Just around the river bend...

As the pristine silvery water shone
I heard the steady, calming drone,
Adding to the still, untouched beauty of
This unexplored land, this lovely breeze,
All this greenery, the hum of the bees.

I looked up to the blue heavens.
The birds flew in groups of tens,
So sure of the way without a compass.
Though peaceful, this unfamiliar territory
Made me cautious, induced fear in me.

I rowed swift, causing ripples on the serenity,
A color palette stretching as far as I could see.
But is that all, I asked myself, there could be a fall -
A steep one, at that; or there could be a new land,
Far away, uncovered, hidden, newly unveiled and...

My thoughts were cut short, as the boat swirled,
Round and round, dizzily it moved and whirled.
It was a whirlpool - oh, a possibility I hadn't counted.
A magical land I'd had in mind, and some waterfall,
But not this, I hadn't expected this whirlpool at all.

Then came the waterfall I'd thought about, envisioned,
When I wasn't the least ready for it, the least cautioned,
And during the roller-coaster fall, I clung to the boat,
Closing my eyes tight, not knowing what more there'd be,
Not knowing what in my journey I'd face, what I'd see.

I opened my eyes slowly, disappointed, disorientated -
Do only my bad visions come true? My dreams unabated,
Dejected, disheartened, I rowed on, not knowing why I should.
But I did. I held on to the oars, and the currents aided me.
I know it hasn't ended, this long, though uneventful, journey.

Suddenly, before my eyes, appeared the green trees,
Swaying in the gusty wind, the sight of wild geese
Flying away, the grasses tall, a rich green, just rained upon.
The whirlpool and the waterfall were really not the end.
This magical land of my dreams had always been right there,
Just around the river bend.

Down by the river bend...

Amazing azure sky,
delightful glistening earth,
sitting by the river
dreams are slowly given birth

Stolen colors,
from the rainbow
or is it?
from the flowers
delightfully aglow?

butterflies of thoughts
run riot,
In the garden of dream castle
to the tune of the stream
flowing in mirth

Where illusion with reality meet
And the birds chirp in glee
Rakish wind , the humming bee
dances, the flowers sweet

Every time I visit,
a beautiful little dream greets
Many a happy moments I spend
down by the river bend

Reflections

The lake danced, rippled,
Before my eyes.
A pale reflection, crippled,
In a way, struck me
With a force so brutal.
A weak, scentless rose,
With every withering petal,
Scorched with her conscience.
What have you done,
Her conscience screamed.
I wasn't as weak, alone,
I wasn't so sorry, so tired,
Or for so much misery deemed.
I couldn't meet her eyes,
The Lady Conscience,
The once untouched, pure woman.

What have you done?
Her screams echoed
In the dark, silent corridors
Of my thoughts.
Somewhere along the road,
I'd killed her innocence,
Her beauty, her self-esteem,
Her virginity - all now lost.

What have you done?
What have you done to me?
What have you done to the woman
Who never begged, borrowed, stole,
Hurt, killed, tortured or feared?
The woman who played her role
With courage, dignity, emotions myriad?

Was she like this, the dainty beauty, before?
Was she so unhappy, so tormented, and more?
What have you done to the woman
Of strength, of substance, who never cried?
The woman who smiled at all odds,
A woman whose flames never died?

What have you done to the fiery beauty,
The princess, the charismatic goddess?
A woman who'd never accept failure,
A woman who'd never settle for anything less?

What happened to the furious independence,
The pride, the driving force that steered her?
What have you done to the woman so smart?
What have you done to her, Love?

Go away, Love, find your next victim!
Her weaknesses you've used,
Her loving heart you've burned.
You made her think of him,
Now make her un-think!
You've now hurt her, even abused;
The fickle world she has learned!

The lake watched, a mute spectator,
Our silent argument, her loud accusations.
I looked at her, in wordless agony.
How could I pacify, answer, satiate her?
How could I wipe away her pain, tribulations?
How could I, with all the fingers pointing at me?

You, Eros, she said with her eyes burning bright,
You've done this to her, you've killed her spirit.
She is now not alive; merely living her life!
She hadn't known you had such a poisonous bite,
You monster, you heartless creature, accept it!
You made her dream of being someone's wife;
Now she's no longer the loving girl she used to be!

She can't trust anymore; you've broken her heart,
You stole her self-worth, all her undying love!
Now here you are, you uncaring animal,
You've tortured her, part by dying part,
She no longer loves even herself now!
You've done evil things, you evil brute!

I couldn't say a word to refute.
I couldn't speak a syllable to save my skin.
She called me an uncaring animal, an evil brute,
I knew everything was true, deep within.

As her screams died, slowly, gradually,
I walked away from her, my head hung in despair.

Once again, I was accused of playing foul.
But then, I knew I tried my best.
Yet another murdered soul,
Yet another victim struck out from my list.
Yet another case of unrequited love,
Yet another storm of gloom, misery and pain.
Yet another toxic shot from my bow,
Yet another lively soul, now killed, slain.
A quiver full of arrows, all at my disposal.
A couple of misled, careless aims, a couple of broken hearts -
Broken and numb, poisoned forever.

