Playing Solitaire

I come from a crystal world
fragile, delicate, shiny, bright
Reflecting out rainbow hues
from each plain ray of light.

I know my magical touch
and see the wonder spread
As I add ethereal glints
from violet to red...

I drop then into the earth's womb
amongst darkness and rough-edged rocks
Every carefully etched side dimmed,
ravaged by the knocks and shocks!

In a world unlike the one I've known
feeling like a misplaced shard of glass
Every tinkle, I fear I'll shatter
Yet hoping for the nightmare to pass

I protest, rebel, pray, despair
then begin to crack bit by bit
When I look inwards and find it
My answer, my solution, my strength, my grit

The rocks don't seem so fearsome
darkness does not disturb my calm
I proudly evolve, beautifully transform
The crystal I was, the diamond I now am



(Yes, I'm learning to play my best hand at the cards I was dealt. Enjoyed using 'solitaire' in the three meanings of the game, the solitary status of the player and the rare diamond state.)

Why I Cry

When the heart twists in agony
The pangs of pain hurt so bad
Senses go numb
Lips go dumb
and sensibilities retard.

Distraught nerves throb so fast
Breath caught in an aching gasp
The throat tight and choking
Fingers twitching and groping
trying yet helpless
unable to express

Feelings so tender, bruised and sore
Ideals shaken, beliefs unsure
Smarting under each willful attack
much too hurt to hurl it back

Two eyes gaze up in prayer
Two tears roll down, my saviour...

Wrote a poem after a long time in answer to a question I've been asked many times and one which I've wanted to find an answer to. Hope I've been able to convey at least some bit of what happens to make the tears come.

He & Me by Pri

I love the way you look at me

The way u hold my hand

The way u lead me to the floor

The way u understand

The lines you read out to me

In the stillness of the night

The way you hold me in your arms

Turning all the wrongs to right!

Sweet whispers in the early morn

Welcoming the new born day

Gazing lovingly into my eyes

Even when there’s nothing more to say

Eyes that make me feel secure

Lips that taste like wine

Make me wonder as each day goes by

How did I get a man this FINE!!!

Well, this creation is mine, not because I wrote it but because it was written for me. Priyanka wrote this for Akshay and me - the first of many (I hope!) to be written in our honour ;) Amazing how she can put into words all that I feel, given our severely limited conversations nowadays! Guess she can as only she can... :)

We Women

We can wear skirts,
flowers in our hair;
Cry unabashedly,
and show we care.
We can cook to please
We can flirt and tease
We can be complicated
with such perfect ease!
We diet with zest
Yet drool over a sundae
Shop, Shop, Shop
Drive into a one way
We can ask for help
It’s ok not to know
We love what we love; hate what we hate
And it’s equally ok to show!
We soar, we wallow
We lead, we follow
Sometimes we’re the face
Setting the pace
Or we’re the hand
With tact and grace
Pulling strings
To get things
Exactly the way we want it
And when we succeed
Loud or discreet
Smugly we love to flaunt it
Yet,
without men, we agree
so incomplete we’d all be
They complement us so
Sure, it’s a man’s world
With a woman CEO!!

[It is Womens' Day after all!! ;)]

I don't know why...it made me happy

When a spark of mischief
an impulse, a whim
took us miles and miles away
from the daily din

When a rash driver whizzed by
forcing us to brake
only to tag an ambling truck
while we overtake...

When the stray brown dog
lying on the road, dead
turned out to be a scrap of
sack cloth instead...

When from the car window
I looked out to see
two girls apart from their group
chatting away happily...

When just off the busy main road
we walked down a rocky trail
to a ragged edge, a winding stream
some old oak trees, a tranquil scene

When three and a half hours later
with a casualness much admired
we returned to work
Refreshed, ready to retire!!!

[Minutes of our 'team lunch' at Mulshi last Thursday!!! :) ]

Love becomes her

The kohl-lined eyes
hold innumerable joys
The fair cheeks flush
with the warmth of a blush
Silken tresses form
an elegant chignon
Two dimples style
a shy little smile
The swish of silk
The band of gold
Celebrate anew
the bond of old.
She walks in beauty; a vision, a delight
She walks in love; in ethereal light...


This is for Vijaya - the victorious one!! To celebrate her engagement on 7th November, when she looked radiantly beautiful and oh so happy, it took everyone's breath away!! Guess that's what happens when your dreams come true... [sigh!!] :)

Have a good day!

It's a normal day
I like it that way
You come with the breeze
flowers and the bees
Hesitant, unsure
of the bright vibgyor
I pause...
and I cause
your interest to wane.
With impatient disdain
you take back all you brought;
and then some you had not.
You turn away with a flounce -
the way you'd come.
In my sky I behold
my extinguished sun.

(Have you ever noticed how Life, Success, Happiness - all treat us this way??? Entice us with more and then take away what we do have! Guess that's how it's meant to be! SHEESH!!!)