I still care.
Sitting behind the net curtain,
I burn incense to cover the smell
of cigarettes and watch the street
fill up each morning. I may have grown
old and fat and short of sight, but you know
I remained as half a person with a childhood mind.

The bodies come.
Mass graves as far as the eye
can see, and yet still I think of you
and how you patterned your hairstyle
to the changing of your moods. I wonder
how you are looking today, how you are feeling.
Though I am finding grey in my whiskers, I still care.

I paint now.
Nothing special, just irises
from the neighbours garden.
I grew tired of writing  once I found
that there was nothing to show for it.
I am too lazy to tend to a garden that
creeps up around me, I have given up on

trying to out-run the world.
I still care. Somewhere beyond
cynicism and charcoal, I still care.

And then there were none.

They came and they went..

silent joy simple fun

the starry firmament.

While for words this mind craved

the wind blew unheard

While this ink raved

flew away the singing bird!

The stars got weary of twinkling

real moon turned an imagined one

These blind eyes had no inkling
how they debarred the simple fun.

When they turned to behold

this madness was done

times hid in wrapped fold

And then there were none.

she wrings the morning
from her paint soaked dress, dreaming
dragonflies hover
becoming sunlight dancing
vast, her fields of flowers bloom

You remind me of Stevie Nicks in her prime,
pinning medals to yourself for surviving love
and turning all sadness into effortless ***.

The lead guitar plays through your headphones
as you walk through another dreary street,
another dreary day where he will barely look at you.

Rain falls and autumn arrives as if it has always
been there, as if the seasons have finally caught up
with the mood that has been clinging to you

all year. You wonder from your place on the bus,
where your life is leading, if indeed, you want it
to lead anywhere at all. Every indication is given

by some well-wishing hand, each one hoping to
tend to you, pigeon-hole you into a life that they
had always hoped to live in, beyond hypocrisy

and lack of education. I know you gave up on
newspapers long ago. I am glad. You are worth
the peace of a morning. Someone like you

should never be dragged into war.

~~
As we see the planet earth is embedded
within the solar system
though the other planets are his brother
moon is his lover
and the sun is his father
but his Atlantic still very thirsty,  
not ever be satisfied
even today he seems insufficient light

Yesterday he wanted some water from Venus
but tonight he wishes to borrow light from moon
yet the sun is still emitting his light for his son,
even though the planet does not know
his bro Venus has not a single drop of water
and his dear moon has no light at all
~~
@ Musfiq us shaleheen

Plan A: there is none as such;
though unflinching ego makes
complex calculations, concludes,
reassures it is best laid for sure.

Plan B, hence has no actual relevance
A mountain river, life is, it rushes
the way the cryptic GPS message directs.
If you ask how it works, try to understand
the intricate organic correlations, involving factors
that  even a super computer can't process
but your mind would, somehow easily tell you
in a clear voice, if only you are ready to  listen.

Every best laid plan is merely a wish
the more profound is spoken as a prayer
words addressed to the voice inside, that listens and acts
fulfillment then, is an emotional construct
you need the scent of that flower to inspire life.

Who says the cosmic plan is mysterious?
One who walks the karma path right, even when eyes closed
knows how to reach where one is headed to.
The truth this: one leads oneself, so keep the inner eyes open.

Subtle wishes that bring smile on the face of thy neighbor
are much more meaningful than selfish desires