The world  is but my perception-
beyond that nothing exists.
That my perception is totally wrong makes no difference.

The wise man gains his wisdom through his doubts.

The mind is only a country,
the heart is a whole continent

The mind asks questions over and over again
the heart knows the answers without having to undergo such pain

The mind can't understand why
       the heart is dancing even in the rain

The mind says:  my life is logic
              the heart says:    reason plays too many a trick

The mind asks:
'What is love?'
The heart answers:
' What a stupid question!'

Everyone says this:
"I'll be true to myself'.

This begs the question:
'Is this possible?'

We judge others so as to feel better
about our own failings and faults.

The truth is that we never admit
the untruth within our own selves.

Love your neighbour as yourself.
But I can't---I'm not a saint.

The mind reasons
but the heart understands.

How can I be my own accuser?

The world existed precisely at the moment
I was there.
It was to engage me for the rest of my life.

We seem to be the product
more of moods than reason

Action in many cases
causes more problems that it seeks to solve.
Inaction is often wise.

We invent dreams to drown our inner dissatisfaction and discontent.

I must be served first--let others wait.

I exist to serve myself, not others.
But for my selfishness, I wouldn't have survived.

I live in two separate worlds-
the inner and external--
they are seldom in congruence.
I have to find the right balance  to live successfully.

Who is to say-
old age is wisdom?
rather it's an
unknown kingdom.

The older I get
the less I know for sure
life is a mysterious continent
to live is to struggle, to explore and to endure.

Certitude, what certitude?
wisdom, what wisdom?
human intelligence is finite
the mind that's fixed on certitude is serfdom.

In the beginning  nothing I knew
and at the end--still nothing
nay,  old age is doubts and the
beginning of learning.

..... but, in the dark,
light, however weak,  flickers somehow
(though we know not its source-
it matters not)
and robs the night
of its complete control-

we might fumble
but would not fall
and that's consolation enough.

If we have faith
in the light
it would brighter glow
as it is in direct conversation
with us---and does know
where our hearts yearn to go
while darkness lurks nearby
but is powerless in limbo.

Each heart is a candle
waiting to be kindled
even a droplet of light-dust
will set it aflame.

Even in the darkest night
there is a light, however weak
to guide and befriend you
are you that person who lives
in the light?

Does the past have
an 'expiry date'
as in merchandise
'best consumed by...' ?

If I had no past
what am I then?
could it be obliterated and meet
with a sudden end?

There are tears
but of a different kind
not born of one's own suffering
but that which affects our heart and mind--

that ubiquitous sorrow with which so many are afflicted
helpless in suffering, deprivation, neglect, loneliness, fear and pain
(who dares stand up and proclaim:? This is the age of  peace and plenty!'
it's the same political and business people's rhetoric---over and over again.

There's little hope or respite
wars darken the sky and soldiers fall
in daily battlefields
while leaders make their inhuman and infamous call

'To arms, to the glory of our nation
to the defence of our faith and ideology'
while on the roadside the innocent--young and old-
perish in cold and hunger-- who will shed the tears of our century?

THE RELUCTANCE OF WORDS

Sometimes, nay, often- words shy away
I have to be patient and wait
I set aside all thoughts--hoping later
to find the gems and celebrate.

With words I live all our life
I learnt just a few as a child--enough then-
just a few simple words  brought such joy and delight
words have outgrown me since--now I have to woo them as a friend.

This is the road you have too frequently travelled
it excites and delights you no more
a total stranger walks by for the first time
and marvels: 'Such beauty I've never seen before!'

Have you forgotten when you first fell in love
and the person you would have given your life to adore?
blame not time nor circumstance---the beauty of the past
has not changed--- you've walked away and you have yourself to deplore.

Existing is that state
that links
the present temporality
to the infinity of time

man dangles
between two polarities
he strives and struggles
to understand and too often

he is frustrated and disillusioned
for the larger part of his life
seems shrouded in incomprehensibility --
the monotony, vexation, ennui--even inanity

and there seems no escape
from the meaningless round
of just existing-while time mocks and derides
without a single whit of sympathy.

No one can escape my eyes
I watch over everyone
I'm neither enemy nor friend
I'm neutral and independent.

I am mysteriously empowered
With a unique light
Whose beam can penetrate every heart
And nothing there eludes my sight.

What could be darker
Than the heart that in darkness dwells?
None should be afraid of me
Unless there's a secret buried that tells

A past story--the owner wants to forget-
It festers and won't go away
'  None should know this-
this should not appear in the light of day'.

I am night
I am also light
If anyone fears me
His conscience he should search--with honesty.

The song has ended
and faded into the silent night
it lives on forever
in the lovers' hearts--true love never takes flight

only resides to endear and charm
to rekindle desire--beyond the pale of words and time-
ah, my beloved,  be my ever-shining light
as we embrace and abide in the eternally sublime.

