Regret of a genius

From cradle to manhood he grew fast

Childhood he skipped and knew it not

Books and knowledge was all he sought

A genius he became to the envy of all

Position and laurels, high and coveted

Friends and admirers, countless hundreds

What else he could have asked for

Dream come true, he got all he sought

Things didn't remain , as it was thought

Newness took over, past redundant to discard

Hanging  around unsought was never in his thoughts

He shall begin anew, but worthless appeared all

Regret he had that he didn't listen to his heart

And missed the childhood over which he trod

Unfulfilled desires tormented and nagged him a lot

The things of the world gave him no pleasure at all

Child he would  become and keep worries apart

And in full abandon he would live and laugh

Why take things so seriously, he resolved

Reality is unfathomable, and life a cosmic dance!

Life passion

It keeps you going

When all else is dark

It is your life

When all else is lost

Hope keeps it alive

Not giving up , you survive

When times are the worst

All odds you belie

You give it your all

It fills you more and large

You work on your faults

Till perfection smiles and laughs

It is your soul and heart

No life without it at all

It embraces you full and fast

Whether you stand tall or fall

When end is not far

You have no regrets at all

With Grace it blossomed

Your life passion, till the last!

Blame game

Game is a game

if fairly played

Rules are followed

come what may

Politics is weird

played on mind space

Rules are given a go bye

by those who play

Every trick is tried

and behind the scene play

But on show to watch

is a funny blame game

Each one swears

loud pitch all make

Power in their mind

how dirty they play

Butter and milk separate

Churn patiently and wait

But to score in haste

Blame game they play

Even if a lone voice

Calls a spade a spade

It is heard over the din

And much difference it makes!

What colour you wear

What colour you wear

does it really matter

Red, blue or yellow

shall it bell the weather

What appeals to one

is all that matters

Shall someone dictate the colour

that goes with one's coat or sandal

Whims and fancies rule the mind

when nothing important is in hand that  matters

One who has nothing much to wear

to cover the skin is that matters

A garden has flowers of all colours

each one in the blend matters

Rainbow makes the heavens colourful

light splits to make it happen

A few thin strands on a bald head

don't help a  hairdresser

Barren is the canvass of the multitudes

stray colour dots don't matter

Colourless is everything in the lives of your own brethren

colour it if you can, for that would greatly matter! 

A new dawn

Party, is it all politics

or primarily  a commitment

not to  ordinariness

But to a unique movement

Freedom came after relentless struggle

Ideals, principles and masses were one with the party

Gandhi swore and roared

Quit, self rule we want in this sacred land, our property

Party is nothing without a Gandhi

And a Baa fills its heart with all that is good in humanity

Example together they become to polity

How noble and apolitical would be such a party

Power is not its motive

It arises as a tsunami

To remove ills of society

blessed is such a  party

Politics becomes a word dirty

because of party politics

Why attack the policies

when pygmies play politics

All are part of that movement

which has at its helm a Gandhi

Baa may be soon coming as you blink

a new dawn shall dawn shortly!  

Crocodile tears

Laugh and the world laughs with you

Weep and it does not weep with you

Misery there is plenty in the world

No help comes , worry is far from whom

Some buy coat, some gold

Wares many here are sold

What matters one buys not

Free it is given, yet is unsold

One brings nothing here with him

nor shall a thing go with him

What remains is memory only    

that lingers not much after him

Nothing is yours in this world you inhabit

Yet people hold things as a matter of habit

Catch something that is not of this world

And with you it goes into many other worlds

Animals and birds unite and cry

Being in trouble or when one of them dies

Man is not moved at his brother's plight

Shedding crocodile tears with heart contrite!

Vote

I have a right to vote

To buy food I have no dough

Vote can make my day though

With loaf and bottle they approach

Bribe they unabashedly so

Making an innocent also a rogue

For a day only that may be though

Vote like a commodity in election is sold

Shall I sell my conscience for a loaf

And carry the guilt like an ulcer sore 

Elections may come and elections may go

Will they not leave such ulcers festering  more

Value is the same for your or my vote

But inequality glaring is in what we hold

Thin air , jewels, gems or shining gold

Bread is my worry,  your chests overflow

I shall maintain sanctity of my vote

Without work and family to support

No blemish I want to carry on my soul

With a clean heart I shall cast my vote! 

