"Love and hate" #NaPoWriMo #Day30

A few days ago,
 while scrolling the profile
 of a newly added friend,
who happens to be my neighbour,
 accidentally, my finger touched
the playnow button.
 Ah, these facebook games.
 You can also know
 how many people hate you.
 A little in shock with the count,
 as well as amused,
after taking the screenshot,
I clicked try again,
 and kept repeating
 till everyone loved me.
 Now, there was no hatred.
 Before I could share,
 I gave it a thought.
 What do people think of me?
What's there deep down in their hearts?
What would they think,
 what would they say,
 how will they react, if at all they see?
 But then, should it really matter to me?
 Self love is equally important.
 Reasons for hatred, kept floating in my mind.
Doesn't it all depends on me?
 It was all about my perception,
 my idea of love and hate,
 and the way I interact,
 with different people, differently.
 When you stop pleasing people,
 and live a life of your own,
too many people start hating you.
 Haters are those lovers,
 who want to be like you.
 So, Love me, or hate me,
I shall just continue
 BEING ME. ~payal

"Life" #NaPoWriMo #Day29

It's been more than two months,
I couldn't find courage
 to enter the room,
 where you stayed,
almost isolated,
for your own safety,
 for a month
after open heart surgery.
 I saw you recovering.
 We lived, we laughed,
 we played together,
 for a few months,
 We saw those days
 full of positivity,
and then you left
all of a sudden, silently.....
A welcome note
stuck on the door,
is still there.
 Home carries your essence.
The aroma of garam masala,
 made in your guidance
still add flavour to the meals.
 Your words, mantras, life lessons,
I have saved them in my memory.
 Mom, how I miss the stories
 you told for every
 single thing we said.
 Presence and absence,
 How do we understand this?
You are present in our hearts,
From our home you are absent.
Memories still linger on....
 In pauses between breath,
 One moment you are alive,
Another you are dead. ~payal
#tsl 

"Reminders" #NaPoWriMo #Day28

I wished to write a flowery tale
Tale with beauty surrounded by green
Green that soothes and calms the mind
Mind that is engrossed in deep thinking.
Thinking of flowers, butterflies, and bees
Bees that suck nectar and also stings
Stings remembered as swollen reminders
 Reminders of nature, of every being.
 Being in the moment, when I begin to feel
 Feel the feelings while catching notes
Notes that float in the cottony clouds
 Clouds that now come down as rains.
 Rains that drenched the Tulsi flowers
Flowers that bloomed and dried again.
Again, in the midst of summers heat
Heat that burns the soul blue
 Blue as words churned from sea
 Sea that exists within every being. ~payal
#TSL #fb 

The queen of hills #NaPoWriMo #Day27

Walk on the roads,
 steep slopes, shops,
 statues, murals,
 view of the valley,
the sunset sky,
the lady sitting there,
wrapped in shawl
with a pleasing smile
 in front of fire, roasting maize.
Memories just rush in,
 and wrap me in its warmth.

 These are the days,
when I visit the queen of hills,
In the foothills
of the Himalayan range,
that holds the magnificence
of mother nature in her curves. .

 Just a glance, calms the mind,
with a soothing feel, nurtures
and replenish the soul. .

The chilled drops, cold air,
 scattered maple leaves
on the ground,
Red, yellow, green,
Ah! Such is the beauty of the roads.
 The black railings with roses embossed,
 add up to the scene. .

Ropeways take us to the Gun hill
where our favourite spot awaits,
aroma of tea and pakoras
 fill up the place.

Wild Dahlias on the hills,
blooms and sways.
The Deodar, and Pines
 mesmerize
 all along the way.

 It makes me wonder,
 How the same place
 gives a different feeling
 each time.

 It rained that day,
Under the umbrella,
 You and I,
 and our beautiful dream.
We came back relaxed,
and rejuvenated
 though I missed meeting
 Ruskin Bond everytime. ~payal   

"Echo" #NaPoWriMo #Day26

"Places you can find love,
it sits around lurking in places."
 a signboard read,
 as I crossed the hurdles.

