Alone in this world

Alone in this world

Image Courtesy Internet

Why do I feel alone?
Whether I am one
or I am with someone
I still feel lone

I am sure there are
souls who feel similar
as if they were alone
despite surrounded by millions

I wonder why??

A Friend

When I was happy and laughing
The whole world was with me
When I was sad and grieving
There was only one by my side!

When I was rich and famous
Everyone wanted to meet me,
Know me, & spend time with me,
Only to boost their egos

But when When the wealth and notriety were gone
With them went everyone but one
The one who has been with me as god's boon
More in times of sorrow than in joy

That is you none other than
My friend - the one who is always there
as a pillar of support
like the northern star to a navigator

My Best Friend

image source Internet

My blessings give me
Lots more than I think I deserve
And best of all of them is
the blessing of a best friend...

A friend who is there
During sorrow more than joy
A friend who will do everything
Just to see me smile

A friend who knows without asking
If I am in the depths of sorrow
Or if I am confused out of wits
Or if I swimming in disturbed waters

My life is happy and comfortable
Thanks to my family and job
But thanks to you - my dear friend
my life is more enjoyable

Raising Children - A Poem

Raising a good kid


Everyone has an opinion about how to raise a child
Those who have had a few believes their method
Is the ideal and can't be bested

I don't have kids, haven't raised one
But definitely have an opinion
on how to raise good children!

It is futile to carry the child who can walk
or speak for the kid who can can talk
or impose your thoughts on the kid who can think

Don't build a wall of opinions around a child
Let him/ her see the world innocent eye
And form his/ her own opinions on the world

Set the child free both in body and spirit
Let them take flight from a solid foundation
composed of education, knowledge and truth

The child grows only when they are allowed to go
out to seek their fortunes and manage their ego.
They may trip and fall, get wounded and buruised...

It is as much necessary
As the sharp strokes of an awl
are needed for a rock to become a work of art!

The Beauty in the Beast

The Beauty

Picture courtesy: Internet (Santa Rosa Lioness Club

She walks like a river
Swaying and swirling
Beautifying the world around
With her thunderous roaring laugh.

It is not a wonder she commands
respect and fear from one and all
Adored by humans, feared by animals
She reigns supreme in the jungles

The lioness that nurtures
The cubs, feeds the pride, and
Rules the Jungle
Is now in a state so Fragile

That hunters, and poachers
Bay for her blood and fur
while governments look on
and do nothing to protect her...

A walk in the Wild

I went to the 380 Greenbelt park last week after work and walked a small part of the 10 mile trail that is part of the Lake Ray Roberts and Lake Lewisville trail system. This park and trail is one of the few places in DFW area where there is so much tree cover that sun light streaks through only at some places to illuminate the trail. Other places are quite dark during evenings and early morning. I was there at late afternoon and I thoroughly enjoyed the walk.

A Walk in the Wild
Looking for quiet and peace,
Seeking solitude and solace,
I venture out of urban space
Into the jungles and green space

Little did I know,
the wilderness is no longer the getaway place
for those who shun the corporate rat race
It has indeed become the competitive space

For all the naturalists, and eco-lobbyists
who solely live by creating tons and tons of drama
around the theme of environmental protection
have descended into the wilderness
To make it more constricted a space
than the narrow congested boulevards
Of Downtowns of American cities

Heaving a Sigh of sadness
I return home, which has less noise pollution
than the jungle where one hears
nothing but automobile sounds

Work is Worship - A Peom

Work is worship

They say "Work is worship"
So give it your best
But when office is like a "War Ship"
Full of oppression and harassment

It is tough even for the best
to endure the trauma for long
It would probably be best
If "work" was separate from "worship"
Then everyone would be
happy and give their best shot
Both at work and at life...

Transformations

Image via Wikipedia

Transformation happens....


When the orange glow of sun breaks the darkness of the night
When winter snow is melted by the rays of the spring sun
When trees sprout fresh green leaves after winter hibernation
When the summer heat is cooled by the freezing winter blizzard
 
When the enslaved masses are empowered and attain freedom
When a young couple come together and make a home
When a poor family can afford a home of their own
When there is no one cheats in this world that we call our home

Will this day arrive?
Will I be around to see that day?

When I look inside my soul tells me:
"Don't wait for the day to arrive!
You  have the power to make it happen!"