My reflection

Furtively,
I look within
Seeking,
Something elusive

I disengage the knots
slowly with care,
Afraid to break,
This thread of love

Full of feelings,
Effusive,
Effervescent...
Thoughts that,
Ripple through my consciousness

Emotions,
palpable;
Of myriad hues
A complex labyrinth

Delving deep enough,
I find you,
sweet little girl
Like the sun,
Brightening my world

Search me, you say
Mutely I comply,
Through the twisted bends
In an unexplored corner,
I find me

My search ends,
My doubts,
my fears rescind

With a smile,
I engulf you,
As you slowly disappear,
In me.

You,
The best part of me,
You,
My reflection

But Not For Me

I watch the little child
Place her tiniest finger
Trustingly, in the mother's hand
And walk by, along with her.

I notice the woman lean,
Sway, imperceptibly, toward
The man walking beside her,
As they walk slowly, forward.

I see the old woman put,
On her son's shoulder, a hand like
A nervy, wrinkled, brown wire,
Racing past me on their bike.

Trust - sheer, immense trust,
Something so elusive, sadly.
I wish - I really wish; But I know -
It's for everyone, but not for me.

But not for me...

A wee little girl of three
Went shopping with her mummy.
Oh dear what a crowd!
All engrossed in shopping spree
got lost, she did, oh poor baby!
"Mummy Mummy!" she cried aloud

Scared she was and utterly alone
A lady saw her and came to help
Few others join and they decide
We'll find the mother of this whelp
Until then we will be by her side
As tears in her eyes, shone

They all searched helter and skelter,
Investigated every darkened nook,
Still her mom was hard to find
Everyone was out of their mind
Wondering who will give this kid a shelter
knowing not where to look

One of them had a brilliant thought
I know how to bring her mother like a moth
We can give her to the cop, he suggested
After all he can be trusted
He would know what to do
Its time to go guys, you know its true


Many of them wanted to concur
And some to differ
To them it didn't occur
They are making the kid suffer,
Due to exertion, wearied
Listlessly they queried

Tell us oh sweet dear,
how do we identify your mother
give us some description
Some mark of recognition rather
Is there something you can say?
something that would show us the way!

Suddenly happy the girl replied
The most beautiful woman of earth
is my darling mother,
Why do you find it hard to find her?
when there can be no such other!
at them saying this,hopefully she eyed

Some one suggested the mike
Announcement for a lost tyke
women who think they are beautiful
Please do come by the pool
Waiting for someone to respond
The gathered by the pond

So many beautiful women came
But none of them was that elusive dame
Is there no one who could claim
to know this baby?
The elderly man entreated
As the crowd yet again retreated

Tiredly on the bench they all slumped
When a woman tentatively approached
nondescript feature, broad nose, she was fat
In an instant the child was in her arms
covered with kisses and all smiles
Mother and child, thanked one and all,
Without any guile

However, for one question we all do hanker
Please consider this without any rancor,
Said an inconsiderate youth,
Pardon me we don't mean to be rude
Forgive us, but you are ugly
The child replied with innocent smile

But not for me,

She repeated with a twinkle in her eye

But not for me

But it rained...

Wow, I'm gonna get kissed!
But it's bright, the heat unkind -
Uh-oh, it's not what I want!
Dreams that continually haunt -
A kiss in the rain I had in mind -
Are they gonna get totally missed?

There he is, my handsome hero.
Standing beneath a cloudless sky,
We look at each other, and smile.
Our eyes devour, our hearts soar, while
We move closer, and closer, oh, my!
This is gonna be wonderful, I know!

A sunny kiss I hadn't quite visualized.
But then, a kiss, in itself, is something new.
I'd dreamed of a kiss in the pouring rain,
But it's OK, though the sun is such a pain!
The sky is such an endless, clear blue.
I wanted a downpour, in torrents, maximized!

He pulled me closer, his lips covered mine.
I could think of nothing else, but lovely him.
I'd lost all thoughts of clouds, rain and sun.
Oh, just wait, we'd give the fairy tales a run
For their money! Passion had us both limp,
With wonder, with love, emotions so fine.

Just as I was about to open my eyes,
I felt the first drop of rain on my skin.
Ye gods! It was no dream, he was no dream!
I realized the clouds aren't what they seem.
I smiled into his brown eyes, chocolaty sin.
It wasn't a smile just from the kiss so nice!

But it rained today...

I can survive,
And still jive
Though you are gone

Doesn't really matter
My heart wont shatter
What if I am alone

Let the flowers bloom
Let the birds chirp
I wont drown in gloom

Let the wind whisper
Sweet nothings,
Let the cloud flirt

The fragrance,
the lilting melody
The nightly croon

Nothing can make me miss you
Nothing can sway

But...
it rained today...