Feeling alive

Watched a video enunciating health and well being rules to achieve longevity. It made me reflect. Death is the only certain thing once life begins. When it will happen is uncertain. So the health and life style measures ought to focus on improving quality of our lives. And, then I thought what is one thing that consistently promoting our well being. It's our ability to love and laugh, irrespective of what the life circumstances are 😊

Listen you -

live True

live from the heart 

whether until 20s or to 100 plus

Sweetheart, 

savour the now 

being in the moment 

know how

sans any condition 

to laugh and love 

and celebrate your breath

your pulse

before taking final bow 

on way out. ❤️

स्वतंत्र भारत

Understanding India as an entity on its 75th Independence Anniversary 

पच्छ्तर (७५) साल हुए -

अंग्रेजों से आज़ादी के

भारतीयता किंतु क़दीम है 

आत्मीयता से परिपूर्ण 

निर्भीक, निर्भेद संस्कृति 

वासुदेव कुटुम्बकम की प्रतीक सदा 

रूह स्वच्छंद भारत की 

कल थी, आज भी और रहेगी कल 

पुश्तों के आवागमन से परे 

गणतंत्रता की गणना में शुमार से क़बल

स्वतंत्र भारत की आत्मा 

असीम और अज़ीम है ।

Ode to friendship

It's Friendship Day today. Rashmi penned a beautiful poem: https://ruminationsbyrashmi.blogspot.com/2022/08/roots.html

It made me reflect on what friendship's been for me. It set my soul free ❤️

Rooted we are - 

Thru father

Thru mother

Bygone ancestors

And their left over tradition.

Anchored we are

By progeny and our children

True essence of oursIs but truly set free

Only when in friends' company-

With laughter and joy

Jokes and reminiscence No care, Taken for granted acceptance

Easy banter

Some cribs, few moansSans judgement 

Sometimes quick wit

All together in rich mixTo spice life's canvasIt's with them We spread wings to fly

In friendshipWe revel as akin soul ❤️

Moving on

I am three short of 60, I tell my son. It's time to glean the gems of lessons the Uni of Life gave me. Most powerful has been moving on and not getting stuck in grievances, betrayals, loss of love, hurt expectations, breach of trust .... and continuing to flow through life embracing moments of joy, happy memories and being in the moment. 
This life,

With its twists and turn

From a station 

To another

Brings to interchanges

To pause

Look around and find

People have changed

That whom you once knew

As they were 

Shared in rejoiceBalmed in pain

Walked together in sojourn,

They no longer are the same.

You know then -

It's time 

To move on.

रूह का अन्नदाता

साल लगे कई

फिर जा समझी लाल लहू का 

शेष यौवन प्रहर ही हो जाता है।

साँझ ढ़ले तो केवल 

मीतों का गीत ही भाता है।

दर्द दिया लेकिन साझे को 

दोस्त के दिल को बढ़ा दिया -

विधि अद्भुत प्रेम पंच की

विधाता तू ही -

मेरी रूह का अन्नदाता है । 

तनहाई

My nephew was here to visit. His spontaneous comment over chit chat and snacks was - कितना सन्नाटा है यहाँ". I was surprised because all I had felt was profound peace and company of thoughts and nature. I was in bliss that others were oblivious to.
तनहाई ख़ामोश कहाँ - 

बड़ा बोलती है;

बरसों दबी हसरतों की ज़ुबाँरूह में रस घोलती है

ना तौलती. ना परखती

ना तू तड़ाक के तेवर

चले आते है कभी बरबसभूली बिसरी यादों के गहवर

उस पल जब स्वयं से स्वयं 'हम कौन हैं' - से प्रश्न लिए मानो, आत्मा 

अपने ही वजूद का पता पूछती है।

या फिर कभी अपनी लौ सजातनहाई मनस के पृष्ठ परझिलमिलाते ख़्वाबों के परवाज़ की दिशा ढूँढती है ...

हाँ सच.मेरी तनहाई बड़ा बोलती है।

माँग दरवेशी

 धार कोई और कहाँ यहाँ-

रब इकलौता स्रोत मात्र है,

और ये मन कोरा, केवल 

है दरवेशी का ख़ाली कूजा;

पाने को हर पल

ललक ललक प्रभु प्रसाद 

का प्रार्थी है।

लापता होने की ललक को
होंसला दो ऐ ज़िंदगी।

Woe to warmongers

The youth walk to war

That Kings and Kingsmen bid for -

They sold dream to be martyr 

To young soldier 

Every crusader 

Aches to have accolades

Of medals and awards 

More, much more 

Than being there as lover or Dad;

In their march 

Little do they know of pain of death 

Or ignominy in after-death

That brews out of senseless bloodshed,

And wreaths when they come to be laid 

Will be chosen for places of rest

Earmarked and epitaphed graves 

To honour not the departed braves

But ones whose bid 

For power 

Was seen as sign of leader -

He wilfully and wastefully 

expended the youth

That country and 

global community had.