So my friends don't wait for someone to start a movement for the better!
Be the change you want to see in the world and you will see that the world will change in front of your eyes.

Poetic Picture

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I agree... but the blabbermouth I am... I was compelled to add a few words to the picture... wonder how it looks and whether it reads alright.

My Experiments with Poetry - II

This is the latest poem I scribbled while taking a break from studies at the library... wonder if it is worth anything or just few words spun together without much consequence... I look forward to reading your comments...

Road Travel
Riding thru lanes, streets, crossroads, highways and boulevards
I see vistas of happiness, grief, hope and loss
Scenes of prosperous grandeur and sights of abject poverty

As I make my way through villages and cities, I wonder sometimes:
When the world is so beautiful And full of goodness and beauty
Why do people fight in the name of religion and polity?

And when I feel tired, lonely and hungry I wonder
Am I on the right path Or have I taken a wrong detour
Is this tour an adventurous reverie?
Or is it a grand plan gone badly wrong?

I am not alone meandering across nations
For there are others on the road
Searching for love, adventure and livelihood

My dear friend these roads are not only for us to enjoy
It is for all those who seek adventure.
And a break from their daily grind

So learn to share the road like families share homes
And you will reach your dream destination
Safe and sound within a reasonable span of time.
-*-*-*-

"Insight" from the heart

I received this anthology from its author Mr.PKN Panicker a while ago and finished reading it too. But today as I was flipping through the pages of this wonderfully Insightful volume I felt that I must share some of my thoughts about this book.

First thing writing poetry and publishing it is not a joke, be it in India or anywhere in the world. There are just not enough takers and it would be difficult to sell even modest print run of 1,000 copies unless the poems are written by a well known celebrity poet. But there are several wonderful communities and support groups both online and offline which help and encourage these poets to get published. One group known as Glorious Times is where I interacted with Mr. Panicker. When he came to know I like reading poetry and am a budding poet he just took my address and sent me a copy of his book Insight.

Insight is a compilation of 30 poems written by chemical engineer and prolific writer PKN Panicker. Apart from the volume I am talking about he has written several other books such as Our Earth, Swami Vivekananda, and another anthology of English poems titled Random Reflections. Well if you are already amazed, be prepared for more, Panicker is not just a writer in English, he has written several essays in his mother tongue of Malayalam.

I would like to quote a small portion of one of the poems in Insight. Being a traveller I am quoting from a poem titled Picnic.

Picnic, a picnic,
We shall plan ahead,
to avoid left-outs,
irritations, disappointments,
to make the picinc
lively and enjoyable.

Picnic, yes, a picnic,
I have gone on picnics
earlier too on picnics
with Mom and Dad
with sister and brother,
picnic, lovely and enjoyable.

If you like this I am sure you will enjoy the book. Contact Window Publishers, 35, Sir, P.S. Sivaswamy Salai, Chennai 600 004, India and get your own copy.
Price: Rs.100 (US$2.5)

A Hudson View - second edition

Sometime ago I had blogged about the launch of Hudson View a bold new publication dedicated to art and poetry. At the time of writing that blog I had only heard of the publication and seen it online. Last week I got a pleasant surprise from Amitabh Mitra, I received the latest winter edition of the Hudson View . I was thrilled to see the colourful volume and immediately started reading through the soul touching compositions of poets from across the world.

Like I had said earlier publishing a poetry digest takes lot of courage, in the modern era, when print is fast losing its allure to broadcast media and internet. But the determination of Amitabh Mitra who I know through an online writers support group "Glorioustimes" has made this venture successful.

In this edition of winter poetry my favourite poems are The Sari Shop written by Alaka Yeravadekar and the two poems titled Immigrants and Freedom by Stanley Onjezani Kenani. While Yeravadekar captures the subtle indulgence of a woman shopping for sari, Kenani hits hard with his poetry. I would like to quote a few lines from the poem Freedom.

They told me I'm free
From Britain I'm free
From Slavery I'm free
From Hunger I'm free
From Disease I'm free
From Envy I'm free
From Ignorance I'm free

Funny thing they told me this in English
The Union Jack still flies on my tongue
The star-spangled banner stills fills our national coffers

This poem really hit my heart hard and reminded of my home country (India) where though we attained freedom from British 60 years ago, the majority are still enslaved in poverty, ignorance and illiteracy. I remember my country and wonder when we will see a strong, vibrant and prosperous India... Will I see it in my lifetime?

