The silent white dream

It is silent,
Silence is death some say,
But silence is peace as well,
Peace is beauty some say,

But peace is lonely as hell...

The beauty of death -- of those leafless trees,
The silent dream -- of the circling crow,
The flirting romance -- of those twinkling lights,
A plain white shimmering blanket of snow.

Remind us of winter, but don't take us there,
To the lifeless soul of nature, lonely and bare...
Cheer us with Christmas, keep us alive,
To witness the jingle down every drive.

The downhill swoop

As the wide green fields pass along,

French Countryside. Pic credits: Self

I smile with wonder over where I belong,
Across three continents in a few weeks,
Here I am ready with a few tweaks...

A minute of silence, a gush of wind,
Roadside sunflowers along the bend.
Endless vineyards holding hands,
As if practicing group errands.

Castles sit peacefully caressed by nature,
With sculpted patterns of many a feature,
Stories of royalty very long gone,
Remain as an impression never forgone....

Colorful cafes, fancy bridges,
Croissants, baguette, souffle' and fudges...
Streets with music, walls with art,

The Group. Pic credits: Mike Fausone

Like wine and cheese, they are never apart.

Surprises in pockets of a small little town,
Churches and houses, all golden brown.
Dance, wine, food and geese et al.
A friendly tour-guide to top it all...

Alongside a few cheerful comrades,
As the golden sunshine slowly fades,
Chugging uphill, singing a song,
Pedals pushed harder, we go very long.

As I relish the downhill swoop,
I look at our chirpy little troop,
We make our way through it all,
We make it through each day without a fall.

Of people and culture we often hear,
But, friendships through travel are very much dear.
Miles from home and miles to clear,
A downhill swoop to drive away fear...

The bird, the breeze and me. Part 1

Hey! How have you been?
Have you been happy? Have you been cheerful? Asks the cool breeze...
Nope, not really... I have been busy! I said.
Buhsy??Doeshn't being buhsy makeh you happhy? Asks the bird with a wild forest accent.
He is busy being unhappy, declares the breeze with a chuckle.

You talk of cheer as if it is easy to be so. You don't know the kind of people I know, I taunt.
Pheople? I only knoh of cheeherphul birds.Says the bird with some doubt.
Why know them at all? Know only those who make cheer grow. Those who sow seeds of joy and deeds of kindness.
Thus wisely advises the breeze to me, while I plug my ears with bird feathers and pull on my wind sheeter.
Ignorant and angry I walk on with no destination in mind...

Meghalaya - the abode of clouds

This poetry is based on a trip to the beautiful Meghalaya - A north-eastern Indian state, rich in natural beauty and culture! Explore my experience through the verses below in two interesting patterns: 

• You can try reading the first two lines of each stanza : For a rhyming melody. (Humm in any tone you like btw ;))
• Read the whole including the third line for some extra philosophical dose! (Coz there is always something to read between the lines!)

MEgh-aLaYa ( the abode of clouds)

The golden Mawphlang morning! (pic credits : liFe in 'mm')

A little of sunshine, a little of the valley,

Look below the bridges to find gurgling streams, these are the ones which make up dreams.

And, look afar to spot the lone backpacker, lost and found, in his own game.

A little of adventure, a little bit of thrill,

Look, as you wade through the deep dark cave, the rocks must have let someone pave.

And, look at the shimmering work of the Supreme artist, light can do only so much justice.

A little of humanity, a little play-time with kids,

Look at the innocent laughter and the smiles so warm, take a moment to soak in all the charm.

And, look at the thinning waterfall, while you remain overflowing with joy!

A little of speed, a little of the gently winding roads,

Look at the ups and downs of life and hills, both with grand golden frills.

And, look at the short speeding journey of life, make sure you craft it rather well.

A little of introspection, a little of ‘who am I’ moments,

Look at what matters and what doesn’t, look at your only chance to craft the present.

And, look at the surprising contrast of the talking machine and the silent man!

A little of clear blue waters, a little of strong root bridges,

Look at how nature evolves, struggles and sustains, finally only the strong remains.

And, look, beyond just the beauty of things, at the strong core and the soft heart!

A little of warm bright sunrises, a little of cold starry nights,

Look at the ripples on the lake, count the moments you wish to take.

And, look at the bounty of nature - quite generous, caring and strict, all like a mother!