Every single pain
I deny
even in my deepest sorrow
I don't cry, not even heaving a sigh

In quietest acceptance
neither for solace nor relief I plead
pity I don't pour on myself
nor that of others' do I need.

THE STORY OF A DOG

I am a Chihuahua
Not from Mexico but of Asian breed
I fawn upon my master every moment
I serve his every daily need.

He says,  ‘stay’ and I obey
‘Sit’  and I immediately sit
He wants me to sulk when business is bad
No problem for me—I can take all his ****.

He gives me the most delicious meat
On the finest bed I sleep
I walk proudly behind him
His company I faithfully keep.

But this does worry me-
What if I to fall from his favour?
Ah, such is the life of a Chihuahua-
Good things can never last forever!

We are not made for death
those who live well do not die
we are made to be larger than ourselves
we are supermen and super-women -- death we deny.

We are made to live
and living is all that which does matter
never mind the pain and care not for relief-
he who conquers himself is the ultimate victor.

The journey is never finished
life is an ever-flowing river
winding to the endless unknown sea
experience but offers glimpses---it never

does allow us to see the full light of things
poor bewildered mortals we are
searching, questioning, struggling
groping, agonising --however far

we've travelled and however much
has come our way-- dim always is the horizon
misty is the sky, the writing on the road-signs has faded
the dust falls into our eyes and reason

is but a crude and weak guide
this, this thought ( it dawned me suddenly) must be cherished:
all  that's worthy and beautiful has its abode
in the magnificence, grandeur and mystery of the unfinished.

No, I am not a legislator
of the world*
only a voice
a tiny voice
( vox clamantis in deserto)
but the winds
shall carry the words I write
and scatter them
over faraway fields
mountains and seas
wherever destiny bids

somewhere
somehow
someone would get to know me

just words
words drawn
from the blood of my heart
words I have lived with all my life
and loved like the most passionate lover
words that have made me stronger
than I could ever  have imagined
words that have made me cry

they began so innocently
and I toyed with them
one by one
syllable by syllable
phrase by phrase
sentence by sentence

eureka!
I  have discovered
words are alive
they give meaning
to all that is in life
and above all
they define what I am
and have given me
the building-blocks
of
what is
what is not
what should be
what should not be
how to
how not to
to be
or not to be

the jigsaw puzzle
pieces are coming together
and a clear picture is emerging
( a long drawn-out process
but how rewarding!)

Words I no longer could leave behind
and they would not want to release me
then the day came
when I realised
I became words personified

no, I am not just flesh and blood
any more
think of me then
as nothing else
but words
just words

I'll be I, you'll  be you
each within our void--we met
once before--love couldn't be-
we'll some day either  remember or forget

but nothing would ever be the same
even though we should meet one remote day
only a few words would be said in exchange
our eyes would not greet as we like strangers walk our own way.

You say
' my wagon is heavy'
and this is my reply-
' the wrong people you carry--

unload them one by one
you they don't love
they came for a free ride
such people you don't deserve'.

1
Over all things does The Sublime transcend
She knows no beginning or end.

2
Time pursues her  every footstep
But never knows her depth.

3

Where is her abode?- Who does know?
She dwells nowhere---her presence she doesn't show

4
But those who live in the light
Feels her presence though not by sight

5

Those who call her friend are blessed
Their hearts will know peace and rest

6
The Sublime knows every heart
From their joys and sorrows she never stands apart

7

She shares the joys of those who are happy
She weeps with the forlorn, neglected, the forgotten and the lonely

8    
       None sees her tears but so often in silence she does weep
       Like a guardian she watches over everyone awake or in sleep

9
         When the stars, the moon, the sea and all nature have fallen asleep
         She keeps night company and her vigilance she does unfailingly keep.

10     She keeps in her secret drawer a diary
        Every human event she records faithfully

This is the voice of The Sublime:

11  I can't save you from your pain
     From your sufferings life's toughest lessons you might gain

12

         Your wisdom means nothing to me
         Your worth is in your piety

13
         The strong should protect the weak
         It's through what they do that their nobility does speak

14

               Happiness is not your right--never--
               You do yourself wrong demanding to be happy--forever?

15

               Life is a shadow
               Its mysteries you will never know.

The wilderness
is home to me--this oblivion I have chosen
it's no man's station
but I need no conversation

have heard every spoken human word
till no more could I bear
ah, the soothing balm of silence
in emptiness there's no earthly care

The wild side of life
I choose to walk
the commonplace
dulls my senses
stultifies and diminishes me
I would then be
no more than a shadow
a spectre
and count myself as waste
condemned to an uneasy oblivion-
a doomed, pitiful and failed figure

in the desert flowers do not blow
even the winds turn course
freedom to choose
birds lose their singing voices
in this wilderness
and stars hide away
from this desolation
even the lowly dust
longs to be blown away
to escape this monotony
this silence
unbearable

I must walk
on the wild side of life
to liberate
and find my true self
there is no turning back
I have no past
the past is dead

The world #has grown# old
before its appointed time
it has about lost its soul
once so noble and sublime.

