There was a dreadful nail in her shoe
But still she went to pick her child from school

She was in a hurry as she was already late
As she scurried out our wooden gate

I could not believe she had a nail in her shoe
But still she agreed to pick her child from school

The bumpy road and the scorching heat
By her courage, she could easily beat

I couldn’t believe there was a nail in her shoe
But still she agreed to pick her child from school

To subdue all the turns and bumps she did not fail
Despite the scorching heat and the dreadful nail

I could not believe there was a nail in her shoe
But still she agreed to pick her child from school

“Is it not hard to walk” I asked
With a nail in the shoe, it is a big task

“why not go and change instead?”
But some golden words were what she said

“I go through many hurdles my dear”
A nail in the shoe is pretty familiar

The coerce foes are like a nail in my shoe
The devalue of people adds to the pain too

But I turn a deaf ear to them dear
Cause their opinions are unworthy to hear!

My Pantry

I panicked in the storm, afraid
nothing to bargain or trade

sustenance or reprieve
bewildered and bereaved

to acquire or do without
I walked for miles in doubt

through the tempestuous skies
I looked at the field behind my eyes

I circled around and found
my pantry still abound

the sheesham shelves were old
the walls covered in mold

a smiling monsoon
coconut ladoos likened to the moon

stolen biscuit jars
they’d travelled from afar

half eaten cadbury’s bars
reminiscent of sibling wars

jars of kindness
marmalade bitter and timeless  

pickles of surprise
cakes made of rice

curiosity in spice caddies
an old healer of maladies

my fears left me to wander
my will now fed and stronger

I had no reason to despair
my pantry overflowing, I had so much to share

I see the golden rays of sunshine
On the street and against the houses
I long to bask in it
And absorb all of warmth and beauty

There are trees blossoming
Flowers are blooming
Bees are busy zooming

Oh how beautiful it is outside
I wonder what the parks might be like

But alas, I cannot go
I am to stay inside
Only to observe nature’s greatness
From my clear glass window

You are exhausting---

The constant hammer
that falls upon my head;
driving me to fulfill a goal,
making me always think,
with ideas that keep me fed.

Years before---

I was feral as a man
wild of tooth and tongue.
Uncaring in my approach
both aimless and blameless,
from the badge of being young.

Still---

Out of the faceless crowd
I chose an expression,
imprinted now, only you would do.
To save me from my sickness,
and secret life that only you knew.

That stubborness---

I can not quit because of it
and so I reach to climb;
through thorn and thistle,
moving higher, higher still,
until I reach that azure sky.

However---

Once I'm staring at it
I feel it's just not true.
Thinking ******* the challenge
I dig up through cloud and heaven,
and continue on my way...

Because you taught me to.