A little of valleys and golden hues, a little of narrow never-ending roads,

Look at how nature dresses up every season, from her green gown to a golden frock without a reason!

And, look, how we humans are just decors clinging to the sides of the colossal nature!

A little of sharing, a little of caring,

Look at all the goodness around, let the best of human nature abound,

And, look at your new-found friends, while they laugh, each with a unique ship to sail!

A little of cold and of warmth, a little of peace and of longing,

A little of everything in between, and yet a rare sense of belonging.

Look, there in the abode of clouds, at that steep turn, lies a part of you which might never return,

Look, not at the loneliness of the scenic grave, for that is where we are heading with nothing to save,

Instead, look somewhere at those scenic cottages and then inside yourself, you might discover a story worth pages...

The Free Spirit....

The humming engine and the beating heart,
All in sync with nothing to part,
The winding roads and the valleys wide,
They pass along like the veil of a bride,
The gushing cold air, the frozen hands,
The short-pit stops and the little errands...
The waving kids and the surprised glances,
They add to the thrill of biking romances,
The peace of a journey and the crease of a heart,
Both need caressing to keep them apart,
The mighty man and the animal inside both remain tamed,
The revving machine does the magic, often never named,
The rights and the lefts, the dives and the drifts,
Feel them all like a bird in the sky....
Free from traditions and bondage of any kind,
Free from niceties, obligations and games of the mind,
Free from the idea of right and wrong,
Free of borders and free of mind,
Feel the free spirit like a bird in the sky....
Feel this freedom - a biker's high!

A city in deep waters

When the well's dry, we know the worth of water (Benjamin Franklin). Conversely, when the waters overflow we know the worth of people and life.

A seemingly conservative mostly hot south-Indian city has seen many-a-days of drought and dryness. Here, many households do not have direct water-supply lines and rely on deep bore-wells and paid tankers for water. Mineral drinking water in cans is a big business in itself here. But then as they say, literally, when it rains it pours! In the last two weeks, Chennai has seen the heaviest rainfall in over a 100 years! Some reports claim that Chennai has been lashed with several normal/dry years' worth of rain in just a couple of days! Now, nature has a peculiar way of settings things straight. It answered a question - why would a generally hot city with limited rainfall need sparkling silt-free drainage? (Brr..) Lets save the city-planning and Municipal efforts; money is better utilized in distributing 'essential' freebies - TVs, grinders, laptops...Shall we?

The initial few days of slightly heavy rain did not fret the rain-hardened Mumbaikar in me. But, when it continued battering, leading to several feets of water across the city, followed by a pre-cautious power outage across the city, 'panic' was not just a word! I had a Deja-vu from 2005 of wading through waist deep waters in Mumbai - that was just one day.

Source: Indian Express

Thousands were stranded across the city. With several parts of the city with over 4 to 10 ft of water, some even with 18 ft. Those living in slums had nowhere to go, holding on to the little they could salvage they moved to temporary shelters in government schools. Families living on ground floors of various apartments sought refuge in flats on higher floors. With no functional mobile networks and no electricity - communication was completely cut off for more than two days. Hundreds of cars, auto-rickshaws, bikes were wading in water or broke-down mid-way. Airport runway got flooded, railway tracks were flooded - cutting off the city from the rest of the country. And most depressingly, over 250 lives were lost - several due to electrocution and gushing water current.

Source: Indian Express

Only prayers could be heard amidst the late-night pattering incessant rainfall. Basics of food, water and a roof to sleep under was the only biggest worry to many. Thanks to numerous contributors and volunteers, the city witnessed the power of philanthropy and the good side of human nature. Together with the rescue operations by the Army, Navy, NDRF etc. hundreds of volunteers waded through waist deep water and reached out to hungry and distressed souls. Rescue on boats plying through the streets, helicopters dropping food packets, etc. showed that hope is alive to those stranded. Many individuals opened up their houses to accommodate others. Some theaters and malls opened up too. Many small institutions (surprisingly some political institutions as well) and organisations worked in full swing cooking and packing food packets for distributions. Lakhs of food and water packets were and are still being passed on, especially to isolated areas. Support from neighboring states and their residents pour out overwhelmingly. This crisis has bought out mutual care and compassion beyond the superficiality of class/religious divide. Reinforcing this were the social media platforms effectively being leveraged to reach out and help in time (#ChennaiRainsHelp). Now, with Indians even tolerating extremes of nature while helping others, where does the debate on Intolerance of ideas stand?