Upon its brow, pale, wrinkled and cold
is written:  '  I am no longer in my prime
once I was the boldest of the bold
now my every song and verse no longer holds a single rhyme'

The world is full of wise people
grant me that I be a fool
sadly I can't take lessons from such
myself alone I must school.

How I value my ignorance
wisdom has never been my domain
in the daily classroom of life
I learn word by word, again and again.

Each word speaks to me
more endearing than any teacher can
like a little child I listen to its voice
so tender and kind --never had I heard such from any man.

The world is full of wise men
but to that corridor I could never belong
grant me that I'd never my ignorance disown
only that I should not do wrong.

The worst place
to be
is where I don't belong
where I cease to be free

and those who claim
to be in authority
announce loudly:
you ****, get out--- immediately!

Be thankful
shout for joy
because
'they'
hate, deride
or despise
you

it's
they
vs you

be grateful
as
they
are taking
you
into their reckoning

you
must be
an important guy
or why else
should
they
bother

let
them
vociferate
and vituperate
the more
they
do so
the higher
you
they
rate

it's
your
moment of triumph

you
've caused
them
headaches
heart-aches
sleepless nights
embarrassment
even shame
and discontent

how
they
ache
to see
you
falling down

but
you
look away
you
are silent
and not a word
you
speak
nor care to reply
justify
or explain
you
in so doing
make
them
more uneasy
indeed
you
inflict
endless pain
on
them

the truth is
you
are not to blame
it's
they
who stoke the fire
and it's burning
them

too soon
they
can't take
the strain

frustrated
disappointed
irate
desperate
agitated
in anxiety unabated

they
in despair
throw their hands
in the air
they
give up

you
have conquered
them
with
your
masterly-orchestrated
stand and
contempt.

They call me 'an idiot'
I stammer and with words I struggle
I am slow and have a an 'IQ so very low'
People to me are a puzzle.

They use strange words
My condition is 'congenital'
Others go even further
I suffer from a 'brain deficit'--'a disorder neurological'

But I can keep a job
Always hardworking and punctual
I dress neatly, know how to take the bus
My boss said 'Peter is not brilliant but reliable'

Dad minds the farm, mum takes care
Of my little brother Tom and Tanya my tiny sister
I give my parents half my monthly salary
So that my siblings will have a good education and further

Their studies perhaps in uni
There is always joy and warmth in the family
We share, we laugh, we sing and make merry
Despite what others say--I am happy, truly blessed and happy.

There's no escape from THEM
they will hunt you down
not of your doing---they have to find a scapegoat
though you know them not---somehow

they will attribute their failings
to you---' You caused our downfall'
you are their 'marked man'
and hopelessly you protest-- 'But I don't know you at all'.

There's no escape from THEM
even if you become a monk in a faraway monastery
or decide to be a recluse in the furthest mountain
they would still come in hordes as your relentless enemy.

   None hears you though you say'  But I did none any harm
   I'm just another human being--a nobody-
   why have they chosen me as their target?
   Alas!  I'm doomed !--can someone help set me free?'

'I'll  save the world'
  Millions have said this before
  'Serve mankind selflessly
  Give, give, give more'.

   I am just an ordinary man
   With a burden of my own
   I leave to others to usher in a brave new era
   Quietly and unobtrusively I live alone.

This is my life- story
simply this--it's my every engagement
with destiny.

I'm a wrestler
in the boxing ring
only one of us would be victor-

it's an uneven fighting field
my opponent seems invincible
but I'm not the type to yield

nor do I to myself declare
enough is enough
no more could I bear--

to fight is hard, to walk away
is easy--but I'm no quitter
I stand undeterred--I am here to stay

and at my last hour
to the world I'll proclaim--
with endurance and love, destiny I'll overpower.

This is the age of tragedy
we are drowned
in the sea of technology-

nothing matters now--only
devices, gadgets, machines, contraptions
that claim: 'We'll make you happy'

This is the age of tragedy
blown over a thousand times Orwellian prophecy
none is free--everyone is subject to the minutest scrutiny

We regard ourselves smart--or supposedly-
but prostrate before that highest authority
faceless, feelingless,  mute,  the ubiquitous and iniquitous LED

This is our self-afflicted tragedy
in our proclamation: ' Progress, progress at any cost'--
we have lost our entire humanity

When you are in tears and your heart is heavy
help is on hand, you won't be lonely
just flick the switch,  browse over Wiki.