Poem - 17 - Closely Watched Trains

A train here,
A train there,
A busy life this is!

Getting up in the morning!
Rushing to the station-
Waiting for an announcement-

Notifying me - how delayed my train is?
Everyday is an adventure in itself.
Shifting platforms to opt for an alternative train.

Life on the fast-track
As these trains go fleeting by!
Closely watched trains!

Poem - 16 - Through the rain drops

As the rain drops,
Shimmer down the window,
I stare at you from down below!

You look lost in thought-
Who do you think of?
With that mysterious smile!

What runs in your mind?
Only God can answer that :)
As you continue to smile,

I try to draw your attention,
But you continue to look
At the cloudy skies through the window!

Like the rain, which brings joy-
To the parched earth and the rose-plants
Your smile brings joy to everyone:)

As I have said once before,
Keep smiling as always-
And continue to spread sunshine and cheer!

Poem - 15 - Lines for Whom ?

I know you are there in my heart,
I hope that I have a place in your heart too...
Sometimes when it rains in the evenings....
I wish I was with you.
Holding your hands and looking into your eyes.....

Listening to the waves crashing on to the rocks,
Admiring the silvery moonlight,
Glistening on the white sands.
I wish I was with you.
So many dreams so many desires.

I fear all of them will come crashing down.
Dearest both of us know-
What runs in our hearts?
I don't need to say it,
Neither do you.

All I know is that,"I love you."
And that you love me.
Maybe circumstances shall cause us to drift us apart.
Lead separate lives.
But promise me!
I will be someone special in your heart-
As you were, are, and will remain in mine.

Poem -14 - Forever

He stood in front of her house.
Waiting for her,
Hoping she would come out,
At least look at him from the window.

He waited, but in vain.
She had left him,
And gone to a distant city,
Far away from him;
Perhaps never ever to return.

He was sad,
He wondered-“You could have at least told me that you are leaving.”
She had left the city.
But she would remain-
In his heart.
Forever……

Poem - 13 - Heart Beat

If only you,
Could listen-
To my heart!

You would-
Know that-
It beats only for you!

Poem - 12 - 2012 - The End?

An earthquake here,
An earthquake there,
A cyclone here,
A tsunami there.
No news of a volcano erupting yet!
Is the Doomsday Prophecy here to stay?

Poem - 11 - The Poet's Anguish

Words, words, where did you go?

Time, time - where is the time-

To write a few lines?

Come back to me,

Let the words flow again -

From my pen.

Less than a week to go -

And I am running short

By 19 poems :(

Poem - 10 - A Perfect Ten

Experiments in poetry :)


Rainbow in the sky,
Joy-
In my heart.


Sunshine in the sky,
Twinkle-
In your eyes.

Rain on earth,
Scent-
Of a woman.

Stars in the moonlight
Smile-
Like the angel you are!

Poem - 9 - Sunset in the Forest

It is twilight time,

The forest is abuzz,

With the sounds of birds and beasts,

Who are returning to their nests and dens,

After another day of survival in the forest.


The sun is setting,

The orange ball of fire,

Going down into the horizon,

There is a buzz,

As the insects of the forest start their nocturnal sojourn.


In the distance there is a perceptible hoot,

As an owl starts its evening,

Looking for mice or lizards.


The first stars, are there and the moon appears,

Like a beacon in the sky.

The sun has set and another day-

Comes to a close in the forest.

Poem - 8 - Sweet Rain Come Again

The first drops of rain,
Like gentle jewels of silver.
Falling on to earth.

The sweet smell of the wet earth.
That fills us with joy.
And brings a smile on the face of the farmer.

Quenching the thirst of the parched earth.
Enabling naughty little boys to make paper boats.
To jump in puddles and dirty their clothes.

Sweet rain come again.

Poem - 7 - Aap Ki Muskaan - An Ode to a Smile

A smile - a simple smile,
Conveys much more-
Than a book full of words.

Words may hurt
Sometimes words may heal,
But your sweet little-

'Angelic smile'
Well it always,
Brings joy to the heart.

