Hometown

hills and fog
memories of
spring gone by
buried in the snow

flavours, fragrances
of youth
the decay and emptiness
of old age

the joy and
the ache
the bitter-sweet
the happy-sad
hometown.


 

DOWRY

Sudden cold days
like today
were cruel indeed
his push cart
of daily living
pierced the fog
of memories

all day he
looks intently
at hands
of girls and women
picking up
veggies from the cart

all he sees
her henna hands
pleading for mercy
the rest of her
in flames
matching the
red of his eyes

it was too late
to regret
or grab her back

notes of all
denominations
in his pockets now
always stained
in blood

sudden cold days
or sunny days
all meaningless
remorse now
his lifelong dowry !

Fear and fog

A pinch of salt
is often the
pygmy courage
needed to make
the soul curry
flawlessly fearless.

just like one bright
ray of winter sun
to pierce the cold core
of the blind blankness
of days, nights and
afternoons famished
in the fogged fangs.

NOTES TO THE SUN

I
The old lady winter
looking for the ball of golden yarn
tossed afar in the skies.

II
The truant sun
hiding its smirk
behind the fog mittens

III
A tune in the head
the lyrics all mixed up with memories
why blame the sun !

IV

The world withers away

devoid of the warmth and the light

so that we know love is like sunshine !

LADY FOG

The summer lover
seems to have left
in haste

leaving her
icy cold
her pearl string
scattered all over
the flower bed

the drape of
her achromatic saree
haphazard

she sways
all night
as if still in
the trance
of the brief
autumn warmth.