Rhythmic Rhymes

Happy Independence Day A wish that feels hollow & empty to me today as a woman! As even today, 77 yrs later, it is a woman who is questioned  No matter how heinous the crime, the victim is at fault Because she has no freedom of clothing, of work, of time, of location, No matter how free the country is, she is restricted If not by her family, then by the society, by her own fear of safety. Today I am lucky Yes lucky - because I've the freedom of life, of work, of speech, of choice And I'm lucky that I get these basic needs which are every person's right  But the freedom from fear - who can grant me that? The curfew & restrictions on me ? I doubt it! Because if they can breach places of love, of work, of worship, They can breach those curfews Because the problem is not me! And when the basic right to life is in jeopardy, the right to happiness is only a dream So if there is no true independence for all And in light of continual horrifying incidents - no happiness as w...

A slow gradual climb, step by step, Crossing babbling rivers, forests & valleys, Up and down mountain ranges, Cold breezes and warm sunlight playing peekaboo, Camping in tents under the clear starry night sky, Layered in sweaters & jackets, cuddled cozy together, Late night rains, winds and thunderstorms, Giving birth to rainbow against the bright blue sky, A clear first view of the snow clad peaks around, Daily climb to newer heights, Walk through rains and chilly winds, Long nights of card games, gossips & several laughs, Finally ending at that last climb, Huffing & Puffing out way to the top, The peak with an endless landscape around, Lush green meadows, clear blue skies, And ranges of snow clad mountains surrounding you, Trying to soak it all in - the view, the cool weather, Wondering if it's all a dream or a reality?!

He has gone someplace you think Because the truth will take its time to sink in A couple of days, a couple of weeks, maybe more Even though you saw it happen  Right before your eyes Saw him pass in front of you You were with him those last few moments As he was restless and in pain Seeing him hurting, not knowing this isn't the usual pain Not knowing these are actually the last moments And then suddenly he is no more Just like that Sleep eludes you that night That image of him taking his last breath etched in your mind And when hours later Sleep finally overtakes your tired exhausted being You manage a couple hours of restless doze And you wake up, convinced this was all a nightmare You will see him pottering about the room Brushing away at imaginary dust Humming some random melody Oblivious to the world around  But ofcourse he isn't there He is away you think, travelling, visiting someone But you see his spectacles sitting in its usual place on the table, His room slippers an...

Yesterday I saw a kid cry around the corner, Pulling at his mother's hand, And I envied him, Envied the ease with which he could cry, Envied the ease with which kids can cry, Howl, throw a tantrum, Gasp for breath as they release more tears, At the drop of a hat, For any reason - big or small, And then just as easily be comforted, With their mother's kiss, With their father's hug, With a lollipop from their elder sister, With their favourite toy, With a swing in that garden, With a few soothing words, And those tears dry up just like that, A smile slowly forms, And soon turns into a heartfelt laugh of pleasure. So different from now, From the "adult" version, Where we are knocked about as we go through life, Taking up responsibilities, Going through struggles, Without that ease of or freedom to cry, No matter what the emotion, how big the pain, Because if we dare shed a tear we are told, To be strong - for someone, To be brave - tears are a sign of weakness, To be...