mere words---Read Write Poem/Monday Poetry Train

This is my last offering for 2007. I wish all my blogger friends a Very Happy New Year 2008! May it be filled with peace, joy and love. I must not forget..MORE POWER TO YOUR PENS...

we are segments of ourselves-
loose ends craving to submerge

into unknown vast nothingness.

every goal attained pushes us further

towards never ending eternal space-

wasteland for some…..

“suddenly these thoughts are scattered

when you tap at my door,

i put my pen down

laughing at my above written words”

Ride the Monday Poetry Train too..

rediscovering---Sunday Scribblings

After I posted this, I thought this somehow fits this week's Sunday Scribblings prompt Now and Then.

perfectly still, you are aware of content
of that package. it cannot be a surprise-
not with that particular shape of box. you
impatiently rip it open, lovingly touching
what is inside. Long fingers strum through
wires. musical notes fill in silence, taking
me back to those childhood times when you
made me your audience, forcing me to
listen to your pitiful attempts. you had
to bribe me a few times to praise you
even when I wished to be as far away
as I could. with practice you turned
out good. before I could appreciate-
you were gone. to pursue that much
needed engineering degree, you gave
away your guitar. I hid my pain well
with a false bravado. you together with
your music were gone a long, long time.
realistic side of life took over, changed
priorities relegated hobbies to nothing.

light in your eyes made it worthwhile
for search of that elusive instrument
for a brother whose talent was lost.

This goes for my youngest brother, who needed to be re-acquainted with that guitar.

Benazir Bhutto assassinated.......

She was assassinated after she had addressed a rally. A suicide bomber went off. In that chaos, she was shot at point blank range. At least 20 others died in that bombing. She was declared dead at 6:16 pm.

She was the first woman to lead a Muslim state. She was elected twice to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

It is indeed a sad day for Pakistan. To some extent, India too..

There is utter chaos now in the streets of Pakistan. Many of her fans have committed suicide after her death.

##Update: There has been disturbances in some parts of India. It was expected. India is much affected by what happens in Pakistan.

Untitled

My muse is refusing to work. It must have gone into the holiday mode! I am not at all happy with this piece. I can't even think of a proper title for it. Suggestions and critiques are welcome.

when sun comes down closing its wings,
eagle returns home to that tallest tree-
almost reaching towards yellow moon.
changing facets of night keep it rooted.
at first dawn of light, it will go its way-
spreading its wings, circling all over,
eyes on target, descending unhurriedly-
with precision on its unsuspecting prey.

Christmas for a Hindu----3WW

Curious
Eventually
Shower

I have been tagged by Smiler to do the Hoopla!

The Rules of the Hoopla
1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas.
2. Please refer to it as ‘hoopla’ and not the dreaded ‘m’-word.
3. You have to specifically tag people when you are done. None of this “if you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged” stuff is allowed…then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you — but the more, the merrier to get this ‘hoopla’ circulating through the Blog-o-sphere.
4. Don't forget to link back to the person who tagged you.
5. Please try to do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it.

Here I go combining the 3WW too!

# When I was younger, I wished to learn more about Christmas. Eventually, my mom told me all about it. She was brought up in a place where there were many Christian Missionaries and she had many Christian friends. She even possessed a very old Bible, which now belongs to me. She gave it to me long to me back.

# I love plum cakes with lots of nuts. I always get it for Christmas.

# I do go out on Christmas day. Just to hang out or window-shopping.

# I like playing Santa for my nephews and nieces. They give me broad hints what gifts they wish for and I get all those gifts which their parents will not buy for them! I shower my love by spoiling them rotten!

# I get a small artificial Christmas tree and decorate it with tiny stars. My mom too helps me.

# In 2001, we celebrated Christmas in Nainital. My dad was alive then. We had gone there for a holiday and it was truly fun. I cherish those memories.

# Our winter break of ten days starts from Christmas, so we look forward to it!

# Once I did go and attend the Mass, as I was curious. I really enjoyed the experience. .

# I like listening to Christmas songs and read Christmas books!

# Since I started blogging, the Christmas spirit truly gets into me. Reading about other people’s traditions teaches me so much.

# One more thing I look forward towards this season is that most of my friends who are staying overseas come to visit India. This is the best time of the year to visit!

# Christmas means family re-unions. I like that aspect of it too. I do try to catch up with family. We all go out together for lunch or dinner.

