Wonderland!

I was Alice- lost as ever

My mind was the ‘White Rabbit’ with the watch- ever hopping towards you

You were the ‘Caterpillar’- detached and way too shrewd

My common sense was the ‘Cheshire Cat’- on and off!

The society was the ‘Red Queen of Hearts’- Sullen and always ready to punish

My heart was like, no points for guessing, ‘Humpty Dumpty’!

No surprise why my life itself has turned into a surreal ‘Wonderland’!

Deep Silhouettes

Clicked this one rainy afternoon. This photographs speaks to me on many levels. It can indicate distance within relationships, when you cannot leave but retire in your own corners. It can also indicate that you are comfortable being on the same plane and some distance is keeping things fine. It can also depict that you find you are upon yourself like everyone else around you; alone but not lonely. Or that you have found your comfortable space away from the web of life. Anyway, I love this click!

Haiku Horizons- Safe

                                  
                                This is for Haiku Horizons and this week's prompt is 'Safe'

A boat tied on shore

Gazes at sea and feels safe

A Life wasted

Shadows...

What are these shadows,

That as if, burn me with

Gazes as cold and grey

As graveyards at midnight

That, in all their eerie quiet

Accuse me with chapped lips

And make the time stare

As an indifferent passerby

While I try to slay demons

I once left long ago behind

What are these shadows that pass me by,

Every time I close my eyes...

I Am

Seeds

Words Linger All Around...

Love, my words linger all around

From dim crevices of my mind,

To green wounds of my heart

As I struggle to arrange them

Into some sort of a poem

Clear and meaningful enough

To make you understand

How vague and meaningless

 Life has become…

World Poetry Day

Art renders immortality

Life

Did this very quick drawing today evening.

Medium- Aquarell pencils

Urdu Quatrain

Tried my hands at Urdu poetry after a long time :)

ज़िन्दगी की शाख से कुछ लम्हे टूटे थे कभी

उन्ही की तलाश में उम्र गुज़र जाएगी लगता है

वक़्त की तो फितरत ही कब थी लौट के आने की

अब तो आप पे यकीं भी कुछ कम सा लगता है

I lost some beautiful moments of life, long back

And I am still searching for them

It is well known that time never comes back

But my trust upon you too, has weakened now

Pic link

A Tree Called Friendship!

It was the very first semester of my graduation when I could feel a whole new world opening up- a world of ambitions, aspirations and dreams, and of course, new friendships. College presents a whole new world where you experience camaraderie that could actually last lifetime or can become an integral part of your years to come. So, if I can recall correctly, I met my closest friend Megha, the subject of this post, on a rainy afternoon in August when I was sitting in my classroom with my new found group. She joined our college late as she had joined another course in some other college. However, for the first three semesters we were not close buddies, I had another bestie with whom I had bitter fallout for some reason. Then we, Megha and I, became close friends, and then the best friends. A college trip to Goa was an unforgettable moment that in a way sealed our friendship for lifetime. It was actually a cherished trip; some pics have been attached here. Although it has been a decade now, we enjoy discussing it often.

We both love travelling and I can recall, amongst many of our trips to various areas of Delhi, the one at random. It was to Daryaganj in Old Delhi, and nearby areas. Even in the crowded streets, where typical smell of roasting meat fills your nostrils, and the shrill noise of traffic your ears, you feel comfortable because with closest friend, each minute turns into a lifetime of joy and laughter. We purchased clothes, artificial jewelry and much more that I still have with me. We then visited many other areas like Lajpat Nagar, Janpath and yes, the iconic British Library to inquire about the membership. Those were the days of bliss and comfort. In 2009, while dancing on one MJ number, Megha unfortunately broke her ligaments and got a fracture. It was this time, I presented her a hand-painted card made with much love and visited her.

Seeing a friend in pain is the ugliest sight to behold. I prayed for her well being. Times always change and when mine was at a low after a tragic loss of a dear one some years back, she supported me like anything; she stood like the Rock of Gibraltar and constantly made me realize the value of thinking positive and looking ahead. Those days were filled with tears and darkness but my best friend’s helping hand pulled me out of the clutch of gloominess. I have learned a lot from her. Such is the power and magic of the panacea call friendship; it heals every wound, no matter how deep it has cut you. Before she got married and moved to a different part of the country, we used to talk a lot, many times every day for hours (seriously!) and now when I think of that time, it comes like a happy memory. I still pest her to read all my poems and posts and we still share our half-mad opinions and craziness without thinking twice!

An old snap!

I find her courage, independence and positive outlook towards life to be amazing but no human is born without follies so on the flip side, I think she gets obstinate sometimes. I did my further studies from a different university but those days of graduation gave me the most precious gift, a lovely sapling of friendship that we have nurtured and is now a flowering tree, under whose shade we can talk our hearts out!

