The first look, that smile
A twitch of the lips
Flush of the cheeks
Cascade of heartbeats

Words unspoken
Yet a lot was said
We held our hands
And time just fled

Sweet innocent love
A roller-coaster ride
It made us laugh
And made us cry

We fought and made up
Over matters trivial
And laughed over it
All through the night

Birds flew in patterns
In the clear sky so blue
Everywhere bright flowers
Welcomed us with delight

Stay young O love
Peaceful and content
As you illumine our lives
With a radiant splendour

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In my dreams
From a world yonder
You still appear
With all the answers

Holding twilight in your hands
You wake me up
To a new dawn
Of beauty and wonder

You watched me grow
Like a ray of hope
And put me to sleep
With divine kisses

Caring eyes reflect
Sacrifice and concern
Words unspoken
Convey everything

O Mother! O Angel!
From the kingdom of love
Showering grace upon me
O Star!  in the sky

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The little girl looks at her reflection
In  the train window
She begins play acting
oblivious to those around her

The old man in the corner seat
cannot suppress a smile
Suddenly their eyes meet
And she takes cover

The crowd  swells in  as people jostle for space
The intercom resonates
Train door is closing..
Please mind the platform gap

She  turns to her mother
Pleading to play a game with her
She recites the names of the stations
Novena, Newton, Orchard, Somerset..

The young lad sways to and fro
Unable to control his sleep
He is shaken from his dream
By the lady beside him

Suddenly it turns dark
The train passes a tunnel
The little girl hugs her mother
And eagerly awaits the light

All around people tapping
smartphones and  tablets
Checking out social media and games
Absorbed, riveted and focussed

The girl runs to the window
Amazed by sight of boats in a row
serene waters and blue clouds
Skirted by green trees

Events change along the train ride
one after another like patterns
Of a kaleidoscope
Surprises waiting to unfold



© copyright skm

School, office, homework, business
Projects, shopping, cooking and chores
Bogged down with the daily grind
Our lives are like one big race

Lugging overloaded school bags
A child brings home more work
Is there a time for fun and games
When lost in this timeless maze?

Caged behind office cubicles
Targets and timelines
Deals and telephone calls
The blood pressure builds

Sandwiches, noodles or pancakes
What would you like to have today?
Have you thought of your housewife?
Who cares for you like a trained waiter

Bulls and bears
Stocks and Indices
It is the economy stupid
Giving you those nightmares

Add some rhyme and reason
Replace logic with intuition
Clear that mental clutter
Add balance to your life

Spill some colour
Pen a verse
Play a game
Listen to music

An artist is a breath of fresh air
Revelling in creative freedom
Letting loose enchanting melody
The song of his soul

© copyright skm

The majestic Himalayas
kiss the azure skies
And the Ganges flow down
Blessing the land below

Bruised and bloodied
By ruthless conquerors
She stood her ground
Strong and resilient

Vibrant and chaotic
With an energy that awakens
Exotic and colourful
India – a celebration of life!

The blare of horns
The maze of daily traffic
The muezzins call
and temple chants

A creative burst
A dizzying plethora
A dazzling confluence
Of cultures and tradition

Dances and drumbeats
A riot of colours
Lights and sounds
Its festival time

A land of saints and sages
Who meditated in solitude
Seeking truth and knowledge
To free the world from ignorance

As the sun sets
The crowds disperse
And at the street-corner
A little boy greets you with a smile!



© copyright skm

Lurking in the shadows
Casting sly, furtive glances
Treading slowly without a sound
Thief who steals precious life

Hiding behind window blinds
A cold, silent stranger
Lying in wait for the right moment
To devour his prey

With a coy smile
He takes you in his embrace
Showering kisses all over
Taking your last breath away

Writhing in pain and agony
The sick pray for him
Yet he turns a blind eye
To their fervent pleas

He acts in mysterious ways
Sometimes striking a fatal blow
With bullet wounds, blood and gore
Or taking you away in your sleep

After the job is done
He flees the crime scene
Without leaving a trace
Of his presence behind

He dances in joy
Ignorant at his folly
The heart does not beat
But the spirit lives on

Death – Are you friend or foe?
Should I love or abhor thee?
Trailing life – like a shadow
Death – Do you ever die?

© copyright skm

When you are in the middle of critics
And not a  single soul believes you
When the whole world thinks you are a liar
Can you stand up for the truth?

When failure stares at you
When anguish, sorrow and pain confront you
When storms tear you asunder
Do you still follow your dream?

When there is a steep mountain to climb
And your legs are weak and tired
When the ***** is slippery and arduous
Do you lose sight of your goal?

When this body is shrieking in agony
And the final moment nears
When the last breath is seeping out
Can you smile and face death?

Courage is not bravado
You don’t have to shout and roar
It is that little voice within you
That constantly guides you

© copyright skm