Tuesday, May 31, 2005

riverside

gentle reeds sway winds.
minds flow, swirl, mingle
ever so leisurely.

we are beautiful!
languid dreams
we create a wonderful world.

we are young!
we have all eternity
to warm the afternoon sun.

fragments of another lifespacetime

Monday, May 30, 2005

you

you are with me
even when you are
not with me.

fragments of another lifespacetime

Sunday, May 29, 2005

suddenly

my paintings dance,
colours think melodies,
hues sing fragrances,
thoughts inhale harmonies.

fragments of another lifespacetime

Saturday, May 28, 2005

softly

speak softly
for
you speak
to my mind.

touch me
ever so
tenderly
for you
touch my heart.

hold me
gently
for you
hold my essence.

fragments of another lifespacetime

Friday, May 27, 2005

unspoken

silence, winds caress skin
moon smiles, waves dance with our toes
we speak without words.

fragments of another lifespacetime

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

chaste

we sit
beside each other
chaste children
don’t talk or touch.

quietly
just devour
each other
with our eyes.

fragments of another lifespacetime

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

heaven

heaven
halcyon blue
all alone
but i sense it is you

fragments of another lifespacetime

Monday, May 23, 2005

strange

just a glance, no words
crowded room full of strangers
minds speak together

fragments of another lifespacetime

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Creation

I stand at the edge
of the universe,
laughing.
I scatter stardust
in the deep dark space.

I watch…
It spins and dances.
Fires leap, exploding.
Heavens reverberate
to the sound of creation.

Time spirals,
wrapping space,
devouring stardust.
Inexorably
spiraling into infinity.

Déjà vu…
I smile.
I touch SpaceTime
ever so gently.
And the stardust dances again.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

Master, Alien and Ignoramus

(This was written a few weeks ago but holds true all the time. Only the names and countries change.)

As I sat watching a late night discussion on the TV, a tiny alien flopped on the chair next to me with a musical tinkle. Before I could register my surprise at the handsome Alien, he said, “Relax, we have been receiving some strange high frequency signals from your planet. I have come to here to find what exactly is going on”.

Of all the creatures on the planet, he had come to me, the Ignoramus! What do we, the people know? So off we went to The Wise Master for the answers. The Master welcomed us and the TV flashed the breaking news:

“U.S. President George Bush calls on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to inform him of the sale of F16s to Pakistan. Manmohan Singh expresses displeasure and says that such a move will escalate tension and arms race in the region.”

There was a barrage of questions from the Alien, “Who is George Bush? Who is Manmohan Singh? Who is Pakistan? What is F16?...”

The Master spoke patiently, “Our beautiful planet Earth is divided into many countries.”

“What are countries?” the Alien interrupted.

“We draw a boundary on the land. The people within one boundary belong to one country while, the people within another boundary belong to another country. The master drew a few closed lines on the floor to illustrate. Now for a moment, let us say that you belong to a country called Pakistan, Ignoramus here belongs to India and I belong to the U.S. When you belong to a country you must love the people your own country and hate every one else. You can even kill them in the name of freedom, human rights, democracy as and when required.”

“But why must I kill the other people?” asked the surprised Alien.

“Because you must be patriotic.” said the master.

“But why must I hate the people of my own species?” persisted the Alien.

“Because when you hate others you will be suspicious and insecure and so will the people in the other countries. And when you feel insecure, you will buy weapons and planes like F16 to drop nuclear bombs, from a rich and powerful country. You naturally want to defend your self, don’t you? And what will your neighboring countries do? They will also start shopping for more powerful weapons and planes. This is known as ‘Balance of Power’”, said the Master.

Just then the news broke again:

“U.S. offers ‘F16, F18s and cooperation in Nuclear Power Sector for Peace’ to India also.”

“But no where in any universe do the people of the same species kill their own species for nothing!!! After all a boundary can not make any difference?” wailed the Alien.

“You do not understand! What about the Economy of the Rich and Powerful countries? The people in these countries need jobs. When India and Pakistan both buy F16s and other assorted weapons from rich countries, the people in these countries will get more jobs. They will be happy. See, how we bring happiness into so many lives!

The Rich countries can sell their Obsolete Weapons and Technologies to the Developing and Impoverished countries. The Developing and Impoverished countries are happy because they have weapons to defend themselves. They vie with each other and scramble to buy any old weapon that gives them a sense of security. They feel proud of their arsenal. How does it matter if they become more impoverished in the process? That is a minor matter.

The Rich and Powerful countries can then use all that money to make even better weapons so that they can bring Peace and Democracy to the whole world. The whole cycle can be repeated endlessly.”

“Weapons to bring peace!?! What if the people in different countries stop hating each other?” cried the Alien.

“Ah! That we must not allow. We can easily use diplomatic pressure, psychological paranoia and well designed propaganda to ensure that all countries behave in the manner that is expected. We are the Wisest of all species on this planet. Look at our Technology, our Economy our Governance! But you must rest now. You are our honoured guest. Ignoramus and I shall show you our beautiful planet after you have dined and relaxed. You have a lot to learn yet.”

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Beautiful People

We have everything;
power, pelf,
passion
and zing.

Then why
this emptiness,
dread,
a black hole of ennui?

We build fences,
but
hungry eyes
seep into our beings.

We try not to think,
but
dying children
haunt our dreams.

This is not our want,
our war.
Then why this agony?
Could it be that we are all connected?