Think!
In the Past, under clear sky, any could walk
all over Bharat, though an Indian or not so.
The notion of a nation merging petty kingdoms
dimmed the vision of the people of tolerance.
Selfish kings and selfish landlords together
severed India proclaiming "save India", alas!
     In the post independent India, I was born,
walked freely even in the starry night, till 1970s,
enjoyed outing, slept in lodges, snored under trees.
Then came the Emergency, amidst it, against people;
politicians exploited communal thoughts, Delhi burnt,
for votes; created vote banks; nothing learnt from riots;
no merging, but diverging forces hurled us, viciously
forced us to riots-in Gujarat, Assam, Bombay;
panic people run helter -skelter, in Delhi, elsewhere,
in Pune, Bangalore, Poovar or Marad, no exemption.
How lucky were Adi Sankara and Swami Vivekenanda!
The former founded four Mutts at the pulse-points
of Bharat- the latter roamed not in Rome but in India
(the land of saints, temples, home of gods and godly men)
instilling the spirit of nationalism and social reformation.
    But…while dollars roll over the sovereignty of rupees,
as a ****, with drooping eyes among nations -a land
de jure integrated and de facto dissipated and dejected
by linguistic, fiscal and parochial aspirations strutting us on-
we stand.. Who cares? Sitting around the dying culture  
all Jackals, devour and howl as vultures hover around-I shudder
to move along the road, freely breathe; as espionage, tolls
identification cards, to the satisfaction of the jackals,
that create hurdles on my way, materially, spiritually; and
bribe legislature, corrupt executive,  and blur judiciary,
****** growth and progress -even a lively move of nerves.
Independence led us to dependence to MNCs , in fact
from East India Company the baton went to British kings
and Queens; to lobbies of MNCs later it glided wasting
the blood of revolutionary freedom fighters, hurting them.
The Red Fort became the fort for the corrupted blabbers
who roar by constitution breaking the constitution of the polity.
     I don't dream of Lord Krishna dancing on the hood
of Kaliya on the banks of the Kalindi waters-polluted.
How nice to recall the glory of the past with love and toleration
that assimilated all thoughts of human beings in the world
and flowed  for ages through the canopy beside my cave,
than to shudder at every knock, and to brood in my flat gasping!
……………………………………………………………………
Note:1.Gujarat , Assam, Bombai(Mumbai), Pune, Bangalore, Poovar or Marad, :  these are places where riots or blasts occurred in India
Adi Sankara and Swami Vivekenanda!:two sanyasins(monks) of India the Former proponent of Advaita Vedanta Philosopy and the latter preached it disciple of Sri Ramakrishna  and founder of Ramakrishna Mission in Kolkota, India.
four Mutts: the mutts(Seminaries) established by Adi Sankara in Badarinath in the North , Puri in the East. Dwaraka in the West and Sringeri in the South of India to propagate the Vedic philosophy. It also proves the Undivided Indian concept the ancients had .
MNCs:Multi-National Corporations.
Kaliya on the banks of the Kalindi: A very venomous snake representing Power and torture.Lord Krishna danced on the hoods of it and killed it as per the mythology. Kalindi is River Yamuna in India that divides Delhi in to two.

Ha kamatuoran la,  gin-susumhan na gud ako,  
Diri ka pa ba gin-susumhan?  
Hin mga buhat nga balik-balik nala?  
Diri mo ba nahahalata?  
Nga utro-utro nala kita?  
Kun may napakiana ha imo, "Ano kumusta na?"  
An pirmi mo baton: "Adi asya la gihapon, waray pinagkaibahan han kakulop!"  
Ngan kontento ko na hito.

The truth is,  I am sick and tired.
Aren’t you sick and tired?  
Doing the same things over and over again?
Still haven’t noticed it?  
This has been like this again and again.
When somebody asks you, “How is everything with you?”  
Your usual reply is: “Oh nothing’s changed same as yesterday.”
And you’re happy as it is.

Usahay liwat nabati ako ha imo nga utro-utro an reklamo.  
Nga baga hin kadaan ngan guba nga plaka,  
Balik-balik an tukar, masakit ha talinga.  
Reklamo an imo pamahaw,  
Ngan amo la gihapon hasta panihapon.  
Kay kuno makuri.  
Kay kuno waray salapi.  
Kay kuno waray kapas.  
Kun may sweldo daw la an pag-rineklamo,
siguro maiha na unta nga nag-riko.

