Why, oh why?

You don't want to live you say
You wish you were never born
Why do you have to live, grow old
Go through all these ups and downs

I wish I had answers to these my friend
I wish I only knew
If only it were in our hands
To decide what we wanted to do

I could talk to you of Karma
I could talk to you of souls
Of rebirths and reincarnations
Of we being part of that whole

All I can say to you my dear
Is I know I am here today
I know I may have to be here for long
Before I go another way

It helps me not to groan and moan
And make my life a pain
For kith and kin and friends and self
T'will all be but in vain

I need to live with myself
Before others can live with me
Tell me my friend how I could ever do that
If I just couldn't love me

That is why my dear
I need to laugh through joys and pain
Through clouds, through rain, through sunshine
Through losses or through gain

Let me bring joy to others
Let me laugh through joys or tears
Let me bring joy unto myself
And dispel my irrational fears

For yesterday is dead
Tomorrow is yet to be
Today is all that I have
With that let me happy be

The Message From Beyond

This poem is about an answer from my dad which came to me one evening when I was in the throes of utter despair and filled me with tremendous joy and cheer.  This I dedicate to my dad on the occasion of Fathers' Day.  Dad you are sorely missed, but I know you are always around whenever I need you.

"Dad where are you?"
My mind calls out
"Where are you? 
I did not miss you these years throughout
You were by my side
Why then does my inner eye
Not see you now, please tell me, do"?
T'was more than 8 years ago
That leaving us behind
You went, whither, we do not know
My mind I pacified
The body dies, the soul lives on, I sighed
Every time I needed help I called to you, 
And lo! Help came, my job was done
And problems were easily overcome
“Now I do not see you, I do not feel your presence, why?
Please come to me dad, please, I'll wait for your reply”.
A cousin's wife calls and chats
Another's son drops in just like that
And while we chat, another calls
And offers to help when the chips are down
Dad, you heard me, you called through them
And was I totally overwhelmed!
You heard me dad, you heard my call
I know now should I ever fall
You will come to me through family or friends
Or through perfect strangers, at every bend
On any road in any clime
You'll be with me till the end of time
You shall forever watch over me
Never again let me feel lonely.

A Mother's Song

This is a poem dedicated to all mothers of this world and their children on the occasion of Mother's Day.

Welcome my little one into this world

Hold onto my finger with your tiny hand curled

Hold onto it with all your might

Oh you little fairy, you're such a blessed sight

You are the very incarnation divine

You are the continuation of a line

Of daughters of our Mother Eve

You are the Mother Goddess's gift, I firmly believe

Those rosy cheeks, those inquisitive eyes

The wrinkled forehead shows you are wise

What are you looking for in my face

Can you read in it what my heart says?

You are the queen of your own fate

You will make with your destiny your own date

Go child, achieve whatever you will

Fly over every mountain, climb every hill

Do you want to be a doc, an engineer

An astronaut, painter or pilot dear

Would you like to make a career

For yourself or be content as a home maker

The choice is entirely yours my little star

I know, no matter what, you'll make a mark

On the sands of time you'll write your name

May success be yours, may you get a lot of fame

Be happy, be brave, my dearest one

My little sugary honey bun

You are my treasure, you are my joy

Who says you are less than any boy

Come, let me plant on your cheeks a kiss

This is my promise to my little miss

Darling should you have any fear

Know that your mom is ever near

I'll stand by you through thick and thin

No matter whether you lose or win

Losses and victory will come and go

Walk with your head held high even when you feel low

But for now my little bird rest

In your mother's arms, this is your nest

Sleep my child, you need to grow strong

You'll grow your wings and fly off 'ere long

A Mother's Plight

Today is mother's day.  There are many unfortunate mothers in India, whose daughters are deprived of the right to live even before they are born and who themselves are deprived of the right and joy to hold their little bundles of joy in their arms if they are daughters.  Unfortunately this practice of female foeticide  is very common even amongst highly educated families in big cities.

This poem is dedicated to these unfortunate women.