Source: Indian Express

The Hindu - A visit to the flood affected areas (Tamil):

NDTV – People stranded across the city, Rescue begins

This was a city where several did not carry an umbrella for most days of the year, except for protection from the sun in peak summer. Climate change is not a newly coined word, but may be now many in Chennai would relate to it. We have just one solution to save us - making peace with raging nature.We could start by living in an non-intrusive and non-deploring manner with water bodies and forested areas. Also we could go back to our textbooks and learn our lessons on drainage planning from atleast the ancient Harappan civilization- even that was Indian, wasn't it?

In the meanwhile back in Chennai, water has receded in most parts leaving behind gaping potholes and cracks on roads. While temporary filling & construction is on, municipal workers have started cleaning up the mess. Fear of epidemics loom large and hospitals are preparing for the same. Volunteers are being offered tetanus doses. People in temporary shelters remain worried about what next, while those with damaged homes and vehicles are counting their loses and thanking those who helped. Several areas like Kotturpuram are still in the dark, with resources reaching slowly owing to persistent water levels.

Chennai might not see any tourists or visitors for quite sometime. Several migrants are also planning to catch the next flight/train home. But nature has bought several new rare visitors to Chennai lakes - Migrant birds! With the birds, let us hope and pray that the sun shines and the city rises to a better dawn.

Note: All videos and pictures are attributed to the respective news channels/websites from which they have been sourced. None of the images/videos are my own.

The best of me

Alive, I am,
but for a few hours, dead asleep,
Alive, I am,
but for a few hours, watching the screen,
Alive, I am,
but for the couple of hours, commuting away,
Alive, I am,
but for the cacophony all around,
Alive I am,
but for the routine of a day,

Well, alive am I? I am obliged to ask....
Yes, I affirm, for the wanderer in me travels miles together,
Just looking at the moon she leaps altogether.
The wayfarer in me, doesn't tire so easy,
She does go on forever & is never so lazy...
She smiles at a kid, not wanting to disappoint,
She smiles like a kid, not so much in control,
Travel is her passion, close & quaint,
Travel keeps her humming, light & faint,
She sees the world in a lens of her own,
She takes those moments to her world, when alone,
She carries those pictures for her to show,
She shares them with the world for them to know,
That the little we have between sunrise & sunset,
Is the little we can to end up with no regret,

I like her in me, for she is more of me.
I call her back & forth, for she is the best of me!!

The simple life

Birds of my song,
Lilting to my tune,
Memoirs of my dear,
My love my queen!
The waves dragging your feet,
And your languid trail by the sea,
Our names on the seashore,
May it remind you of me,
Its my path & your destiny,
Or is it the other way round?
Why are our fates entwined
I may never know
I know you , I know me
I know the world around.
You say, if life were so simple
As the timeless chirp of birds
You would sing the love song
I would whistle along.
Just take a day off
Off from your beaten path
Lets get lost together
I will find you at last!
Ask me why,
not where we shall go
I would tell a story
And you would know.
That life is simple
with all honour & glory
Its just us or may be the world
who build up the story!

Sing a song...

I sing a song for the birds to hear,
I sing it loud and clear,
It doesn't matter to them or me,
It doesn't matter my dear,
The day was long,
The dusk is near,
Yet it doesn't matter my dear....
I sing a song for the birds to hear,
I sing it loud and clear,
It makes the trees sway left and right,
It makes the bees stand upright,
The flowers bloom for the bees to taste,
The hoppers jump to show some haste,
Yet it doesn't matter my dear :)
The serious talks,the anger like hawks,
the pride of power and the power of money,
Nothing ever matters my dear.....
The tune of life and beats of love,
Both interplay a musical existence and thats when you must
sing a song for the birds to hear,
Sing it loud and clear.....

