

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