Procrastination

Everyone likes to mull over, take some time,
Some like it more, think it over till the bell chimes,
Avoiding work, everyone does, some more often, do this crime!

Time management is the issue, some of us rue,
Some propose managing emotions is the key to improve,
We know, yet we delay and bemoan, isn’t that true!

What motivates us to linger and hold back?
Are these some negative emotions associated with the work that distract?
Answer is to each his own, yet rumination(about the trait) is the key, to be back on track!

Often confused with laziness, but no it deserves a place of its own,
Studies dedicated to this human behaviour have shown
Amygdala hijack is the reason, whereas laziness is idleness alone!

Migrants’ Misery

Toiling hard, sweating blood in the burning sun,
Circumstances confusing, making them run,
Ignorance and apathy, both holding them at the point of gun!

Walking miles towards home- a safety haven,
Few collapsed mid way, a carrion for vultures and raven,
Some reached, only to be boycotted, treated guilty until proven!

Lost their livelihood within a blink of an eye,
Red tape swallowed food subsidy, the measure a belie.
Some lost the battle to Corona, hunger claimed remaining lives hereby.

Lost their shelter in cities, footpath an unsafe zone,
Children abducted and trafficked, surrounded by fear unknown,
Pandemic broke their backbone, leaving them desperate and alone!

Schools shut, education now for privileged few,
Online schooling a distant dream, when priority list they drew,
Dragged along in search of work anew, again bidding village homes adieu!

My Dusri Aaji

I fondly call her Dusri aaji (second granny).
The family and relatives take offence,
But she loves it and stands in my defence.
The truth undoubtedly is that she is my beloved granny!

Babysitting the infant me most of the time,
Taught me poems and jingles with rhyme.
She introduced the world of books to me,
Nurtured my hobby, liberated my thoughts free.

Summers made memorable by her presence,
My heart can never fathom her absence.
She was there when I first stepped in the kitchen and made tea;
Her blessings strengthened me when I delivered my baby.

She was an epitome of strength in time of our crisis,
Her love always shielded us from brutal world and protected us from vices!
I have not seen God nor aware if exists any archangel,
But I know deep down in my heart she is my guardian angel!

Human Nature

Many words used to describe the human nature,
None more respected than being thoughtful or mature.

Emotions at times collide, like the waves in high tide,
Creating chaos and frustrations deep within, unable to hide!

Possessiveness engulfs man like a nasty snake,
Leaving people around with sour bitter taste!

Pestering and thrusting views tango at every step,
Subtle domination and manipulation compounds the weight!

Over powering confidence shatters poise,
Without realising arrogance acts in disguise!

Controlling everything around, often we see
Empathy lost in this whirlwind, stings like a bee!

Adamancy gives birth to rigidity, infects ideas with morbidities,
Fills atmosphere with indifference and disdains!

Is it hypocrisy that I see under the garbs of diplomacy?
No! Just Human beings— complex nature with its idiosyncracy!

My Anchor, My Mother!

You are my anchor! My Mother!

Stripping off my ego, with lessons in humility,
Opening my mind, teaching me generosity,
Instilling in me selflessness and kindness,
In a world where these qualities, have become signs of weakness!

Inducing thoughts that keep me positive,
Chucking emotions – the bad and the negative
Teaching me forgiveness, removing my prejudice,
Where passing judgement is no longer considered a vice!

Calming my anger, channelising my energy,
Understanding my point of view, bringing in the much needed synergy, Imparting to me lessons, in being patient
Where gratification is exceedingly, quick and instant!

Doting on me, loving wholeheartedly and unconditionally,
Fighting for me, protecting me fiercely,
Life is worthwhile in this world admittedly,
Because of the love you lavish upon me, unreservedly!

You are my anchor! My Mother!

Nepotism

Is it something new that people have stumbled upon?
For ages has it not been passed down!
King’s son always expected to take over,
Britons ruled by a Queen today, because of this very favour!

Why look afar? Infected with this is our great old party,
And we continued to elect those blue blooded gentry!
With what we have witnessed throughout history,
Why then only question the poor film industry?

Caste system plagued us, becoming an inseparable part;
Nepotism engendered, from the very start.
Coveted jobs secured by the privileged class,
Reference has become the new way for this, alas!

Fundamental yet problematic human belief it is,
Keep things amongst the clan, unto peace.
Why blame a few? Everyone does it without the slightest unease,
Even the richest man grooms his kids, ‘fraid his legacy’ll cease!