Sometimes, I will hear you complaining again and again.
Like an old and broken retro vinyl,
playing over and over again, it is hurting my ears.
Complaining is your breakfast,  
and it is your same meal for dinner.
Because it’s hard.  
Because we don’t have money.  
Because I am powerless.
If complaining will provide you a salary,
perhaps by now, you might quite be wealthy.

Nagkatapo kita kanina ha dalan han "Kada Adlaw"  
Asya la gihapon an imo sul-ot nga bado,
ngan an kabutang han imo buhok.  
Asya la gihapon an pagkakurumos han imo nawong,
Ngan an bubble gum nga hasta yana imo la gihap ginsisinamsam.  
Nangurog ako han kaluwad.
Tigda ako nahingasuka ha imo atubangan.  
Pasayloa, pero magpapadayon ka nala ba hito?
Diri ka pa ba ginsusumhan?  
Kay ha kamatuoran la,  Naamin ako Nga Oo.

*I came across you at the street called “Everyday”
You were wearing the same clothes,
And your hair was fixed the same way.
You were having the same wrinkled frown in your face,  
and was chewing the same bubble gum.
I cringe.
I suddenly felt vomiting in front of you.
I’m sorry, but will you keep on doing this?  
Aren't you sick and tired?
Because to be honest with you,  I think I am.

Karuyag ko pagsurusuntukon ini nga busag nga ****-****
Pero sigurado nga maul-ol
Salit, adi nga ulunan nala

Karuyag ko mamusdak hin mga pinggan nga nakatambak ha banggera
Pero magluluto pa ngay-an hira hin sura
Salit, niyan pagkatapos nala

Karuyag ko kumurahab hasta ako mapaas
Pero may bata nga nakaturog bangin makamata
Salit, tik-om nala

Karuyag ko manrabot hin tawo
Pero naguusahan la ako ngadi ha kwarto
Salit, it akon kalugaringon nala

Karuyag ko gusi-gusion an mga surat nga ginhatag mo ha akon
Pero aadto ha hunos, maupay an kahipos
Salit, sunod nala

Karuyag ko na bumul-iw ngan talikdan ini nga grasya
Pero waray ka bumaya
Salit, ayaw nala

So, how are you?
Hopefully, you don’t have that cough anymore,
Because that would be tough for me for sure.

So, how was your day?
You might be up again till the morning,
Because you have been thinking, writing.

So, how is your heart?
If it is hurting,
Don’t worry, I’m here to listen.

So, will you not ask how I am?
For you, that might not be a big issue,
While I’m here, so much missing you.

--Originally written in Winaray--

Ginmimingaw Ako Ha Imo

*Ano kumusta ka na?
Kunta diri ka na gin-iinubo,
Kun diri, masusubo gud ako.

Ano kumusta an imo adlaw?
Bangin nagpiniraw ka na liwat,
Pagpinanhuna-huna, pagsinurat.

Ano kumusta an imo kasing-kasing?
Kin malain it imo ginbabati,
Ayaw kabaraka, pwede man ako mamati.

Ano diri ka mangungumusta ha akon?
Para ha imo, waray la siguro,
Samtang ako adi, ginmimingaw ha imo hin duro.

Freedom to Think!
In the Past, under clear sky, any could walk
all over Bharat, though an Indian or not so.
The notion of a nation merging petty kingdoms
dimmed the vision of the people of tolerance.
Selfish kings and selfish landlords together
severed India proclaiming “save India”, alas!
     In the post independent India, I was born,
walked freely even in the starry night, till 1970s,
enjoyed outing, slept in lodges, snored under trees.
Then came the Emergency, amidst it ,against people;
politicians exploited communal thoughts, Delhi burnt,
for votes; created vote banks; nothing learnt from riots;
no merging, but diverging forces hurled us, viciously          
forced us to riots-in Gujarat ,Assam, Bombay;
panic people run helter -skelter, in Delhi, elsewhere,
in Pune,Bangalore ,Poovar or Marad ,no exemption.
How lucky were Adi Sankara and Swami Vivekenanda!
The former founded four Mutts at the pulse-points
of Bharat- the latter roamed not in Rome but in India
(the land of saints, temples, home of gods and godly men)
instilling the spirit of nationalism and social reformation.
    But…while dollars roll over the sovereignty of rupees,
as a **** ,with drooping eyes among nations -a land
de jure integrated and de facto dissipated and dejected
by linguistic ,fiscal and parochial aspirations strutting us on-
we stand.. Who cares? Sitting around the dying culture
all Jackals, devour and howl as vultures hover around-I shudder
to move along the road, freely breathe; as espionage, tolls
identification cards, to the satisfaction of the jackals,
that create hurdles on my way, materially, spiritually; and
bribe legislature, corrupt executive,  and blur judiciary,
****** growth and progress -even a lively move of nerves.
Independence led us to dependence to MNCs  ,in fact
from East India Company the baton went to British kings
and Queens; to lobbies of MNCs later it glided wasting
the blood of revolutionary freedom fighters, hurting them.
The Red Fort became the fort for the corrupted blabbers
who roar by constitution breaking the constitution of the polity.
     I don’t dream of Lord Krishna dancing on the hood
of Kaliya on the banks of the Kalindi waters-polluted.
How nice to recall the glory of the past with love and toleration
that assimilated all thoughts of human beings in the world
and flowed  for ages through the canopy beside my cave ,
than to shudder at every knock, and to brood in my flat gasping!
……………………………………………………………………