# I still have a Christmas card I received from one of my naughtiest students 16 years back. It is handmade and therefore priceless!

Now to tag a few for this Hoopla! In alphabetical order!

Bone
Brian
Don Iannone
dsnake1
floots
homo escapeons
polona
sage
Steve
tikkis
trinitystar
tumblewords
within without

mother's agony--Writers Island

ostensibly calm, churned to its core
vapid vapours need an outlet,
restlessness cannot last forever.
ignoring recalcitrant behaviour
causes more damage. plundering
by its children has to be punished.
that fissure widens spitting anger-
earthquakes, tsunami, cyclones
landslides are but different
manisfestation of that burning
rage. only by punishing herself-
a mother can discipline its progeny.

spin dryer---read write poem/Monday Poetry Train

We were invited to write poetry by collaborating with a fellow poet. Somehow I could not bring myself to do that. This is yet another one of my rare love poetry if one can call it that! Posting this for Monday Poetry Train too..


love tumbles within me
reminiscent of clothes in dryers.
I plummet, turning inside out-
circling directionless.
I form, reform myself;
when dryer stops.
taking me out,
you smooth, soothe, smell me-
enjoying my clean warmness,
filling me with your quintessence.

Continuing Traditions---Sunday Scribblings/Cafe Writing

For me, Diwali holds beautiful memories. It is the festival of lights. We celebrate it by lighting up the surroundings. Tiny Earthen lamps are used for this purpose. More of a ritual, I think. Gifts and sweets exchanged and of course, it is never complete without bursting crackers.

However, it is not same since my dad passed away. I remember he was the most enthusiastic of us all. He was not much into gift –giving. He left it for my mom. Nevertheless, he used to get us the best of crackers. He taught me about wiring, holders and bulbs when I was barely 7 years old. I was always tagging along and he had no other option. He and I used to put up the lights together until he was gone.

After him, I did not feel like continuing the tradition. Somehow, on the eve of Diwali in the year, he was gone; I got out all the lights and sat down to check each one before putting those up. My brothers and their families were due to arrive at anytime. My mom looked at what I was doing. Without a word, she sat down with me. I checked the holders, wiring and bulbs. Mechanically repairing where there was a disconnection.

I put those lights, switched those on after plugging it. When the whole place lit up, I felt that my dad was there and as usual, I was helping him putting those up. All was done before my brothers arrived. I need not tell you their reaction other than that they hugged me!

My dad is gone. Not his memories. When I put up those lights each Diwali, I feel so much closer to him. I know he would have been proud of me. I did not let what he had taught me die away. I kept right on. I even give out money to all my nephews and nieces along with the gifts I get for them. My dad used to give them cash not knowing what to buy for them. I have to carry on what he used to do.

What I write here are not holiday memories or traditions. They are part of our lives, our living. I have to keep the memories alive for the kids. I do it as best I can.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Option Five: Timed writing for Cafe Writing for December Project.

aches and pains---[Fiction] Friday/Friday 5

pardon my disinterest

to converse. toothache

is no joke. sanitary ware

was a bloody mess after I

brushed with medicated

paste. in my mouth

rolled tongue feels akin to

fuselage of an aircraft.

this year, winter solstice

is overshadowed by pain.

"URL" option is back----Blogger Update!

**************Sticky Post--it stays on top for a while**************

Today when I clicked nickname to type my name after leaving my live link in post, I saw the URL field opening up along with it. It is back! This time too they have not publicised it. So the onus lies on us bloggers to do so.

Do spread the word around, friends!

When you click on nickname, you will see the URL field opening up. Type in your name in the nickname field, Copy your blog URL, in the URL field and post! Clicking on the name links it directly to your blog URL.

As I was one of the vehement protesters when they took away that option, I am truly thrilled to bits. Google/Blogger had to get it back or lose out on blogger. Many I know have already left blogger. Even I was in the midst of it. I have already imported all my posts and comments to a WordPress blog. I was thinking of moving to it in the new year.

As all know, that is not an easy decision. A blog is like a child for most of us. We nurture it over a period of time. All of us like to get comments on our posts. Infact, we thrive on those. The world becomes so small for us. I have made some long lasting friends via the blog world, poets, writers, and many others who enrich our lives.

I thank all those who stood by us by not boycotting our blogs. I too hope those who did so would be back!

Hugs for all of you!