A loud plaintive scream rent the air

The pain was much more than she could bear

The life that within her had barely begun

Was not one that could be called "my son"

A daughter was growing inside her

A replica of herself as it were

This little angel she wished in her arms to hold

On this idea hubby and in-laws were not sold

Leave me alone, let my child be born

From begging and pleading she was utterly worn

Her job though was only children to bear

For her rights and opinions no one did care

A hasty appointment with the doctor was made

And so it was that on the table she was laid

In a room where little babies were born

Her little angel from her womb was torn

But who did for her screams ever care

Her pain was her own, alone to bear

She could rant, rave, scream or yell

Her life was one unending hell

She was obliged to give the family an heir

To fight for her rights, though, she did not dare

Did she even know her rights

If she did, why was she in this plight

Why is it that a son who worships his own mother

About the mother of his children does not bother

Why is his mother who is a woman

To her daughter in law so inhuman

This is a lady who was also once born

A girl child who was not of her right to live shorn

Where would this man be if she had been killed instead

Has this thought even entered their heads

The statistics are enough to scare

Girls as a population are growing ever rare

Wake up you ignoramuses, you better beware

Your race will be wiped out if you don't care

Women wake up, fight for your rights

Tolerating injustice, taking it light

Is just as wrong as being unjust

Protect your daughters is something you MUST.

Bring In A Change

Source:  Google

Womens' day has come and gone

Let us look at facts, of romantic notions shorne

We claim independence, we are liberated we say

But facts point out the other way

Take a look at the news every morn

At the injustice by womankind borne

Raped by strangers, by kith and kin

Starved by parents, thrown at birth into bins

Women are their own enemies as so often is said

Even more so from the time they are wed

Parents willing to pay anything of them to get rid

Willing in tens of thousands for a groom to bid

And woe betide if her own partner she should find

There are many who this state of affairs would mind

How dare she decide who should be her mate

Ask the “khaps”, her brothers who are all filled with hate

A “decent” “well brought-up”girl should wait

For her parents to find her the right mate

It is not in our “rich culture” to date

She must marry the person who is handed to her by “fate”

Her dreams are shattered from the word go

Mil, Sil being the cause of many a woe

“Bring more money from your parents” they say

If she can't she is slaughtered one day

Husband beats her mercilessly

And visits another woman shamelessly

The wife's job for her is cut out

Cook, clean, produce kids, her life is a rut

Shackled to date by chains of “culture” and “tradition”

Which ensures she gets no remission

From her miserable, wretched existence

Only death can be the ultimate deliverance

This is of the majority the condition

And if you think the solution is “education”

Think again, for in our country it is only a word

Which means passing exams, getting certificates, becoming a nerd

Our moral police are eternally alert

When it comes to “traditional values” and anyone in a skirt

Traditions do not apply to men

Culture is not something to be protected by them

And then our “respect” for women and Goddesses we assert

While day in and day out their interests we hurt

Nothing has changed since Joan at the stakes was burnt

Isn't it sad, to date nothing better has been learnt

In order a real change in society to effect

All negative values need to completely reject

We need to change the way we think

To throw out such practices that so utterly stink

A civilized society if we wish to be

Every individual needs to be free

From practices which their freedom of expression stifle

And with their dignity and basic human rights trifle

A society where a woman is free

To prosperity is the ultimate key

Where women are happy there the Gods dwell

Where they are not, there life is a hell

If a change we really want

Don't allow anything you to daunt

For change must inevitably start with “me”

Not with granny, uncle, she or he.

"Thank God it was me"!

“Why me”, she cried. “Why me”?

Her child had just died

“What did I do”?

There was no reply.

Her father lay ill on the hospital bed

It was not long before they pronounced him dead

Of a disease much afeared

Life had once again taken away someone who was so dear

God, you made my father suffer, please spare my mom

Let no ill health near her come

God laughed, kept her mother in good physical health

But illness struck her mind, a person's greatest wealth

“Why me” she did not cry again

Although her heart was ridden with pain

“Why me” was something she could never know

So the best way out was to let it go

But it appeared life with her was not done

It seemed as if she always lost and life always won

Now ill health caused her to give up her job

She took it squarely on the chin with not so much as a sob

For one can cry, one can mourn

From grief one can be utterly torn

But life she realized must go on

A new woman had from her been born

She suddenly found she had a lot of time

She found words to express herself in prose as well as rhyme

She found time to look at the world around

New birds, glorious sunsets, life's meaning profound

Peace and happiness were now with her to stay

Let life hit out at her as hard as it may

Happiness she realized she did not have to run behind

All she had to do was to look within peace to find

“Thank God it was me”she happily cried

She'd never have realized no matter how hard she tried

Life had given her a million occasions

To understand its most important lessons

Life's vicissitudes bring a golden chance

To take at its real meaning a glance

Never despair when it gives you a blow

You'll learn your lessons no matter how slow

Thus you take a step on your spiritual path

As your raise yourself from the aftermath

Of a lesson taught by a teacher most stern

Who knows just what you need to learn

Does Your Life Need Some Spice?

