In the Middle of the Rainbow

In my dreams I've often been,
To this land no one's seen...

Inside the myriad colours so true,
I stood in joy, in colourful hue.

Criss, cross, criss, embers of light
Water and light--Oh what a sight!

This is the place where happiness lay,
This is the place, I wanted to stay...

In my dreams I've often been,
To this land no one's seen...

Gathering light from nearby beams,
Ephemeral beauty, seen only in dreams..

Today I'm here in happiness bound,
Hoping never, ever to be found.

By those who know a lesser state,
or settle for a lower fate. 

Hiatus

Stop a While, 

Breathe, Just Be...

Some say its a Break,

The icing on the Cake...

I say- let them say,

You please "Just Be!"

Long have been the hours,

In stuffy Office towers, 

Between cold walls,

endless conference calls, 

Early morning meetings

And Boss' sarcastic greetings...

Have you looked outside a window,

To take a break from Microsoft's Window?

Did a bird accidentally chirp so Sweet

And you mistook it for a traffic tweet?

A hiatus, a pause,

Slowdown because,

This isn't what life is meant to be...

Walk on the grass,

Gaze awhile at the stars,

Have you forgotten what evenings are?

Are you living permanently in your car? 

I know not what is wrong or right,

I only know souls need respite...

So, take a break, slowdown dear,

Gaze, dream, sleep without fear...

Shut off the alarm once in a while,

You've done a lot, just tarry a while.

A bit of laziness isn't always a sin, 

Have a little fun, Oh so long its been!

Sit quiet at your favourite place,

Let others run the maddening race...

A hiatus, a pause,
Slowdown because,
This isn't what life is meant to be...

Thoughts

Thoughts

Thoughts were free, they now had wings…

The day I opened my mind’s purse strings,

One after the other, out they came rumbling

Like happy children from school’s gate tumbling.

I opened the cage and set them free,

To jump over meadows endlessly

Over brooks, over trees, over the vale,

And over the passing rabbit’s tail.

With new found freedom they went wild,

You just could not make them mild.

It was a strange spectacle to see-

Thoughts walking freely about like geese…

These thoughts- they  sat around at pubs,

Of beer they had many a tubs

And often swayed they fro and to,

Like drunken men are wont to do.

Melancholy said to Happiness

Looks like life is emptiness,

Said Happiness to Melancholy,

“Oh Melancholy, don’t be so Silly!”

So speaking they through the night,

Entered into many a fight

And then to make matters light

Said laughter, “Let’s get out of sight!”

Saying so- clear he vanished,

The other thoughts too were banished

From the pub’s table round…

So, another place they found.

And at the first crack of dawn

When the dew dropped on the lawns,

The thoughts went their separate ways…

To pass their own wilfull days.

And never to the mind did they return,

Though the mind did often squirm

Wondering where the thoughts would be-

Of mind’s tight hold forever free…

Today they sing so happily

Of mind’s tight hold forever free,

They sing of freedom n liberty,

For its one to thing to “think”

 and

Quite another to truly, fully “be!”

Taking Down Pictures that Hang on Walls

We had to sell our house.
The children had all moved to bigger cities-
There was nothing for them to do in a small
Outback of Uttar Pradesh.

We were here still
But were sure we had to move.
Pressure from our off springs, relatives and friends
To move to the bigger city, with malls and hospitals galore.

Slowly, all the so familiar pieces of furniture were packed.
When it came to bringing down beloved father’s photograph,
Something within me cracked.

The man had built this place
With so much love and affection.
And I was deserting him.

Middle Age

Together as we steadily brace
Towards the middle of the race
The path ahead is so secure
It leaves me feeling very unsure
No sudden bends, no curves anymore
The road ahead is so straight
and towards our goals we replicate

The road not taken, long forgotten
Ifs and Buts and Dreams lie rotting
Under the pillow of my youth…
And long lost loves and sweet nothings
Murmur no more of could have beens
And I for want of hope and dare
Do to myself declare
“I follow the narrow, steady path of middle age
So that my children’s youth can be saved”J
And so I turn my cowardice to sacrifice
And continue to lead the steady path to middle age.
Niharika Bisaria

Cry My Beloved Nation, Cry

See through wet eyes
The Searing pain
See it once, twice and yet again...
Of a mother who's son is lost
Of a man who's wife and children all have died
Of a child who cries for his mother through the night...
See through wet eyes
The searing pain
Feel the pounding in your brain,
Raise the pen or the sword
Let your feelings over-ride.
All thoughts of reason put aside
Cry,my beloved nation, cry.
And when the tears have dried
Pledge yourself to do your best
Put yourself through a test,
Each and Every Single Day.
Did I do my very best today?
For half the nation's searing pain
And the pounding in our brains
would be at rest
If we all do our very best.

Niharika Bisaria

An Ode to English

In this World of 1,2,3
Where’s the place for A,B,C?

Did you do your sums today?
Is what all the parents say.

English is a dying art
`Tis only in the writer’s heart
Though number crunchers are divine
Listen to this prayer of mine
In this world of 1,2,3
Teach the love of A,B,C

Cos it’s the language of the heart
And it will set your child apart
From the numerate multitude
(And all their godamn attitude)!!

Niharika Bisaria