In the Past, under clear sky, any could walk
all over Bharat, though an Indian or not so.
The notion of a nation merging petty kingdoms
dimmed the vision of the people of tolerance.
Selfish kings and selfish landlords together
severed India proclaiming “save India”, alas!
     In the post independent India, I was born,
walked freely even in the starry night, till 1970s,
enjoyed outing, slept in lodges, snored under trees.
Then came the Emergency, amidst it ,against people;
politicians exploited communal thoughts, Delhi burnt,
for votes; created vote banks; nothing learnt from riots;
no merging, but diverging forces hurled us, viciously
forced us to riots-in Gujarat ,Assam, Bombay;
panic people run helter -skelter, in Delhi, elsewhere,
in Pune,Bangalore ,Poovar or Marad ,no exemption.
How lucky were Adi Sankara and Swami Vivekenanda!
The former founded four Mutts at the pulse-points
of Bharat- the latter roamed not in Rome but in India
(the land of saints, temples, home of gods and godly men)
instilling the spirit of nationalism and social reformation.
    But…while dollars roll over the sovereignty of rupees,
as a **** ,with drooping eyes among nations -a land
de jure integrated and de facto dissipated and dejected
by linguistic ,fiscal and parochial aspirations strutting us on-
we stand.. Who cares? Sitting around the dying culture  
all Jackals, devour and howl as vultures hover around-I shudder
to move along the road, freely breathe; as espionage, tolls
identification cards, to the satisfaction of the jackals,
that create hurdles on my way, materially, spiritually; and
bribe legislature, corrupt executive,  and blur judiciary,
****** growth and progress -even a lively move of nerves.
Independence led us to dependence to MNCs  ,in fact
from East India Company the baton went to British kings
and Queens; to lobbies of MNCs later it glided wasting
the blood of revolutionary freedom fighters, hurting them.
The Red Fort became the fort for the corrupted blabbers
who roar by constitution breaking the constitution of the polity.
     I don’t dream of Lord Krishna dancing on the hood
of Kaliya on the banks of the Kalindi waters-polluted.
How nice to recall the glory of the past with love and toleration
that assimilated all thoughts of human beings in the world
and flowed  for ages through the canopy beside my cave ,
than to shudder at every knock, and to brood in my flat gasping!
…………………………………………………………………….

in ashes hidden, smoulders god of love
from matted dancer's focus conflagration purely come
continues still perhaps in empty homage
of a sa ta na ma
personage of ((Shiva))

white bones pierce the sky
in upward curtain-seethes of heat
beyond imagined burning hells...
the triad ventures into zero-zones of anti-life,
sands of absolute defeat.

shadow trust imparts
a silent teacher's mantras;
soothing psychic words,
"Bala" and "Adi-Bala"
carry over dunes of morbid thirst--
the gape of ancient serpent-maws
choking dust of frightened, elephantine skeletons
fissured by immobile sun--
their inner sound become cool water of a summer stream

in timeless desert, traverses strain of royal line:
god-fated tutelage of seedling savior,
lightning skill with bow and virtue sinew
shining arms horizon's arid form:
despite begrudging honor kings expect
when offspring given after years
in hard-earned sacrificial grace:
yet still obeisance ends in facing demonaic rage
to which is pitted youth to slay--
despite allay by symbol feminine,
as if to question her abode would conjure her
in dire storm and quake announce gigantic step and hairy gulf--
with arrow sprays destroy Thataka's trident, curdling throat
the slitting of, rejoicing pantheon proclaims heroic,
forever railing under epic breath of tacit page theodical:
"we gave you progeny, now grant us our theocracy;
before your son our asthras lay their weaponry"













.

