Grant me faith
not will
and my heart
will be calm and still

Morning is not yet
dew is still wet on flowers
gentle glow of sun

The heart has
two chambers-
one is open.
the other, shut

with regard
to the latter
the owner
has the key
but courage
he lacks
to open such-
therein
is his secret
beyond the darkest
of dark

They think
but can't feel
to reason only
do they yield

I'll first feel
then think
fuse them together
to arrive at the best thing

The day is
24 hours
what have you done
between those hours?

Are you a tolerant person?

Let your failure be seen
your success, be hidden

Beware of the most ardent lovers
and guardians of beauty:
when the tide is reversed
they can turn the worst destroyers

Life is a point of view
there's no consensus
it's the mindless democracy
that causes endless mess:

the cavemen and women
had a common voice and purpose
hunting food for survival
seeking water for their thirst

now ideologies abound
to inveigle and impress
many ,like sheep are led
to join the crowded rand senseless rest-

there's schism and conflict all over
but harmony can't be harnessed:
external forces seek to control minds
in ways so nefarious and surreptitious

Life in one word:
repetition

I prefer
enchantment to
beauty-
it has a deeper view

Does your life resonate
or stagnate?

Because
it's invisible
it is indestructible -

because
it's metaphorical
it blunts the literal-

because
it's beyond words
it is indescribable -

because
it's boundless
it is immeasurable -

because
it's seamless
it's unstoppable -

because
love is mysterious
poets find it undefinable

Life is hard
people are harder-
that's the crux
of the matter !

Living life
in passion?
I'll go further-
to live with defiance !

So, this is farewell-time?
You haven't stayed
long enough
the essence of the now
you've hardly grasped -
the seed you've just planted
is still germinating
under the silent grass:

a call far too soon
evening is yet
to come to pass-
you didn't give
love a chance-
its faithfulness
you've failed to trust-

youth has just woken
let its hours last
spring hasn't set in
you've let go
much to fast

too impatient you are
too eager away to rush-
all your hopes
and dreams
you've foolishly
into oblivion cast!

Know this:
there's no coming back
you've broken someone's heart
the line of no return
has been drawn
oh, how sad
how grievous
alas! Alas! Alas!

Because I can't sing
I listen.

Because I can't write
I read.

Because I don't know
I'll not speak.

Because I'm no expert
I don't assert..

Because I've no skill
I don't compete

Because I've known pain
I'll not inflict such on any person.

Because I've cried
I readily empathize.

Because I love
life's best has been wrought.

Because I'm in no need
I don't seek.

Because I'm poor
I know there are others
who are worse off.

Because I'm content
I needn't compare
with any person.

Because I've suffered
future adversity I no longer dread.

Because life is not the cure
I've to learn how to endure.

Because life is so brief
I'll waste no moment
and will cause none any grief.

Because I'm not wise
I've nothing to surprise.

Because I'm ordinary
I incur no envy.

Because myself I know
I've ended every sorrow.

Because I've lived
this has been a blessed gift.

We’ll not speak of
once upon a time:
life’s no fairy-tale
with its sweetened rhyme

of make -believe
we’ve walked through
such trials and tribulations
they, I and you

no need for bouquets
or laurels, or fame -
only love and acceptance
that will accompany our each name

as long as the light still glows
and songs are waiting to be sung
we’ll not be overcome by shadows
our hearts will beat just like when were young




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That which is dark
holds the story most profound
light is too obvious and tame
and too easily found

even love is hidden
in the heart's dark labyrinth
the owner lives in this mystery
and often wishes not to look within

Words--
they confuse
silence
is no abuse

within
is the intrinsic
the outer
the unauthentic

Oblivion:
no longer seen
neither future nor past
everything is forgotten

no more reveille
sleep so profound
no song is heard
hushed is every sound

dreams have vanished
so dark is the night
the heart longs no longer
shadows banish the light

oblivion:
life's story
has been told:
dies, memory

Every day-
a page
in the book
of life

how should
I live?
What can
I give
to a world
soaked
in tears
and suffering
stifled
with endless strife?

Wherever
I step
let me be
on the side
of the caring
the peaceful
the noble
the humane
the just
and the right

let me
have the courage
to stand up-
every form
of injustice
and cruelty
to fight

let me
lift up
the hands
of the kids
in fear
hunger
in pain
each in
untold plight

if my life
were to bear
any meaning
let my heart
and mind
be bent
towards  the woes
of my fellow beings
and if
to this cause
I sacrifice
without pause
I'll die
feeling
satisfied
with nothing
missing
fulfilled totally
fully worthwhile

Delete the 'I'
life will treat
you right:
in this wipe-out
you'll grow
and expand
you'll understand
you'll thrive
you'll see things
in a fresh light
you'll acquire
a new mind
and the world
will always be
on your side

Empty are my hands
      light is my heart
      gentle are my steps
      none of my words is hard

      I've nothing to assert
      in disputes I take no part
      you'll not see me in the crowd
      quietly I live, unnoticed I depart

Is there a deal
that is ideal?

Did you find yourself
or did others?
Can you tell
regardless?

