Happy Birthday Old Lady

Indeed the time has spurted we start calling her old
she has gone four years past being a senior citizen
this lifetime seems to be a fairy tale of chronicles
from being the land of snake charmers to CEOs

The pillars of success all above strengthened
read that as the sarva shikshaya abhiyan
initiatives paying off but where are the tools
pillars weakening with poverty and infidelity

Troubles as such are in plenty to ply with
Ak 47s all in readiness to breach
the reds are on riots khakis gone nuts
terror blunting all her emotional feelings

yes she is so called the den of conspiracy
the two words of arrant importance
as in my mother tongue durniti au tadanta
corruption and investigation all from her roots

The equation of power unsettled ogling for veto
the curse of being peace loving making her soft
neighbours still eyeing her cosmos fruitfulness
nuclear deal was catching a big fish in a tiny pond

Still everybody looking at her winners the aces
Sachin acheived what nobody ever did
Rahman swayed the world with his jai ho
its time for delhi 2010 to unfold CWG

She is the queen of more than a billion people
drenched with the pours of seven big rivers
resounding melodies from over five k dialects
This is she.. my motherland.. my India
MY INCREDIBLE INDIA

A Walk With My Gramps

A WALK WITH MY GRAMPS

The tale of a Kid merely Seven

ignorant of another reason to cry

lest parted of chocolates or cricket

Left in that gloom pervaded scene

Cries of anguish, pain and love

as someone made me touch a feet

squalled on my face.. uttered

" You wont see your grandfather again "

Settled on that white cotton fiber cot

untouched by the grief that summoned

wearing small white shirt and blue shorts

bewildering.. what might have happened

Even then i could not sense the sadness

the funny shaped clouds over, showed

the half hidden drops of dew still smiling

smiling at a grand son without a tear

Those were the wee hours of the dawn

being the only living soul with dried cheeks

even the pigeon on the roof sat still

i wished i could hear somebody speak

Looking at all those familiar faces crying

younger ones might be crying in fear

elder ones might be understanding all

i was in the middle of my own quest

Looking at my father jolted i got off

asked him.. why are you crying baba

he put his big palms on my small head

its no disgrace for a man to shed tears

My grandfather lay still unmoved

my big family all shouting and pushing

indeed he was dead.. and i was still

a voice said its time and cries became louder

They took the cot i was sitting on turned that upside down

the elder ones took my grandpa on to the cot

my mother holding my granny and all shouting for my grand pa

now out of the house i have never seen so many people cry

Then came the walk that remains ignited in my heart

those sounds of ram naam satya hai

i was walking just behind my grandpa

sheer anxiety to see something new

Four years past a decade gone

you didn't even took my shoulder

i cant even cry for the times i have not

the big family u left behind will enquire

Those beautiful black eyes with serenity of night

i still find when i look at those bright stars

watch us from the heavens above

sending all your kisses wrapped in love

I never listened to your last words

your son says u said "Miss me always, but let my soul set free"

we did that for you gramps

there is no forced air of solemnity around.. its all free

If u read this grand pa.. we have a lot in common

things that everybody knows we both do

and things that not everybody knows i do

I love you for you gave me your genes

That's the only time i remember

I WALKED WITH MY GRAMPS

everybody says he has just slipped into another room

i say.. HE NOW LIVES IN A CITY.. WHERE ROSES NEVER FADE