New boys in town

experience new things,

Eyes and judgement so strong,

Attention if puberty hit you right

or you're a just pass on.

A gang of five boys call him

to a dark corner of the class

Inquire him about the gym

and show off their mass.

Boys will be boys

So they fight for fun

eve tease girls and

Blame the new one.

Warning signs on who is taken

But dare you to go touch her hand

treat her like a possession,

But boys will be boys

And it's all for fun.

40 eyes and 80 footsteps

Everyone is walking around

during the lunch.

Punches on the stomach

to make him more macho

Kicks in the groin

don't call it torture.

Blood stain on a white collar

And a stream of sweat

running down a bruised back

Not a word of complain,

Guess what, it's all normal.

Boys will be boys

So they fight for fun

Thrash him onto the ground

His fault was being the new one.

Bustling class but an empty seat

Takes two whole periods

For the teacher to notice.

Broken bones for a wind chime

In a quiet house that's mourning,

A group of five boys chime in

guilt in their eyes is soaring.

Whispers of how he gave up too soon

fill the empty room with hollow words

and they would complain till full moon

then fly off like birds.

Boys will be boys

And there's no end to that

He missed the ball,

it was his fault

So 5 boys hit him with a cricket bat.

a moment here to write a poem

for the girl that I used to be,

to all the sleepless nights that she gave me,

to all the scars that she gave me,

to the lawless lands she wandered

to the good hearts she broke

and to the incorrect paths she took

a moment here to write a poem

for the girl who was so afraid,

afraid to show the world who she really is

for the words sitting at the tip of her tongue

and the only voices screaming in her head were -

“ you’re not good enough

you’ll never be good enough

you’ll never be able to fit in

and you’ll never be able to stand out”

she lay awake gazing at the sky

like the dead words of my poetry,

reminding her of the stars that have forgotten to shine,

and of hope that stands on broken ledges

waiting for the long lost lover to turn around.

the kind that rips her heart

right out of her chest and she buries it

like the women who have forgotten how to speak with words

because all they know is how to scream in pain.

here’s to the girl who picked up a pen on one of those nights,

and slit her heart open on a paper

ripped the band-aid from every wound that had ever been

and let the agony pour out.

from within the depths rose resilience

a mosaic of conquest

till every piece of her body screamed-

“I’m good and I’m enough

I’ll always be good for me, and that’s enough.

I’m good and that’s enough”

An agenda must be set up to cherish life as a fest,

Need not to worry before giving your life test.

Your Destiny depends upon the God of War,

Which would surely be worth fighting for.

Seal the deal to reach the crest,

Keep going, you wouldn’t wanna Fallout behind the rest.

Steer your way through the hurdles maze,

Leaving everyone else in a daze.

Expressions that are yet to unbind,

Perspectives that you need to grind.

Ideologies still in the brewing,

Opinions that are stewing.

Amend your thinking principle,

Because your words need to be invincible.

Faces you might need to memories,

To get to the top, you’ll need to be wise.

Keeping an eye on the goal,

It should come within your soul.

Innovate and express, be the mastermind,

There is no place for the ones who are left behind.

Pulsate the new propositions,

Unbolt the door of ambitions.

Compile your wits,

And manifest our grit.

Striving hard to get the crown,

You’ll want all your opponents to drown.

Make your will win,

Working through thick and thin.

Switch and turn, change the lane,

Fire and burn, win the game.

Do accomplish whatever you desire,

Make the inside of you a paradise.

I have been taught since days young that money, success and fame are all we need,

Fuelling my false ego, vigour and greed.

With little regard for things that actually matter

To our mental health that is easy to shatter.

Some labour hard to make ends meet,

Toiling all day with no time to eat.

Buying and organising antiques and furniture,

Dwelling in loneliness and no moments to capture.

Those desires to live comfortably and to peacefully rest,

Fade away while struggling to earn our best.

While we spend years in building a good relation,

Maintaining them is a source of exhaustion.

But how many actually reach out to us,

When our future looks bleak and out of focus?

Oh, what a hassle are we entrapped in!

A raging battle debilitating from within.

“You don’t have to fit in,” they pout.

But I don’t have what it takes to stand out.

Things appear effortlessly done by the general populace,

While those who put in their blood, sweat and tears continue to grimace.

What have I done to land in this situation so precarious,

With no friends, frustration and everything so parlous.

Introspect, retrospect and inspect every aspect

Advised those for whom I have immense respect.

It dawned upon me that this world is temporary

And there is no point in hankering for things so rudimentary.

Perceiving that penury factually resides in our hearts,

Is the moment when self realisation starts.

Ah! I thought I was lonely all these days,

Neglecting that personality with effulgent rays,

Seated within as a beautiful crest jewel,

Witnessing events both pleasant and cruel.