Self respect

I am a common man

Jargon I don't understand

Plans, papers and statistics

puzzle me but make no sense

Dole I do regret

where is my self respect

with hands I want to work

And earn my own bread

Rags I wear on me

Dark is my tiny cell

Crumbs thrown into bins

Don't fill my half stomach

In every discussion and seminar

manifesto and election talk

I find place without stop

A vote that counts but that's all

Pity I don't want

Nor promises and pep talk

But hope I just once more

that new dispensation will give me a job!

Beautiful mind

God made species many and different

Each unique with qualities different

Tiger agility, elephant memory ,dog faithfulness

pigeon innocence and cuckoo with voice different

Man He kept special and far different

Giving him a beautiful mind full of richness

to think and do things noble and different

And endear himself to Him who made him different

But alas! Man took a path different

merely minding his own business

Crookedness dominates over innocence

Mind is beautiful or devil's instrument

Creator now wonders why

He gave man a mind

Who  puts it to misuse

to divide and fight                  

If He were to take away mind

that  spreads hate and strife

Man shall be doomed hundred times 

Why has man put God in such a bind

Mind is a gift precious and different

To make man virtuous and  far different

Make yourself so unique and mindful

Proving it right, why He mad man different!

Paradox of destiny

Go slow and miss the train

Hurry and lose the brain

Crave and lose your gain

Ignore and more it rains

Slow, steady and upright apply

A crooked  wins an ugly fight

Much preparation clutters the mind

Casual and carefree score high

In hurt blurt out innocent mouths

Blows land heavy with more sound

Game is played round after round

Champion falters, amateur gets crown

Vacillations of weak mind bound

Past memories come back to hound

One who tries makes some progress

Heights are touched where limitations abound  

Paradoxes of life are unexplained

Bizarre they are but life they make

Things happen by accident or design

What one wills not or as destined!

Friendship

Sixty becomes sixteen

Grandpa a teen

Fun ,mischief and slang 

An accepted thing

Seriousness changes to grin

Faces glow and feet spring

Medicines are slow to work

Magic works in drinks

Laugh as much as you will

Leg pulling unabated

Words spill out, no holds barred

As glass after glass are filled in

Time flies as if it got wings

evening appears  young as in beginning

Bottoms up and then wind up

With heavy heart comes retreat

Each moment becomes bliss

What joy dear friends bring!

            

       

Uniting with the roots

A bud unfolds

Springing from beneath

As  tender roots hold it

And support it underneath

When bud becomes a tree

Confident and free

Spreading branches in glee

Roots grow, silently yet deep

Tired of being tied to one home

It explores lands far and unknown

Making godfathers and setting up new homes

But home is where you heart is, not just bricks and floor

When it is old and a spent force

New homes don't comfort it any more

It longs to return to its first home

Which waits to welcome the owner back home

Peace descends when you step into your abode

Its root quite old but still strong enough

To hold you in its lap

so you can have a good nap

And when rested

to listen to stories untold

Home is where your roots lie

There as a child you cried

Uniting with the roots is satisfying

Before the final good bye!  

Peace

We were not like this before

In time gone by not so far

Living together in peace and harmony

We wove a fabric rich and bold

Hatred and  intolerance are now on the rise

Brotherhood built over centuries, they divide

Differences accentuated create much strife

Narrow minds never see eye to eye

Race, colour ,speech and outlook

Culture, custom, dress and looks

Different strains of music they form

Together they blend to make life full

Prejudices restrict and cloud the eye

Ethics and principles are given a go by

Pock marks on the canvass of life

Make not a picture, however much you try

With every step , sow love not hate

Blend and  watch what you paint

Peace and harmony shall knock you door again

Hold their hands fast and let them remain!

Progress

This is the way the world goes

Poor remain poor, rich get more

It pours where coffers overflow

Opulence and penury in tandem grow

Nothing trickles down, upward it flows

Burden the poor bear over their heavy load

Seeds were chosen and ground well ploughed

Something went wrong when crops were grown

Hungry stomachs and naked bones

Need no preaching and sermons of yore

To hell or heavenward the wind blows

It makes no difference  to sinking boats

Would you exchange one day to know

What it feels to be poor, bruised and sore

Nature has provided to share and not hoard

Distribute the excess before the greed  overthrows

Progress is not what you flaunt  

Style, splendour, ostentation and class

But when oppression and inequality no more haunt

And poverty and hunger become the things of the past!