Rhythmic Rhymes

As I grew up in life I realized it's true, Many people we may meet but stay on just a few, Those few who matter, whom you wish are always there, Those few whom you love, those few who care. Every moment with them is a joy so sweet, Every moment with them is a cherished memory to keep, As life rears its head and priorities change, We lose touch but in heart they always remain. One such special bond that was tied to me, Was that of a cherished friendship with Priti, A young, cheerful, bubbly, happy soul, A sweet adorable person with a heart of gold. But then the God decided to cut off this tie, Maybe in heaven he needed her bright smile, That one moment shattered the world around me, Left me pinching myself to hopefully turn it into a dream. Priti I hope this reaches you, wherever you are, I know I am late but these are the yearnings of my heart, I love you always and you mean the world to me, You left a void in my life that no one can ...

It all started on that one day bright, When she decided to enter this world, serious and uptight, Brought along her hopes, dreams, and ambitions she did, Her innocence and fear in her nervous smile she hid. A good angel in her life had given her a push, Soared her self-confidence to take that leap for once, With pride in his eyes and heart the angel watched her go, Blessing that she doesn’t lose her sweet disposition in the flow. So she entered in, with a little bit of joy, a lot more fear, But caught off guard she was, her life thrown out of gear, Couldn’t find a direction, felt cut off too, From the other world her support systems few. Time dragged on and she kept getting into rut after rut, She came out of each, bruised and wounded but, Found a few support systems within she did, The ride became smoother but she was directionless still. The problem though wasn’t in the world nor in the path she took, But because someone else’s North Star f...

A smile on the face, a twinkle in the eye, With strength in her will, some odds she defied, For her heart suffered what her face didn’t betray, That the look of happiness was just a masquerade. He looked unyielding, tough and strong, With a clear distinction between right and wrong, But that countenance was now just a way of his life, Used as a mask to hide his insecurities inside. Her face showed innocence, sparkling through, She seemed gullible to a glance new, But the innocence just masked a demeanor sly, Used as an opportunity to some naïve one beguile. He worshipped his mother and feared the goddess, In public had a personality respectable and modest, But had tortured for dowry to his ego feed, And killed two unborn girls for his baby-boy greed. Oh each one knows all this for we have our own masks too, But when someone else does it they are the hypocrites few, For the intent no matter whether innocent or not, It’s all hypocrisy there...

I have had a hope since a long time apparent, That almost all people possess some goodness inherent, They would do no evil if given a choice, Against wrongdoings would raise up their voice. As a kid I really thought all that was true, For unexposed I had been to world realities new, Surrounded by affection & goodness from those I loved, No reason to doubt for not a care in the world. When I stepped out though it came to me as a shock, For everyone around was good and straightforward not, Evil and injustice was spread far and wide, And one couldn't trust even the one living beside. Why just out in the world but in personal life too, Worthy of our trust are but a few, Naivety and innocence are assets no more, Taken advantage of as liabilities they are I implore. And yet after all the experiences I have had, I would refuse to believe that anyone is inherently bad, And I know in this faith and belief I am not alone, And as long as there are such like-minded ...

Mechanically and aimlessly on a path she trudged, Arrows on every crossroad ensured she didn’t budge, Why? Because she didn’t want to lose her way, The smallest distraction would be fatal, that’s what they say. On another route he walked, as aimlessly as her, He had heard too that he was not supposed to wander, Why? Because it’s a question of the honor he is worth, They say he was destined to carry forward their legacy since his birth. Their paths cross a few miles ahead, suddenly bringing hope, And they look around for some common path to follow, “But no”, they say, “that’s not what you are expected to do”, “Don’t look up, don’t think straight, just walk on your own damn route”. These are not the only two caught in this trap, Thousands other follow the same ‘That’s what they say’ map, What’s strange is that despite all those arrows and directions clear, Most feel trapped in a never-ending maze of fear. ‘That’s what they say’ is a warning to ma...