Keep smiling - always,
As you did today,
Today and everyday.

May God always bless you with joy,
So that you keep smiling always,
And continue spreading cheer and sunshine.

The Next Poem - The Writer's Struggle

As the mist unveils,
The magic of the hills
The first rays of the golden sun
Bathe the valley in a bright hue.

The gentle fragrance
Of the ripe tea-leaves
Blends with the mist
To produce a divine twist!

The bluebird chirps
Calling its mate
The first bus from the town below
Gingerly snakes its way up the valley.

Idle thoughts penned by me
The frustrated author
Sitting in his room
Lost for words....

Earthquake - Scare

I sit next to the water-cooler and felt strange when the water in the bubble-top began shaking - and then my chair started moving and I realized it was a tremor; all members on our floor ran out and the after-shocks continued.

The whole thing lasted for about 3.5 mins and now we are back at our work-stations.

Apparently there has been a major earthquake in Indonesia - 8.9 on the Richter scale.

Tremors felt in Chennai, Kolkatta and Bengaluru.

All back to work now :)

Chennai Super Kings hit rock-bottom and Chennai rocked by an earthquake :) - Lousy PJ but could not resist typing it :)

Poem - 5 - Thoughts on a Break-Up

She left me,
All alone,
After all that we had been through.

Not even a farewell,
Not even a sorry or
A thanks - all the best!

Life can be cruel!
All that I can wish you-
Be happy wherever you are!

Somewhere down the line,
Many years later,
We might run into each other.

I hope you would have the heart;
To look back at this episode;
Smile and share a drink with me!

Meenu Kutty

This post is written for the Indiblogger - Incredible Stories Contest

The following is partially true and I have taken creative liberties to add a bit of spice but all characters and incidents are real did take place to someone whom I know.


It was a phone-call one Thursday evening from an unknown number; a voice from so many years back; it took me a while to find my voice and reply. The voice on the other end said - 'Hello, is this Seshu, this is Meenu, Appa passed away today the cremation ceremonies will take place by Sunday. Will you be able to come? I am sorry to barge-in after so many years, but we are struggling a bit and I don't think I have enough money for all the ceremonies' and she just broke into tears and cried. I comforted her - 'Meenu kutty. Don’t worry I will reach there tomorrow; don't worry about the expenses - I will take care - I owe at least this much to Raghu Mama.

I rushed about like a man possessed - I called my friend Somu who worked as a TTE in Southern Railways and called in a favour - 'Matchan one ticket to Palakkad -kaise bhi dila de.' He said - 'Tu station aa ja main sambhal loonga - Alleppey Express mein ek berth milega!'

I packed some clothes along with a veshti and angavastram separately in a cover checked my wallet and added my debit cards and also took some five thousand rupees in loose cash locked my flat and headed out to Central Station.

As promised Somu had a ticket ready for me - 'He winked and said - Saale, vapas aakar bar le ke jaa aur poori kahani bata'. I smiled and boarded the train. Thankfully it was an AC coach so there were no worries - the food was oK nothing great. The train had reached Arakkonam and the other occupants were ready to sleep. Lights were switched-off and the blue night-light went on.

I just lay on my berth and thought:

My father was a marine engineer and was posted in Dubai. I had lost my mother when I was three. I grew up in the loving care of my grandparents. Father used to come home on a one-month vacation every year, then he would be gone and I would once again have just my grandparents for company.

Thatha was a retired postmaster and Patti was a music teacher. I used to study at the St. Mary’s School, which lay across the river. I had to travel on a boat, which would ferry me to the school.

Meena was Raghu uncle’s daughter. Raghu uncle was the village administrative officer. Meena’s mother was Sheela teacher, my Geography teacher. They were our neighbours.
My first memories of Meena are that of a beautiful girl in a blue and gold ‘pavadai-davani’ [half-saree], with jasmine flowers in her hair and a smile on her face, singing “Alai Payudhe Kanna…” in grandmother’s music class.