Watch all wonderful experiences of friendships of your favorite stars only on Zee TV’s new show ‘Yaaron Ki Baraat’ starting Saturday, October 8^th, 2016 @ 8 PM.

Just click on http://www.ozee.com/shows/yaaron-ki-baraat to enjoy non-stop fun!

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Waves- A Haiku

Waves wash names on sand
Mortal fingers proudly carve
Sea chuckles on our inanity

 

Pic Link

Book Review: The Golden Gate

Title:         The Golden Gate

Author:     Vikram Seth

Publ.:        Faber&Faber

ISBN:       9780571200382

MRP:        Rs 295

Pages:       307

                                        

Today I wish to review my very latest read for you

It’s a novel in verse by the inimitable Vikram Seth

About young pals-John, Liz, Janet, Ed, Phil and Sue

Set in 1980’s, story unfolds in city of the golden gate

When a lonely John sets out to look for an apt partner

Pressed by Janet, his ex-a sculptor and band drummer

They come across a plethora of people and situations

Find old friends, heartbreaks, odd and taboo relations

Apart from jealous cats, wines, iguana, art, revolution,

Sleights, breakups, confessions, marches and confusion

Author’s lucid verses keep the reader glued to the tale

He finely etches all characters and lives in good detail

Our author was born in Kolkata, West Bengal in 1952

Though an economist, he entered literature, a field new

His first novel, this came out in 1986, by Faber&Faber

And since has won hearts of its readers the world over

Composed in 14-line sonnet form; inspired by Pushkin

After author read both translations of ‘Eugene Onegin’

So now, I have one more title to appreciate and collect

No brownie points for guessing, it is ‘The Golden Gate’

                                                                  

Art

Art renders immortality; it ensures that even when the physical body is decayed, abstract ideas and thoughts continue to live through centuries. It conveys the world the unique notions and ideologies that someone, somewhere had ages ago. Even today, when we read a book, listen to a melody or appreciate a painting by gone artists, we are actually interacting with them. Through the language of art, we can converse with them anytime. So, this is a small poem in which ‘I’ refers to all artists.

Poetry is my spirit, in words I lie

I am made of thoughts, I never die

For I am a notion so how can I?

You can always meet me in pages

For I am eternal, I live through ages

Be More

I say, it is a high time to look ahead

For time slips faster than one can grasp

See through mists of hurt, open your eyes

It’s time to discover treasure that within lies

You are not just a lonely soul, a broken heart

Be much more; go ahead and make a new start

 

(Pic Link)

Leap

Ignoring past

Ignored by present

Ignorant of future

I take a leap

                        For Mag 300

ज़ख्म

क्यों छुपाएं हम कुछ रिस्ते ज़ख्म
क्या महताब का एक रुख स्याह नहीं होता

Why should I be ashamed of my pain?

Even the moon has a dark side

क्यों न मानें के वो भी मुन्तज़र हैं हमारे
दिल बहलाने पे कोई इलज़ाम नहीं होता

Why shouldn’t I make myself believe that he too longs for me

For one can’t be blamed for beguiling one’s heart

जब चाहा छूना आस्मां का दामन,
जाना हर परवाज़ शानदार नहीं होता

When I tried to soar and touch the skies

I learnt not every flight is destined to be grand

किस चाह मेँ कटती ज़िन्दगी हमारी
अगर सितारों के परे कोई जहाँ नहीं होता

I would have spent my life in vain

Had I not known there is an afterlife

(Because of pain, she is looking forward to afterlife)

Source: hdwallpapers

Winters

Cozy bed and lazy eyes

Shy sun and hazy skies

Icy frost and hot coffee

Winter is here already!

When scorching summer rips your skin off, winter seems like a cooling balm. To put it simply, I love winters and deeply get envious of all the lucky souls who reside near those mysterious frosty mountains and frozen lakes. What else can define heaven on earth other than a warm blanket, a notepad (and pen of course!) and a cup of hot ginger tea. Curled up beside my window that overlooks a large portion of the sleepy grey sky, my mind, not perturbed by the constant annoyance of blinding sunlight of the days and sweaty irritation of evenings that signify summers in Northern Indian plains, wanders as far as it likes. These thinking sessions are provided a perfect platform in this season for which I always long for the whole year! 

Pic from here

Couplets

“Why this ire?” Out he did freak

I said “I am patient not meek”

 Incessant churn of day & night

Crushes my little life

Pic from here

Life

Life

Is

An interesting journey

Highs & lows; lights & shadows

At times prickly cliffs and at times green pastures

Are to be taken in one’s stride

Journey to the last gate

Is

Life

Written For Mag 284