Is it I or them, that fate has forced
to shadow in my lifeless eyes
for truth has bitterness to pay
and flame light flares along its path

when right and wrong are undiscerned
and creatures stir within their cage
when parents clip the wings of birds
and suffer them their broken ways

there lives between uncertain wrongs
an urge to end the war outside
to flee from all you say is true
and debts that cost too much to pay

yet finding manifested strong
the time to read between the lies
we spindle back the fraying cord
that blindly leads us to the grave

I've sauntered to the blackened gates
and laughed out at the red inside
that fails pride and injures truth
and falls down where it cannot rise

I have been born to this affluent world
Rich with diversity and nature’s delight
So many wonders mesmerize me
Benevolence is the essence of this abode
The microcosm reflecting the magnanimity
Immediately I was accepted as a tenant
Being fed from the abundance of cultivation
Fertile soils yielding bountiful harvest
Feeding me to make me stronger
I walk upon this earth with pride and joy
To see mankind and animal kingdom thrive
The camaraderie between and nature and us
It still does not say, “You owe me”
We are indebted to this planet for the largesse
Yet, not rich enough to pay back the debt
I am just a tenant, wonder if I can repay
Only way I can do that is by nurturing love within
And not to destroy this space at will
Only I can love the earth with my heart
And help, in my way to nurture its purity
Many more to come after me can be a tenant here
Let this be a reminder, we are not here to plunder

Everytime someone helps me or offers me something
I build up feelings of guilt and obligation and
I feel ashamed by disappointing the ones
which were nice to me before.

But in reality there is no debt, no obligation at all.
There are only decisions, decisions if you want to be obligated.
Forced upon you by yourself and the principles
you want to stay true in your life.

Do I follow my love? Do I follow my belief?
It's you, who decides, nobody else.
As it is your choice, as it is your responsibility,
shaping up the life you will have,
shaping up the life you will show.

Have I got no future, no friends
Caring when others run in fright
I would’ve jumped from a great height
To relieve this body from its debt

Have I got no siblings, no father
Crying in blood and tears
I would’ve pushed the soul to its limit
Near death and out of body experience
To relieve this soul from its debt

Have I got no mother, no lover
Caring with folded hearts
I would’ve revolted on my beliefs
With the same words I’ve been taught
To relieve this mind from its debt

But no courage could be found
To cure the mind’s actions and commands
To risk nothing for the sake of nothing
To find a debtless land

You must register with an employment agency,
he said through a muffled yawn, to defer
your studnet loan payments for the next six months.

But don't worry, he continued, clearing his
throat and sipping what I presumed was stale coffee,
you don't have to accept any jobs that you're offered.

before the break of dawn
even in cold and misty morn
a soul roams throughout my house
even when the sun is not yet up

the soothing smell of agarbatties
shoots up in the air
the sound of morning prayers
is heard in this hour

her sweet and melodious voice
will be carried to my ears
as  i crouch myself
under the warmth of my cot

next she wakes me up
with her gentle tap
and draws the drapes
across the window sill

even when i pace up and down
to get ready to board my bus
she always keeps calm and steady
like the pendulum in my study

she always has a feeling
when i am concealing something
then she rubs and scrubs the secrets
until the answer clicks

the day will come to an end
as the sun sinks below the horizon
even we stops to grow, as years pass
but a mother....have anyone seen her halt?

even though she stays calm
her heart pounding hard, no one heard
since the day i was in her womb....
to this very minute of the day

if a fairy grant me a wish
the only thing i would ask
to repay the love and care i owe
to that sacred soul....

My skin crackles above my shell.

Grown so old, can't you tell?

I feel like plunging straight to hell.

I'm so weak with nothing to sell.

I've grown poor, down I fell.

Until I'm encumbered by debt; and death as well.

you know me better than me,
but i gave you nothing
for knowing me better...

you can tell when i am sad....
even before i know it myself,
still i seize to believe you all the time...

you reads my thoughts
hidden from rest of the world,
i dont know how you do it friend.....

you seems to know what i choose..
be it right or wrong,
you always stands by me...

you kno when my spirits are low...
and boost me up till
they are high again...

you seems to save every nice things...
in the hope i would love them
oh friend you trapped me in your debt

it seems i owe you a big deal.....
to return the care and dare...
you showed when you stood up for me...

the love and friendship...
compassion and patience...
its hard to repay i guess...

im leaving behind a great debt...
it would take a life time to repay...
i know you want nothing in return....
but still can i offer to carry you in my heart......