Harsh reality that it exists, but talent always persists,
Whining not a solution, while nepotism exists;
Fighting it, the only answer, through life’s tricky twists!

(Pan)dem(ic)!

They saw a stork landing, on top of the house,
Someone is pregnant, maybe his spouse!

Then someone heard a sneeze, loud and clear,
They’ve contracted the virus, get them out of here!

High temperatures hurt the virus, let’s kill it with heat,
In summer it will die itself, won’t that be neat?

Till then drink hot water, add honey and lime,
It’s a cheap remedy, won’t cost more than a dime!

It won’t work! Use phenyl, and add some more chemicals.
No! Take a sip of alcohol, isn’t this remedy incredible?

One should wear a mask? Don’t believe it, it’s trash!
I can’t breathe in it, and anyways it’s all just balderdash.

Let’s try heat again, boil everything you can,
Iron even a scrap of paper, make it spick and span.

It’s all a conspiracy, I tell you it’s true!
I read it on WhatsApp, what more proof is due?

Everything was proposed and everything was tried,
When nothing seemed to work, slowly they lost their mind.

What was the source of the pain? People scrambled for answer.
Wasn’t it the stork that brought the virus, and spread it like cancer?

The “news” spread rife like a global wildfire,
Everyone searched for storks, didn’t pause or perspire.

Rumour now accepted, damned be the facts;
World-wide now storks, culled like the bats!

बदलते रिश्ते

झूठी तारीफो के पुल पर लड़खड़ा गए कदम,
संभले तो शिकायतों की लडी से घिर गए हम,
जिसे सुनकर मन करे ऐतबार, कहा है वह दिल से कहे गए अल्फाज़?

ऐसा लगता है अजनबीयों के साथ बसर करते हैं,
पहचाने चहरों में बेगाने क्यों नजर आते है,
दस्तक देते है वो जब,तब अपनेपन से क्यों परे होते है?

रिश्ते बने और बिगड़े, इस डोर में कई गांठे पड गई,
देखने लगे तो पता चला रुसवाईयों की कड़ी बन गई,
प्यार के बंधन को जब टटोलने लगे, क्यों सिर्फ रंजिशो के मंज़र नजर आ गए?

रिश्तों की मझधार में फस गया है ये दिल
कैसे पोहचे किनारे पर जब गुमशुदा है साहिल?
इन हालातो में ऐसे रिश्तों को दर किनार कर, आगे बढ़ जाने को करता है दिल।

The Fairytale Revisited

The fairytale came to an end;
Sleeping Beauty woke up as ordained,
But alas this was no dream, a nightmare about to begin
With no happily ever after, life was indeed mean!
The prince had vanished long ago,
An unknown man walked his shadow.

The facade painted a picture of serene beauty,
No one had known it was cursed with apathy.
Princess a mute spectator to her destiny;
Powerless to even think of mutiny!
Shackled in the chains of her own misery and helplessness,
Life went past with dreadfulness.

Then a flower bloomed amidst the gloom
It blossomed, the castle no more a tomb!
The Princess nourished it with care and love,
Her life found purpose again, looking at the treasure trove!

The flower sowed seeds of hope and happiness,
Princess broke the chain of doom and sadness;
She stepped out of shadow into the sunlight;
A new life welcomed with arms open wide and bright!

देशभक्ति?

देश है आजाद फिर भी बेड़ियों ने जकड़ा है,
भ्रष्टचारी नेताओं ने दोनों हाथों से पकड़ा है,
मुनाफाखोरो ने गरिबों को बुरि तरह मरोड़ा है,
क्या देश सच मे मुक्त हुआ है?

कौमपरस्ती को देशभक्ति का नाम दिया जा रहा है,
धर्मांध होकर देश में विद्रोह किया जा रहा है,
सांप्रदायिक राजनीति का खेल खेला जा रहा है,
क्या देश ने सच में धर्म निरपेक्षता को अपनाया है?

राज्यो का अलग नारा गूंज रहा है,
नदि के प्रवाह पर झगड़ों के बांध बन रहे है,
भाषाओं पर पाबंदी कि मांग हो रही है,
क्या देश सच में एक हुआ है?

सरहद पे खड़ा वीर सैनिक लहू बहा रहा है,
फिर भी शक के कटहडे में खड़ा किया जा रहा है,
सियासी दाव पेचो में गुमराह किया जा रहा है,
इन हालातो पर हम सबको रोना आ रहा है,
क्या देशभक्ति का असली पाठ अब याद आ रहा है?