As I sat on my window sill,
A sparrow came and sat nearby.
A strange quest in my mind occurred
queries soared in the blue sky.

The sparrow listened to my monologue,
Agreeing with its chirps in between,
"Places like the piercing darkness,
that grows deep under the skin?"

"Yes, it feels like you are confined
in a prison of molten bars,
Falling into oblivion, submerged,
in a river, counting invisible scars."

Seeking those places to find love,
Closing my eyes, driving the indigo,
 the sparrow came along on my journey,
 I planned alone though.

The twists and turns, the narrow roads,
 Deep dense forests, and waterfalls,
to reach that place where love resides,
I made my way, I crossed it all.

Intuitively, the mind map guided,
and I reached the place that was dark,
Shadows surrounded, I gathered pearls,
Courageously, I crossed that mark.

There I saw the dawn, in silence,
and then gleefully called my name,
The mountains, valleys, greens, and blues,
Echoed back, I was never the same.

The sparrow chirped,
I opened my eyes,
We then exchanged,
a few sighs.
 ~payal

"Window" #NaPoWriMo #Day25

Window opens the poet's heart,
 and the poet's heart get its wings.
It flies far, in search of nuggets,
crossing the hurdles, it gently sings.
It gathers the soil, silt, and rocks
 flowers, thorns, and misty dust,
 It blends, merges, and purifies,
Thoughts and words it must.
 Filling it all with expressions,
 It gently reaches the mind,
Poet then puts it on paper
and covers the window with blind. ~payal

"Window" #NaPoWriMo #Day25 #1

 "Wind" in window
 blows my mind.
"Wow" in window
cheers my heart.
 "Widow" in window
 reminds me of her pain,
"Now" in window,
 Drops of rain. ~payal 

"Muster Chef" #NaPoWriMo #Day24

I hooked at him
 with a straight face
 and sad, I have to rite a poem
 Full on hoomar..
I say to the Musterchef at play
He cooked at me,
 and laughed out loud
 say in
 Hooman life is hoo-man-gas these days.
 No work, and no play,
Only coo sins from far away.
He dished it rite
and blue my mind
top ping with hoomar
the fool day. ~payal

 I somehow managed to come up with some humour. Much needed in today's time. Grateful that husband just wants me to keep going during NaPoWriMo, and reach the finish line.
Yesterday, being a little rough day for me, with his support I managed to write. Today he gave me the starting line. Gratitude!

"Mirror" #NaPoWriMo #Day23

I stood in front of the mirror,
face pale, smile missing,
 eyes contained oceans.

 I sat in front of him,
 His words reflected me
in the most desirable tones.
Mirrors never lie.

In his words
 I gained strength.
 In his words
 I found myself.

 Taking a deep breath,
 again, I looked in the mirror,
understanding the chaos,
 and smiled,
 feeling more confident,
more loved,
more at peace.
Yes, mirrors don't lie.
~payal

Happy Earth Day! #NaPoWriMo #Day22

Man, a piece of art,
Carry baggage of past,
 ignores the present,
 and worries about future,
 finding himself incomplete,
 It's his nature.
He often forgets
 he is one with the nature.
 He contains it all..
 the passionate fire,
 the breath of invisible air,
 the solid earth,
 the flowing water,
 and the infinite ether.
 He's complete
 in all the sense.
 He forgets bit by bit,
 his life fades,
 his existence dissolves
 in the elements.
 Gradually
what he do and say,
 the story of his journey,
 is left behind as legacy.
 Right here, in the now. ~payal 

"Prayers" #NaPoWriMo #Day21

 Sacred encounter
 with the consciousness
 once gave a clue,
that the God lives within..
 me and you.

 Engrossed in our thoughts,
At times, silence speaks,
The universe listens.