I went outside
I saw the stars gazing
I saw the lights glowing
I saw my muddy path
and jumped and hoped and jumped
Avoided getting *****

I went to the airport
'What should I do?'
I asked myself when i was at the airport
Walked to the other corner
Stared at the people
Then walked
After that I decided to go home

I walked my way to the exit
I mean to the parking lot
I stopped breathing
when I saw you
a stranger
with nice hair
brown eyes
pale face
and a-little-to-pale lips
We stared at each other for a long time
but not enough time to fall in love

Awkward?
Yes. Of course.
Then what should I do?
because we attracted to each other
and nothing we could do
so we kept walking
in different directions

Hoping one of us had ***** to say hi.

Well too bad, I don't have any.

Dear stranger at the airport
If God gives us second chance
Will we recognize each other?
Will we say hi to each other?
Will we
fall in love? Eh?

Michele Vizzotti-White In the radiant darkness of night time,...such a fine opening line....i like the way the poem blooms from natural setting...




A WALK TO REMEMBER
MATLOOB BOKHARI
In the radiant darkness of  night time,
A vast silence was reigning over the sky
The  silent music of night  touched my soul
And  blossomed flowers in the soil of   my mind
Love of God  enveloped my heart; ruled my heart
God Who created beauty and is beauty Himself
  I thought about sufferings of prophets of scriptures
I thought about  ungrateful children of  revolution
I heard angels saying, “Man will shed blood on earth.”
I heard Allah replying , “I know  which you  know not.”
I thought about desire driven and  greedy man
I saw the sinful soul created with deceit with base cronies
I saw  Hujr bin Adi shackled with iron; stained with blood
I saw Meesam talking to tree: “You are for me, I am for you”
My murshud said: “ Happiest are people; strongest in  faith
They prefer Allah; Allah will prefer them over others
Life is merely story of  two days ;one for you , one against you”
NOTE; HUJR BIN ADI AND MEESAM WERE GREAT FREEDOM FIGHTERS WHO WERE HANGED BY AN OMMAYAD RULER

one morning
Sunilettan came
with a puppy.

i was writing a grand thesis on the orphaned existence of discarded people.

when the tether was removed
i gave her a dry fish.
did not eat it.
gave a fulsome bone.
did not touch it.
gave the milk from the ad.
did not even regard it.
kissed her.
did not show any reaction.

because she came on a monday
i named her luna.

whenever i called her
she wagged her tail.
wagged her ears.
luna luna luna
i whispered thrice
in her ears.

like the golden peaks
of mookaambika,
he sharpened his ears.
me and he did not play
any game.
before we could,
she came under the wheels
of a vehicle.
without autopsy
without a second look at the body
i buried him
under the hibiscus tree
with many blooms
falling to the ground.

two of the flowers
went to a  karnataka guy’s
father’s death rites.
some turned into hibiscus juice.
some were visited by butterflies.

frequently,
the earth where luna was buried
forgot her.
me too.

another noon,
a german dog named adi
was found playing a game
of placing fish bones
on luna’s tomb.

no dog will
cease to play
till the question hung in the air
“my little sister, you have forgotten me?”*


Kuzhur Wilson
Translated by Ra Sh



(( To S. Sithara who memorised  Khasakkinte  Ithihaasam (The Saga of Khasak) when she was still a kid)

Wondering and confused with the future,
You travel along the boulevard of life…
With friends and foes running parallel to you,
Like the lighted pillars on the grand promenade!

Having learnt the good and the bad,
You have stepped into this 16th year…
Ready to embrace the forthcoming adventures,
With all confidence and stalwartness!

Sweet 16 you are, and
Sweet 16 you will ever be,
And here, starts your actual journey,
To conquer your dauntless dreams!

I wish you a sweet 16,
A sweet 16, you’ll never be again,
So long, have a Sweet 16…
Until I write again!

Vaibhav Adi
(Light of Love)

Take me back to yesterday
When holiness ******* prosperity
When churches won souls
Not the craze for numbers and money

Take me back to yesterday
When we taught moral instructions
Where teachers were models
Not paedophiles and opportunists
How I so miss yesterday!

