SEIZE IT...

There’s no tomorrow

Like love, it’s fleeting

Wrapped up and disguised

Seize it, grab it and

Hold on to it

As long as it lasts

Not a moment before

Not a moment later

Feel love, pray or just

Close your eyes in peace

Just live in the moment

It is all you have.

For - Theme Thursday

          G-man

IT IS STILL A MAN’S WORLD.

While Tiger Woods was making news for a comeback win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, there was another win happening which did not make it to the headlines as it should have. Yani Tseng , the best woman golfer in the world, was the second youngest to win 15 titles on a LPGA Tour.

It is still a man’s world in the world of sports.

Sachin Tendulkar was covered extensively by the media when he made his first double century in the ODIs. It was only then it was mentioned that a woman, Mithali Raj...was the first Indian woman to score a double century in a test match against England in 2002.

How many of us follow Women Cricket? Indian Cricketers, men, are raking in crores of rupees, they get to walk the ramp, they get felicitated in every sport function and they get to act in the ads. Can any of us name the women in the women cricket team?

A Sania Mirza or a Saina Nehwal only makes it to the headlines because they make it to the world rankings.

Except for the medal winners in the Asian/commonwealth/Olympic games, how many women wrestlers, weight lifters or boxers do we know?

Vijendra Singh came into limelight for winning the bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics. Any takers for Mary Kom, a mother of two...five times boxing Champion from India?

Women in the US play football on a semi-professional and amateur level. They do not have Super Bowl for women, do they?

Do I need to say more?

STRANGE.

Strange are the ways of man

Stranger is his beliefs

Strange are the rituals, And

So is his God who created him.

For - Poetry Jam

          dVerse - OpenLinkNight

JUST MY POINT OF VIEW

Censorship is the suppression of speech or other public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive or inconvenient to the general body of people as determined by government, media outlet or other controlling body.

I was watching Sir Salman Rushdie’s speech at the India Today Conclave 2012 in India. This is an excerpt from his speech –

“Many essential freedoms in our times are in the danger of defeat. Not only in totalitarian or authoritarian states but also in a combination of religious fanaticism, political opportunism and public apathy. It is damaging that freedom upon which all other freedoms depend which is the freedom of expression. Freedom is not a tea party. Freedom is a war. You get to keep the freedom you fight for and lose the freedom you neglect. If you don’t defend it you will lose it.”

Late Mr. M.F. Hussain, the internationally celebrated Indian painter was driven out of his own country. Some lesser know political parties who consider themselves to be the guardians of Hindutva said that his painting of Indian Goddesses were not in the good taste.

Rohinton Mistry’s book – Such a Long Journey, which was nominated for the Brooker pirze was forcefully withdrawn from the Mumbai University’s syllabus as some parts in the book did not go well with the political party in Maharastra.

Three hundred Ramanyans – written by A.K. Ramanuja was dropped from the syllabus by the Delhi University Academic Council, largely due to the pressure from the right wing organisations.

These days the politicians have taken it upon themselves the job of policing the writers and their writings.

As Rushdie says, when things are banned, they become more glamorous.

I completely agree with this. You can curb our works but, you cannot curb our creativity and our voices.

Agreed that freedom of expression is one for one and all. Everyone has the right to their opinion. So, if you don’t like some book don’t read. This holds true for other fields of art too. This is my point of view and of course this open to debate. I am not against censorship, but they should be applied where necessary.

“Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books nobody reads.” – George Bernard Shaw

MIRRORING ME

I saw her there, young and sweet. On the threshold of life, making decisions and dreams.

Some years later, little older and wiser (?) smile tucked at her lips and sparkles in her eyes. She sees herself, happy with her family.

Pen and paper in hand, thoughts abound...she is in the place she always wanted to be.

The mirror mirrors me, few laugh lines...yes, and I have laughed a lot. Worry lines...yes, one of the gifts of life. I see myself in the reflection and the eyes reveal all....the joy, the happiness, the pain, in short the life well lived, a life I am proud of.

For - Mag 110

USED AND ABUSED.