 Sometimes, words uttered
 with all our heart
 becomes a prayer.

 With love and faith,
acceptance seeps in,
 He keeps us in his care,
 A life in gratitude,
is a life in prayer. ~payal  

"Where art thou?" #NaPoWriMo #Day20

 A swarm of busy bees
Never hovered around
 my poetic flowers,
 I smile and wonder,
Where are you now?
Readers O' readers
where art thou?

 I try to write
with all my heart
But words abandon me.
Where are you now?
Readers, O' readers
 where art thou?

 Peeling the layers
of heartfelt existence,
 I wish to connect,
Where are you now,
Readers O' readers
Where art thou?
 Poem goes into oblivion,
at the end of the day,
 In absence of genuine readers
who are here to stay.
Where are you now,
 Readers O' readers
where art thou?
 .
My heart fills with gratitude
 For those who are here,
 to show they read,
 with their like, love, comments
 I try to be sensible now.
 Tell me O' readers
 Where art thou? ~payal

"We are all mad here." #NaPoWriMo #Day19

 I read a few tales, and went to sleep,
Locked down in these corona times,
The Cheshire cat appeared in my dreams,
 and gifted me some rhymes.
Far from the maddening crowd,
 safe in my house, on my mat,
No pied piper can take me out
Said the little pesky rat.
 "Was he quarantined?"
 "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind."

Locked down in my home,
 Nowhere to go.
Frightening darkness
stark, deep, thoughts,
got stuck at the door
There and then,
The Raven came,
 "Nevermore".
"Tell me", asked the pesky rat,
"Where can we go?"
 He kept quiet and looked around.
"The answer my friend is blowing in the wind."
 Just then they spotted
 the Cheshire cat,
who in his tone uttered,
 "If you don't know where to go,
does it really matter?"
Stay at home, have cheesy food, and cranky talks
 but no Long journeys, and silent walks.
 The rat squeeked again,
"When will it end?"
 and looked up with trust.
"People don't like going back, 
even when they must."
 Saying this the Cheshire cat
was nowhere to be seen,
 "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind." Sitting on the chair,
admiring the flowers,
 It all seemed like a fairy tale.
 looking at the greens around,
Intrigued, they made their sound.
 "When will we meet"?
 "Let's go within."
You have wings to fly O' Raven,
"It's maddening, when will we be free?"
 The pesky rat questioned again,
"In this world, we're all mad here"
The Cheshire cat reappeared sane.
Will it all be as it was,
 Or will it all go down the drain,
They found it was time to introspect,
The Raven kept saying,
 "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind."

"Blue butterfly" #NaPoWriMo #Day18

       A blue-butterfly came from far away land
After smelling the flowers, it sat on the palm
Then flew past the majestic shells in the sand, Embalming sight kept the calm.
 Carrying the sky-flakes in her wings
 It brought along the joy of spring.
 Blooming flowers, and dreams anew
 Enchanting was this butterfly blue.
 Unmatched, raw feelings rose,
 Unmixed, pure, with spring in feet,
 Seasons changed, in hearts so close,
 Watching with love, was a visual treat.
 Intricate patterns, delicate flakes,
Gave wings to my imagination,
A blue butterfly crossed the lakes
to reach the desired destination. .
 As the wheel of time turned,
Thoughts transformed in a distant land
With the blue butterfly, I learned
Life, it's just like wonderland. ~payal  

"Forgiveness" #NaPoWriMo #Day17

Forgive..
with an open heart, 
and receive joy and happiness
 that is bestowed upon you
 in abundance.

 Forgive...
 because when you are at peace,
 it all makes sense.
 That is the nature.

 Forgive..
 for you don't want to be
 a part of the situation.

 Forgive..
 for it's the beginning
 of spiritual evolution.

Blessed are the ones
 who forgive and move on.
 For holding on to grudges,
 blemish the beauty of the soul.

