Chocolate

That amazing thing thats brown
Dark, sweet, square or round

Gooey or hard, like strawberry or grape
Doesn't matter what is its form or shape

Its the inner core that I so adore
It is what leaves me wanting for more

Chocolate is more than just a food
Something that soothes and elevates the mood

But there comes a tinge of guilt with it
Coz 'sinful' is what the world calls it

I know I cant have it all on a platter
With some bits and pieces to myself I flatter

Its temptation drives me to a craze
I try to run away but it finds me through the haze

My weakness for it never tends to cease
An occasional feast on it leaves me at peace

It teases me in the form of temptation
And I succumb to it without explanation

While I cannot have it as my every meal
Those few bites of it I still want to steal

While one must maintain the right kind of balance
Everyone deserves some divine moments of indulgence

Law of nature

It was a bright sunny morning
In November chill the sun was shining

On armchair in the porch as I stretched myself
I was struck by a sight I saw on the shelf

On top of it a dove had built a nest
Lying there were three eggs and this family was my guest

Mummy dove would sit on them for hours in a row
Even my presence very close would not make her go

Days of patience gained her a gift
Hatched one egg and came out a chick

Soon after the second one came out of shell
But the third one took time to break the spell

Mother dove took good care of them
She brought food they squealed with hunger when

To keep them cozy she laid soft grass
The three chicks were nothing but pieces of her heart

Two of them hopped on the porch to learn to fly
Third one watched from nest and let out a cry

The two soon started taking a flight
The mummy dove meanwhile had a different plight

For the third one was born with a broken wing
It wouldn't fly but only could sing

Few days later the two left the nest
To help the third one mother tried the best

She still got it food and held on to her hope
That with this disability her baby could cope

She stood by the nest night, noon and day
The chick could only hop out and on shelf could lay

It fluttered its one wing hard and wild
Mother watched from nest the agony of her child

She stood still for long as if in deep thoughts she was drowned
Then from that high shelf she pushed the chick down

Helplessly it let out a cry as on ground it lay
The mother gave a last look and then she flew away

Shocked I stood to witness this affair
Laws of nature were not always fair

Offsprings are abandoned if they are not strong enough
For they wont survive in the nature that is so tough

The dove must have gone through anguish of this harsh blow
And with such a heavy heart she would have had to let go

-- Inspired by a true article I had read sometime back. Later an NGO took care of this abandoned and disabled bird.

The Desert Trip

The long drive that now seems to be a dream
On a straight road that would never turn it seemed
Windy ride mesmerizing heart, mind and brain
I wanna go back to the desert again...

The scenic route 66 that was much in the talk
On our way we halt at the "Last stop"
Relishing the bite we scribble our appreciation with a pen
I wanna go back to the desert again...

Winds of Arizona greet us with a flair
Where the sight of canyon was we were heading there
At the watch tower at desert point was the chill hit us when
I wanna go back to the desert again...

Views of canyon looked magnificent in the chill
Shots of their expansiveness were adding to the thrill
Its the warmth and coziness we looked for then
I wanna go back to the desert again...

Dusk brought new colors to the sky
We were at sunset view thats why
Colorado river in the haze looked faint
I wanna go back to the desert again...

At night made the village trip
Had tribal flavor in our food dip
Passing time was causing parting pain
I wanna go back to the desert again...

Carried on our way back deep feelings in heart
With this dream like time it wasnt easy to part
Memories to be cherished, but parting causes pain
I wanna go back to the desert again...

Jilling

When the road takes twists and twirls
With your closed eyes you can see the world
When the light breeze tickles your hair
You know you have arrived there

It is where you leave back the engines
And give up luxuries and go back to basics
Walk up the hill with a weather thats chilling
Admiring the beauty that is known as Jilling

Melody that greets you is a music of birds
And then in a while a sound of silence
A soul or two greets you with warmth
For there's a village with a rustic charm

Up on the hill is a small house
A humble abode for nomads like us
With nothing but serenity around
It stands glorious with simplicity profound

Being there makes your heart soar greater heights
The enormous tree gets painted by parakeet flights
Himalayan ranges stand there dignified
As the setting sun pulls its shimmering blanket aside

When its dark and the sky is lit with those twinkling lights
Those friendly locals tell you stories of vigour and might
How the bear eats their potatoes and the sambar their wheat grass
And how their dogs fight these intruders and some even give their lives, alas

In morning when the birdsong wakes you up
On a cold porch you have the warm breakfast
And when it is time to bid adieu
You realize you got so attached to this place and you never even knew

For the last time you soak in the air and the beauty
And pack your bags with your stuff and some memories
"Travel light" they always say but whatever...
You carry the whole Jilling in your heart forever

-smita

This is based on my trip to this wonderful place called Jilling few years ago.