This is me singing ;)

The rolled parchment (Part 1)

It was a rather dull day, dry and arid. It reminded one of those desolate plains in Sahara. The kids scurrying around the house were the only signs of life. No birds chirping outside, no bells of the roadside temple, no cycle bells, no horns of vehicles plying on road. It felt as if everybody but the kids were on a snooze mode.
The kids were playing hide and seek.Every single time some kid is caught the others shriek and get caught too.Then they do the same thing again. There is no monotony in their play, because they do it with absolute enthusiasm.
The house was peeling plaster at places and yet the beauty and aura of an old house hung around. The pillars were very huge and broad, good places for the kids to hide.There were hundreds of patterns on each pillar: mostly floral. The stone floor was cold, unlike the weather. Chipped at places, the floor stretched unevenly throughout the house.
Walking slowly, holding the walls and pillars, she moved from room to room.She was searching her grand-daughter. The girl wasn't playing with other kids.She was a very reticent girl.Always huddled in some corner of the house, looking at pictures or reading through newspaper bits, she rarely made her presence felt. Only her grandma could find her in the house.
The house was huge with ten rooms and a large verandah. Pots lined the verandah, most of them filled with water.The center of the house was roofless making it more unified with the elements of nature.The roof was tiled, the faded red baked tiles gave it a picturesque look.
If at all it rained like those good old days, the whole central area would be filled with water and kids would be sailing paper boats all over the mini-pond.But now the sun fiercely shone into the house making it bright and sultry.
But whatever be the weather, Pallavi would never be too involved. She remains aloof, humming some random tunes. She liked dressing up though, all the jewellery and make up fascinates her. One could always find her in a pretty ghagra, with neatly plaited hair and kohl lined eyes.
What was she dressing up for? Well, it is sad but true.She waits for her dad to take her to the fairies in the town.She has been waiting for a year.She knows that it won't take her dad so long to return from his visit to the town.She faintly remembers some one carrying her bleeding dad into the house.They took him back though.He was taken back while he was fast asleep.They lifted him on a parched bed made by her elder cousins.People were crying around her.Her grand-mom was always beside her, wiping her tears and smiling at her.Everything was alright, but something was amiss.
She doesn't remember her mom so well, but her cousins told her that her mom was taken away in the same way.They told her she was smiling with her eyes closed when she went.
Four people carried her dad away and her brother was leading them somewhere.
Her cousins told her that they all go to a very celebrated town, a place where everything is green,variety of flowers bloom there, children ride on horses and fairies bring gifts everyday.
She too wanted to go there, she was waiting for her dad to take her. At-least he can bring her gifts from the fairies.
But there were no signs of him returning.Every evening after crying for her dad she would doze off on her grand-mom's lap.

What would give her closure and make her realize that she has to move on? Is a twelve year old mature enough to understand life and death?Will the realization break her and scar her for life?How long can a seventy year old grand-mom stick around? 

Let's meet!

Let's meet and then:

Let's take a walk,

Have some chai at a roadside stall...

Let’s watch the sun rise sitting on the promenade,

Observe the splashing of the cool ocean with hot samosas nearby...

Let’s talk animatedly forgetting where we are and what we are,

See the world through each others’ ideas...

Let’s paint a wall randomly,

Observe the hues mix deeply within...

Let’s hop in the rain and splash the water around,

Forget that we are not very young...

Let’s race each other on cycles.

Let’s play hide and seek and shriek when we are found.

Let’s find a laden tree and pluck the fruits discreetly,

Oh and then let’s run for we are not to be found thieving around...

Let’s play football, you teach me some tricks I’ll kick ‘em around!

Let’s go rafting down a voracious river shouting in thrill,

Or better yet go in a roller coaster with several loops and shout inside out !!!

Let’s sit together play some cards over some snacks.

Let’s later sit singing our all time favorite songs.

Let’s discuss some funny incidents from the past and feel nostalgic.

Let’s then fight a bit for we need to test our friendship sometimes,

Let’s forget it and laugh over it, for we need a flavor in our memories...

Let’s take a picture of this mighty day with myriad experiences for our memory is a lost paradise!

Let’s part, it makes our next meeting even more exciting and adventurous!!!!!

I live my today.....

I live my today,

Not tomorrow or the day after,

I live to dream,

Not a life in dreams,

I live my today,

Not yesterday or the day before,

I live to create memories,

Not a life in retrospect,

I would sometime late in life: look back and smile;

A smile: toothless as it were, 

It would still remind me of those countless moments of fun 

And tireless days of joy.