Mangled remains

Used and discarded

That’s how life is

Once served and

Revered for usefulness

Now, job done

No point accumulating

Dispose what you don’t need

Gather the pieces

Make it whole somewhat

Build a memorial

Hail all things useless!!

For - dVerse

Picture copyright -  James Rainsford

ACROSS THE OCEANS

Over the seas and continents across the world, I have made some wonderful friends. Who would have known this was possible a year back? I did not know any one of your existence.

Writing happened and so did the connections. We have bonded through our writings, having mutual respect and admiration for each other. Cheering up when we are down, celebrating in joy....you have all been there...without really judging me, offering your unconditional support and love.

Internet has indeed made the world smaller and I am glad that we are a part of each others’ life. I hope this happens to be so for the better part of my life.

For - Poetry Jam - Connections

LIGHT

We bask in it

We are blinded by it

We walk through it.

It is the source of life

It shows us the way

Dispelling darkness

From within....Illuminating us.

The metaphor of

Knowledge and truth.

When the tides turn

We escape and hide from it

Covering our eyes

As if it covers the pain somehow.

For - The Think Thursay

          Friday Flash 55

QUEST

I searched for it among

The faceless faces

Behind the masks

Among the people I met.

Found it in a mother’s heart

In a dad’s hug,

In a brother’s protective arm,

In a sister’s compassion

Friend’s trust

Lover’s gaze

In the kids devotion

I can see it all around.

For - Alphabe Thursday - Q

          G-man

I AM GETTING ON MY NERVES.

I am not happy, nor sad. Well, now that I think of it, I am sad; I am feeling guilty and also frustrated!

It is exactly two months since I have been home ‘bound’. Going out has been like going to the loo...whenever necessary. And, it has been to visit the doctor...and that’s also done with. So, should I be glad that I will not need to visit the doctor anymore? Or should I feel sad that I will not have my brief ‘time outs?’

Yesterday, we lost another kitten to the dogs. This is the second one in two months. After losing the first one, Aramis, we were protecting the two kittens and the mama cat by letting them sleep inside the house during the night...that’s when the dogs came. They were on their own for a few days...and it happened again. Shit happens to people and there is no point in taking the blame, yet, there is this nagging feeling....If only...

Well, I have been trying to divert my attention by reading inspirational blogs, a sure shot to uplift the mind? I still have to find out because I feel strongly grounded.

I read somewhere that if you keep smiling; it not only improves your face value but also uplifts your mood. So, I stand in front of the mirror and did exactly that! The facial muscles did not lift nor did my mood. Plastering a silly grin on your face to fool yourself into believing that all is well....doesn’t work!

Don’t complain – I read. Well, that’s the whole point of this blog...I am complaining how my life sucks! Let me put it this way, I am not complaining but, I am just sharing my feelings. I can’t keep the crap bottled inside. When one can share joy, why not the sadness? God, am I a pessimist?

Do not expect – I read this too. When I dream or wish for something, I expect them to be realized, if not, then what is the point? How I deal with the outcome is my prerogative. And I expect to be happy.

I also read somewhere that it is important to feel fully what you feel. If you are sad, then I should be completely sad, live it, experience it, drown and wallow in it, then only I will be able to release it. I think I am still submerged there because of my weight.

What is the point I want to make here? I don’t know...I tried to sit quiet and contemplate, to listen to my inner voice, read some message from the universe (if it was sending me one), feed my mind with affirmations....well, all I can conclude is......I simply need to get out of the house!!

SEASONED BY LOVE.

Like the summer sun

Your smile warms me

A knowing look passes

And I blush.....Like

An autumn leaf

A step forward

And I freeze,

A touch, a brush

Of your lips...

And I shiver,

Shake and fall...

I succumb to our desires

As love rains on.

For - dverse - OpenLinkNight ~ week 35

         

           Theme Thursday - Season

           Bluebell Books....

WAKING UP.

Is this surreal? A dream or an out of the body experience?

Then again I was in the dark, wasn’t I? Or, was it my imagination? Or, is it what I believed?

How many times do you have to face failure till you reach your goal? How many times do you have to live the same dream? How do you know that it is your heart that is speaking? How many times do you have to fall...with grace?

I had closed my eyes, quietened myself, and let the heart speak.

