It is this tug -of -war
Which goes on
In this world...

Sometimes it is love
Sometimes self interest
Sometimes prayers
Sometimes cries...

Have seen life
From very close quarters-
It is not always
Designed by you.

There are forces
Which might overcome
At a weak moment...

There are forces
Which are strangers
Yet lend you support
To find support
In return...

And there are powers
Without which
You cannot survive...

Life is a medley
Of pleasant
And unpleasant
Make the most of it!

It was exhaustion
These last few days...

Exhaustion after celebrating,
After experiencing
A lot of joy
And acute pain...

After finding God amidst us
After having to give in to destiny
         Even after putting up a brave fight...

You feel grateful
You also feel helpless.

It is all
God's divine design
Which is played out
With the help of
Our efforts, our victories, our failings.

We have to put in
Our best efforts, our best fights.
And God will shower
The final flower petal
Upon our heads
As her blessing.

Our annual
Puja- worship days are here!

We worship a goddess
Who kills an evil demon
And spreads prosperity.

In India
This worship goes on
For ten days
With drumbeats
And sweetmeats.

In America
Indians congregate
And pray to the goddess
For several days...

May the goddess
Spread joy
Throughout the world

May she **** the demon
And once again
Let humans prosper!

Life has been
This roller coaster lately...

Frenemies sharpening their knives
And friends lending their shoulders.

One night it is this
Grand dinner with ground turkey
The next night
It is with bitter gourd...

Getting boundless love
From all quarters
And then getting hurt
From some corner...

Always remember
That this is enriching,
A process of never ending growing up,
Of evolving...

Embrace love
Embrace hate, as well.
Every time you do so
You grow into
More of a human being!

Waiting for Gus
To return from work.
Zillions of thoughts
Flitting through my mind
Now, at dusk...

Some good, cheerful
Some bad, saddening.

My son comes home for the weekend,
Tomorrow
My mom-in-law's birthday
Is today,
I sometimes miss her...

The goodness of people
Crosses my mind
And also the hurt,
Which was inflicted...

Had it been all hurt
And no love,
The all erasing, all encompassing love,
Would I have existed
To tell my stories?

Where are your stories?

Being in love also
Is a many splendored thing.

Radiant,joyous,oxygen.
Repeatedly felt kernel of life...

Once you meet it
You can't live without it.

It beats with your heart
Breathes with your lungs...

Delve deep into it
And scoop up
The delight
With which
It lights up all your moments!

So many things
Have been happening
These last few days...
I have kept busy.

Busy with day to day errands
And pursuits
Day to day misfortunes
And pieces of happy!

Went to Walmart
And went to a Jazz festival!
Fell down from my bike
And Gus treated me to almond milk cold coffee!

It has been
This whole bundle of
Contrary things
Which have made up
My moments
Of these recent days...

I am happy
Because every grey cloud
Has shown me
A silver lining!
Did you find yours?