Moonlight thoughts

Someone asks me "What did you do yesterday?" And I say "Ask not what I did, ask what I experienced." I might have done a lot of things and experienced very little, but I might have done very little but experienced a lot. Like a few moments ago, standing outside and watching the full moon glide effortlessly through the clouds, I experience peace, joy and the feeling that all is well and everything will turn out right. My spirit responds to the call of nature and I feel one with it.

mujhe le chal kaheen

tu bin bataye mujhe le chal kaheen
jahan tu muskuraye meri manzil wahin

meethi lagi, chakh ke dekhi abhi
mishri ki dali, zindagi ho chali
jahan hain teri baahein mera sahil wahin

mann ki gali tu phuharoon si aa
bheeg jaye mere khwabon ka kafila
jise tu gungunaye meri dhun hai wahin

Seashells

I collect moments like a child collects shells on the seashore.

Some of them many hue-ed and many-splendoured.
Sparkling with laughter, ribbed with love.

Some brown and heavy, sand-filled with tedium.

And yet others bleached white
with searing, arcing pain,
all colour wiped clean by misery.

And then the bits of shells,
broken moments that fell off before completion.

I collect moments like a child collects shells on the seashore
and weave them into the tapestry of life.

A special friend

That certain special way of yours
the thoughtful things you do
the way that I can be myself
whenever I am with you
these make you a special friend
i can't begin to say
how much I wish you happiness
today and everyday

(this poem was on a card I received on my birthday)

Rainsong

I hugged my pain again.
Again and again.
It threatened to break out
like raindrops in a rain cloud.
On the verge of the monsoon.
Finally it broke free.
In torrents.
Wave upon wave.
And yet the Earth broke out in laughter.
In perfume-scented song.
The air washed clean of the dust of the past.
Calm now and stillness.
And into this blessed silence,
the song-bird dropped note upon golden note,
of joy. Of hope, of gratefulness.
How odd that pain and joy always walk hand in hand.

The beginning

In the beginning was only the breath,
nascent, tremulous,
uncertain of its own power.
It blew a little, a leaf stirred,
it drew back surprised at its own strength.
"Let me try again".
Blew long and hard this time.
A branch shook.
Shock, hint of a smile.
"Maybe I can do it".
Maybe not.
Maybe, yes, just maybe...

A deep breath, long shuddering gust.
The tree waved its arms
and then its neighbour did
and then the next one.
Deep breaths,
gathering strength and storm.
Soon the whole forest is in frenzy.
The breath rises high above,
glee, elation, confidence,
points its finger at the sky.
Lightening scisorrs the heavens,
thunder claps its appreciation.
Yes, there is lightening in us,
and thunder,
and we possess
the strength to move mountains.