With wintry winds,

Ponderously approaching twilight,

Drizzled on the earth,

Moist crystal drops.

Even a ludicrous soul,

Knew the approaching.

Like the spells of a sylph,

Waving her wand,

The glitzy city lights,

Flashed on the azure.

Enchanted were the lakes,

For they had a conversation,

With each glowing light.

Each tiny light,

Having a story of its own.

Like bits and pieces of stardust,

Each being the same,

Yet so disparate.

The symphony of lights,

Trilling away in glory,

A tale as old as time,

And as new as the moment passing.

A lonely, dangling lantern,

Dirty and oppressed.

Did it narrate a story too,

Of a damsel in distress?

Ogling at the picturesque,

Leaning against a wall,

I pondered over these,

Having a fraction of my thoughts.

These lights of febrile energy,

Cradle a zillion dreams.

But afraid of the unknown,

Sleepless is the world.

A fearful world,

Beleaguered by the unknown,

With chambers abundant ,

And secrets innumerable.

Internal demons,

Emerge in the darkness,

But nature swaddles it all,

In the blanket of night,

And sequins as city lights.

Broken crayons still colour,

Colour the hues of the world.

Broken hearts still love,

Love the beautiful souls around.

Shooting stars still twinkle,

Twinkle to radiate a gleam of light.

Teary eyes still glistens,

Glistens the water of emotions.

Unsaid words still speak,

Speak the thoughts of silence.

Fumbled minds still think,

Think about issues that matter.

Drowning boats still sail,

Sail in this sea of life.

Grey skies still bear,

Bear the rains of love.

And you a lost soul are still alive,

Alive in this subfusc of life.

When a man is truly caring

Makes him all so attracting

His kindness melts me

And makes me want him more

If he can see through the mist of

My fickle mind and indecisive heart

And stays to figure it out,

He can take me away

May his compelling love

Welcome my flaws that over take me

If he respects my life and belief

Reciprocates my love

He’ll learn to love me right

If our ego surrenders into a sweet reunion

Then our love will go on and on

I want the one that takes it slow

As insatiable are the ones that want it all with a quick glace

If his contorting fingers puppet my sandy faith,

I will not be his naïve bait

Braggart, bigot or condescending,

Walk out you are not welcomed

ಮನದ ಸಂತೋಷಕೆ ಕಾರಣ ನೀ

ಮರೆಯಾಗಿಸಿರುವೆ ನನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ನೋವುಗಳನು

ಚಿಮ್ಮಿಸಿರುವೆ ಮನ್ನೋಲಸವ

ಜೊತೆಯಾಗಿರುವೆ ನೀ ನನ್ನ ಸುಖ ದುಃಖಗಳಲಿ

ಏನೇಂದು ವರ್ಣಿಸಲಿ ನಿನ್ನ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯವ...

ಸ್ವರ್ಗವೇ ನಾಚುತಿಹುದು ನಿನ್ನ ಅಂದಕೆ

ಹಸಿರನೆ ಹೊದ್ದು ಮಲಗಿರುವೆ

ಫಲ ಪುಷ್ಪಗಳೇ ಆಗಿರುವವು ನಿನ್ನ ಚೆಂದಕೆ ಸರಿಸಾಟಿ

ಧರೆಯೋಳು ನಾ ಕಂಡ ಅಧ್ಭುತವೇ ನನ್ನ ಊರು....

ಸೂರ್ಯನ ಕಿರಣ ಸೂಸಿ ನಾಚಿ ಹರಡಿದ ಮೋರೆಯ ಕಂಡೆ

ಆ ಕಾಂತಿಯ ಮುಂದೆ ಕಾಂತೆಯ ಚೆಲುವ ಕಂಡು ಬೆರಗಾಗಿ ನಿಂತೆ

ಕೆಂಪು ಗುಲಾಬಿಯ ವರ್ಣ ಚುಂಬಿತ ತುಟಿಯ ಕಂಡೆ

ಅದರ ಮುಳ್ಳು ಹೃದಯಕ್ಕೆ ನಾಟಿದಂತೆ ಸತ್ತು ನಿಂತೆ

ಚಂದ್ರನ ಸುತ್ತ ಮಿನುಗುವ ತಾರೆಯಂತ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳ ಕಂಡೆ

ಅದನ್ನು ಕಂಡ ಮುಗ್ಧ ಮಗುವಿನಂತೆ ಸ್ತಬ್ಧನಾಗಿ ನಿಂತೆ

ರೇಶ್ಮೆಯ ದಾರದ ಶೋಭಿತ ಕೇಶದ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯವ ಕಂಡೆ

ಅದರ ಉಳವು ಸಪರ್ಶಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಮೈಕೊಡವಿ ನಿಂತೆ

ವರ್ಣರಂಜಿತ ಚೆಲುವೆಯ ಕಂಡ ಈ ಒಂಟಿ ಪ್ರೇಮಿ

ಜೇನು ತುಂಬಿದ ಗೂಡಿನಂತೆ...ಪ್ರೇಮ ತುಂಬಿದ ಪಂಜರದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತ

ನೀವು ಸಹ ಮನೆಯ ಕನಸನ್ನು ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರಾ?

