A TALE OF SEASONS 
New  Delhi  22/4/99


I   saw   the   gray   mists   rising
Cresting   high   o'er   the   tide
The   thunder   of   the   tempest
Lashing   shores   bleak   and   wide

I   watched   the   heaving   breast
Gasping   out   a   tortured   plea
As   the   tempest   shrieking   struck
From   its   home   beneath   the   sea

The   tears   of   headless   trees
In   pools   of   blossoms   lay
Torn   limbs   with   studied   care
Ranged   along   the   traveller's   way

I   heard   the   groans   of   men
In   silent   impotence   caged
Mute   spectators   they   stood
Even   while   the   tempest   raged

But   then   its   ordeal   over
Nature   relented   for   a   while
I   saw   the   first   faint   twitching
Of   the   beginning   of   a   smile

The   pangs   of   birth   were   over
I   watched   sweet   Nature   bring
Midwif'd   by   seasonal   Time
Earth's   golden   child   of   Spring

Soft   fragrance   lined   its   cradle
Of   coyly   blushing   blooms
Woo'ed   by   a   gentle   breeze
It   wafted   through   my   rooms

I   saw   the   Gate's   were   open
In   tranquil   skies   above
The   Heaven's   gift   of   sunshine
Sent   for   the   child   with   love

The   tears   the   trees   had   shed
To   nectar   turned   by   Night
They   nursed   the   smiling   infant
Midst   gurgles   of   delight

Spring   skipped   her   way   to   youth
Light   footed   'cross   my   dreams
Her   songs   of   joy   had   echoed
'Cross   mountains,   vales   and   streams.

While   still   her   locks   shone   gold
Time   led   his   Earth   to   bed
For   Nature's   rules   are   strict
Four   times   the   Earth   must   wed.

Their   union's   long   been   fated
Their   childrens'   names   are   known
Spring,   Summer,   Autumn,   Winter
Each   in   their   image   grown

I   wonder   what   she's   thinking
As   she   looks   upon   each   birth
The   angry   face   of   Summer
Her   soft   Spring's,   lilting   mirth.

Her   Autumn's   clad   in   sunsets
Quiet   Winter   pensive   stares
Earth's   pride   is   shared   equal
By   the   offspring   that   she   bears.

When   Summer's   fiery   temper
Scorched   her   dancing   ground
Then   Spring,   soft,   fragile   creature
Could   no   longer   skip   around.

She   waited   knowing   another
Would   quieten   Summer's   ire
For   Autumn   lowers   the   temper
Stills   Summer's   raging   fire.

Freed   of   the   Summer   sun
Mother   Earth's   in   shadow   ******
Her   Autumn   gives   her   clothes
Of   soft   gold   and   melding   rust.

With   quiet   and   firm   demeanour
He's   dressed   ever   so   neat
Some   hues   of   Spring   he   wears
With   a   mellowed   Summer's   heat

His   time   is   short,   he   knows
Cold   Winter's   in   the   womb
But   Autumn's   ever   cherished
For   his   colours   break   the   gloom

Staid   Winter's   born   in   white
Earth   nurtures   him   in   turn
A   quiet   life   spent   awaiting
For   his   sister   to   return

Of   all   the lovely   siblings
I   do   love   Spring   the   most
Her   laughter   and   her   colours
For   three   Seasons   had   been   lost

I   loiter   across   the   meadows
Spring's   gaiety   by   my   side
Her   locks   of   gold   are   rampant
Like   the   frothing   of   the   tide

Each   year   the   Earth   is   fertile.
Spring,   Summer,   Winter,   Fall
I   envy   her   her   children
And   her   equal   pride   in   all.

ENCOUNTER


Along   rambling   paths
Of   unstructured   conversations
-   Nowhere   to   Nowhere   -
We   met.
Strangers   –   in   step
Till   the   crossroads.