I was a shy boy and had no friends except Meena. Meena was my classmate in school; the two of us would play together, go fishing in the pond near our house, and steal mangoes from the orchard. Life went on at its own sweet unhurried pace. Thatha would make fun of me saying “Dei Seshu, Meena kitta mattikitaya, [Hey Seshu got caught by Meena]; she is going to marry you and torment you like your Patti torments me.”

It was Meena’s tenth birthday; and her parents had organized a grand party. Meena was wearing a pink frock with a red belt. She looked like an angel. She cut the cake, and I gave the birthday present to her. It was a novel by Enid Blyton, which Thatha had carefully gift wrapped. During the party Meena came to me and said-“Seshu, thank you for the lovely book. I too have something for you.” She took out a small toy figurine of my comic superhero Batman and gave it to me. “Seshu, Appa has got a promotion and a transfer, we are leaving for Chennai tomorrow.” I was shocked. Meena was leaving me, no more hide-and-seek, no more singing, and no more fishing. I held her hands in mine and said-“Goodbye Meenu Kutty, best of luck.” I ran to my house without turning back, as I did not want her to see me crying.

The next morning they came to say goodbye. They took the blessings of Thatha and Patti; I had made a small card for Meena. I had drawn a rose and written-“Best of luck Meenu Kutty.”

That was the last time I saw her, though I kept getting letters from Meenu once in a while.

Somewhere during the course of these thoughts I fell asleep. I woke up all of a sudden with a start and hit my head on the roof of the coach forgetting that I was sleeping on the upper berth. I rubbed my head and looked at my watch - at least an hour more to Palakkad.

I got down and went next to the exit and stared out as the beauty of Kerala in the early morning light, greenery, coconuts, the milkmen and newspaper vendors - it was almost as if I was back with Thatha and Patti and Meenu. Raghu Uncle had been caught in a controversy with a local MLA and had lost his job and had spent a majority of his savings in fighting a defamation case against the MLA - as usual the corrupt MLA won and Raghu Uncle had never been the same. Meenu remained a spinster forever and Sheela teacher had passed away one night in her sleep.

Our ancestral home was managed by a caretaker who deposited the money earned from the coconut groves and the jackfruit plantations on a regular basis. Nair Uncle the caretaker was waiting for me with the old white Ambassador at Palakkad station.

He said 'Seshu - mone koraya kaalam aayi - Raghu saar marichu - aa kochu veliya kashta thil aana' 'Seshu it’s been quite a while - Raghu sir died that poor girl is in lots of trouble.'

I reached home, took a refreshing bath in the pond and had a quick breakfast of puttu and kadala curry and a glass of filter coffee made by our cook Narayani Chechi.

I then left to Meenu's house - Raghu uncle's body had been kept in an ice-box and Meenu sat next to the body sad but with a stoic calm on her face. When I called out Meenu Kutty there was a smile on her face - ah what an angelic smile - I was reminded of my childhood playmate and all the fun that we used to have.

She got up slowly as I walked up to her. There was an awkward uncomfortable silence and she stared at me. I said - 'Meenu, don't worry - I am here now!' She just rushed up to me and hugged me with tears pouring out - Seshu that MLA bled us blind - the house is also under mortgage my job at the school just about takes care of the medical and food expenses.' I felt uncomfortable not knowing what to do, I said 'Meenu calm down - we will sort out everything.'

The next two days were hectic - getting the vaddhiyars organised, arranging for the ceremonies, paying back old bills and other tasks.

Meenu was in tears but she bravely lit the funeral pyre on Sunday morning at the Bharatha Puzha.

We returned to my ancestral house! It started raining and the downpour continued all through the night. Meenu slept in Narayani chechi's room.

The next day I planned to leave - I was scheduled to report to work on Wednesday. Monday morning was a bit cool as the over-night rains had brought down the temperature, as I returned from my bath in the pond I noticed Meenu sitting in the courtyard reading the newspaper. Just for old-times sake I plucked a couple of hibiscus flowers from the creeper crept up to her from behind and threw them on her head!

