Time

I sit at my Ammi’s(mother’s) knee
As she winds her fingers through my hair
Encasing it in fragrant oil
An old radio, then new
Thrums out age old movie songs
So well-known that
My lips move in tune
And my fingers drum the beat
On the cold cement floor
Watching Achchi (grandma) cook
In the then stove less kitchen
Spices waft through the air
Out the doorway
A man is breaking coconuts
As Seeya (grandpa) supervises
And baby squirrels play tag
On the branches of mango trees
Whose leaves float to the ground 
On the wings of the evening breeze
And in the distance I hear
The sound of the metal gate
Unhinged, then close again
Thathi’s (Dad) come home, I smile
Getting up on my small feet, ready to run
Ammi tries to hold me back, my hair’s undone
 But the anticipation of the sweets
In his pockets too great to resist
And I break free and fly to his arms

Time moves……………. Too fast

Now I sit within my room
Penning these words
As tears threaten to fall
Through heated eyes
That still gazes through 
The windows of the past
I hear my mom cooking
In a kitchen full of appliances 
She hums a lone to music
She loves from the days of old
As I gaze outside the door 
To see, trees no more
But walls so high to hide from neighbors' sight
Dad’s paper floats down to the ground 
On the breeze created by mechanical wings
As he rests - I earn my own sweets now
Each of us trapped in thoughts of our own
We become civilized they say
So refined that we built boxes to trap our minds in
But the spirit remembers
What the souls yearn for 
A vibrant, loving and carefree past

Oh time! You simply moved too fast.

My Country, My home

Misty mountains and bone-chilled roads

Tropical beaches and salty seas

A mere hours ride apart

Makes up this place called home to me

On one hand an ancient building

That survived the ravages of war

On the other stands another temple

Like a beacon of hope for peace for all

To the north, ragged lands that no more thrives

Only palm trees riddled in bullet holes survives

Grand homes lie vacant covered in shrubbery

Even ghosts refuse to haunt, too many memories

To the east, the sun smiles down on

White sandy beaches that stretch endlessly

A man may walk in peace, among dunes

Decorated by the shells of the Indian sea

To the south, spreads shades of color

Emerald paddy fields and blue lakes meet

Where chanting monks in golden robes

Walk feet uncovered in the heat

To the west, stand towers tall

Endless traffic, mechanical voices roar

Life moves faster, growing harder 

People running back and forth

Cultures here are vibrant

In color and in speech

Food is made of spices

Desserts from honey trees

I turn down one road, a church I see

Down another a mosque stands free

Another turn confronts a Kovil you see

One more turn, a temple with a bo tree

Now I stand in the middle and breathe

The scents of spices and salty seas

Carried ironically on mountain breeze

For this is my country, my home you see

Dance

Dance

By the streetlight

Dance

In the shadowed night

Dance

To the heart's beat

Dance

In the moments heat

Dance

To the piper's tune

Dance

Among the sandy dunes

Dance

Before the sun does dawn

Dance

Till the time is born

For then comes calling

Truth's sweet song

For those who dance

from night to morn

 

Reflections

I stare at the mirror 
Watching reflections of me
From the old I recognize
The child that was to be
In secret hopes and dreams
A super hero flying free

Next reflection
A youth confident
Strong and persistent
In thoughts and ideals
Yet still a teen 
Searching for freedom
Chafing at chains
Only to dream free

Time passes 
Reflection changes
A woman now perceives
In child, teen, woman
The changes and the similarities
How years have changed thee 
So many reflections
of achievements and disappointments
Ideals changed and perceived
That I will always be Me

A Poem is a -

Beat of a heart

Enclosed in crystal thought

Born in a moment

Enhanced emotion

Deep within a

Passionate heart

My Love

This was done for a poetry writing prompt and I can't take all the credit as the main words come from the song :) Please do listen to the song however as it is truly inspiring :)

Inspired and crafted out of the the original song "Mi Morena" by Josh Groban in his album "Closer"

My love

I can see

Your vision

So beautiful

When the music plays

Your body

Is a bird of grace

Mi Morena

I watched

You dance

In rain like holy water

You Shined

A silver flame

A ghost

You danced alone

You are my soul

My love

I watched you dance

Fluid is your dress 

Silk and lace

A nylon guitar 

Notes lift to slip away

Mi morena

You are my cross 

Of feathers and bone

My heart 

I carved of stone

As I whisper your name

The sun bows to the moon

And I watch once more

For you

Only you

Mi morena

Hold out your hand

In this night

Be my lover

Let me fall 

Into your eyes

My fire of love

I would steal the stars

For I adore you

Mi morena

Bold Ballet

This is a poem that inspired me once while watching a unique dance portrayed by a handicapped lady and a gentleman. It is a Chinese ballet and I have tried to capture its essence and my emotions at the moment that I first viewed this. I have named it as Bold Ballet and would appreciate your comments to find if I have been successful in capturing its essence.

He flitted

She glided

Across the stage

Towards the other

To entwine

And embrace

Beautiful music

Defining

Their souls

As he stretched

His arms

And she soared

In dance

They were whole

He had no leg

She had no arm

But together

They were

More complete

Than any whole

any one