Note to Aamal

 मेरा बेटा 

मेरा प्यारा

कैसे छोड़ दें

बाप और माँ

ये जानते बुझते 

दुनिया के बदमस्त हंगामे

दूषित करते परवाज़ों को 

थोड़ी भी चूक

खाने पीने

सफ़ायी. सच्चाई से जीने में 

हिला देगी 

नींव आने वाले कल

और कल के कल की -

क्यूँकि ये उम्र बड़ी छोटी 

और आयु आख़िरत की 

निरंतर अंतहीन सालो साल है ।

Winter safari

 

Winter safari -

On a warm day

My son walks me

With my waning steps 

For my birthday 

To keep company 

Of wind and wild.

From yokes of time

Seamlessly 

I am released 

Thus, youth resurges 

Constancy in Change

 

Greens in all its adorn

Tugs at heart 

Beseeching me to ask

For summer 

With all its heat to last,

Indulgently in its bask

It's turn of sun

To ask

Are you yet to learn?

Accept -

It's only change that 

Forever lasts!

रब तू किसका?

 होड़ लगी है -

ढूँढ रही जो भीड़ समक्ष

अपने अपने रब को

इक हलचल, इक कोलाहल में;

मैं बुद्धि विपरीत लिए

हार साध, बस लुप्त सी

ताड़ूँ सर्वश्रेष्ठ सजन को 

केवल विरक्त मौन क़ल्ब में।

Night Owl

Thames flows tame today

as I peer across

hospital window pane,

it's break of dawn;

the city has just begun

preparing to witness -

ahead is another day.

A lovers' kiss

painful part and depart,

ferries afloat,

family on stroll;

all ages pitter pattering the cross walk

policeman on patrol

big sniffing dog on leash

as executives in rat rush 

run along

to beat Big Ben's gong -

at this hour

it sounds harsh!

Tourists are relaxed -

few savouring a moment on their own

or, capturing London on their roll

bride's photoshoot by riverwalk

and that man in dejection

some caught in contemplation

stay still and seated

on steps

by famed Westminster bridge.

Ahem, I can almost hear curse

of a homeless squat, careless

as if consumed

in a drunken brawl

with self...

There'll be more

much more to catch

when diversity throbs

pounding concrete

criss across, oblivious

to rub of the throng

at start of their day;

it'll continue

as per decree

until hours draw to close

twilight fades into nightfall

by then so many dramas

would've evolved

as endorsed

on the Playwright's Scroll....

Ah, let go

of thought

I mumble -

for so long it's dawn

this hour is my own

and I wanna savour

full flavour

with sweet sips of tea.

This moment of quiet

blends my spirit so well

to lap gently

in harmony

with Thames River's flow.

Once again -

I peer hard

to smell

City's morning pulse

standing on tip-toes

I strain 'n' press

my noNight Owl

Thames flows tame today

as I peer across

hospital window pane,

it's break of dawn;

the city has just begun

preparing to witness -

ahead is another day.

A lovers' kiss

painful part and depart,

ferries afloat,

family on stroll;

all ages pitter pattering the cross walk

policeman on patrol

big sniffing dog on leash

as executives in rat rush run along

to beat Big Ben's gong -

at this hour

it sounds harsh!

Tourists are relaxed -

few savouring a moment on their own

or, capturing London on their roll

bride's photoshoot by riverwalk

and that man in dejection

some caught in contemplation

stay still and seated

on steps

by famed Westminster bridge.

Ahem, I can almost hear curse

of a homeless squat, careless

as if consumed

in a drunken brawl

with self...

There'll be more

much more to catch

when diversity throbs

pounding concrete

criss across, oblivious

to rub of the throng

at start of their day;

it'll continue

as per decree

until hours draw to close

twilight fades into nightfall

by then so many dramas

would've evolved

as endorsed

on the Playwright's Scroll....

Ah, let go

of thought

I mumble -

for so long it's dawn

this hour is my own

and I wanna savour

full flavour

with sweet sips of tea.

This moment of quiet

blends my spirit so well

to lap gently

in harmony

with Thames River's flow.

Once again -

I peer hard

to smell

City's morning pulse

standing on tip-toes

I strain 'n' press

my nose

close very close

away from blood,

fluid mix, grime

without any labouring cry

to draw me and involve

I remain firm in my resolve

to give night Doctor

her me-time;

mischievously -

I stay

glued to glazed glass.se

close very close

away from blood,

fluid mix, grime

without any labouring cry

to draw me and involve

I remain firm in my resolve

to give night Doctor

her me-time;

mischievously -

I stay

glued to glazed glass.