Empty Sofa

I put out my hand, as if to find

The warmth of his, a weathered kind,

But grasp only grains, like fleeting years,

A beach of memories, dimmed with tears.

I reach for clouds, a distant white,

Like his silver hair in fading light,

But touch only mist, a chilling breath,

The empty sky, a space of death.

I put out my hand, to the empty air,

Where he would sit, on the sofa there,

But feel only cold, a vacant place,

An absent smile, a missing face.

He pressed his chest, a breath held tight,

And brushed it off, with all his might.

"A simple ache," was all he'd say,

Oblivious, I turned back to my day.

Seven-thirty, the morning stilled,

A walk cut short, a life unfulfilled.

He'd stretched each dawn, a vibrant soul,

Then silence fell, beyond control.

A year has passed, the seasons turn,

But in my heart, the embers burn,

The world moves on, at its own pace,

But he remains, in his special place.

And the void he left, stays with me.

Monday Blues to Pink

 

Monday Blues to Pink

It’s a Monday morning, feeling blue,
The clock ticks on, the day feels too soon.
I pull the blanket tight,
Hoping the world will fade from sight.

The March mid-sem break glimmers in the distance,
My mind wanders off, caught in resistance.
I dream of coloring my day gold,
But for now, the gray skies leave me cold.

I used to look forward to Mondays, so bright,
Now they drag me down, robbing my light.
Assignments stack up, the homework creeps in,
My spirit fades away, my patience gives in.

Then came the Covid-19 lockdown, my world turned pale,
From blue skies to four walls that felt like a jail.
My friends away so far, the laughter faded away,
And all I had left was the endless gray.

Stuck at home, no campus to roam,
My dreams got put on hold, I felt so alone.
I settled in, but the isolation dragged me down,
The red flags of monotony made me frown.

But now, as the days blur into one,
I look back at the fun that’s come undone.
The lecture halls, the chats in between,
The rush of the morning, so vibrant and keen.

I long for the pink of those moments so bright,
When Mondays weren’t burdens, but colors of light.
Now, with the distance, my heart starts to shift,
I miss the warmth of that campus lift.

The world outside now feels dusty and old,
Gray mornings stretch, and the days turn cold.
I wish I’d known how sweet those times could be,
When Mondays were full of color and so carefree.

Now I look back with a wistful sigh,
At rainbow days gone by, too quick to fly.
The blue skies of youth, the sunshine of hope,
I paint my Mondays with memories, just trying to cope.

आज भारत आज़ाद हुआ …

 आज भारत आज़ाद हुआ … 

-कंचन दत्त 

लहू बहा था पानी समान,

किले शिकस्त हुए बने शमशान,

कई वीरों-वीरांगनाओ के पीठ जड़ें थे तीर - कमान ।

बम - बारूद, लोहा - करकट,

हिंसा - अहिंसा सब जोड़ - तोड़कर ,

सबने की थी बड़ी मशक्क़त;

लगे थे लगभग 200 साल,

फिर जाकर मक़सद अपना कामयाब हुआ 

15 अगस्त 1947 में भारत आज़ाद हुआ ।

यह आज़ादी अनंत गगन की उड़ान भरे,

धर्म - जाति, रंग - रूप नहीं ,

सब भले इंसान बने ।

पर यह मान लेना कि आज़ादी तो लाज़मी थी,

पुश्तैनी विरासत थी, बड़ी बेअदबी है,

सीधे बोलूं तो इसकी क़द्र न करना, 

बड़ा अमानवीय है। 

गाली-गलौज कर, भाषा को अभद्र करना, 

छेड़-छाड़ व शोषण पर सब्र रखना,

संस्कृति - सिद्धांतों को भुला कर कब्र में गढ़ना,

ये आज़ादी पर प्रहार हैं।  

आज़ादी अंत नहीं, अनंत के भी पार है ,

दुनिया - समाज को सुखद रखना,

यही सबका सार है। 

बड़ी मेहनत मशक़्क़त से अपना देश आज़ाद हुआ,

भारत माँ की ज़ंजीरें तोड़, नए सफ़र का आग़ाज़ हुआ। 

उठो, बोलो और करो कुछ ऐसा कि नाम सुने सब दूर- दराज ,

विश्व में बोलते सब है पर गूँजे सबमें अपनी आवाज़।  

The Crow and the Bank of Swans

The Crow and the Bank of Swans

The blotch on the pristine lake; 

being a maverick was his fate.

