A waif on this earth,
Sick, ugly and small,
Contemned from my birth
And rejected by all,
From my lips broke a cry,
Such as anguish may wring,
Sing, — said God in reply,
Chant poor little thing.


By Wealth's coach besmeared
With dirt in a shower,
Insulted and jeered
By the minions of power,
Where — oh where shall I fly?
Who comfort will bring?
Sing, — said God in reply,
Chant poor little thing.


Life struck me with fright —
Full of chances and pain,
So I hugged with delight
The drudge's hard chain;
One must eat, — yet I die,
Like a bird with clipped wing,
Sing — said God in reply,
Chant poor little thing.


Love cheered for a while
My morn with his ray,
But like a ripple or smile
My youth passed away.
Now near Beauty I sigh,
But fled is the spring!
Sing — said God in reply,
Chant poor little thing.


All men have a task,
And to sing is my lot —
No meed from men I ask
But one kindly thought.
My vocation is high —
'Mid the glasses that ring,
Still — still comes that reply,
Chant poor little thing.

Nothing here
and nothing there;
nothing then
and nothing now.

Should I return
or should I stay,
bleakness prevails.
And so I say,

"I am embodiment
of will;
I am alive;
I cannot be still.

Everything here,
everything now!
I am I,"
and hear it resound.

These lambent, sun-kissed roads
are strangers to me today
New and fresh with promise
they lead on as if to say -
walk with us silently
onwards to new dreams
bridge all these myriad distances,
break down these barriers
why must you stay fettered
when you can discover yourself?
is this what the universe has planned
or is it a spell you’ve cast?
that every happiness that heaven has
lies within my grasp?

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
  22.12.2012
Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish

We all have our vices, but you are not excused
Everything you've ever given me reeks of *****
I get it I guess, life is like a cage
But here you are, always caught up in rage
Promises for tomorrow are feeble excuses
When I know you think only on life's sweetest juices
It's okay though, continue letting me down
The funny part is I will never drown
Drag me across a road full of witches and thieves
But look at me, I have barely scrapped my knees
Toughness I see does not run in our blood
I face my problems like a sailboat in a flood
One thing I've learned since you've called me your baby:
Life is much better when you stop believing in maybe
The future before me is so big and so bright
Therefore I thank you for showing me the darkness of night
I hope that one day you learn to be brave,
And face your demons before your grave
Although my heart now will never beat quite right
I love you forever, without hate and no spite