 I erase hundreds
of spoken words
 By the end of the day,
Hurts, pain, mistakes,
for I understand
when I forgive,
 I am forgiven. ~payal 

What it takes #NaPoWriMo #Day16

 Do you know what it takes
 to compose a poem,
 in the world of words,
that touch the hearts?
 Here I am,
writing, and contradicting,
effortlessly,
 a palinode in making.
 I rarely remember,
the words I write,
as not all days
 are the same.
 My mind wanders
 through the Red desert,
with scanty thoughts,
 like shrubs,
and finds an oasis.
 The unlimited efforts,
 put in through
 the sleepless nights,
 helps me to
climb that mountain.
 Backhanded clouds,
my inner critics,
tried to manipulate
emotional outpourings
but pure intentions
 helped me
to get determined outcome.
 Do you know
what it takes
to compose a poem? ~payal 

Illusion #NaPoWriMo #Day15

Here's to the book of life,
A journey of a flower,
 Illusion : a line of horizon.
from where I see.

 Sunset hues sprinkle
all over the sky,
As the Sun sets,
 and the moon shines
 in all its glory
 lingering words of wisdom,
 and promises, kept and broken,
keep resonating
 till the night descends.

 Jars full of pickles,
 Earthen pots on fire,
Smell of the earth,
paper boats,
 and flying airplanes
 from one room to another,
flashes of memories thus.

 Lighting up the dark chambers,
 Hands full of pleasure and pain..
Friendships fostered
in lovers paradise..
The homecoming.
Is it the end
or the beginning? ~payal

Inspiration #NaPoWriMo2020 #Day14

 Inspiration drives in
 through several doors,
if we unlock our hearts
 and stay open,
 to receive the gifts
 that are waiting..
for us to unwrap. ..

 Poets from the yore,
and the living legends,
 all have a lot to share.
 These guiding lights
 help us to grow and keep
our imagination bright. .

As we keep moving
 on our path,
we find the critics
whose advise if followed
gives shape to our thoughts,
 and turn them
 into masterpieces.

 It's heartbreaking
 to know the ones
who asked me
to start writing,
and be original
 were the ones,
 who lost their way. ~payal .   

Musings.. #NaPoWriMo #Day13

 I stole a little twinkle of the stars,
silver of the moon,
 Verses from the night,
 and glow from the noon.
 I stole from moments
 Joys and sorrows,
 happiness and tears,
 a little courage
 to live without fear. ..
and thereafter
 Sweet moments
 blended
with Sweet melodies
 Now sweetly rhyme
 beauty in the moment
 I made it mine.
 He always say
 "You stole my heart,
with your rhythm."
 ....and I tell him
 "Today my muse,
You're my poem."
~payal

"What's on my mind" -a triolet #NaPoWriMo'20 #Day12

You want to know what's on my mind
 I let silence speak this time.
I think a lot and then I find,
You want to know what's on my mind.
I feel relaxed as I unwind,
A perfect note with perfect rhyme.
 You want to know what's on my mind
I let silence speak this time. ~payal

Ball lily #NaPoWriMo #Day11

 During this time, every year,
 A stem wriggles its head
 from the soil,
to teach lessons of love,
friendship,humanity
and shows its growth,
and transforms itself,
 in a round ball shaped,
 bloom, like a globe,
We call it ball lily.

 The red strands
 delicately strewn as petals,
 each a complete flower,
grow together beautifully.

Each petal, yet again,
a different strand,
 maintains its individuality, 
but, connected, to form the shape
 and enhance the beauty.

 Beauty of togetherness,
 Beauty of equality.

 As I observe closely,
 I find some buds, in between,
like hands folded in prayers,
 right in the centre of the circle,
 formed by the elderly,
 to protect and guide them,
 as they start their journey.

 Nature has its own ways,
 to heal and teach lessons
 of and for life,
All we need to do is,
 slow down, and pause
 for a while
 To admire the
beauty of nature,
flowering
 right in front of our eyes.