I would sometime late in life: look back and weep;

Tears of joy: boundless and pure,

They would still remind me of those countless people, 

Those who mattered and who still do. 

Memories of Kohl lined eyes and eyes twinkling with joy,

Memories of freckled smiles and wrinkled laughs;

Memories of love,life and the journey till then;

Its just the beginning of a story,

A story with twists and turns not known when;

A story as it were to happen.

Each day at a time,

For you know and so do I,

I live my today : Don't ask me why!

Incessant chatter

A cutting chai in college canteen, hot samosas to pair them up with and yeah a group of friends huddled around a table generally reserved for them.This was the agenda of the lecture hour at 4pm bunked by many, mainly because it comes after a continuous and rigorous 3 hours of brain-whirling (or sleep inducing for quite a few) lectures.The conversations generally revolved around futile yet interesting gossips; but once in a while I managed to shift the gears to a debate.
I remember how it all started; just before the bell rang that fateful day, the professor made my friend stand up and apologise to him for talking to me. It wasn't fair because everybody was chatting away and we both were just clarifying what the professor meant. But luck doesn't usually favour the good, especially in a classroom. That is when I stood up and explained our short discussion to him; but my clarification made him lose his temper and we ended up losing that day's attendance.
Now, for a college student attendance is the most valuable asset he/she owns, for it is the only thing that you can't borrow or photocopy from your friend, when the semester ends and the exams near. So yes that day, the 4 pm discussions were aimed at mocking the system and the professor.But after a while I was distracted and should I say rather disappointed :P
That was when I turned around and noticed that the canteen was filled with souls who happily yapped away.
It doesn't matter if it was a good,bad or just another day; what matters is people always want to recount it in bits and parts, making it sound interesting to their friends. Its like news channels with repetitive news and flash lines; but in this case nobody minds it.All of us find respite in incessant chatter.Our heart aches are relieved and back we go for another fresh start.

So don't mind yapping away the next time ;)

Lonely

Every morning the birds chirp to wake me up, but they won't give me company or share my coffee;
Nobody cares to return a genuine smile:  neither strangers nor the acquainted;
Everybody is running: but with no destination;

And then,
Every afternoon the sun shines, I work my way through it ignoring or being ignored comfortably;
Every evening I listen to music and dance around, watch a comedy show and laugh aloud and then it reverberates, crushing my mood then and there;
Jokes are forgotten and stories are left unsaid, gossips have expired with no one to share;
Its a gleaming city, vast and wide; with disconnected people, lost in stride;
Then come the weekends which stretch with boredom,
the heart aches for love and freedom;
A friend in need is a friend indeed;
but finding a friend here, is it so much of a greed?

And then it dawns that if I were so, so are others; each one picking up their lost feathers.
I dream of a day where we could just hop, jump and skip; if only we could just go on a serene trip;
Work is worship and time is money; but where is the point of bees living without honey?
I wish I were a carefree kid, now and forever. But caring and sharing weave themselves into the living.
We feel the pinch but don't realise that if we smile, it would all disappear;
If we laugh together once in a while, it would all be forgotten;
Love,live and respect.
We then don't need to live in retrospect.

Vday.......

A thorn or a rose depends on where you hold it,
Close your eyes and smell the festive spirit.
You might hear some jingles around,
Or it might be a few giggles and a lot of sweet talk;
Pause and retrieve it,
If emotions are latent bring them out,
Skip around and feel them out,
A pinch of salt and a drop honey keeps two souls swirling round,
Be it adventure or pleasure it must be really blending around.
Lets just share a laugh, not just a picture.
Lets be FUN or more to each other....this day or yet another....

God of small things

With no reference to any booker price winning novel ;), this article of mine is literally meant for those small things which we often overlook.........

Have you recently felt a cool breeze on your face till it leaves you numb (not for those in frezing weather ;))
Try it, its the best stress buster....







Have you ever tried synching the music you hear while travelling, with wheel rims of vehicles on road?
Try it you'll enjoy...

Have you felt a butterfly's wings on your hand?

If not, try this: take the back of your palm close to your eyes and blink a few times to feel your eyelashes on your hand; this is how a butterfly feels ;)

You have stepped on ice-cold water or tried massaging your foot with ice?
Try it, its a really nerve-tingling experience :P

Ever felt like humming the same song again and again throughout the day?Start a day with a song to keep it cheerful...

