Saturday 29 March 2008

Bullseye!

Though daggers
and stilettoes
be all that you
possess in your
armory of words-

I shall stand
and receive them
with open arms.

There is a
distinct possibility-
One that I'm
banking on-

That one will
strike right there-

At the centre
of my heart!



Usha, 1 July, '07

The Rain Is Me

The rain is
me, now.

Grey, grey clouds
that hold my heart
and soul, captive;
heavy with leaden
sorrow.

Huge pearly
drops falling;
from my eyes??

My thoughts
my dreams, hopes
aspirations and expectations,
peopled in my mind-

Inundated
by the pain
that never seems to stop.

That will never let
me be.

The downpour
of agony
sweeps all away.

A sun rises anew,
in the cycle of life again;
flood waters recede-
as they must.

To garner myself
my thoughts and
my precious self...

How tough it is-
to learn to live again.



Usha, 1 July, '07

Existence

In overcast skies
In grey damp mist
In sheets of rain
that never seem to stop,

Is lost my heart.

In arid deserts of the mind
In dry river beds of my eyes
In unforgiving glare
of the noonday sun,

Lies, bare, my soul.

In the fruit of suspicion
From the germ of mistrust
In spreading creepers
of slow pain,

I exist.




Usha, 1 July, '07

Thursday 27 March 2008

Bereft

Each time you come,
My heart fills up-

Each time, then again,
You take a chunk away,
As you leave.

The yawning gap-
A hollow of yearning;

A receptacle waiting-
For you to fill
Within me.

And-
Each time, I tell myself
It's going to be
Different, this time;

(Knowing full well,
It can never be;)

How I'll keep that
Treasure-trove of love within;
How I'll stack
My worries and anxieties: Separate.
How I'll be stoic, and smile,
Warmly, reassuringly-

Hug you, squeeze your hand,
And thump you on the back!

And, as you walk away-
Slowly, but surely;
Each step, pulling away-
I do, all of these things:
Smile, and hug,
And pump your hand!

Then...
My worries and anxieties stack-
Only, they become that receptacle,
Bereft
Of a treasure-
Waiting to be filled again-
Collecting the lone tear drop
That suddenly drips
Off the edge of my eye.

You turn,
And I flash my
Dazzling smile-

Au revoir, dear one.

I can wait-
As I always have
Till we meet again.

Dear God,
(Just this)
I pray,

Soon!




Usha, 24 March, 2008

The Solace of a Song

A love song
On the radio-
Startles, and I am
Transported,
Yet again!

Mindless
Endless
Limitless

Timeless...


In this
Shrieking
Screaming
Pandemonium

Yet again,
Transported...

To that Peaceful Glade;
The freshness of a filling Silence;
To the Aura of a
Secure, Warm, Sheltering
Cloak-


Wondrous...
How a love song
Helps you find that
Solace of Insanity
In the Oasis of Silence

Amidst the Desert of Existence,
Surrounded by the
Babel of Sanity.

All because,
Of a Song?




Usha, 21 March, '08

A Wish...

I wish I could see the air,
Not feel a vague, nebulous nothing.
I wish, to see the air
To know, to see, to feel,
To experience...

Too see the aura,
The sheltering cloak
Of your Love,
Protecting me;
To touch the warmth
that spreads, from your eyes;
To feel and tighten
The bond,
between us!

I savour each moment;
This togetherness.
I breathe you every moment;

But-
If only I could see you-
Even when you're not there-
In the air...

No more would
I wish...





Usha, 26 April, '84

Sunday 16 March 2008

Your Music...

Your Music...






on the
wind
(chime)
I hang


..........f
.......o........r.........y........o........u..........

............e..........v..........e............e..........b...........t.............

........r..........e............j............a..........L.........t...........

...v.............r..
...........o................r..........i..........e.....

......e.............w............i..............n...........v..........r..........

.n.................h.............c.............i..............i...........L.....

....t..................e.............i.............n..............o............y.......

.......L...............L.............n.............g..............u....................

............y.............m..............g...........................s....................

..........................e................................................................

....................d.......................................................



mesmerized.
to be that;
to play
the notes
endlessly
tenderly


(of)

Lovingly.....
Obviously....
Vivaciously.
Eternally....






Usha, 16 March, '08

Saturday 15 March 2008

The Journey Back

An eon slipped by-
In that moment
of realization!

The manic laughter
stilled on his lips,
as her gazed upon her.

Her, whom he thought
the unkindest hands of fate
had snatched, just to spite him.

And there she stood - so pure, innocent,
A young lass - the same eyes
The self same flush, deepening her cheeks.

The wildness of his eyes didn't scare her
Neither the hunger of his gaze;
Calm and serene she stood, willing him to peace!

Gently and fearlessly, she stepped closer:
He flinched, yet nearer she went.
Stretched out, and took his wrinkled hand in hers.

A rush of emotion swept through him
The tide could not be stemmed;
It seeped from every pore, a cry of anguish!

He found words, and tears again,
The eon of darkness, had now slipped past.
And tumbling forth were all he held in his heart.

The words he groped for came fast,
Incoherent, wild, ecstatic and endless.
She stood, deluged in his love, finally content.

