I am a bystander

I watch mutely the inexorable march of time
I watch wide-eyed the bloody dance of time
I am a bystander
I watch mutely

Fear, disbelief and anger uniting young students
Meted out treatment meant for criminals
I am a bystander
I watch mutely

Women huddle in bitter cold, shocked out of their complacency
Their future and presence a certain uncertainty
I am a bystander
I watch mutely

Venom spewing leaders from the entire spectrum
Laying dead bodies irrespective of religion
I am a bystander
I watch mutely

Tear gas, batons, blazing guns and ineptitude
Atrocities of complicit lawkeepers on innocents
I am a bystander
I watch mutely

Marauding death sweeps in striding purposefully
Mutilating old and young indiscriminately
I am a bystander
I watch mutely

Day in day out a mockery of democracy
I look for a peace pareidolia in the tea leaves
I am a bystander
I watch mutely.

Her life

Hope

Playing with the delicate glass bangles

tinkling on her dainty wrist

a half smile hesitantly appearing and then disappearing

she looks out of her front door

hopefullness sits expectantly on the rims of her dark eyes

myriad thoughts crowd her mind

she hushes the annoying tyrannical ones

determinedly focussing on the pleasant only

tingling at the thought of happy disbelief

that she hopes would be writ on his face

as she muses on the reason that had led to the silly tiff

and her walking out in a huff

her face mirrors the startling emotions running amok

swinging her from despair to elation

but as the evening progresses, she is sure

they would put behind this disagreement and move ahead.

Goldilocks Part 2

Distant evanescent lightning

imparts a faint blush glow to the room

I am faced with the prospect of being alone in the dark

as mom and pop are away

losing track of time, I am plagued

by dangerous thoughts

banishing them away, I stay brave

I don’t want to go anywhere

history repeats itself, they say

I sit on my bed waiting

for the very social Goldilock’s arrival

‘cos I don’t believe the rumours about her.

Eugi's Weekly Prompt – Blush – February 17, 2020

Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge–February 18, 2020

Wednesday’s Level UP Challenge, 2/19/20 and Tuesday’ Writing Prompt Challenge Round UP

Publication in Spillwords

I would like to share with all of you my happiness that my poem A foolish notion has found home in Spillwords.

You can read it here.

Never-ending

She sat on the stairs

Clutching her teddy

Her eyes on the road

Waiting for dear daddy.

Her eyes wandered around

A sea of faces around her swarmed

Her school bag heavy with books

Bewildered, she waited for her mom.

As she played in the park

Her gaze fixed on the gate

She participated listlessly

All the while, in best friend’s wait.

She paced restlessly in the college campus

Glancing every then and now at her watch

He was late like always to pick her up

She waited for the one who was her perfect match.

It was already time for kids to return

But she could hear no footsteps outside

Her ears strained to hear their voices

As she sat waiting for the apples of her eyes.

It was later than the usual office timing

She sat resignedly on the armchair

It was becoming a habit of late

To wait for her husband, but it was difficult to bear.

She stood in the balcony, as if carved out of stone

He was late yet again in spite of warning

She knew not what she could do

There was no debating, her pampered son was erring.

And so it went on like this for her

Till on her deathbed one day she lay

Everyone prayed for her pain to end

But she knew she would have to wait for another day.

Motherhood

Moods swing her like a yo yo

one moment euphoric and high as a kite

but the very next minute insecure and fearful

one day life feels like an extended vacation

and the very next day even moving out of bed seems impossible

she quickly spirals from realism to superstition

the rollercoaster ride her hormones are taking her on

leaves her breathless and bewildered

running on low esteem and raging emotions

standing in front of the mirror

looking critically at her stretch marks and bulging belly

she smiles at her reflection and blows a kiss

then says aloud,

“You are the most desirable woman right now!”