Take me back to yesterday
When girls covered up
Knelt to greet Elders
Fetched from the stream
Where *** before marriage was a taboo

Today, celebrities project immoralities
Singers praise corrupt persons
Officers collect bribes
Contracts and admission are for highest bidders
Please take me to yesterday

Take me back to yesterday
When men married women
Women married men
Where we raised respectable boys and girls
Not sadomasochists and sadists

Take me back to yesterday
Where politicians served us
We looked up to them
Today, the table is turned
But from the beginning;
It was not so

Take me back to yesterday
Where we rubbed organic
You call it Coconut oil
I call it "Adi Agbon"
Where we wore "Shuku" in all shades
And adorned in beautiful beads

I miss yesterday
Hence my poetic pen drips
If you miss yesterday
Come ride with me
Let's go back to yesterday
That we may better our tomorrow

How winsome is it
when the soul you love
flourishes the same sensation towards you
forging all the one-sided love envious.
Dia swaroop and Rohit, two souls
loving each other, without each other knowing;
The fate went ease through them
bringing them together again to open up
However, the same fate
takes away one’s consicousness  
After all, its fated that they aint meant to be.
Again how lucky and determinant is it,
when your destined boy [adi] enters your life
with some strange entry
and draws you out of the broken past  
That’s when he befits a best friend
And eventually becomes your second love;
Even so how downhearted is it
To see your dead past come back alive,
Making you develop guilt towards the one
who taught about life to you
For once she listens to her heart
And runs to adi
But how pitiful is it
To see someone you love die infront of you
Hence, the work have left a lesson for us
that life is full of persistent problems and pain;
still the bet is given to us
If to move on with the miracles and surprises
or to stay still with the problems and pain..
Choose!

-Thanakarshnni

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
Do you have Faith in God?
Do you Love the Lord?
Do you go to a Temple or a Church?
It is time to change your search!

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
God is not somebody with a name and form
God can never die, God is never born
If you truly love God and God you want to find
Then first you have to transcend your Rascal Mind

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
The way to God-Realization is through Self-Realization
To realize we are not the body, ego or mind
When we realize we are the Divine Soul
Then, within our heart, God we will find


Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
If you are seeking God, start a quest
It's time to put every belief to test
Then you will realize, God is not God, God is SIP The Supreme Immortal Power, then you will grip

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
God is everywhere, God is in everything There is nothing, nowhere, where God is not God is a Power, in you and me
But this Divine truth, we forgot!

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
When we realize the truth, I am not 'I'
I am the Soul, the Power, that's in the sky
God is the Power that makes every heart, beat
Without SIP, nobody can walk down the street

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
Adi Shankara said, 'Shivoham Shivoham' 'I am Shiva', is that what he said?
No! I am nothing, Shiva is everything
By Shivoham, that is what he meant


Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
Because we have grown up with lies, we are fools
We just believe everything that we were taught in schools
We never questioned, 'Who, where, what is God?'
We will live and die, not realizing our Lord

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
If we chant Shivoham, we will soon be free
We will realize we are not the Mind and Ego, ME
When we seek God and our love for God makes us yearn
Then, God is within, we will realize, we will learn

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
Not everybody is fortunate to realize God
Not everybody can become one with the Lord
But those who are enlightened, get Liberation
And ultimately, with the Divine, there is Unification

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
When we realize this body is nothing, it will die
Who are we that depart into the sky?
We are that Power of Life, we are the Soul
When we realize this, we achieve our life Goal

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
I am not ‘I’, I am the Soul
Therefore, I am nothing, but the Power of SIP
SIP is in me, SIP is in you
We are all SIP, this is true

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within
This is the purpose of life on earth
Why did we get this human birth?
To realize, we are not the body, we are God
This will liberate us and make us one with the Lord

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
We may say Shiva or God or SIP
God is one, this truth we must grip
God is SIP, SIP is in one and all
Through Shivoham, we will realize and recall

Shivoham Shivoham
May you realize God within!
As long as we live in ignorance, we will cry
We will believe in God, but soon we will die
But, to realize God, we must go within
For SIP resides beneath the bone and the skin

lumibhay ka man la
dida han at pagkita
sige,
sunod nala liwat nga takna
sunod nala nga at' pagkita
salamat han paghapit
sunod,
hapit la utro kadali
adi man la ak didi
naghuhulat haimo pagbalik.

05/30/24