Skulking in the penumbra
waiting patiently for a chink to appear
then homing like a scavenging vulture
fear can scarce hide its glee
ever so subtle,
always waiting for a blunder
it shivers with delight
as it collaborates with suspicion
digging deep its talons
feeding on vulnerabilities
smothering every glimmer of reason
and leaving it a blubbering wretch
feasting on the carcass of sanity
it gloats contentedly at the mayhem unleashed.
The winter of discontent has been long and harsh
the cold indifference accompanied by pelting hail of scorn
has made things unbearable
the fabric of nation is worn and thin
mistrust and hatred riddle it with holes
tightening it around leads to suffocation of freedom
a keen sight is needed
to identify the weak and tattered spots
it needs deft and gentle hands
to patchwork
with understanding and empathy
to energise the old with the new
to embellish and strengthen to create something that
provides succour and warmth to all
a quilting of all ethnicities
of love and acceptance
to keep at bay sure hypothermia of beliefs
that are the very core of our existence.
He tossed the crumpled goodbye
carelessly in her lap
and just as the sun dives into the ocean
for the evening dip
he jauntily walked out of her life
crashing the front door loudly
crushing her tender dreams
on the rough, gravel path
looking out of her backdoor
all she could see was sweltering darkness
not a speck of light to guide her
with satin smooth lily hands
she nervously removed the creases
and folded the goodbye neatly
to tuck it between
the synapses of life before and after his arrival
the ache that refused to die
held her spine rigid
the tears that pooled at the corner of her eyes
congealed into clear film over her skin
the frozen half smile coming unstuck
encased her grief forever.
You carefully arrange your emotions
neatly pinned close to your heart
hidden under the blank accoutrements
mine are strewn all over
haphazard and a bit over the top
mostly displayed proudly on my sleeve
your arguments are cogently presented
precise and to the point
to win always
mine are emotional outbursts
loud and raw but
still making a valid point
your words are deliberately selected
to gore and caress as well
depending on your mood
mine are impromptu riffs
sometimes dramatic
though mostly heartfelt
we are like an admix
of movie and theatre
of parry and joust
of sea and sand
of karmic action
combusting and exploding
to light our combined firmament.
The fondest dream alights lightly on my shoulder
snagging my interest and thought process
then flits away like a kite bobbing
taking me to the wonderland of utopia
my heart shouts hurray
so sure that I would clinch the rarely possible feat
of making an impossible aspiration come true
but just as quickly the dream vanishes
I am left grappling with
the false sense of hope it bestowed
haplessly I watch it flutter helplessly
before spiralling into oblivion
harsh reality taunts me
orders me to forget the extinct flame
but I cannot let go
for if there are no dreams
what will man live for?
I have been tagged by Sadje for The Decade Tag.
The Creator of The Decade Tag is Jesusluvsall’s Blog
Play Along Guidelines
Please share a link to the creator of the tag-jesusluvsall.wordpress.com
Share some highlights for you over the past decade and if you want, a few low points.
The last decade was one of slackening the frenetic pace a bit. Hubby stayed home for longer stretches. The kids entered teenage (sans the misplaced angst!)
I saw many in the family from the previous generation pass away. But the highlight was decidedly reuniting with school friends, all thanks to the social media. There are eighty of us in touch with each other and last year most of us together attended a few weddings of the kids of friends.
How are you planning to spend the next decade in improving your health?
Well, taking care of health, in earnest, started last decade with hubby being diagnosed with high blood pressure. I plan to continue with mindful eating and regular walks.
Have you noticed your tastes in music, literature and clothing change drastically over the last 10 years?
I wouldn’t call the change in my tastes drastic but yes, they have changed gradually.
I have started listening more to blues and folk music.
As far as books are concerned, I have lost my appetite for huge tomes. I prefer shorter, quick reads now.
My sartorial choices have become more in favour of bolder colours.
How would you rate your last decade in terms of achieving life goals?
Goals keep changing…you achieve one, there are others in its place! So yes, last decade was good but there are miles to go…
Do you think our planet will be doing well in the next decade?
I don’t want to sound like a carping Cassandra but looking at our leaders, I am filled with pessimism.
But common people fill me with hope and I do pray the collective efforts will make our planet more inhabitable.
Thank you for the tag, Sadje. Anyone interested in answering Sadje’s questions, please have a go.
What was once a given
is now suspect
A completely dispassionate reporting
accountability to the public
is a daffy idea now
The watchdog has become a gazelle
giving in to the temptation of greed
falling nothing short of sycophancy
A handmaiden of the powerful
the press goes off on a tangent
on issues germane
Gone are the days of all or nothing
suffering from a crisis of identity
it equates patriotism with obfuscation.
They say it is not discriminatory
They say people are overreacting
They say they just want a piece of paper
They say it is as simple as that
But the mind boggles
How the numerous papers issued by them
Mean nothing now
A paper that I don’t have
Is supposed to establish my identity
I watch the slow death
Of democracy in broad daylight.
You can read about the provocation for this verse here.
When thse who wield the power, stoop to conquer
And there are those whose conviction is their guiding light
When thoughts need a permit to express themselves
Then heart rebels with all its might
When those perceived weak have the strongest voice
And the powerful have blinkered sight
When people refuse to accept that grey exists
For black is not always black nor white is white
When the right presumably is not always right
But uses might to suppress what’s right
When there seems no light at the end of the tunnel
And there’s no sign of a morn after the darkest night
Then the flickering hope that resides in the breast
Refuses the bait of cynicism to bite
In the scheme of things hope maybe laughed at
But it gives despondency a good fight
For it knows hubris will one day meet nemesis
Shattered pride will all be left of the right
Because you can use sleight of hand sometimes
But cannot dim the truth burning bright.
I draw curtains, switch off the lights
put away the gizmos
and disconnect with the world
I need isolation to connect with self
I need darkness to see within
the quiet to listen
to the timorous but persistent voice
that was being drowned by
the cacophonous clamouring outside
the voice of reason that was shouted down
by volatile, vociferous and vituperative vocals
nonplussed I had sat
on the fence of neutrality
balancing on a razor’s edge all the while
hoping things would change on their own
as I watched like a bystander
the chicanery of the overtly righteous blinded me
but the honesty of the ordinary emboldened me
bloodied but wise I step off the razor
and reclaim my space
to join those who are right
my voice refusing to stay muzzled
I finally find my voice to speak and to be heard
it may not be a roar but
it speaks in tandem with those speaking the truth
for in the end, truth always prevails!
Hello friends. I have been away longer than I intended to! Wishing all of you a very Happy year ahead. May the bushfires in Australia stop, may there be peace in the Middle East, may we all do our bit to save the environment and may the ongoing student unrest and protests in India end on a positive note.
It has been a long hiatus from blogging for me. I have missed reading and interacting with you all. I intend to catch up soon. I would also like to thank those who have started following my blog recently. I will surely visit your blogs soon.
I hope to be able to read and and write regularly in the near future.
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