Every flower, even the humblest
has its own charm and beauty
call it by any name
you can't diminish its glory

By myself I stand
despite what others say
whatever the event
of the very day-

I look up to no ally
aloneness is my unfailing strength
on my resilience I faithfully rely
through life's utmost breadth and length

By then, my friend
you wouldn't remember my name
but both of us would readily admit
we are no longer the same

By then
the wonder
would have
come to an end

time has spoken

the rose
greeted you
you ignored
soon enough
it was dead

love wooed you
you turned away
giving the excuse
you weren't ready
(as though you heart
had been stitched)
it wept and visited
never again

by now
the sun has set
the daylight waited
but you were wrapped
within yourself
(in rumination)
sad, how really sad!

Alone
forlorn
you're left
to the darkness
and know
no rest

My eyes follow
  the drift of the sea
   it's the hottest summer
   the memory of you
   suddenly flashes back to me
   but too well I know
   you'd no longer remember
   those days of innocent gaiety

   we sat then under the same tree
  where we shared Keats's poetry
  my hand you held tenderly
  and kissed me so passionately :

   'Do not ever leave me
   I'll die for you---surely
   if you were to walk away..'
   your spoke tearfully-

   a decade hence--how time did flee!
  to Cambridge you went to study
  you promised to return after your degree
  but there you stayed on permanently

a telegram reached me before long:
'  Love is a strange thing--I met Henry
    he scored double- first--he promised
    next week to marry me!
    I wish you every happiness
   you'll learn to forget me..'

     A tiny boat is gliding by
     a bird is chirping merrily
      as I watch the slow-moving sea

By the way
I can't buy
my way
through life

all I know
is I am just
a passerby

just to
keep an eye
whatever
the way

I'll dance
laugh and sing
and will happily
say some day
'Good-bye!'

..by which time
  the river has run its course

  by which time
  winter has smothered
  the last autumn rose

  by which time
  all leaves have turned grey
  the barren garden has nothing to pose

by which time
the stars have grown weary
not a single light--beam glows

by which time
love has its farewell bade
all feelings wither and close

..by which time

the river has run its course



by which time

winter has smothered

the last autumn rose



by which time

all leaves have turned grey

the barren garden has nothing to pose



by which time

the stars have grown weary

not a single light-beam glows



by which time

love has its farewell bade

all feelings wither and tearfully close

That which can be counted
does not for anything count
the intangible of love and kindness
how can such be calibrated?

I don't have time to dream
too much to do on hand
a moment lost I can't redeem
towards the call of duty I should bend

Impatient male driver
shot the traffic light
caught by the policeman:
dad, I've to do what's right !

Call to duty?
whose call?
the law?
who made the law?
to war?
who created the war?
die for country's honour?
what about mine
my family's?  Don't sober
us with words of national grandeur--

I'll only answer
to one call
that of my conscience-
talking and walking tall
taking arms to see the enemy fall?
why don't you legislators
walk with us through the battle-mall
instead of smoking your cigars
and drinking whisky or brandy
mindless of the horrors
that haunt and plague us
night and day, careless of the sorrows
of our loved ones we left behind?
will we who are here live
to see the morrows?
where's the solace that we would find?

In Flanders Fields we are stranded
with the hard stones as our bed

will you remember us
when the war is won?
but by then we would have been dead.

In every heart
there's a candle
waiting to be lighted
by the individual

Why would I wish
  to argue with you?
  I've so many important things
  indeed to do!

Too much candour
could land you in dolour

It doesn't talk---the dog-
but much wisdom it has got!

Can love be divided
      as it's so often written and said?
      How? Among loved ones
      relatives, friends, causes
      according to what measure?
    
     Love isn't mathematics
      thus, the argument
      can't stand on solid ground-

      I'll love spontaneously
     and generously
      without any  scientific formula !

What I can't
to others I leave
I'd cause myself
and others no grief

what I can
on I'll stay
to contribute
something for the day

Are you easy
or difficult to live with?
Please tell me-
honestly!

Capitalism is a leaking septic tank
corporations its foul odour imbibe
when Wall Street suffers from diarhorrea
its illness infects worldwide.