Have you recently admired a flower and its scent?

I love spontaneously pulling people to dance whenever a good song comes up....The steps that follow would be hilarious for sure...try it :P

Have you noticed children spinning round and round till they go dizzy? Try it, it'll give you a sudden high ;)

Tried eating hot bhajiyas on a rainy day?

Take some time out and observe the waves on a beach or fishes in a tank...
Try and drop a few leaves and flowers on a water pool and look at them float and move in random patterns...





Ever tried smiling at a clueless kid?If you randomly smile at a confused kid, the change of expression you would encounter would be hilarious!

Have you tried parasailing? No? Try this as a substitute: Think of the most beautiful ocean scene you can remember and then stand infront of an air-conditioner with your eyes tight shut; imagine you are sailing in air high above the oceans.......You can try this with scuba diving also ;)

Every time someone you love turns up at the doorstep give them a tight hug, they deserve it ;) ....


Think of a small and affordable inanimate object which you always wanted and which would add an invaluable experience.Get it/do it... (In my case it was my fav senheisser head phones :P)

When you are bored think of a humorous moment or a cartoon which you always cherished ...

And just when you feel lonely, go to a mirror and smile at yourself; I bet it would change the mood....

You may think all these are foolish and often insane...But insanity is human and so is divinity....
When you try remembering those small deeds and when you enjoy those small moments you live a life filled with drops of joy...Those golden threads among the dark fibers of the cloth of life.

She

Somewhere there is a women behind the worse of adversities,
Fighting her way out she emerges tired,
Tired not of the world as much,
Tired not of any routine as such,
Tired not so much physically.

She only is
Tired of all evil trying to over-power,
Tired everyday of the glaring eyes and the groping hands,
Tired as always of the society's relentless demands.

She wants
not much of luxury, yet she can sustain,
She can brave a rough terrain.

She wants
no praise, nor to gloat with vanity,
She wants just enough to uphold her dignity.

She warns
Keep me safe, just as you ought to,
Else I might turn around and fly away wherever I want to.

When things go wrong!

Just when you feel that today feels good, the clouds and the skies conspire to turn around the weather.
Just when you get slightly excited with your weekend plans; quite often than not you find yourself lonely & drenched with thoughts about your past foibles.
Exactly when you decide you need a break from monotony, that compelling need comes along.
Remember that itchy palm feeling and the superstitious belief that it indicates some extra moolah? Nah, when things go wrong it could mean only one thing: a dry and cold weather and all you end up with is the arrival of a fresh box of Vaseline :p

Everytime you have tread slowly and cautiously, you should have actually galloped; anyways you were bound to fall. But expecting the unexpected is the way of human life, isn't it?
The hope of a lottery; the hope of finding true love; the hope of a bright and beautiful future etc. keep us going along.But remember to maintain that stride even when things go wrong....
They could always go wrong, which doesn't exactly mean that you are wrong. Its just an indication it was not your day.Or better yet view it as someone else's gain.


So what do you do next time someone tries to pull you down or when you yourself fall down?
Do what Shakira says : Pick yourself up,dust yourself up & get back on the saddle!Waka waka holds good even outside the field :p
And my last words:
You have much more than a minute to win it! You have a lifetime!!

From Romeo to Juliet........

Just when you smile, my world turns upside down,
then I realise I have fallen: fallen flat around,
Music is not an art for amateurs or so I used to think,
But this strange malady makes my heart sing,
Then you turn around flinging you hair,
It makes me shout this is just not fair,
If all the beauty lies in you my dear,
You should think, how much can a single man bear?
If all the wealth in the world were on one side and you on another,
I would float right to you like a light feather...
O dear, I swear I ll never make you sad,
I will shield you from everything bad;
If this promise is ever to be broken,
Just remember I ll offer my life as a token;
O my Juliet, where art thou now? My eyes search far and wide,
I want you to be mine, I want you by my side!

Fly away!

Fly away O birdie!
You are free...
You ought to be...
Free from the tangles of man,
Free from the fights of clan,
Free from sorrow and fear,
Free from shackles, O dear...
Fly away, don't look back,
You should fear no attack,
Move ahead and make your way,
Today is your lucky day,
As you fly remember --
Remember that you were once captive,
So do good to all - you need no motive!