Walk along the city streets
butterscotch sky
sun-shower
bittersweet

There on the curbside sits an old painting

A Ballerina

lying with the rest of the trash
waiting to be picked up

The drizzle drains the color from the canvas but not
the natural light from the dancer
who
in all the noise and distortion
forgot her steps
along the way

Life isn't fair for all, that much is true,
There's a path for me and everyone of you.
In the brevity of our days,
We're tasked with choosing life's ways.

Forgive who hurt, let grudges fade,
Memories to linger, they've been made.
Stay true to self, in every deed,
For authenticity is what humans need.

Make peace with ghosts of yesteryears,
They're but echoes in our ears.
Comparison is a thief of joy,
Each life is its own unique floy.

A engine, the brain, and heart too,
Powering thoughts and desires anew.
Happiness lies within your grasp,
No other holds that sacred clasp.

Time is the great healer, stitches wounds,
Turning sorrow into tunes.
Embrace your quirks, be eccentric,
In diversity, find the magic.

Life's a journey, not a race,
Laugh, love, and find your grace.
Believe in miracles, they're near,
In every smile and in every tear.

Envy breeds resentment, it's true,
But your journey's yours, others cannot pursue.
My friend, the best is yet to unfold,
In our stories which should shine as gold.

It's never too late to seize the day,
To chase your dreams, come what may.
So let these truths light your way,
In the dance of life, let's sway.

By
Sanji-Paul Arvind

Beginning: A story started from the day I reached my mothers womb,
Suffering and pain I will carry till my tomb.
Playful childhood naughtiness,
Which did bring my mother little happiness.
Same naughtiness cannot be carried to adulthood,
As will definitely bring tremors in her mood.
For all misbehavior, by her, there will be lot o abuse,
Trust me those are all love in disguise.

Childhood: I have filled her world with sorrow’s
My words would’ve pierced her heart as arrows.
I, a selfish boy with no guidance,
Filled with this worldly nuisance.
Lost my youth in various atrocities,
Roaming around with brats around cities.
Little did she know her child’s future,
Will always carry this societal fracture.

Adolescence: A romantic stage of play,
My heart got slayed.
In a world of feminism,
Where I wished to see womanism.
All their wit with sweet talk,
Will lead you to a broken heart, in life’s walk.
The one I truly loved, didn’t love me, in my teen,
The one that loved me, found its way in the wedding.

Adulthood: The saddest day when I lost my father,
Who was always correcting me, for my better future.
As he never wanted me to be another him,
Making me stronger was his only aim.
It give me chills to my bone of his pain and suffering,
Watching and standing like a stone, not knowing.
A bell ringing that it is my time to prepare and to shine,
To fight life’s battle, armor up for my life tasks, not to whine.

Corporate: Filled with competition, greed & betrayal are ways of life,
In this godforsaken world of strife.
Corporates with fake promises,
Forgetting all that they work, build and save, one day dies.
Corporate *******, snakes and vultures,
Spreading venom & feeding upon one's weakness’.
Countless professional deaths & murders,
By calling us team, family and as friends.

Lesson: In a cruel world, teach thy kids how to fight,
For survival and for their future to be bright.
Live life to the fullest, help needy but don’t expect,
Nothing from anyone, whole life will be perfect.
It is a lesson from her,
And she is the greatest in my life, my mother.
My parents blessings and love has become my lifeline,
Which I will never let go in vain…

Conclusion: Lucky are the ones whose mothers starve,
To ensure her portions, children can have.
My mothers prayers to all the gods with her weeping,
for protecting me from evil and to continue guarding.
Her cries and prayers was heard,
By the great gods she trusted for her ward.
The only person who suffers all,
It was her, whose pain was to see my survival.

By
Sanji-Paul Arvind