My precious, my precious, a chant it seemed.
That helped to ease the loss, the endless yearning;
And all the while she stood, with simple heartfelt love.

Now he knew, he hadn't lost all, when she left;
Now he knew, why he didn't fall, when she fell
Into that pit of darkness, the emptiness of nothingness!


For here she stood again, in her
gifting him words again, words he thought he'd never hear!
She spoke, gently, tenderly, "Father, shall we go home?"



Usha, 4 August, '07

Reasons...!

The insidious dream
that crept upon
my sleep-
uninvited.

The unfelt rhythm
that rocks my gait
through a million
miles of thought-

The rush of expression;
of touches on the soul,
glances, in words, unspoken-

Suddenly, they grab
my mind, and
force me-

And so I write!





Usha, 12 July, '07

For making me whole again...

Laughter in times
of sorrow.

Trust in times
of deceit.

A broad shoulder
to rest my head
when grief overwhelmed me.

A strong hand, in mine
when I stood, shattered!

Picking up the pieces,
putting me together again-

Gifting yourself to me
so that I stand whole..

A nameless bond-
A wordless promise-

And a lifeless me...
Reborn..I am!

When you completed
the jigsaw puzzle,
that was me...
with that last piece-

yourself!



Usha, 18 May, '07

So Sure Am I...

How sure am I
Of you, you ask.

And smile-
knowingly!

I know, I don't
have to say it-
But I shall!
(At least, I'll try..
just to see
if my words
find that expression:
that note, just right!)

So sure am I -

As that river that flows
knowing its destiny-
to merge with the endless ocean!

As that flower, shyly blooming
knowing that kiss
of the early morning sun, awaits!

As those stars bright
unfailingly twinkling a promise
to keep me company,
through each dark night!

As sure as day and night,
in our journey through the
infinite limitlessness of time!

As that indrawn breath
you breathe, for me!
And the tears that roll down
my cheeks,
oozing your sorrow away..!

So sure -
I'd leap into nothingness
knowing you'd be there
to gather me in your arms!

So sure, am I
only because
I am you
and you are me!

And I echo your
laughter, in my eyes!!




Usha, 16 May, '07

A Piece of Art!

How did that
piece of art
get that way?

It’s a thought I’ve had,
recurring, persistent…

Imagine, the colours
in that oil painting, just so-
the strokes, each one,
making magic, when it happens!
a knife to smoothen, sharpen,
blend and perfect…
Only then, will that soul
of the artist, permeate-

And the painter? Replete!

Imagine each sculpture
chiseled, just so-
how it knows the form
within, taking shape:
through blows, taps, edges
and endless jabs..
Just the right force
in the sculptor’s hand;
else, it just might not be!

And the sculptor? Humbled.

The flowers in the vase
be it Ikebana, or just
your own special, inimitable way-
the fern placed, just so-
and the aster – that way.
Gently placed on the
thorny holder..
you want it upright-
standing tall and proud!

And you? Mesmerized!

The poem you just wrote
the story that just came-

How did it get that way?
Maybe because, you did! –
your heart in it, you pondered
patiently: the words wrote
artfully, and it happened, just so.

The writer? Soaked in it!

And I believe,
The Artist, up there,
would look at us..
thinking, how he moulded us!
A little push, that fall, rising again,
helping us to form – just that way!
Colour us with feeling, just so-
tap and smooth, the rough edges
and, watch us stand proud!

And, yet again, I do believe
No matter, if anyone
understood us, His work –
He’d believe in us;
and He’d know – it was
Worthwhile!

I wish, though, we could believe
So fully too!



Usha, 15 May, 07

Friday 14 March 2008

That touch upon the soul...

A thought of you,
your love - enmeshed
in the weave of golden
molten moonbeams...

makes me catch my breath
at the wonder of it all!

The sound of your voice
Its velvety softness,
low, deep timbre of affection
lending strength to vows we made!

Your comforting presence
leaving an indelible mark
on my soul..

Even in your absence.

The kind that will
never, but never,
fade, or go away.



Undated!

Because of you...

Burning my love
and melting my heart…
So long as you are in the light
my love…

Winding the spool
enduring the laser jab, the endless whirling…
So long as you can hear the music...

Flowing in ink
no matter its my blood…
So long as you can thumb the pages...

That is what I’m told.
You’re the reason I am.

So I have to be.
So I have to do.

And so I have to.

And funnily enough-
so I want to..
Because of you.

Isn't it strange?
How I still love you?




Usha, 14 May, ‘07

Me...Now

Was today what
I had been waiting ....
waiting for?

Standing outside myself...
looking within...
poking around
misty, mildewed,
cobwebbed corners of
my consciousness...

I ask myself
Is this where I
should be?

Feeling so loved,
so beloved..
so cherished.

And yet...
sometimes, so alone.

Lonely as only alone
can be.

Reality bites..
It hurts..


But then
Only Love can
bring pain..

And only Love
can bring
the deepest, purest joy!

I guess,
this is where I should be...

In us!



Usha, 6 May, '02

Remember?