I remember, it was a long time back, I opened my eyes and all around I could see just grey and black, Then I felt a push, everything around suddenly seemed too bright, But before I could take it all in, I tumbled down in fright. For a long time after that, I vaguely recall, I was surrounded by many ‘mommas’, who wouldn’t let me fall, My life was a joyous playtime, among the lushy greens, All my gentle playmates around me, on my one soft calling. Then one dark day I was suddenly captured by some person stout, I remember, I heard my mommas left behind, cry their hearts out, But that wicked fellow just dragged me, away from my peaceful abode, To some noisy, dirty and choking place, they called them city roads. It was a scary place, everywhere monstrous, fast carts on wheels, This fellow made me walk there, and give rides all day long for free, I am lonely and sad in this black, unloving place, I trumpet loud over its noise but my voice no longer r...

When a kid was she, adored child only, Treated like a princess, every wish fulfilled. She was gifted a book one day, ‘Adventures of a little girl’ it read, Colourful pictures, exciting story, She got lost in its glory. But then she grew up and know what? The adventures never came true, She searched in the real world, Got lost but didn’t find any prince charming too. But she found another book, ‘Sacrifices of a woman’ it read, Rules to live by for a woman, Submissive, sacrificing, bowed down. “Of course, this won’t be true either,’ she said, And kept it aside while she searched for her way, Tried to be assertive, independent, For like a princess she had been raised. But then she found the second story coming true, Many things the world didn’t allow her to do, Obstacles she came across everywhere, She felt lost again and again. ‘This is stupid,” she said to herself, “The first story was good but didn’t come true, The second is sad but...

Walking I was once on a road lonely, With only my thoughts as company, When I saw a 5 year old kid being chased by his mother, Spending some cute, fun moments together. For some reason it sent me into a flashback mode, To since that time when I was a kid much adored, The cherished memories of frolic and fun, With family, friends, cousins, everyone. Carefree life at its best it was, Playdays, picnics, trips without a pause, Surrounded by loved ones most of the times, Laughter and happiness filled in the life. As I grew up made I some friends new, In different locations, classes and schools, Too young I was then to realize, The importance of those whom I left behind. As maturity started seeping in, Closer grew my ties with family and cousins, Also made a few friends for life, Though the previous ones stayed at the back of my mind. The tragedy struck a few years hence, When to the mind, 'worldly' things started making sense, Independenc...

There is a feeling of unrest in the air, Some notice it, some don't really care, Loud opinions are voiced as though they matter, It all gets clubbed under political chatter. What is this unrest all about? Why such an atmosphere of uncertainty and doubt? Wherefrom has originated this antinational wave, And out of the blue the loud voice of counter say? A section wants reservations, privileges new, Another section wants all of it totally removed, Violence from former the latter's indignation bring forth, The voice of dissent is now louder than before. There on the borders are standing the nation's bravehearts, Trying to protect that nation which it's people want to rip apart, Both make headlines for a few days more, Then the sacrifices are forgotten, the violence is discussed by the score. There is a rising wave of dissent and hate, That threatens to affect the nation's fate, Trying to counter it ironically, Is more hatred from the rest of th...

She sat by the windowsill that lonesome night, The stars were dim, the moon was not so bright, When a call transported her out of her misery, Into a pleasant, dreamlike and literary reverie. A medley of hits began to play, The poetic wonders of Browning, Kipling and Blake, Tennyson, Shelley, Eliot, Keats, The soothing poems of Wordsworth, Frost & Yeats. The poems which were once writ in her heart, The poems that inspired her life in parts, Lyrical, rhythmic and provoking thoughts, Whose memory a smile to her face brought. There were other sweet, beautiful wonders she recalled, Wonderful works by RK Narayan, O Henry, Ruskin Bond, In amazing detail remembered different bits of prose, Short stories read that had touched her soul. And of course Shakespeare, who dare forget? His immortal stories of Julius Caesar and Macbeth, The speeches, the dialogues, the drama in creation, As realistic as though seen live in action. Oh those pieces ...