She jumped up with a start and then started laughing and then Nair Uncle saw us and he too started laughing - it was a moment frozen in time just like our childhood.

That one moment changed my life - I took a decision and spoke to Nair Uncle in confidence and he approved of my decision. At lunch I asked Meenu - 'Meenu Kutty, I love you a lot, will you marry me?'

Meenu was shocked and stared at me and got up! She walked out of the house and I was totally upset. Nair Uncle comforted me Seshu come on be calm!

I felt sad and the left the table. My train was in the evening and I was dropped at the station by Nair Uncle. We bid goodbye!

As I walked up to the platform I noticed that the train was delayed. I went into the waiting room and there she sat all ready with her suitcase and bag - my Meenu Kutty and she smiled at me - that angelic smile again!

Poem-4 - A face from the past

A face from the past
That haunts me
Haunts me in my dreams

Wakes me up in a cold sweat.
The nightmare keeps recurring.
The face returns to haunt me.

It is the curse of the soldier
To kill the enemy to save his nation.
But what if the enemy was a young boy.

No more than 14
He brandished his assault rifle at me,
With a hardened look on his face.

He fired first and I ducked down
To dodge the stream of bullets
In self-defence I shot him.

Through the head between the eyes!
The look on his face I will never forget
As he shouted 'Ya Ali' and fell to the ground.

This is one killing,
That I will never come to terms with.
I am sure he will return to haunt me again tomorrow.

The curse of the soldier,
To relive every killing.
And pray for the departed souls.....

Poem-3 - Death-race

Everyday you run,
Run like crazy,
Chasing the buses

On the arterial roads,
Or the smaller lanes.
You run about like men on a mission.

What mission is this?
Do you want to impress,
The college-going girls?

Or is it the high-adrenaline rush
And the thrill that you get
Is it just for fun?

Think of your dear mother,
Who waits for you at home.
Your father who has a hundred dreams for you.

All those people,
Who love and care for you.
What would happen if you were to slip, fall and die.

A life less ordinary?
No life is ordinary and you are extraordinary.
Don't waste your energy - on such trivial pursuits.

Wake up a bit early.
Start early from home
And reach your destination on time.

Life is not a game.
It is a gift from God.
Use it wisely.

Do not travel on the foot-board!!!!!!

Brownie

She sits and stares at me,
With a twinkle in her eyes,
Wagging her tail.

She wants me to pat her head,
And stroke her tummy
And play catch with her.

She brings so much joy into my life,
Wishing me bye with a short bark,
When I leave for work in the morning.

She waits patiently at the gate,
Every evening waiting for me,
Her ears trying to pick my cycle-bell's ring.

Chasing squirrels through the mornings,
Surprising and scaring the neighbour's cat Tinku.
She is naughty and playful.

At times I have noticed her,
Sitting all calm and silent,
Staring into space - deep in thought.

What is it that she wonders about?
Memories of a past life as a man or a woman?
Or doggie-dreams of the land of milk and Pedigree treats?

Thank you - Brownie for bringing,
So much joy and happiness,
In my life!

NAPOWRIMO PROJECT - POEM-1

NaPoWriMo, or National Poetry Writing Month, is an annual project in which participating poets attempt to write a poem a day for the month of April. Presenting my first poem.



PROMISES TO KEEP

Every day brings new possibilities,
Challenges and surprises,
Dreams and aspirations.

Every day is a special feeling,
God has given me the chance to wake up today,
And fulfill my promises.

A promise to be a good son,
A loving brother and a loyal friend.
So many roles to play!

I thank God to have blessed me
And giving me a chance
To fulfill my promises!

IPL V Begins

IPL - V - the first match starts in about two hours from now - huge expectations this time around can Dhoni get the trophy a third time.

With Sachin opting to become a player and letting Bhajji lead Mumbai Indians we can expect some fire-works.

Knightriders have flattered to deceive every season but this time there is a strange feeling that they might pull a surprise and let us not under-estimate the new look Pune team headed by Dada.

For sentiments sake would like Dravid to lead the Royals to the trophy :)

May the best team win :)