So when you took
My hand-

[After stealing my heart,
With my hand too, I had to part!]

What
did you feel,
I asked, remember?

I'm holding my world in my hand,
You said, remember?

Did I feel lost?
You asked, I remember.

How could I?! I retorted,
Remember?

In the circle of your Love-
Led by the hand,
I finally found me,
In Us.





Usha, 22 September,'07

Damocles' Sword


Am I that sword
that hangs over you?

Aghast, you wonder that
I dare to ask!

Ah, but I wonder too-
Did you ever know I think?

And think, so deep and long,
Ponder, vitiate, then surrender.

Sometimes to you.
Sometimes to my thoughts.

Which brings me to
the moot point -

I am that sword, aren't I?
That destroys your peace of mind?

Because neither of us
Can ever move out -

Of each other.







Usha, 7 August, '07

Thursday 13 March 2008

The Cadence of a Silent Moment

His eyes sought hers
(Across the room
Through the noisy, cheering crowd)

Her heart knew and waited,
For its beat
Now matched the
Rhythm of his.

The cadence of their
Silent Symphony
stilled the raucous cheer-

Oblivion;
Stark and simple
Drenched that moment.

The turning point was this
The stillest too.
When everything



F

e

L


L


Into place.

And they?
Into each other.






Usha, 10 March, '08

Tuesday 11 March 2008

Staying Young!

She wants to go to the Park-
Demanding. I give in.
It's that little girl again,
I see, on the swing!

Hair flying behind,
Screaming her way to the top!
Hooting all the way back,
Egging me on, to push
Her further up!

Indulgent, I give in,
Again-
With a warning:
"
The last time, now...!"

And... as she comes down
(Having gone further up!)
She leaps off
And lands
On me!
Knocking the breath out-
Of both of us!

Instinctively, I hold her,
Tightly-
Closely;
For I hold my universe
In the circle of my arms!

Giggling, rubbing noses-
Breath mingles!
What a moment!

The magic intensifies
When I thank God, that
We never changed inside;
We never grew older;
Than our beautiful
Grandchildren!

Laughing around us!



Usha, 11 March, 2008

Beyond Compare, this Love...













Alone she sits.

A notebook in front,
She's been asked
To draw Love.

Fidgeting, exasperated-
She sighs, loudly;
Her father looks up,
Smiles, and ignores the plea
In her eyes.

He's drawing his.
Tracing his palm- he then
Adds more...
... And looks triumphant!

A truth or dare!

Now she has no choice,
And so, hastily sketches,
Colours, while her father waits,
Impatiently.

And they submit
Their work of art
To each other...

The silence of an unspoken
Wonder, fills the room:

She looks at the
Print of a little palm
Inside a bigger one.

And her father?
Awed. Looking
At a rainbow, with a man
Sitting at the end, touching the horizon...
A scrawl to complete:
My Dad
The pot of gold, at the end of the
Rainbow, he's made my life!

But she doesn't need words;
She slips her little hand
Into his,
And looks up.

And Love fills the room.


Usha, 11 March, '08

**************

One of the pictures imagined in here, (the father's) is not an original:) Inspired by one of the many essays written by Robert Fulghum. This is what he and his daughter draw, their palm outlines, one inside the other, after they meet for the first time, when she has grown into a young lady, having been given up for adoption as a newborn. A touching anecdote from his life, where he calls this his talisman.

Monday 10 March 2008

Loosing It

Splendrous was that moment
Of an eon ago,
When our paths met
Our eyes talked
And our souls merged!

Enmeshed in the million
Thoughts, fragrances, memories
Words and gestures,
We cocooned ourselves
Strand by strand-
Tightly. Securely. Completely.

And yet, Now.
The strand's end hangs loose.

There is a constriction,
Uneasiness, of impending
Doom,
Loosing the strand.

I wish we weren't
Loosing it,
and

Losing it.




Usha, 10 March, '08

Wednesday 5 March 2008

Haiku Drops!!

Rebirth


autumn leaves falling:
buried seeds look up hoarding
hope to grow anew.



Usha, 6 April, 07



***************





Story of Life

Dew drops winking just
momentarily, to fade:
Story of life, lived.

Usha, 12 April, 07




******************




Paradise.


in crystal water -

under the blue sky: a lush

green - paradise mine.


Usha, 20 April, '07


********************


Lightning!


cosmic energy:


pent up fury, just unleashed –

a bolt from the blue!


Usha, 15 May, 2007


*******************



Rain.



Softly falling drops-

touches my soul - harmony!

in a shower to cleanse!



Usha, 10 May, '07



*************************



Onam – Haiku in Tandem


A celebration


Flowers, hues, spirit of nature

Festival Divine!!!



Richness of colour

Promise of Prosperity

Onam: life relished!!




Usha, 30 August, ‘07


**********************************

Haiku is Japanese lyric poetry, composed, usually in 3 lines of 5-7-5 syllables each, on some aspect of nature and the seasons. A very amateur attempt here:)

The picture for the Haiku "Rain" is a gift from a dear poet, Shalini Devraj. The others are pictures taken by my brother and son, on which I've attempted the writing with the help of Photoshop:)





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