Grant me humility
not talent
it will be the foundation
for me to learn

You made a resolution now
and promised yourself
you'd keep it anyhow
knowing not
it would fizzle
within an hour

how weak
and fragile
is human nature
in its everyday about
seeking the desired
in and out

how soon
does weariness
set in
and you'd live
in a cloud
of dubious bout

I'll live
with myself
in tones
gentle
and not loud
in acceptance
of me
even of my own doubt
while I hear
others shout

Life is hard, imperfect and fragile.
How we live makes us what we are--
no one can be perfectly happy
and that's a good thing--
if it were,  we would hardly grow

Life-the dirge or melody
the chaff and the beauty
but I've found myself
in thee

I don't rage
against the dying
of the light
instead
I walk gently
into that good night

for
life I've lived
in both wrong
and right-
thousands of scenes
have I felt
and passed
before my sight

rage is a sign
of non-acceptance
a sense of loss
and plight

I've loved
I've suffered
I've sung
I've danced
I've risen
I've fallen
I've wept
I've sighed

but still
I'm unbroken
though
the harshest
life has spoken
in many a blight

so tender
so comforting
so soothing
is tonight

life
is the alternation
of the dark
and the light
the mounting on
and stepping aside

I've no rage
nor regret
I've no fright
my footsteps
are firm and sure
as I alone walk
into the this
long, good night.

Yesterday I had lunch with two friends, a male and female who both believed in reincarnation.

What they said led me to dedicate this poem to them.

I’m here now
but had existed before :
it’s the transition
of the Karmic Law

and what I’ll be
shall be decided
by my actions and thoughts
that have subsisted

at every moment
that makes for the present :
I’ll have no choice
as to where I’ll land

in the eons of time -
cause shall usher in the consequence
the Karmic Law is inexorable :
nothing else can make the difference

Some might find you absurd
but don't run away or be afraid-
towards your goal bravely forge
victory shall be your lot

the world's envy and malice
set such aside, gladly miss-
stand tall, above them all
that shall be your life's greatest call

Silent flowing stream
kissed by gentle morning light
lush green field beside

Laws are made by human beings

human beings are not infallible

therefore,  all laws are fallible

My desk is empty
  I don't like this
  there should be
  papers all over
  here and there
even a tiny piece

a  clean table?
For  that I'd happily miss
there should be
some disorder
to stir my imagination
to challenge my wit-
too much cleanliness
is close to being a disease

Beethoven I'm not
look at his untidy desk
and the room of his
with uncompleted manuscripts :
that was how he worked
and the best mark
he never did miss

let mine be as I like
haphazard, disorderly
unpleasant to look at
yet my very task
shall be completed
in good time
and success my lips
shall gladly kiss

I didn't say that-
you added
what wasn't there
and it got distorted

I'd rather
you'd disagreed
we'd have a basis
to discuss what you said

a whole difference does exist
in subtracting or adding a single word
let honesty prevail always between us
in such, conflict and dishonesty we'll avoid

There's no fear of others
if one fears not of their own self
it's the lack of faith of the person
that has created this dilemma

A new generation
or a carry-forward
of the past
what are we?

Have we just
put on new clothes
to be different
but grasped

by what went before?
is civilisation a mere mask?
If we're mere copies
how would our virtues last?

It will only be
a new generation
if the past were cast
to oblivion- in this alone we'll trust

We're each
     just one line
    yours, theirs
    and mine

    yet we're alike
    and aligned
    in soul, heart
   and mind

   one line
   with 1,000 combined
   a formidable force
   becomes-- we'd not be 'allein'

  our voice
  will be heard
  at home
  at the town-hall
  the school
  the community
  places of worship
and every government compound-
a worthy message
people will find

we'll speak up
against conflicts
and wars
all forms of cruelty
and destruction
injustice, exploitation
acts against humanity
and the unforgivable loss
of human lives

we're each
just one line
but can we walk away
from the turmoil
the devastation
or ignore
the ceaseless
helpless cries?

We'll come together
in an explosive voice
a universal anthem
we'll chant-
the Flag of Peace
and Humanity
we'll bear fearlessly
to our sacred call
and duty
we can't be blind!

In your dreams
you're a different person
could it be this-
that you prefer that version?

That was your problem-
you knew too much
yourself you choked
with life you lost touch

knowledge you swallowed
without any further regard
the window of life shut on you
you lost your soul and heart!

How can you be free
as someone's carbon-copy?

My voice counts for nothing:
vox clamantis in deserto
I'm the unnoticed and obscure
one that nobody would want to know

but I don't the least deplore
my heart and soul is pure
no one heeds my voice
but I'm fulfilled and I endure

The world
may be broken
let not your dreams
be stolen-

the worst words
may have been spoken
(over such you've no control)
let not yours be inanely blown-

life is tough, harsh, solemn
few moments are golden
none can escape such:
find courage of your own

the world
may be broken
trust yourself
let your best be sown.

It's still early days
the seed has just been planted
it will take time
for the crop to be harvested.

It's still early days
the heart is on guard
contemplating, seeking
the right path to chart.

It's still early days
finding the right words is hard
the self is yet to settle
from the past it has to part

but the time has come:
I'm yearning for you in my heart
our love has now blossomed
from its patient tender bud.

You can't squeeze
from a stone any juice
go in search in a garden
for a ripened fruit

someone's heart
you can't claim
love is such
call it by any name

nothing can be
as desired as not-wanting
in your self-created sufficiency
where would there be any disappointing?

In response to an abstract painting of Nathan Moshinsky:

This is a masterpiece !  It strikes me with its powerful singularity-  the mosaic bears deep words-
it's beautiful poetry and resonates with the weight of tantalising atonal music.

What I write
might not be right
but I'll not be stopped:
free expression is my right

when such freedom
is stifled or suffocated
democracy will witness
an instant moral death

The next is no guarantee
to be better or happier:
hold your own where you are
this is your sanctum, sure and secure