ಒಮ್ಮೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ..

ಅಲ್ಲೇ ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ

ಕಡಲ ಅಲೆಗಳಿಂದ ಬೇರ್ಪಟ್ಟು ಎದ್ದೇಳುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸೂರ್ಯನ ಹಾಗೆ ಮನೆಯ ಕನಸು ಚಿಗುರುತ್ತಿದೆಯೇ?

ಮನೆಯ ಮುಂದಿರುವ ಅಲೆಗಳು

ಕೈಬೀಸಿ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ

ನೀವು ಅಲೆಗಳ ಶಬ್ದಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳುತ್ತಿರುವಿರಾ?

ಅಲೆಗಳಿಂದ ಬಾಲ್ಯದ ನೆನಪುಗಳು ಮರುಕಳಿಸುತ್ತಿವೆಯಾ?

ಆಹಾ! ಇಷ್ಟು ಹತ್ತಿರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮುದ್ರ!!

ಒಮ್ಮೆ ತಂಪಾದ ಗಾಳಿ;ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಬಿಸಿಗಾಳಿ

ಸಂಜೆಯಾದೊಡನೆ ಸೂರ್ಯರಶ್ಮಿಯೂ

ಮನೆಯನ್ನು ಆವರಿಸಿ,

ಮನೆತುಂಬಾ ದೀವಿಗೆ ಇಟ್ಟಂತಿದೆ

ಮನೆಯ ಹಿಂಬದಿ ನೋಡಿದಿರಾ?

ಹೌದು ಅದು ನಿಮ್ಮದೇ ತೋಟ!!

ಅಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆಯ ಘಮವು ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಆವರಿಸಲಿಲ್ಲವೇ?

ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಹೂವಿನ ಮಕರಂದವನ್ನು ಹೀರಲು

ಬಂದ ಜೇನನ್ನು ಕಂಡಿರಾ?

ಮನೆಯ ಮಾಳಿಗೆಯ ಜಾಗವನ್ನೊಮ್ಮೆ ನೋಡಿ

ಆ ಜಾಗವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ

ಪಂಜರದಂತೆ ಇರುವ ನಿ(ನ)ಮ್ಮ ನಗರದ

ಕೋಣೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿರುವ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಹೋಲಿಕೆ ಮಾಡಿ

ಮನೆಯೆಂಬುದನ್ನು ಬರಿ ಗೋಡೆ, ಕಂಬಗಳಿಂದ

ಮಾತ್ರ ಕಟ್ಟಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲಾ

ಮನೆಯನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿರುವುದು 'ಪ್ರೀತಿ' ಮತ್ತು

'ಕನಸು'ಗಳಿಂದ'...

मेरे होने से सजा तेरा आंगन है,

फिर क्यों गम से भरा मेरा दामन है,

सहनशीलता कि मैं उदाहरण हूं,

मेरी शोषण का क्या यही बना कारण है।

खामोशी से हुआ नहीं कुछ भी हासिल,

आवाज उठाओ कहता है यह दिल,

कहता है यह दिल,

दूसरों को कैसे बताऊं अपना गम,

जब अपनों ने ही दिए हैं यह ज़ख्म।

सुनेगी यह दुनिया जब बंद कमरे में लिखी मेरी कहानी,

बताऊंगी सबको क्यों है आज इन आंखों में पानी,

दर्द भरी हिंसा की दास्तां ,

सुन आऊंगी मैं अपनी ज़ुबानी।

आंसू पीकर यू पर्दे के पीछे रहकर,

अपनी बेटी को क्या सीख में दे जाऊंगी,

चुप रह कर यूं चुप रह कर,

वह भी सहम जाएगी,

वह भी घबराएगी,

वह अपने कल में मेरा आज दोहराएगी।

मैं अपनी आवाज उठाऊंगी,

हां मैं अपनी आवाज उठाऊंगी,

मैं हर बेटी के खातिर एक नई राह बनाऊंगी।

उसकी ताकत से नहीं झुकेगा मेरा हौसला,

अपनी ताकत पर भरोसा कर किया है यह फैसला,

अब शुरू होगा मेरे अनोखे न्याय का अनोखा सिलसिला।