Fail well

To fail is part of life
but there is a choice
to stand up and move
or sit down and brood
take them as stepping stones
to grow up and improve
learning comes from one's failings
they are our best books
fail but fail well
to make life rich and full

Light within

A child's actions are a treat to watch

her every move and mood
so interesting and wonderful
draws attention of all

what we take for granted
or care not to observe
such minor details
how they keep a child engaged

unless something is made interesting
who cares to find
its intrinsic worth
which lies hidden in layers

loner one remains
and has no friends
a jewel within 
which reveals not itself

someone has to take the pains 
to unearth the beauty within
the shine without may dim
but light within remains bright

When in love,say so

Papa,do you love mama 
as much as I do 
yes,my dear 
as much as I love you 
But I love mama more 
than I love you 
how do you say that,son 
I think you love me as much too 
ten times everyday 
I tell mama  
I love her much
but you don't say to mama 
even once
you love her too 
Oh yes, I agree
but I love her
without saying so 
that's not good papa 
how will mama know 
Thank you so much dear 
it's good you told me so! 

Song of nature

Who have no mind
and no time
for the pretty flowers
and the song of birds
the trees around
and the flowing river
how can they find happiness
being blind to its source
and the one with no worries and cares
has friends among flowers and birds
the trees around and the flowing river
happy and contended at all times
with nothing they live a fuller life
things don't matter in life
but being alive to the nature's gifts
how much happiness they bring
and the way the soul soars and sings
what more in life do we need!

Childhood and old age

The childhood memories
the longest they stay
and give company to souls
withered with age

The life passes
in accumulating things
which give no pleasure
as does a smile
a few good words 
and a little care

But who has the time
for the slow and old
a little child comes running
so innocent and pure
and asks
''why you're so sad?
I will play with you
that you're happy
and don't feel alone''

What the child feels
why the grown ups don't
what should come naturally
why that's ignored
wiser in old age
why grown ups don't learn!

Meaningful goals

It's not easy to know
what shall work and what shall not
but patience and persistence help
to overcome all odds
The problem is not with the goals
but with the effort put in and the approach
and direction taken to reach the goal
It's better to plan and prepare well
and to listen to the advice of age and experience
for how one starts it matters a lot
the initial advantage that it gives
and to save the effort for the final shot
The goals that one sets define the purpose
and give meaning to what one does
difficulties come but one gets the strength
to face them and not to give up hope!

Shakti

Shakti is power

fear its wrath

fire in the belly

I shall burn

who wrong me

my patience is running out

take notice

fire and fury shall I unleash

Shakti that's new me

I need no sympathy

I stand firmly on my feet

no injustice shall I tolerate

pay heed

mind your ways

your intent,words and deeds

I know how to silence

wayward ways

Love and warmth

is in my nature

I am Shakti

to uphold

righteous ways

Become like a tree

Sow the seeds

some become plants

and some plants trees

some lean and tall

and some strong and thick

some touch the sky

and some spread on every side

some yearn to be seen

above every tree

and some grow heavy

with fruit and leaves

and lower themselves

to give its shade and fruit to fill

the talent that we have

what we do with it

to excel ourselves

or to share that

what all it brings

but let it not remain dormant

and nurture it well

to become like a tree!

Service

Who have everything
and do no labor
are they kings
Who are wholly dependent
and need to be helped in everything
are they kings
Who is a servant to everyone
who themselves are unable to do anything
are they kings
Who turn suffering into service
and love those whom they serve till it hurts
are they kings
Who is a king one who rules or serves
but service only can elevate a human being

To be watchful

To err is human
to admit it is human
and to apologize for it is human
but how many do it
Humanity has variations
from sub human to divine
the choice is so wide
to move up or compromise
What's the way out
to be watchful at any cost
for a faulty step it takes 
to lose it all!

Song of nature

Who have no mind
and no time
for the pretty flowers
and the song of birds
the trees around
and the flowing river
how can they find happiness
being blind to its source
and the one with no worries and cares
has friends among flowers and birds
the trees around and the flowing river
happy and contended at all times
with nothing they live a fuller life
things don't matter in life
but being alive to the nature's gifts
how much happiness they bring
and the way the soul soars and sings
what more in life do we need!

The grand design

Cut coat to your size
aim big but test waters
on every side
choke not the little lanes
which have survived
the ravages of time
the world's divided
soothe the nerves first
and stoke no more fires
lest the coming generations curse us
and the power struggles that may ensue
may lead to more hate and wars
putting the clock back
many notches behind!

Try and try again

If nothing works
no need to give up
there shall be a way out
try and try again
more experience there's to gain
to learn new things on the way
success doesn't come
every time one tries
or even once or twice
but try one must
to become stronger and wise
Who take up life as a trial
with challenges bigger and more difficult
they come out a winner in life
humility and equanimity their armour
they raise life in success or defeat

One's own garden

Cool the tempers
but keep the fire burning
to warm up before the chill sets in
keep up the dialogue and fan the fire within
may every flower bloom in your garden
and the weather changes may add to its beauty!

Question everything

Accept nothing question everything

the questions one asks indicate
the urge to know and the depth within
the possibility and contradictions're weaved together
every answer raises more questions
and the intuition goes back and forth
every way it finds is riddled with questions
in questions is knowledge and in questions the wisdom
question everything to advance knowledge and wisdom!

Fire and smoke

Goodness is silent
it loves harmony and peace
and biases show
without a word of speech
someone has to raise the pitch
a single instance of injustice
must stir one deep
while an act of goodness
shouldn't go unnoticed
statistics make an interesting reading
but the struggle needs to be captured
while one's still fighting in thick and thin
there's no smoke without fire
and ashes're the end of story

Peace and spirit

To be at peace at all times
to discern what agitates
and do what's is necessary for it
ripples set in when something hits
from where they arise therein they sink
nothing is there that refuses to submit
to the universal spirit
one's intent should be fair
and inspiration must come from within!

Strange justice

What presence of mind
a young lad spotted
in wee hours
two thieves hiding
behind parked cars
He woke up his father
who called police
and alerted guards
the thieves who
had put on masks
climbed up the rear gate
to flee but were stopped
by two cops
One thief fired
a cop shot back
the thief fell down
the other one escaped
on the motorcycle
by which the cops came
The cops took the injured thief to the hospital
whom the doctors had to operate
the cop who shot him
his own blood did he donate
to save the thief
who fired at him to kill
Duty is duty
the cop did it
but by saving the thief
he did higher duty
One who has power over another
should first have a heart full of compassion
so as not to close one's eyes
behind the veil of duty
and in the name of justice!
Alas! The thief didn't survive
but the story lives
of the cop and thief
and the strange justice
that it depicts!