 I am grateful for the lessons,
 Like these lily bulbs,
 that beautifully multiply. ~payal 

"A nest" NaPoWriMo #Day 10(2)

 I
 Wake up
 To Bulbul's sound. .

 Here
 I see
 Nest in balcony. ..

 What
 a treasure
I have found. .

We
 together now
Live in harmony. .

I did offer
Grain and water. ~payal

Venting out on the prompt.. #NaPoWriMo #Day10

 Virus
this year
Any antivirus there?
 .
If
it works,
 remove it, please!
.
 Reboot
 This year
Is it possible?
 ..
I
 so often
miss my mom
 ..
mom
 easily chose
death over life
. .
Or
 I Wonder
Did she know?
 ..
Time
 It's going
 to be tough
. ..
Agonizing
some losses..
Pain shoots up
 ..
 Saw
 Dad's eyes
 had tears today
 ..
 We
 find time..
 Living in now.
 ... ~payal

Hourglass #NaPoWriMo #Day9

"Blue" #NaPoWriMo2020 #Day8

The blue night plants a little blue pale hill,
with blue light encircling a soft blue quill,
Written on pale leaf oft with the twinkling stars,
The dreamy diaries soft moonlight do fill.
Through the deserted lands, blue rivers flow,                          Lowering the burden, it steals the show.
 a light dandelion seed, comes travelling light,           
Raindrops in the hearty mist, twinkle and glow. ~payal 

"In times of Corona" #NaPoWriMo2020 #Day7

 I recently read a news that said
air pollution is man-made.
 All over the world
Coronavirus lockdown
 is having a dramatic impact on pollution.
 Care for Air says it's a wake up call. 
Oh! I feel, I know it all.
 I shifted my attention to a news channel,
It was really funny!
The newsreader interviewed the minister,
In times of Corona, who gave a mantra
 when Corona started in China.
 "Go carona go" but Corona kept saying No.
 Then he gave another nara..
"Narender modi baja denge Carona ke 12."
 I laughed my heart out,
and, I went back to nature,
through the news that showed
 a breathtaking pleasant view,
 of the glowing Himalayas
and happy faces of people,
who might never had got a chance
 to see this magnificent scene,
from the comfort of their homes.
 Nature truly is healing.
 A breath of fresh air
 not only remains a poetic approach,
 but is becoming a reality.
 In this lockdown
We all are into it together,
It's time to keep calm,
to stay connected,
to care for our helpers,
to learn, and to reflect. ~payal

"Mountain landscape" #NaPoWriMo #Day 6

Far from the noise,
 beyond the walls,
 a new world opened its doors,
in myriad hues, for us to reflect ,
 and to wonder.
The mountain landscape,
 away from the city life,
left a soothing imprint
 on my heart.
 Embraced in a bear hug
The nurturing nature,
nurtured the wild,
and added charm
to the swallows flight.
The deers roamed freely,
but oh my! What do I see?
A Raccoon killed a Fawn.
 The mountains stood
in the backdrop,
in rigid shapes, blue.
Weak becomes the prey,
It's true for life too!
 An elephant enters
 from the right,
 Strong headed,
 and walks beside
 the man-made structure
installed in which
 the lines entwined like DNA,
 built on a Lotus structure,
trying to reach the heights.
 A poet in me,
 keeps trying to find
the deeper meanings
and accidentally
 meets the picture,
painted in the era bygone,
that revealed the caged life
when set free, might kill the weak,
 to survive.
Others just gather around
 and watch the show. ~payal

A metaphor #NaPoWriMo #GloPoWriMo 2020

I travelled afar in search of a metaphor,
 and found it wrapped with moist leaves,
delicious outpourings, fill the room,
with new and old melodies,
 memories play to the tunes,
 peeping through the cracked walls,
 touching the heart's core,
and wild daisies still bloom.

