Yet we’re not sure

Once I met a didi,

awfully friendly to me

for a friendship I got ready

She asked my name,

name of d’ school I study

Played with me, told stories,

asked about friends, my miss

I liked her, felt,

can’t she stay with us,

if sincerely I do wish

Didn’t stay back, she went home,

her name Lavanya, granny told

what do you mean by it?

 “um....Lavanya means

 decent, beautiful and bold”

“If not enough, u can add,

calm, composed and cool

all laughed loud in euphoria”,

told “Naishu’s just amazing,

a bounty encyclopaedia”

I love to read stories,

 my adorable friend,

got story books for me

but I never knew so soon,

 she’ll become my mammi

We greeted her to our family,

life to be packed with gaiety

can enjoy, make a lot of fun,

merry making and party

So many doctors in d’ family,

can’t believe, I just love it

any ailment will be taken care of,

we won’t bother even a bit

Twity, our tortoise too can sense,

Lavanyadi from her voice

to express d’ jubilation in heart,

it moves in rapid pace

Life’s a tricky riddle,

we keep on trying for an answer

seldom moves ahead of our dreams,

truly a stunning gift,

yet we’re not sure

Can face umpteen falls move-ups

If wheels static at traffic post,

go ahead green light not yet on

we push through the still rush,

on d' look out for a kind person

I firmly grab my daughter’s hand,

dragged down to persuade a patron

often gently rolls down a window,

to give an amount as per intention

Back home in empty hand, a pity,

wish to end life, feel humiliated

but kids cling to me, fall asleep,

I rethink, being alive is not bad

Able to buy a new frock salwar,

rejoiced, I’m a fortunate father

at least after a couple of years,

could afford it for my daughter

After a long span had a feeling,

I am no more a wretched beggar

attires tattered, asking for alms,

yet a king, princess my daughter

                                                             

Counted d' notes in turn at home,

it’s sixty pieces got assured fully

few five rupee notes were stained,

dirty, crumpled, folded unevenly

D’ salesman gave a dubious look

at both of us, me and my daughter

I tried to be polite, to make a deal,

she pulled me to leave the counter

I consoled d’ sad teary-eyed girl,

we’re buying dress, not stealing

it is none of his business to ask,

can opt for one, it’s our savings

I’ll reply the queries in his look,

he ought to listen to this disable

wiped off her tear, and narrated,

d’ terrible event, so unbelievable

That fateful night it just occurred,

coaches jumped d’ track, capsized

bogeys collapsed, lot of casualties,

I was in a Hospital bed, I survived

Incredibly alive, with a lost limb,

right arm wrapped in dressings

I came out of shock, recuperated,

she nursed, gave regular feedings

Rejuvenated by warmth of love,

wept off her tears with one hand

roamed around with my little girl,

can forego my earnings for today

Borrowed mobile from a friend,

for a selfie with her new dress on

to capture the moment of her joy,

had no photographs of her own

I routinely stretch my hand for alms

she waits in signal, keeps head down

now looks fantastic in her new dress,

elated to see, prettiest girl of d’ town

Buy vegetables, talk our dreams,

way back home from d’ market

to accept d’ life as it approaches,

if it drizzles, we love to get wet

Not able to send her to school,

can’t manage d’ school spends

some day can have our mobile,

take photos of family & friends

I’m not left alone in road jams,

scared of one more accident

this time it may not be a limb

may loose my life in d’ event

I am born to stand out upright,

life’s full of varied screw-ups

loss of a limb can’t be the end,

can face umpteen falls move-ups

Beat d’ bush for huge happiness

They couldn’t explain me,

what exactly is happiness

precisely what mean by it,

I asked to so many friends

Few kept mum, no answer

utterly unclear, with doubt

I really got shocked to hear,

some yet trying to find out

Can it be traced in tender sun,

during a sunrise or a sunset?