A poem on the occasion of EARTH DAY

My experiments with poetry continue and I wrote this after participating in the colourful Earth Day celebrations at college. I hope you will enjoy it. Your comments will be appreciated.

Nature

Nature is beautiful
Nature is enticing
Nature is fun and exciting

We can only love it's
wonderful diversity
stunning imagery and
panoramic scenery

Nature is god's gift
which we must cherish and protect
But in the name of development
We have started to demolish and destroy

Nature is tolerant but
beyond a point nature retaliates
with floods, hurricanes and tsunamis'
causing destruction and wrecking havoc.

If we can't live in harmony with nature
We will perish for sure.

My experiments with poetry

I have been essentially a prose person and had not really attempted serious poetry. But my association with poetry groups and reading of anthologies made me feel like attempting one. And appended below is the result. Your comments are invited.

The essence of a woman

The world says
Difficult it is
To understand a woman,
She is so full of contradiction;

The world says a woman is full of
Vanity, jealousy, greed and ego
Her mind full of unsatiated desires
for wealth, comfort, luxury and lavish lifestyles.

The woman charms
and makes you swoon
she has the skills and tricks
to lure, seduce, attack and conquer
to make or break homes and nations.

But I believe that a woman is
A large bowl full of love
Overflowing with compassion,
Love, caring and giving

For my mother, sister, friend and wife
Are all women who have enriched my life!
With hearts full of sweetness,
Voice so soothing and delicate
Face full of smiles that make troubles melt

Giving till it hurts is what women do,
Only to get hurt and accused
Of ulterior motives and wrong intentions
The kindness and tender feelings
That only a woman can give
Are usually unrecognized

The Hudson View – A bold venture

With the advent of internet and television it is difficult enough for publishers to market prose and yet here is a bold venture to publish poetry.

I am the member of the online poetry group “Gloroiustimes” where it is the custom of the group to encourage its members to write, critique their creations, and help improve them. Published poets are promoted aggressively by members in their own way, first and foremost on the group itself, and then outside the group. If people are interested in doing something for the publication, they do it.

While I am no poet, as a member of the group, I have been trying to contribute in my own small way by writing prose and putting it up for critique from time to time. The latest book under promotion is A Hudson View, a new journal/ magazine/ periodical dedicated to poetry from around the world.

I am surprised, inspired and awed at the same time by the daring of Amitabh Mitra and Victoria Valentine, who have put their money where their mouth is and ventured into the highly competitive world of publishing, at a time when internet and digital technologies have overtaken print by leaps and bounds. In the words of Glory Sasikala Franklin, the moderator of Glorioustimes, this is a “publish or perish” venture.

But I am pretty sure this is not a venture that is going to perish. For in my personal opinion poetry is something immortal. Don’t we all hear ourselves hum to the evergreen classics from centuries ago? The great poet Kalidasa's works of poetry such as Abhignana Shakuntalam, Megha Sandesha and others, though originally written in Sanskrit, have been translated into several languages and continue to be cherished. Similarly Shakesphere’s verses continue to be the lingo of English poetry aficionados across the world.

Amitabh Mitra and Victoria Valentine have brought together chosen works from poets from around the world in this inaugural edition of A Hudson View. Published by Skyline Publications, NY, USA and edited by Amitabh Mitra, A Hudson View Poet Digest has been printed at The Poet's Printery, South Africa.

Skyline Publications doesn’t limit itself to this volume. They welcome writers of all genres to send in their work for view and review by thousands of readers on the Internet and in their print digests. The bold publication company has launched many a talented writer and artist in their quest for perfection and expression of their feelings.

Indeed it is a great opportunity for budding poets to get published and use Skyline as a platform to expose their talents to the world.

For myself I must say that I shall look forward to the next edition of A Hudson View and perhaps if I can string two lines together may attempt contributing to the volume too. When I thought about writing poems I could write the following lines... read on and if you don't enjoy please tell me how bad it is!

The Hudson View
provides innate glimpse into
the deepest thoughts and feelings
which the words flow through
on our blogs, sites and articles

Each one Teach one
says the literacy slogan,
But in book promotion I sing
Each one reach one
and we will ensure the whole world is WON
thanks to Glory's inspiration
and all our perspiration!