The hours are late
for some, early for others
they don't suit everyone
a whole bag of bothers--

whoever and wherever we are
we are never the true winners
held to ransom with impunity
and scattered all over as feathers

Heiress in Line
  sweet Caroline
  but dad was stingy
Oh! won't buy her a CAR
unless she turned forty!

Don't aim
at the future
what's on hand
is enough treasure
in the beckoning
of every opportunity -
there shouldn't be
any reason for tarrying-
the sun has only
set hours for shining
soon comes its setting-

let your talent
be in best unfurling
let your heart
be fearless in feeling
let not love
be in waiting
reach out
for the lips
that are craving
for kissing-

indeed every moment
is right for praying-

don't look
too far ahead-
the present
is your becoming
the reason for living-

when the last bell
is in chiming
you'd have no regret
but find sublime joy
in your farewelling

You can't wait too long
the song would have been sung
not a single note will be repeated
into the nothingness of time it has flung.

Cast out
by them?
you are no outcast!

without doubt
you are blessed
them you'll outlast

life is all about
what you are
yourself you must trust!

take out your pen
write and shout aloud
sharpen your brush!

they some day
will be cast out
while you last!

Do not come my way
lest I lead you astray-

do not trust what I say
lest it might cause you dismay-

do not praise me
I might not be worthy-

do not be my friend
lest on me you can't depend-

do not grant me any favour
be able to reciprocate I might never-

lastly,  this I'll declare
turn away from me--go elsewhere!

Let not your pursuit
be inimical to the truth
though what you desired
has been achieved--it'll yield no good

Do not confuse
your impatience
with eagerness:
it's not worthy
of note-- too wide
is the difference!

Beware of the unreason
of reason--it's so common!

Don't show yourself
too often in any place:
people's boundaries
are clearly drawn
they fear your presence
might have them displaced

Believe something
           but be prepared
          to discard if later
         you should find it
         to not fit
         your distilled thinking

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

It's not that
those with arm
who is the cause
of harm

Let your words dance
to the tune of your heart
they belong to each other
they never stand apart

a poem is a celebration
not just a piece of verbal art
herein is life crystallised
where beauty dwells never to depart

Time will catch up
anyhow but not yet
the heart longs for love still
it shall not forget-

the moment is the miracle
letting it languish would be regret
write your love-poem, sing your lustrous song
embrace, rejoice, celebrate!

It's either centripetal or centrifugal
    none could stay in the middle

You said: 'Certainly'
All I know is that life has no certainty

The moment
I feel sure
I lament
such certitude
I can't endure

for the window
of my perception
would have been shut
my sense of direction
I would have lost

give me doubt
let me have
questions
unanswered

they shall set me free
as I would be
unencumbered

life is a kaleidoscope
peering through
its prism a new world
is waiting to be discovered

indeed I can't say
or accept--a certain colour
is all I need to define myself
that would be totally absurd

all that's before me
is a challenge and test
I stumble and fall
many events do hurt

but these shall only make me
larger than I could ever be
in the vicissitudes of living
all that which obstructs
I would have conquered.

Of course I am sure
that I am unsure!

Life, first, the engagement

at the end, the dislodgement

Nothing does
ever add up
I can't be bothered
to think--happily I sup

I don't wish to be crude
but you are fast-spoiling my mood!

The Town Hall Health Department
  issued me a summon:
' the grass at your compound has overgrown'
  but that's the house of John Simon!

Your dog bit mine first
and got hurt
now your lawyer is suing me
how absurd!

You are a good trumpeter
  but don't play late into the night
  you cause me insomnia
  in your music I take no delight!

'Your call is important to us
you have been placed in a queue'
45 minutes have gone by and you said:
'after a few more,  it will be you'

'I'll return the book next week'
six years have since gone by
it's still lying in your book-shelf
who's the victim?  I !

The beautiful woman came last
  (in your efficient service I placed my trust)
  she's at that concern her dinner enjoying
  and you are saying:  yours is soon coming'.

Legal letter  I received and it did read:
'  this is a defamation suit'
   but there are two blokes by the same name
   in this our neighbourhood!

The weatherman made a wrong forecast
     it rained and there was no sunshine
     I got drenched in the city under a sky downcast
     what misery that was mine!