Slowly, the wind blows,
 and turns the page of
 "Paulo Coelho's" "Manuscript of Accra".
 I read it long time ago.
 It was all happening in the now.

 Just then a paper fell down,
 I opened its folds.
 Yasss!! A verse untold.

 On every special occasion, it rains.
"There is some good in everything."
"This too shall pass."
Clean mirror wisdom.
Weeds were bearing
 the burden of feather.
 To others, it was light.

 Coming out of shell,
 she, whose name is Berry,
shall keep spreading light, in healthy spirit,
and keep glowing, as love knows no bounds.
 Quiet Ocean!
 I have written the facts I found by digging deep, hands smell of Rose.
 "Ajeeb tha na?"
My cup of tea is waiting
for a deep conversation
as I finish cracking a metaphor.
~payal 

Soul connections #NaPoWriMo2020 #Day4

 Caged in a big old room,
with known faces,
with old wooden doors,
 ceilings made of wooden planks,
paint chipping off the wall,

"You" and "I"
 tried talking to each other.
 Though strangely,
 the strangers came
 to meet and greet,
 and went away,
 leaving smiles behind.

 I saw the face of friendship
 quiet, lost, bursting into tears,
overwhelmed with emotions.
 I sat beside it,
 trying to calm it down.

 I remember
 a small conversation,
 Meaningless, overwhelming,
 in an unknown land.

The two faces unrecognizable,
but spirit known.
"I" and "You".
"I" the emotions, sometimes ego,
 and "You" the face of friendship.

 The clear words echoed in the morning,
with hues of blues, greens, red, and black
Norms and patterns changed,
Exhilirated, starry eyes
 spoke volumes.
 Was it dream work?
 That gave meaning to recurring dream?

Maybe life was putting us back on our path.
 Making or breaking habits
 the patterns known, unknown.
Friendships are stronger than emotions.
 Telepathic soul connections. ~payal 

Now a days #NaPoWriMo2020 #Day3

 Now a days, during springtime,
Pause and embrace the musical notes
created by the windchimes
that often soothens the heart
when prairie winds rhyme..

 Momentary? It's been a long time!
Stationary frame of silence
on the timeless horizon
 Gracefully changes the outlook.
Meadows within creates the balance.

 Candid compositions, just in time
 While listening to the intuition
On the canvas of heart, glisten.
Unwrapping the gifts and blessings,
Making it through life's transition.
~payal 

Death of a plant #NaPoWriMo2020 #Day2

 A few months ago,
I entered a small shop
 ìn the basement, near the lift,
in Caculo Mall.
The lady dressed in soothing green,
 showed me varieties
of indoor and outdoor plants.
 There were small black insects
 on Chrysanthemum.
 I know they eat up the leaves.
I preferred an indoor plant.
 Unsure of the name,
she explained about a plant,
 and warned me,
 "Change the soil, and water it,
 but it might die."
 I bought it still,
 and kept it
 on the newly designed rack,
with pebbles and glass.
Though I took care,
 Thin, long, green leaves,
 slowly started to wilt, 
One by one it shed its leaves
 and became one
 with the glowing Sunshine,
that brightened its leaves,
 water that glistened it,
soil that nourished it.
 I try to nurture with love,
and create a balance,
 but death of a plant,
 often saddens me.
Now, I have planted
 a succulent in its place,
 and it's flourishing. ~payal

Potter's wheel #Day 1 #NaPoWriMo2020

 My life -a potter's wheel,
Well placed by the master, to my dismay,
Spinning as per his desire,
Who kneads and moulds the clay.

 Imagination takes its shapes and forms,
With stories of its evolution,
Creatively the creator creates
 It's real, as well as illusion.

 I hear the master talk and sing
Whose hands are all covered with clay,
In the heart of hearts, he moulded a thought,
 and made a new product today.

 He gifted me authentic sense of Self,
Together we shape our thoughts with clay,
 Later to be fired and glazed
 I made my presence felt today. ~payal