The little one was mocked, but remained isolate.

He, should we call him eccentric one or brave, refused to imitate;

he would tolerate, but not break.

The normal, pious bank of White Swans 

continue to dominate, sometimes obliterate;

but he would stay, suffocate but still tolerate,

But little do they know they are dicing with death,

the little crow would grow; 

the Anger he has repressed would turn into strength.

And Oh god forbids if there occurs a dry spell over the lake!

The crow would rather use the pebble to sully the lake, 

than to quench his thirst from the pitcher in serenade.

Till then he would wait,

might even become a fool, to masquerade,

working on his strength to elevate;

to shut down all the gimmicks,

and to rise as a Phoenix !!

WHO AM I ?? 

Got the maternal instinct with her pride

Got the paternal power with his tough side;

Both Blue and pink is my sky,

but still THEY ask me: "Who am I??" 

My mind and body at constant war;

Confused and confined, my belligerent core!

Putting my anger aside, to live a peaceful life;

But Peace is not an option, THEY start a strife!

I know sometimes my identity is inscrutable,

I know sometimes my sex organs are skeptical,

I know sometimes my attraction for someone is unfathomable,

But are these reasons enough for me being unacceptable??

My life My achievements My whole self

Cast aside; and just my orientation and sex,

Are enough to make anyone perplexed??

Why am I segregated from Humanity?

Why is my love considered Profanity?

Questioning myself innumerably, “Who Am I??”

How am I supposed to keep hold of my sanity??

Why am I considered - a Taboo?!!

Why am I, for gossip only - a hot potato?!! 

Why am I not considered respectful in main avenues?!!

Questioning myself innumerably, “Who Am I??”

But They ask me, “What Am I??”

I may not be a Perfect creation of God;

Tired of worldly norms, on a deserted road, alone, I plod.

In the middle of it, I thought...

If I’m not Normal, way far from Perfect,

Then who is? 

‘Cause we all got the same architect!

Away from the blood relations and family,

Disowned by everyone because of my anomaly.

Too tired from this Clandestine Concerns,

I’ll myself build a home- to return,

I’ll myself build a family from strangers- to yearn.

Too tired from begging for Acceptance;

I’ll rebuild myself from core with confidence;

I’ll rebuild my mind free from previous essence;

Maybe I don’t need your acceptance,

‘Cause I’m already accepted by my God- omnipresent!

 

 

Diwali, the festival of.......

‘Bzzzzz bzzzzz’ the drill whirled;

‘Badump badump’ the heart thumped;

‘Gurgle gurgle’ the water overflowing the mouth;

‘Ngh Owww’ the groans echoed & the chatter went south.

The festival of light, love and sweet

Ended up on a dentist’s seat;

The child went loose,

The parents also, for one day, let their child choose;

But negligence of both 

Oral hygiene became sloth.

The worse got the grandparents,

Worsen the blood pressure and insulin (sugar) maintenance;

Lungs were already weak,

Can’t hear well, difficult to speak;

Dentist wasn’t the only clinic they went,

This festival brought more than one dent.

Even worse got the stray animals,

Yelping for help, scarred mental and physical.

Can’t hide with the sensitive ears 

Looking for safe haven, rolling down tears,

Social humans far from being ethical,

Counting their own mistakes, poor animals.

Even worse got the nature,

Ego and misinformation enveloped as culture.

Festival of light greeted with thick sheets of smock

Amavas (darkest) night transcends to darker days unlocked.

The worst got the Humanity

Basic human virtues turning to vanity

Religion and festival losing its true color

Harmony and unity turning to something minor.

Will this be our destiny, our fate

Being powerless and pawns at someone’s gate;

We still got the wiser words, ‘it’s never too late’

To dig in and find the humanity innate.

This Diwali,

Light up the streets, light up your world against ignorant greed; 

Burn the darkness engulfing instead of crackers fuming.

Diwali being the festival of light spread it around your vicinity, 

Love your fellow beings and spread happiness, this is the real divinity.