after an all-out work schedule,

on a tiring day, if one’s upset

In d’ symphony of falling rain,

to run behind a cosy butterfly

to enjoy sleeping d’ entire day,

dance under a cotton candy sky

In d’ joy of sitting in sea shore,

and watching waves in the bay

in loud laughter of the retirees

in a group, at the end of d’ day

D’ ups and downs in gold prices,

in its frequent fluctuating trend

a sumptuous dinner with family,

or in tight hug of a bosom friend

In fruition of big expectations,

or an undone if instantly done

to locate silver linings in life,

unnoticed goes all natural fun

Simple delights ever ignored,

wish to achieve great heights

ample joys in mini events, yet

aim for a future that never exist

No scope to move in d’ woods,

turned our backs on d’ nature

spend little time out of doors,

for innate source of pleasure

Corner of park, a hushed spot,

pause a moment, kick off shoe

lay on grass, look at d’ clouds,

hovering in d’ sky above you

Painted pink-orange by sunset,

pleases mind, serenity prevails

often fall in clueless love with,

buzzing soundtrack of insects

Hugging a tree with open arms,

abruptly tops up energy level

texture of its bark against skin,

gives a feeling just wonderful

Between soft soles of feet and

soul of sand, shoes are barrier

a barefoot stroll on the beach,

in slow breath begets pleasure

Appealing flowers call to heart,

drown in their colour chemistry

lot of little wins, go unnoticed,

celebrate each as small victory

Wonder to watch creatures around,

with vibrant spirit get engagement

watch rolling hills, lovely landscape,

feel no let down, live in the moment

Inner peace mislaid, life restless,

with nature no soul-deep connect

never enjoy little joyful events,

beat d’ bush for huge happiness

Be relieved of whole sufferings

Death, the proud sadistic sole,

knows not d' harm it has done

shattered d' peace into pieces,

forced the entire lot to mourn

Came on weekend jaunt trip,

checked in to a five star hotel

famed for appetizing cuisines,

smart  gym, a swim pool novel

A hilarious spring board dive,

hapless back trauma mishap

spine snapped, legs listless,

from d’ pool unable to get up

Lifted from pool to d’ Hospital,

a noted neuro-trauma centre

tragedy was of course abrupt,

with meagre hope to recover

A young member of d’ family,

a maiden trip with life partner

an awful trauma in life for her,

massive shock, can’t recover

Drowned in d’ sea of doldrums,

hurt in d’ heart, face shrivelled

detached from d’ guiding force,

her wishes remained unfulfilled

Precious lost, all turned blank,

created a huge empty space

left her apart and uncared for,

in the life’s competitive race

Conscious but his absurd looks,

waist onwards no movements

utter no words, but growl in pain

had a life entirely meaningless

Gulped tear, imbibed sobbing,

endured distress, restlessness

death behold overly ferocious,

to inflict pain in the innocents

Life can’t be the same again,

good times instantly perished

death truly proved its outrage,

fun, jokes, smiles all vanished

Each step taken, toward it only,

no matter which way we do turn

perceived d’ intended meaning,

move ahead’s in same direction

Now evidently looked different,

not a version of ego and pride

a commitment to relieve woes,

no worry, an onward jolly ride

Beyond decent doors of death,

by no chance possible to recall

misfortunes, knock backs of life,

wounds, scars, pain of struggle

Death, a decent silent journey,

can’t ignore, a sure happening

rather it’s a blessing in disguise,

be relieved of whole sufferings

Dived in to d’ garbage bin

                                                                           

An empty stomach, a fierce jackal,

howls hard if molested with hunger

as a lump of bone flung to stray dog,

last crust of bread given to a beggar

Place prettified with glittering lights,

turned up guests, greeted, received

food served in excess, a lot wasted,

no worry to save, for people in need

Got information from chummy pal,

d’ two discussed, wished to explore

planned to move to d’ spot, try luck

might get li’l food if situation favours

He had a glimpse of d’ cooking place,

so much food spilled over d’ shelves

sacs of fruits vegetables getting rotten,

lunch, dinner, snacks served last 4 days

Cooked food in tons, they might dump,

won’t inspire nuisance of folk of beggars

nation is full with under nourished kids,

at risk of death, pale expecting mothers

Plates spoons piled up inside d’ lounge,

with enough half devoured food items

some had meals on banana leaves,

in backyard dustbin they were thrown

Hungry mouths had no access to food,

no one  thinks of them, no pity shown

food thrown in dustbin takes a minute,

but hours to cook, months to be grown

Children starve in orphanage homes,

and die of ailments allied to hunger

Cancer kills, AIDS kills, also stroke

but in fact hunger is the prime killer

Many try to sleep in empty stomach,

hundreds do die of hunger each year

how the rich can be granted the right

to spoil food, no reluctance, no fear

Hunger pacified with uneaten food,

picked up from garbage, no solution

enough food produced in d’ country

wasted, never reach d’ needy person

Looked pitiably at banana leaves,

disposed of with enough leftovers

a thousand butterflies in stomach

restless for some stuff, to procure

To put at rest his stomach cramps,

a way to fill his belly, he was keen

didn’t hesitate, to satisfy d' hunger,

relaxedly dived in to d’ garbage bin

Why to shed tears, why to wait ?

From d’ rear seat, child asked,

in irked tone, how much further?

“Not too far now”, mom replied,

and assured her not to bother

"How long to wait dear mom,

it's ten or fifteen minutes later?"

mom gave a silent look at him,

not a word she wished to utter

Ought to accept mom’s words

yet must ascertain true or a lie

time passed in minutes- hours,

the credibility who will certify?

“I’ll pick you up in the evening,

on my way back from college”

when evening starts, who knows

in an hour or two, no knowledge

At 06.30 PM or after midnight,

or on an evening few days later

Wait, how long to be prolonged

is it an evening after few years?

Words given, commitments made,

never comes d’ awaited moment

eyes deny to blink, look with hope

chose not to grumble, stay silent

He sternly promised to pay me

enough fund to build my house

once receives some spare cash,

for welfare of my kids & spouse

D’ assurance, word for a charity,

be proclaimed a broken promise

after how much endurance, wait,

a year or a year after his demise

If no control on the eventualities,

what ought to happen will happen

why to tolerate d’ pain for a luck

why wait for all those uncertain

I prayed for ample things in life

only a few desires got sanctioned

realised it’s not God who gave me

but it’s my sincere imposed action

For a prudent desire if I implore,

is there a chance, that it’ll happen

if God only gives, I’ve no control

can I achieve, if I take no action

It is His wish, His sole decision,

afar influence, I can’t manipulate

outcome’s with him, keep doing,

why to shed tears, why to wait ?