Sunday, March 26, 2006

Tall

Even as your head is in the clouds,
keep your feet firmly on the ground.

See how ta..…ll you become!

Just turn now, and watch the moon smile.
Just lean now, you can touch the stars.


for all the young folk who say, “I want to be so..... tall!”

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Sea Of Fire

as you walk
the Sea Of Fire,
flames become friends.
yellows hold you,
reds carry you,
far above the
flickering haze,
beyond the
intense translucence.
fire and you glow,
one shimmering
incandescence.

when troubles loom like a Sea Of Fire, just wade in.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Exam Panic Attack

A young teenager is in the ICU because of Exam Panic Attack. God knows how many more all over India, all over the world.

Agreed, we don’t know what to do with the kids once they are born. So bung them into schools and colleges with overworked, underpaid teachers and professors. Then have "External Examinations" conducted by bodies that are only concerned about "Setting Syllabi" and "Conducting Examinations".

Who is bothered about what happens to the young people in schools and colleges?

Are they really learning anything? What about their physical, mental and emotional health? What about their spirit that is trampled upon, crushed along the way?

When are we going to change the system that does this to human beings? And it is all so unnecessary!

Please pray for this teen and all others who are in a similar situation. Please think about this. Please work towards changing this system.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Durga

O Divine Mother, O Shakti,
The entire universe is You.
All creation is Your form
in innumerable dimensions.

O creator of Matrikas,
O Mahishasur mardini,
All things originate from You
and finally become one with You.

bequeath Your infinite wisdom
bestow Your immense power
confer Your heavenly grace
upon us who seek your blessings.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Mary

when i became
your virgin mother
and cradled you
in my lap,
i never knew
that one day
i would have to
hold you again,
my crucified
Son of God.


She was the only one.

Monday, March 13, 2006

Kali

when Durga created me
from her brow
and ordained me
to kill all demons
i had no option
but
to tear you up.
i had to look inside
to see what made you so vile.
i had to sever your skulls
so that they would not think any more evil.
i had to drink your blood Raktabija
so that it would not flow through any more bodies.


for the very rare Kalis that i meet.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Draupadi

O Kunti how could you do this?
you turned me into an object
the moment you divided me
amongst your five valiant sons.

and they wagered me as though
i was not their wife but an object.

and all my five brave husbands
watched as i was insulted
and that evil Dushasana
dared to touch my garment.

had it not been for Krishna
Draupadi would be no where.

for all those women who are still in the same position as Draupadi.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Sita

after the trial
by the fire
it was all ashes.

any excuse was fine;
a dhobi’s word
or a brahmin’s word.

it did not matter;
the palace
or the forest.

i knew my sons would
grow away
to become kings.

my only refuge
was the earth
that swallowed me whole.

for so many Sitas that i meet everyday.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Exam Anxiety

It is that time of the year again when school kids go for exams. Very soon it will be the turn of college students.

All around there are anxious faces; children, teenagers and parents.

Our Exam system being what it is, with emphasis on
“mug, get a good score somehow, and forget”
kids try to cram.

With pressure to “do well”,
“If you do not do well you will not get admission in a good college. What will you do?.......etc. etc.”
they drive themselves into panic.

Some of the best students, the top notch brains also suffer from fear of failure. Some students are on anti stress medicines, hopefully under the scrutiny of a doctor.

Hesitant steps, “May I please talk to you for a few minutes.”

“Sure.” We talk for a while. I listen carefully and try to drive their fears away. They go back a little more confident. I hope it helps.

If you have young students around, please listen to them, encourage them, give them confidence.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

boy child

oh yes, i am the privileged one.
i do exactly what i want.

but

pressure to perform is intense.

i must always lead, control, win.
i must never be a sissy, a girl.
i have to grow up to be
the aggressor, the protector.

why must i always be strong?
always accept the challenge?
always do well, always stand first?

for

there are times when i just can not.
can i not cry even when i really hurt ?

Thursday, March 02, 2006

glass people

you can look right through them
talk and act as you please.

unheard invisible
they just serve tend carry.

they are really not there.
are they?