Then   I   spoke
And   watched   my   words
Trudge   again   a   solitary   way
Silent   echoes   in   emptiness
Unheeded   and   unheard.

Soft blows the Heaven's whispering wind Saying nothing yet still something's heard -Like notes of a once -elusive Spring
Warbled by Winter's solitary bird.

And sudden my mind in gay abandon
Trolls the paths of a distant day
When twice five years -not a moment more
Innocent upon these shoulders lay.

There was, then, a summer's place
Daintily nestled upon a hill
Where many an hour of pensive thought
I'd spent in silence warm and still.

And nights hazy mists remember
Dwelt on street lights dim and low
With old men safely picking steps
Along gently sloping roads below .

Silent tiptoed the nightly rain
On sloping roofs and tender eaves
Entranced I'd see the pine trees sway
Sigh to their moist rustling leaves

I was fashioned ,to me unknown
By Grandfather -stern and tall
Whose tales of ghosts and djins that walked
Would hold my nightly hours in thrall..

In a verandah bare of face
That gazed upon a leafy vale
Of bards and poets and heroes brave
He told me many a moving tale.

Shadows danced on mountain paths
That wandered lost into the glade
Where nestling pines defying the sun
Cast a softly scented shade.

We knew along those winding trails
Many spots , most quaint and small
Where from the bustling crowds we'd flee
That thronged the town's central Mall.

The summer days were mostly warm
But sudden the thunder darkly rolled
Shivering along those neon lit streets
Stood silent doorways wet and cold.

And when the summer skies were spent
And lightning's flash no longer flared
Like mushrooms from the forest floor
The windows popped and people stared.

Prudence sought a moment's stay
But with that evening's siren call
None waited for the roads to dry
It brought the crowds onto the Mall.

Many spirits of past generations
Daily meandered thru' the town
And people dressed in Sunday best
Traversed that road up and down.

They came to see and to be seen
Boys and girls- the young and old
The warmth from seeking eyes dispelled
The damp and sometimes chilling cold.

When the shops had shuttered down
The dark bade 'night to man and beast
The music played in private rooms
Of friends gather'd to dance and feast.

Lightheaded from the evening spent
Before the first light of the morn
We'd sing to all those silenced streets
And await the breaking of the dawn.

Dreams oft born of that haze
Left many cheeks a blushing red
Hands were held, some glances shared
Some words were heard without being said.

Oft the highpoint of those months
Came when Auckland's fete was laid
With rosy cheeks in neat discipline
Stood girls in brown and yellow plaid.

Many a smoothened cheek that day
Was with fragrant cologne splashed
Many a heart that day was captured
Many a hope that day was dashed.

Many an hour was later spent
Designing chances again to meet
Many a tongue learned by rote
Words a chosen one to greet.

Another place no less famous
Lay some distance from the Mall
Whose quiet greys with hints of red
Adorned the girls of Tarahall.

Just glimpsed faces ,names unknown
Drove the boys to patient wait
Roads that somehow chanced to pass
By Auckland's or Loretto's gate.

Many a summer there was spent
Away from cares of school and books
Many a moment cherished still-
Stolen touches in secluded nooks.

I grew to manhood in that town
Of carefree summers bright and free
It's many summers since last I went
Its people and its sights to see.

The ghosts I left still roam the hills
Some wizened -others grey but well
They search another lad of ten
Their spells to cast -their tales to tell

TELL THEM



Tell them another morn is here
One of joy and hopes galore
Not now on shadows past to dwell
New life has entered thru’ your door

Tell them no gloom can dull the day
Time's wasted writ is grey'n faded
Tell them of all new senses born
And ****** aside the old and jaded

Tell them you saw a blossom reach
For the sky from barren sand
Tell them you saw a bird in grace
Soar high o’er a desolate land.

Tell them that now no rivers run
So dry--- your tears alone are wet
Tell them now by rolling banks
Life and Laughter again have met.

Tell them among the stars you count
Many who enriched your day
Tell them the memory of those times
Still echoes all along your way.

Tell them from deep within this earth
The voice of countless souls is heard
Tell them to heed with due intent
The wisdom couched in every word

Tell them you seek your rightful place.
Your own amidst the milling crowd
Tell them you chose to walk alone
Fearless, honest, free and proud

Tell them about your journeys stops
Etched in memory -big and small
Each a choice which way to turn
To walk on or stumble and just fall

Tell them the morning's call is clear
And night no longer holds her sway
Tell them you'll never seek the dark
Nor shun the dawning of the day.

When daily Nature's story's told
With chirps that gently nudge your sleep
Remember that this gift of life
Is yours to cherish, yours to keep

Night's shadows on blinding sun rays ride.
White-maned the moon betrays the tide.
The sea in still'd splendour sleeps,
Dry eyed fulfilled emotion weeps

The ghosts of past breathe life anew,
Broken words in thoughts their strength renew
Lips strain to speak, there's nought to say
Dull eyed ache holds the world at bay.

Tormented season storms a changing land
Summer's snows they say are close at hand
O Autumn your bloom in mischief peeks
While Spring forlorn her flowers seeks.

Winter garbs the earth in shimmering heat
And lies the truth disdainful treat,
The dirge its merry note extols
Death roams the land, life fettered crawls.

As frenzied mothers their dryness curse
Young children will their parents nurse
Prison bars are freedom's last refuge
Tyrants weep to hasten the deluge.

Smile then you Gods your game is played
And tomorrow's awakening today delayed
Sober man now to the womb returns
Still-born the Child breath mutely spurns.

Oh Lord, Your Child needs now an heir,
Just one bright  star to guide us where
Wise men gather, not mere fools
Content just being the Devil’s tools.

You’d sent him once this world to mould
Thru’ words of love and tales he told.  
I had no chance his hem to hold,
No time to watch  that  dream unfold.

For I was born a shade too late
Not to his world but one of hate.
Where man with man with violence deals
The poor one starves, the rich one steals.

Truth is crushed and lies are told
The honest cower, the corrupt are bold.
Where ideas born of shameful birth  
Make deadly mayhem a cause for mirth.

Where teachers teach the tomes of hate  
And  men decide  each others Fate.  
Where rapes become a daily game
Played by men in your name.


Where wounded  streets scream in vain
For a  healing touch to dull the pain
Of mans assaults In the name of God-
Where  children play with gun and sword.

Where crystal skies are staunched in grey
From funeral pyres and life’s decay.
Where Earth bereft of flowering seeds
Just holds the graves of man’s misdeeds.

Where widows wail in stark lament,
Their men are dead their lives are spent.  
The mother seeks a long lost child
Amidst a ruined world turned wild.

Tormented, lost her anguished eyes
Gaze in horror as reason dies.
Its place usurped by Hatred’s flame
Lit by men who chant your name.

Scarred by horrors they see and feel  
Those broken souls before you kneel.
The ****** earth with tears they mark
They seek the light caught in the  dark.

Tattered shrouds and silent quest
They call to you for final rest.
Oh Lord let them his face behold
Lend them now his hand to hold.  

RBM

I think it’s time to now sit back
And stop searching for another day
I’ll tell myself the tales I own
Of things that happened along my way

I would say if ever asked
Life’s been a merry ride so far
Marked by treasures found and lost
And visions near and then afar

There were times when I could sense
Things weren’t what they were to be
I’d let some fleeting joy dispel
The fears within that none could see

Countless times I’d ask myself
Is this the path I want to walk
Long silent stretches shorn of sound
A quiet yearning just to talk

We leave so many things unsaid
Using words that should’nt have a voice
We live deluded that we control
Ourselves and our every choice

Nor you and I; the Fate’s decide
What the morrows hold in store
I delude myself; for the heart is young
I won’t sit here anymore

RBM