Another December

 

                                             ANOTHER DECEMBER

Another morning

The crispy-dried leaves

Break away from the trees

And swirling

Sink on earth's tender bosom.

the steady, rhythmic heartbeats hum a lullaby

as the dry leaves seem to say "Aah time to sleep!"

Life sinks as

The shy banyan tree

Stands nude

Timidly stealing a glace

At its own reflection

in the still pond.

Yet again a kingfisher,

Dives down into the lonely pond

disturbs the banyan tree's silent conversations 

with the still waters.

Yet again

The soft yellow glow lights up

The vapoury sky.

Lazy life stretches and yawns

Unwilling to unblanket.

There is music in silence.

And there is eloquence in stillness.

Abruptly a musical papeeha breaks the silence

of the Misty Dream

 "Pii-kahan?", "Pii Kahan?"

She croons!

Look no further sweet bird

Your lover, December, is here!

-SG

UNSEEN, UNKNOWN!

 

                                                        UNSEEN UNKNOWN

 

How do I see you, you sit gently on my closed eyelids

I can feel you, you are but a feeling,

You are hope, you are belief.

You are faith, you are youth!

You are the fragrance that I wear.

When I reach out to you,

I feel the gentle shadow cast by the setting sun, on my finger tips.

You are the dewdrop, glistening with the first ray of the sun.

I keep searching… I feel I have found you.

In the wild flower growing on the crumbling wall

Yet, you elude me

Like an incomplete dream!

You are close, yet afar.

You are but a feeling.

You are that tear

Which runs down without a reason.

You are that random giggle that escapes at times.

You are the rhyme, you are the reason.

Yet unheard, yet unseen

How do I see you, you sit gently on my closed eyelids?

 - SG

LOVE IS AMIDST THE RUINS @Vasai Fort

 

Love is amidst the ruins...

As I walk alone, through the quiet forgotten alleys

Stories of unrequited love echo

From the crumbled walls

Sagas of war unfold

The young flutist plays some random raga

Which tells the tale

Of the kingdoms past

Do I hear the ghungroo of the Raj nartaki?

Do I hear whispers of conspiracy?

Do I hear the moans of a lovelorn princess?

Do I hear a hundred canons boom?

Smoke-filled dark corridors

Broken walls

Deep cracks on the floor

And suddenly

A single ray of sunshine filtering in

Through the broken latticed window

Love lives...amidst the ruins!

-SG

Virtuous White Veil

The dawn breaks out 

To reveal the lonely widow

Veiled in white.

A cuckoo sings a plaintive song

Of unrequitted love

The rising Sun tries to steal a kiss

And the soft breeze tugs at the veil,

Startling the widow out of a stupor.

Questions of guilt and transgression

Are washed away by the fragrances of the fresh dew drops.

The widow hums a lost song

"Chha rahi kaali ghaṭa jiya mora lahraaye hai
Sun ri koyal baanwari tu
kyun malhaar gaaye hai"

The monsoon clouds gather

And the sun hides

As a little drop of tear 

Turns the parched earth moist

With memories.

-SG

The Spring Song

One of my favorite Rabindra Sangeet composed by Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Jodi Tare nai chini go se ki' talks about the advent of spring. There is anticipation in the air, there are butterflies in search of honey and then there is rejuvenation of promises, love and dreams. Pranam to Gurudev!

Roughly translated:

I thrill with anticipation

I wonder though,

When he arrives at last.

Will he recognize me

This dewy day of spring?

I wonder, if he will softly whisper

A tune to arouse the tender buds,

I wonder, if he will enamor them

This ecstatic day of spring

I wonder, if he will embellish my flowers

With his very own tint

I wonder if he will stir my heart

From deep within

As I sense his imminence,

Will my veil of green leaves,

Sway with delight,

Will he guess my little secret

This brand-new day of Falgun!

His song, dedicated to him! For his birthday, today. Tagore’s songs and poems, his stories and plays live on in our hearts. And this particular song inspired SD Burman to compose 'tere mere milan ki yeh raina'.

THE BLANK PAGE

The blank page like fresh snow

Stares at the pen

Waits

Waits

For the outpour of blue tears, blue smiles,

Blue moon, blue shadows

Waits

For a rhyme to follow another rhyme

Or a new verse to unfold,

A new story told.

The pen waits,

Waits

For the mind to delete the old

And usher in the new

Offerings

This morning a few petals

Wantonly fall at my feet.

The leaves tremble as the breeze pass it's fingers through

My heartstrings!

A strange Melody fill the air

And I am reminded of you -

Your laughter, your sparkling eyes

Your caring words.

Distance is the need of the hour.

But when a few stray, yellow petals

Reach your doorstep

Know the breeze carried them

From me to you!

REFLECTIONS

the stillness of the dusk

the stillness of the sky

the stillness of the birds

the stillness of the leaves

the stillness of the stars

the stillness of the mind

             And a silent, weary eagle which seems to have lost its way...