The Poetry Marathon

Pizza with double cheese

Burger and French fries

Some chocolate chip muffins

Would be nice

And oh, a large Coco-cola

No.. make that Sprite!

A reason to exist

A dream to chase

Something to look forward to

On all those nights full of tears

Maybe a hand that reaches out

Or someone who would listen

Someone to call out my name

When I am lost

Bring me back, tell me it’s okay

I don’t need much

Just a reason to exist 

Something to persevere

Hazy moonlight shines on me

me who had long been accustomed

to darkness, to cold

It lights up my surroundings

and somehow my dead eyes as well

That’s what the reflection shows

the reflection in a blood red pond

under the hazy moonlight

I couldn’t recognise it at first

then it became clear

It was me no doubt but

What’s with this shadow looming

behind me, still in dark even under

the hazy moon-

In the deep darkness

A slight flame flickers

Refusing to give up

Despite the cold

And inadvertently guides

Many a lost souls

Longing for warmth

A bit of hope

A million sparkling lights

I am one of them

dancing to the tune

singing off the tune

and just existing

it’s okay, isn’t it

we don’t need a 

plan to live.

In this endless universe

with infinite infinities

both big and small

I am but a speck of dust

But within me exists

my own universe

with its own stars and

There I am a part of the brightest constellation.

A tiny star within 

the massive ocean of 

Galaxies and Infinities

I still shine brightly in my own right.

In a small car meant for four

we crammed five people and luggage

and onwards we went

Through highways, hills and small forests

on a trip that was long due

We reached the city after a day

maybe two, on the road

backs hurting and head full of bumps

(The road was rough)

But it seemed worth it

when we were welcomed with

a sight of air-conditioned rooms

and good wifi signal.

Beside the desolate park

with abandoned swings

and knee-tall grasses

stands an old telephone booth

covered in vines

It’s paint has faded

the wood is chipped

and no one knows when was it

Last used but if you

Look closely you would find

Messages of all kinds…

Written with pen

Or carved with blade

They stand the test of time

Alongwith the old telephone booth covered in vines.

Hand in hand we walked

Through paved roads

By the Gulmohar trees

The wind blew that day

From the west 

I remember the sunset

No words needed

The silence was all we had

Serenity, a sense of belonging

And then our time was up

Bidding farewell, we went

In different directions…

Never to see each other again.

Half asleep

You get up from your desk

Strewn with half eaten snacks

And half finished poems

Going out to the balcony

You look around desperately

For inspiration, an idea, anything

When you see it

A road leading to another road

The kids walking on it

You realise it’s just like life

Choices leading to other choices

And you have no choice but to keep moving forward.