Nothing came back...no voice, no awakening, and no enlightenment.

I saw a dream....a light and I walked towards. Extending my hands I walked, as a blind person makes her way in the dark...to feel. I can see my hand glow, become silvery, shimmering and emitting light. This feels good, even for a dream... hypnotized, I walk on without a backward glance.

For - Mag 108

"MADE FROM SCRATCH" MONDAY: SPINACH SOUP

SPINACH SOUP.

Required ingredients:

Spinach: 500 grams – washed

Tomato: 1 medium sized diced

Onion: 1 medium diced

Garlic: 1 pod

Cumin seeds: ½ tsp

Mustard seeds: ½ tsp

Method:

Cook all the ingredients in a pressure cooker or a pot.

Blend/liquidize this.

Sieve....and boil the spinach soup with some salt to taste.

Cooking up delicious gluten and allergy free foods at - 'Made from scratch" Mondays 

hosted by Mary Hudak - Collins. 

SOME GOOD/SOME BAD :THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

Induced labour,

The pain, nothing like before

Felt like screaming

When they broke my water-

Manually;

More poking and probing,

Exposed, embarrassed and

Humiliating

I beg them to cut me up,

Anything but this pain.

After 12 hours of suffering

Arrives my young prince charming

End of re-birthing.

9 months later...

He is playing

Without warning

He starts convulsing

Thus begins our 9 year saga

To understand and deal

With the situation.

Today.....

He is cured,

He is a teen,

He is a rebel

Aren’t we just glad?

For - dverse- Poetics : The Year 1999

ANY RESPITE?

Juggling from one blog to another

My mind is overloaded

Alphabets floating like feather

Juggling from one blog to another

Poems, Prose, Prosetry...why bother?

Chores are always left unattended

Juggling from one blog to another

End of the day, feels like I’m brain dead!

For- dverse - FormforAll - Triolets

(AM)MUSED!

It shouldn’t be so

But, so it is!

A presence constant,

Unseen

But, felt only in the heart

Silent, yet loud

Tapping lightly

Attracting my attention.

I acknowledge, and so

I feel it....I hear and

Heed to it.

Must be a guy,

Demanding

Real pain in the ass!

My muse, he is my pain.

For - G-man

SAPTAPADI...THE SEVEN STEPS

                                 The word, Saptapadi means “seven steps.’ 

  After tying the Mangalsutra (In Hindus it is a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by women as a symbol of their marriage)
                                

                                                      
                                               The Mangalsutra.

The newlywed couple take seven steps around the holy fire...and they take seven vows...one for each step.

1.     To provide a prospered living for the household.

2.     To develop their physical, mental and spiritual powers in order to maintain healthy lifestyle.

3.     To earn a living and increase by righteous and proper means, so that their materialistic wealth increases manifold.

4.     To acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual respect, understanding and faith.

5.     To expand their family and pray to be blessed with healthy, honest and brave children.

6.     To pray for self-control of the mind, body and soul for the longevity of their marital relationship.

7.     To be true and loyal to each other and would remain companions and best of friends for the lifetime.

I love you because in these two decades of our marital life you have not only honoured all these seven vows, but have honoured me in many more ways.

For - RomanticFridayWriters - I Love You Because....

POWER

I gave you my heart

I gave you the power

To take me to the heights

To paint my life

To make me surrender

To begin and end

My day with you

To occupy every

Nook and corner of my being

To make my heart

Beat for you

To sing and dance for

The silent melodies

To think for you

To wait for you....

I gave you my heart

I gave you the power

....to hurt too.

For - Alpbhabe Thursday - P

HOLI

Today, in India we are celebrating Holi – the festival of colors. This also marks the arrival of spring. On this day, we spray and sprinkle colours on each other.

For the historical significance of this festival...visit....Holi.

HAPPY HOLI TO ALL....


For - ABC Wednesday - 'H'

DEPTH OF SELF.

Close your eyes

Shut it off....

The mindless chatter of

The mind

Go inward, deep within

The well of your being

Go with the flow

Of your breath...

See the colors of the spectrum

Their petals slowly unfurling,

Taking the soul

Higher into the cosmos

Energizing the spirit

Merging into the White

Of the limitless Universe

Illuminating the halo

Of Enlightenment


For - dverse ~ openlinknight
          Theme Thursday - SPECTRUM
            Poetryjaam
            Thursday Poets Rally

SEEING HER ON THE BILLBOARD.

Seeing her on the billboard

Was a shock!

A gamut of emotions

Reeled him.

They had been lovers

But, he had only possessed.

It had been his vanity

To think they will

Last forever...

He prided himself

At his prized catch;

He just took n took

His greed boundless

A glutton, he feasted

On her body

Mixing up lust for love.

A sloth, he had invited

Her wrath.....And,

She broke her shackles

Unrestrained, she grew

Yet, envy was all he felt

Seeing her on the billboard.

For - http://gooseberrygoespoetic.blogspot.in/

http://magpietales.blogspot.in/2012/03/mag-107.html

A BELIEF.

Saying goodbyes is never easy.

Some rituals & ceremonies,

Some chants & hymns,

Some offerings & donations,

To cleanse your soul...

To do, what is your duty,

For those who have passed on.

Doing these...they say

The soul raises itself

Towards heaven...

We don’t know

Yet, we believe....

Believe that our loved ones

Are better off

In the next world

Wherever that is!

For - http://dversepoets.com/

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.in/2012/03/saturday-centus-saying-goodbye.html

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.in/2012/03/poetry-pantry-is-now-open-90.html

TRANSFORMATION.

Cocooned and safe

I loved my life that way.

A knock...persistent,

I always heard you,

Your voice – tiny, yet,

Screaming to be heard.

I just played deaf

Ignoring you worked...temporarily.

You gnawed at my insides

Tearing me,

Making me bleed...Until

I had to heed.

You lead me on,

Encouraged me,

Led me on...to explore

The unknown,

To overcome my fears

And those perceived insecurities

To spread my wings and fly

You...my tiny little voice...

Are the reason for my transformation.

For - http://dversepoets.com/2012/03/01/translucent-poetics-writing-spoken-word/

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.in/2012/03/think-tank-thursday-86-rebirth.html

COMPARISON: THE THIEF OF JOY.

Welcome to the Blog Hop Comparison: Thief of Joy? where bloggers from all over the world are invited to share their ideas about Theodore Roosvelt’s quote: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Do you agree of disagree with Teddy’s POV? Please share your unique perspective.

There are 3 easy steps to join the Blog Hop:

1. Follow the instructions for submitting your entry using the Linky provided below – remember to copy and paste the link to your specific ‘comparison’ post, not just your blog, into the Linky.

2. Copy and paste the following announcement (with links) into the intro to your blog post:

Linking in to the Comparison Blog Hop on Dangerous Linda and Everyday Gyaan

3. Be sure to read and comment on other bloggers’ posts in the hop. It’s a great way to get to know each other and expand our cyber-community of awesome writers and thinkers.

A BRIEF STORY:

She was a small town girl. Never been to a big city. She gets married to a big city boy. She is dazzled by the city life. It has a lot to offer and she sure is a fast learner.

Her neighbours seem to have it all, or so she thinks. Not the one to be left behind, she wants it all too.

First, the drapes, then the furniture and upholstery. The ladies praise her taste....she is happy.

He works for a private company. His salary barely enough for two. He loves her a lot. So, he takes up another part-time job to fulfil her wishes.

She is busy with the kids to mark his absence. As parents they want to give their best to their kids. They enrol them in a private ‘International’ School. The kids want to be like their peers. Getting dropped to school by chauffer driven cars, possessing latest gadgets and gizmos to play with.

He has taken up a new job, climbing the corporate ladder quickly, tastes power and is addicted to it. He goes jet setting around the globe...home is where work is. He is got into the rat race of making money and has lost on life.

She is busy socializing...shopping with friends, attending kitty parties, getting a membership to a prestigious ladies club and occasional holiday abroad.

Life could not be better. They are leading life...two separate lives. They have everything material that is immaterial to their happiness.

She is made the President of the ladies club. She is envied by others. For a small town girl she has come a long way. She is proud of herself. She wants to share this news with her family.

She comes home.....to an empty nest!