Life is less about
our engagement with time
but more about us being engaged
with ourselves in time

Have dreams
but not too long
they will blame you
for doing them wrong

if it has no end
that's not a pleasing song!

Such I am so used to-
others' insulting remarks
I am immune-- my skin
bears no bleeding marks

It would be best
I don't re-read
life's past pages
but on new ones to feed

Not high philosophising
that inkling
might just be the right thing!

Should I
or should I not?
my thinking shifts
I don't trust my thought

I don't need
to be an expert
in my humility
I'll be heard

Yesterday I knew
today I'm hardly sure
when tomorrow is due
I hope to be knowing--poor

Put 70% trust
   in people
   as for your self
   99%-- you'd escape trouble!

Temptation
it's healthy
it tests
your integrity

...but desire
  is more the moment
  after that
  it no longer does burn

Youth
  its dreams
  are stronger
  than reality

  you were there
  you know your story

Old age is
neither advantage
or heritage

it's just life
in final stage

The music
   has no lyrics
   just listen
   words mean nothing

What's out there
  lurking?
  nothing
  only your imagining

No, no
that on your face
the scar does not hurt

it's that long buried
in the heart
that does lacerate

You quarrelled
with you heart
it seemed like
being torn apart

yet

you return to it-
for your heart
is your undetachable home

Falling out is
everyone's inheritance
only this-
don't fall out of your self!

I have never wished
that you should believe me
I am not a fact
only a person-in-theory

The teachers were zealous
they put many skills in your mind
math, history, art, metal-work, science
but failed to teach you how to be kind

I am a small man
with the immense
I will dispense

Utopia
once it comes about
neither you or I
will be here

The future is built
not by coercion or compulsion
the wise would know this-
only by persuasion and compassion

People are not short of ideas
whether they are here or there
many speak like prophets
of your health you must take care!

The bandage
is only for relief
it's not the cure
that you should believe!

Let it be then
if you say so
comment I've none
I just don't know

If you say
yesterday was disease
have you found the cure today
and done away with the unease?

We groan and lament
but life is silent

It never did occur
in my mind
I 'd ever have anything
of worth to be left behind

I knew more
  of dad's past life
  not from anyone
  but through his eyes

Don't read me
that letter
I was only 18 then
I knew no better!

On this unknown side-road
a thousand times
I've treaded alone
what have I learnt?

You are listening to me
with your ears only
but not with your heart

None is aware
part of them is yours
and what's yours
is part of theirs

The trees in the forest
they don't vie
which will be taller
or greener

It might not be a castle
   but what I do here
   marks my very character

What has to be said
need not too contrived be
speak has your heart bids
that's enough clarity

The dusk
   is the last page
   of the day
   it unveils every mask

Is the world
too large or too small
for you?
As for me
what's in my heart
covers all

I wonder why
a fallen petal
moves me more
than a flower in full bloom

Do my poems
make you sad?
would you prefer
happy ones?
but such
few I had

A very difficult theme to write on....but you excelled. It shows how many ways intimacy may be expressed in the best of words.

May I say this?

This divine book we have nakedly shared
each word in our heart and soul vibrates unabated
while the world sleeps we are most awake
not wanting to rise even when morning hours break

By the stream
    washing her clothes
    she always hummed
    a song, dreamily
    I walked by--she startled
    gave me a faint smile
    the day had just awakened

    evening as I returned
    from work I saw her
    collecting the dried clothes
    into a bamboo basket
    still I heard her humming

   I was tempted to stay on
   as she seemed to be in a reverie
   ( I kept away from her sight)
    but a sudden storm began
   to brew---she rushed home
   since then she had appeared vividly
  so often in my dream
   who is she?

I planted the seeds
in the garden
it does seem a long while ago
I have forgotten-
this morning the first sprouting
of the roses caught me by surprise
it was sunny, mild were the breezes
blue clouds sailed leisurely
my pet dog barked for some unknown reason
a magical moment
lost in time
I felt the pulse of life
and I was alive
in rapturous wonder

People are not there
your questions to answer
enough problems faze them
don't you dare bother!

These are the exploiters
        openly they declare:
        'we should preserve the eco-system'
         but silently their tractors roll everywhere

Are you really listening
or waiting
for the slaying?

I can't make any promise
  it will leave me vulnerable
  that's being really wise
  life's lesson most invaluable

Nations are divided
though the human heart is one
leaders feed on power
they don't care for bread but the gun

I made a statement
thinking it was sane and concise
the critic came to confront me
with blood-shot eyes