More on the trip is blogged at-

http://www.angelfire.com/oz/smita/blog/Jilling.pdf

A Thousand Times Over

Lying in the middle of the meadow with his arms spread wide
He was taking in the cool breeze with eyes closed and grass touching his side

She tickled and with her giggles woke him from his laze
He playfully gave back, made her run and now he started the chase

When the chase was over they laughed it out till the stomach ached
This had been their secret alcove for many years where they escaped

Gazing the sky he watched the birds head home as sun began to set
He asked her softly to sing that melody in her lovely voice yet

She let out a soft chuckle and whispered even slower
For you my dear a thousand times over...

She sung songs of roses, lillies and even the humming bee
It never mattered to her that she could not see

She saw the world with his eyes and so beautiful did it seem
He fed the thoughts she weaved the words, together they made a great team

Walking on the sea shore amidst the sound of waves and feet dug in sand
She asked him to describe the most beautiful thing he had seen, holding his hand

Watching the breeze play with her curls he said with utmost grace
That the most beautiful thing in this world he has seen is her face

He asked her to sing tonight watching the seagull hover
She said for you my dear a thousand times over...

Today was the big day when her blindfold was to unfold
She'd be able to see everything that he had ever told

She saw him for the first time, he looked blurry but wise
Not sure if it were tears in his or her eyes

He said it was his happiest day and asked her what was her desire
With a gift of vision and overwhelming heart she spoke at last like a crier

Will you bring me a mirror, for I want to see the most beautiful thing
Then I want to go to the meadow and stretch my arms like a wing

I want to see those roses, lilies and also the humming bee
I want to sing to them and tell them that I can now see

Will you take me to the sea shore, I want to see the waves rising high
I want to see how the seagull looks and watch how it would fly

He touched her face as he said with tears rolling over
For you my dear a thousand times over, a thousand times over...

--Title inspired by the phrase in Khaled Hosseini's "Kite Runner"

Wine Shop

 

Long days of nothingness, but for the dusk I always wait
This is when new stories unfold and many hearts open their gate

 

After sun sets, candles are lit and the music plays jive
This is when the world sleeps and the bar comes to life

 

I look forward to seeing those men and women with varied trends
Some are strangers, some are allies and some are my closest friends

 

I see this lovely woman today wearing the most beautiful smile
Its only when I get to her heart do I know her painful travel of a mile

 

She is a single mom of two, who lost her job today
She has to look for new earnings tomorrow,
           but today with her kids she has to play

 

There comes a casanova with two gorgeous ladies by his side
Deep inside he's nursing a broken heart and the hurt he is trying to hide

 

A corner is filled with laughter and cheerful voices of some folks
They are celebrating a friends success, with wine, dine and jokes

 

There I see my old buddy, since I last saw him it hasnt been long time
His daughter was getting married and he was on the cloud number nine

 

He is here again today with a weeping heart thats squealing
His lil girl got married today and to bid her adieu was a mixed feeling

 

They all come to me, confide in me and share the pain
I try to listen and be the shoulder to cry on, in cold, heat or rain

 

Sometimes I fear of letting them down as I am no divine
I am ordinary, a modest spectator, I am just a humble wine

 

Day Dream

Watching the butterfly hopping in the weed
In the backyard I jump soaked in rain with messy muddy feet

Mom yells and asks me to come inside
There she is furious, standing with a towel beside

When I come back after a shower I see her with a smile serving my favorite food
I wonder how she turns into a different woman in minutes, and how she changes her mood

Papa's fixing a broken fan but smiles at my confusion
I often hear him talk with mumma about my future and education

My little brother screaks when I take a nut from his bowl
Mom interferes and gives us both more nuts to silence his howl

My train of thoughts is intruded with a dish breaking sound
I wake up from my day dream, as after dishwashing making beds is the next round

I think of all my brothers who might be having the same dream coz I'm not alone
As I go inside the dorm where I live, in the orphan home

But my dream is not a wish, for I know it will never come true
And wishing for this will only make me feel blue

I like to imagine instead and wonder how to have a family would seem
I can paint a different picture every time and live those happy moments any time in my day dream