an oddity, an aberration
an icon, an inspiration
like the fabled camel through the eye of the needle
i am a miracle

through centuries of strife
i’m awake
through stories of me and mine
i’m awake
beyond chains and wings
i’m awake
in the ***** of the day
i’m awake
in the freedom of the night
i’m awake
unbowed, untied
i’m awake
in war and in peace
i’m awake

can you really look me in the eye
and tell me I’m not?
can you do me an injustice
and not feel terrified?
can you shove me aside
and feel complete?
can you bury my story
and live undead?
can you take what is mine
and stay forgiven?

i am compassion, i am pride
i am I

i am the earth and the sky
i am the source of life

i am gold that is purified
i am the carbon that has crystallized

i am every woman
i am I.

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
         24.12.2012
Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish

time
trickles
timorously,
threading
together
thoughts
through
ten­der
trembling
tears -
twisting
their
tired
themes

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
   24.12.2012
Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish

behind
my
words
and
smiles,
lies
buried
the
treasure
of
dreams
that
you
seek

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
24.12.2012
Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish

when Sita asked Rama
to get her the golden deer
what did she actually want?

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
24.12.2012
Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish

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

squirming
in
his
seat,
searching
within
his
shirt
he
magically
pulls
out
a
butterfly!

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
   21.12.2012
Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish

इन आँखों मे नींद आ तो जाती है                                                        Sleep does come to these eyes
लेकिन रुक नही पाती                                                             ­            but it never stops a while
ना जाने क्यों यह आँखें                                                            ­           I know not why these eyes            
बन गयी हैं तुम्हारी परछाई                                                            ­    have become your shadow.
इस तनहाई से बनती थी मेरी                                                            T­his loneliness used to be my friend
तो आज उसे देख                                                              ­                 then on meeting it today
मैं क्यों मुस्का ना पाई?                                                             ­         Why couldn’t I smile back at it?
क्यों भटकती हूँ मैं इन राहों मैं-                                                          Why­ do I keep roaming these streets?
क्यों मैं तुम्हारी यादें भुला ना पाई?                                                    Why can’t I forget your memories?
- विजयालक्ष्मी हरीश                                                             ­            - Vijayalakshmi Harish
  २१.१२.२०१२                                              ­                                         21.12.2012

Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish