THE POETRY PALACE- THURSDAY POETS RALLY WEEK 53

THE FLIGHT

Weak, frail & still nested

She yearned for the sky

To soar, to swoop,

To fly, To feel and

To come alive.

                  

Some mocked, some egged her,

Her parents fed her,

She stretched & stretched

Walked to the edge

To take the flight of her life.

She tumbled, and took the fall

Bruised as she was,

Yet, courage was her call

Her sisters & friends

Cheered on, instilling faith.

Her chest swells, eyes shone,

Determination lighted up her face,

She flapped & flapped

Until air borne and

She cried in delight!

She twisted, she turned,

She dived and felt the air

She danced and waltz’d

Somersaulted with flair

This was what she await’d.

He envied them,

How can they fly…

When he was rooted to the ground?

He took aim and shot,

She met her death…in her flight!

http://promisingpoetsparkinglot.blogspot.com/2011/10/agreement-for-thursday-poets-rally-week.html

dVERSE POETS PUB ~ OPEN LINK # 13

BROKEN….

How I wish…

I was numb,

Oblivious

Could not feel,

The pain

Of my broken dream.

I had it in my

Fist, only to

Let it slip

Through my fingers…

Broke into thousand

Pieces, my dream!

I lived it

I breathed it

I nurtured it…

Too many broken pieces

To pick up…

All in vain, isn’t it?

How I wish…

I could run n hide

Away from my mind

It mocks me,

It hurts me

For running was my dream.

For more...visit http://dversepoets.com/.

HEARTBROKEN!!!

I am devastated, heartbroken and am bawling like a kid. I am kicking myself because I have been so so stupid. How could I?

Since I landed in Mumbai in 2003, I have been dreaming of running the Mumbai Marathon, the biggest marathon event in India. When I came here, my kids were young and so I couldn’t leave them alone at home and devote time for my training.

Now that the kids are grown-up and can somewhat look after themselves, I decided to give it a try. Last May, I realized my dream of trekking…I trekked to the height of almost 14,500 ft above the sea level in the Himalayan mountain range. After this, I battled knee pain for months….after being on medication for months, I resumed my gym training and finally in January this year I felt I was ready to run…at least the half marathon.

I started running in the month of February. Technically, I had almost 11 months to train as the marathon is held in mid January every year. But, time seems to gallop or will stand still when things do not move in accordance to our whim and wishes. Few days into the run, my legs started cramping and paining. I wasn’t able to make headway in breaking the 4 km mark.

Visit to the Orthopedist…some blood tests later, it was revealed I have severe vitamin deficiency, had to take injections. Pain killers and calcium supplements were included in my diet as we vegetarians get very limited nourishment from our food sources.

I also started ‘strength training’ sessions in the gym…a grueling leg exercise regime which includes leg press, leg extensions and curls with  40 – 50 – 60 reps. I am enduring it at….for a dream.

All this while I did not even to bother to check the registration dates as someone has said that the registrations starts from the month of September. Kicking myself again. But, the registration has long since closed! Kick, Kick!

Why does this mean so much to me? As a home maker, my world revolves around my family. There are some dreams which are achievable, which do not take me away from my home or my responsibilities. This dream was for me, myself, to prove to myself that I can.

Look at me now, crying…my kids are consoling me. My hubby consoled me, saying I can always run next year! My biological clock is ticking. I know how much I have been enduring for this dream of mine…..sob, sob.                                      

OBSESSED OR PASSIONATE??

One way to connect with people through one’s blog is to become a member of a ‘bloggers’ group which can boost one’s blog traffic and also by signing up for blog-hops/tours; and or taking up the challenges laid down by other bloggers. That’s actually two ways…isn’t it?

I am doing precisely this as I am new to this world of blogging. The blog hops and challenges give me an opportunity to think and write about a subject which otherwise I may not have come up with.

So, when faced with a challenge of writing, what do I do? I browse the net to gather information if it is a subject which I am not familiar with. Based on that, I either write my poems or the blog. From the time I commit myself to accept the challenge and till I finally put it down on my blog site, I think of nothing else. Once a thought has been implanted in my brain, I have to keep on feeding it with words. Constantly correcting, rephrasing, trying to come up with something apt or better and making sentences until I commit these to my memory….which is a short term memory. No sooner have I transferred these words in my brain to the computer, an auto clean takes place wiping out my short term memory clean. Mean while, I have trained my mind to do all my household chores of cooking, cleaning, dusting….etc, on auto-pilot! It is true. My son often complains that I am going deaf!

Definitions:

Obsess: to have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single      emotion or topic. Obsession is unhealthy , a term used to name a chronic thinking towards someone or something that dominates one’s thoughts.

Passion:  any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling.   Boundless enthusiasm or the object of such enthusiasm. Passion is based around a goal, an internal goal or a core value which gives a sense of achievement or accomplishment. 

While browsing the net for more information on this subject ,I came across quite a few interesting blogs and articles.

John Hagel III in Edge Perspectives says:  “To say passion becomes obsessions is to make a distinction of degree. It implies that obsession is more passionate form of passion – too much of a good thing.” 
More….http://edgeperspectives.typepad.com/edge_perspectives/2010/03/passion-versus-obsession.html

Isn’t a first time mom obsessed with her baby? Only that the term we use is maternal love. Here, the obsession is healthy.

A few years back, a murder and subsequent chopping and burning of the body of the murdered victim by his killer and his fiancée shocked our country. The judge pronounced this as a “crime of passion” and the killer got away with just 7 years of imprisonment. So, passion isn’t healthy either?

This is too deep a subject to debate. For me, there is a very thin line separating both. I am passionate (or obsessed) enough with what I am doing unless I do not let it overtake my sense of being or drive me to the point of distress that I am not able to think of anything else or do anything else.I do not get distressed if I am not able to come up with anything suitable as I do take a mental break from the thoughts. I am passionate if I am focused enough to bring out the best in me. I am passionate enough if I am responsible and committed to what I enjoy doing most, it can be my writing, my running or my reading.

So, what do you guys feel about this? As writers are you all obsessed or passionate?

dVerse Poets Pub ~ FORM FOR ALL - HAIKU AND SENRYU

LONGING….

                      

  Sunbeams peeking

Shadows growing longer

  Waiting no longer.                   

                                            

                             

  Moonlight blazes

Darkness drapes around

  Missing your warmth.       

                   

BLOG-A-LICIOUS BLOG TOUR 11.

Join us in this fantastic blog hop that brings together bloggers of all geners, background and locations. Featured before "memoris of  a homemaker" is the ever inspiring Dora - peacefrompieces.blogspot.com and featured after this is http://ravinaandreakurian.blogspot.com/ of Mommy Adventures.


Fasten your seat belts as we are taking you on a tour....enjoy!

WHERE IS YOUR DREAM DESTINATION?

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover." - Mark Twain.

The world is my oyster. I would love to travel around the world….to every nook and corner that is worth seeing….every beach, every sunrise, every sunset, every mountain, every valley, every river, the flora-fauna…the list is endless. I love the adventure…the whole process of planning, booking tickets, packing etc etc.

Every book I have read over the years has transported me to a different place and a different time, assaulting my visual and kinetic senses. I have felt the vibrant colors of the different cultures, the rich texture of their customs and rituals, the smells of the local cuisine. I would want to see it all…first hand.

As of now, my dream destination is to visit the Mt Kailash and Manasarovar Lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is the highest body of fresh water situated at the height of 14,948 feet approximately above the sea level. Mt Kailash is a peak in the Gangdise Mountains, which are a part of the Himalayas in Tibet. In Hinduism it is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva.

This place has a lot of religious significance in Hinduism. It is believed that drinking the water and taking a bath in this lake will cleanse the person of his sins.

Religious beliefs apart, I want to go to this place for its natural beauty, pristine and clear water, unpolluted and crisp air, snow capped mountains, and peace.

“There are no mountains like the Himalayas, for in them are Kailash and Manasarovar. As the dew is dried up by the morning Sun, so are the sins of mankind dried up by the sight of the Himalaya.’ – Skanda Purana.

This is one of the holiest places on Earth and yes, I will be blessed to be in the abode of this beauty….I want to experience this place.

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." - St.Augustine

A HARVEST PARTY RHYME

For Roy's challenge - http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com/2011/10/lothtm-so-what-up.l




THE FALL OF LEAVES

Sun kissed yellow

Bright orange

Earthy brown leaves

Fallen from the trees

In a pile they’re gathered

Kids jump on them

Making ’em scatter

They jump up to

Grab the dancing leaves….

Mom gives ‘em pumpkin

To paint for the Halloween

They don’t wanna

Make it scary,

They paint eyes and

A tomato nose

Pin some leaves

To make it goofy.

They run around the yard

Bobbing for apples

Fight with each other

For a piece of truffle.

We eat, we drink,

We dance and play

Kids and grown-ups alike,

We look forward to

This time of the year,

Our annual harvest party

Is a Grand a’fair.

I CAN

Blank canvas,

Blank is my mind,

‘Visions’ blind,

Heck! Need to unwind.

Opening the cooler

For a can of chill beer

‘Pop’ goes the can…..

Yeh! I can paint,

The can.

Funny how some

Ideas ‘pop’

Transforming into art

Blind no more,

Gosh! I am smart.

PATRIOTISM OF CONVENIENCE?

Our country won the Cricket World Cup this April and the whole nation erupted with joy, pouring out on the streets to celebrate. Indians, home and abroad were overcome with joy and emotion at this historical moment. The cricketers who were in the winning team were felicitated, offered prize money amounting to Lakhs, given awards by individuals and also from various State and Central Government.

This scenario changed when the team lost their No.1 position in the recent series against England.

Hockey is our National Sport. We won the Asian Championship in China by beating Pakistan. Sadly, the match was not even telecast in India!! The team was felicitated by the Government and was offered a mere twenty-five thousand rupees as an appreciation, which they rejected outright! Kudos and hat’s off to them, serves the government right for being biased.

Then again, recently Anna Hazare called the people of India to participate in the movement against the government to fight corruption. Everyone took to the streets shouting the slogans – “Vande Matharam” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” Everyone was swept in this ocean of mass patriotism wanting to be a part in this very defining moment of our recent times.

Yesterday, i.e., 1^st October, is celebrated as the United Nations Elders Day and this was celebrated with enthusiasm in my kids’ school too. It was nice to see all the grandmas and grandpas with their grand kids. After the final vote of thanks, the Indian National Anthem was played….everyone got up in respect, but they shied from actually singing the anthem!!! Familiar?

A few years back, the screening of our National Anthem was made mandatory in the multiplexes across Mumbai. A very good move indeed as we were restricted to singing our National Anthem to  few times a year.

As soon as we enter the multiplex, we head straight to the refreshment counter to buy popcorn, soft drinks and whatever that fancies us…..we start munching…..enter the theater….munch on……National Anthem is screened…..we stand up…….we munch on. Yes, most of us do that! We open our mouths to eat, but not to sing our anthem! 

Are we callous? Indifferent? Shallow with superficial ideals? A combination of all these?

Come on people, it is easy to say “I am Proud to be an Indian” but, do we really mean it? If you love your county, then flaunt it….this is the least you can do to respect your motherland. Next time, please sing the Anthem. 

SPOOKY THEME POETRY

HAUNTED…..( For Jerry Browning's Spooky Theme on POETRY)

You haunt me

Like the unseen

Forces of the dark

Nowhere to run

I grope in the dark.

I feel you pin me

Against the wall………

I wanna cry,

I wanna scream

But the voice has

Died within.

Your whispers are eerie

Your laughter mirthless

You are strangling me

Making me breathless…..

You claw my heart

Making it bleed

Showing mercy

Not your deed.

Venom you spew

Into my breath

Drawing me into yourself

In this dance of death!