A certain dear friend named Ice 
Complained that her life lacked some spice 
I told her "Go see a movie
Or do something groovy
I'm sure you'll find that very nice"
.
"Or I'm always willing for a chat 
Do you think you'd like to do that?
Do you find me a bore
Then pray say no more
I'd rather know nothing of that"

Ice said she was going crazy
I didn't think she was being lazy
She really had loads of work
Which she did nothing to shirk
So I wished to make her life a bit easy.

Now I suggested "something Italian
Or maybe something completely European 
It could be a culinary blessing
With lots of salad dressing,
Be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian".

"Or how about a nice new dress 
Shopping's known to reduce stress
But make sure of the price
Don't spend thousands in a trice
Or your balance sheet would be a complete mess".

"Or how 'bout in the Bahamas a cruise, 
I hope that will certainly amuse,
A young lady who is bored,
Of being at work moored,
For a holiday she now has a ruse".

The Sanity of Insanity

Are all the insane really insane
And the sane really sane?
Or is it just our imagination
Or the phases wax and wane?

I have for you just one question,
Please tell me if you can.
Who decides who is insane
And who the sane man?

If life is but an illusion,
Everything springs from our imagination,
And if living in that perpetual state is sanity
Then shouldn't we redefine insanity?

Who is to say our illusions
Are more legitimate than their delusions
Imaginations or even hallucinations?
It's all a matter of perceptions.

And if this logic we accept,
Then all are insane except 
The Old Man laughing above
While he makes us all his puppets.

If this truth we realize,
All “sane” people would be wise
Enough this simple fact to learn to accept,
No one on earth is born perfect.

So why can't we be more humane
To those the “sane” consider “insane”?
We know not when we cross the border
That should to us be pretty plain.

The line in-between is fine
We could cross over any time,
Or the border could move either way
Which side would we be on that day?

For what one sees as white
May not to another seem so bright.
He may see a shade of gray
Whose perception is right, tell me, pray?

So let's not mock at those who are yonder
But take time off the fact to ponder,
That to remain perfectly sane
We all need a streak of the insane

We need a streak of the bizarre
To keep us as sane as we are,
Or at least as sane as we seem
In this life that is but a dream.

Without that streak of insanity
There would be no sanity.
Truly no one is sane or insane
Let's stop making such empty claims.

The Divided World

Look at that bird fly in the sky,
I can't do that, no matter how much I try.
On terra firma I am sentenced to stay
Friends, can you just tell me why, can you say?

I crave to fly to the world beyond
My little world, just take a round
Of the globe which is mine to inhabit,
But only a minute bit to inherit.

Tell me friends, do you think it fair
That I must live here, not dream of going there
Without obtaining a paper permit,
Or my visit would be deemed “illegitimate”

Who gave us humans the power to say
Who comes on a visit and who may stay?
Why is it that we think it right
To shoo away some, who gave us that might?

God had already divided the earth,
And as HE did that He shook with mirth
As the land split and the oceans came
Our natural wanderlust to tame.

But then in HIS mercy HE gave us the power,
With intelligence and emotions HE did shower
Humans, so that aircrafts we may build
And visit each other as we willed.

But alas we used those mighty brains
To fight each other in a manner insane.
The power to love has gone to rust
Other races we do not trust.

We divide our homes, our land, our hearts,
Each inherits just a tiny part.
Don't come here, this is my land,
Any problem was caused by the foreign hand.

Why can't I just fly at will?
There is so much that I haven't seen still.
For me the very finest way to worship
Would be to make round the earth a trip.

For the earth is to me my God's creation,
HE did not intend its joys to ration.
HE wished me a path over the whole to trace
See all there is and HIS work with wonder praise.
HE is the creator of all seasons,
Of every beast, man and woman.
What right do we have to pray
When God's basic laws we disobey?

Folks, wake up! Listen to God's orders
Create a world without borders!
Please each other do tightly embrace
Live life fully, with perfect grace!

Wake up! This world to everyone belongs,
Everything in it including rights and wrongs.
Go everywhere that you were intended to go,
And in doing so, to the Creator bow!

And praise that eternal Magician,
Whose powers extend beyond human reason!
Be grateful for all that you have received,
And give up your ways so false and deceived!

That when you eventually get back HOME
After having the whole world roamed,
HE will welcome you back with open arms
And you can rest there forever, happy and calm
For an eternity at complete peace
And happiness at your Heavenly father's knees.
With all your siblings black, brown and white
Holding each other's hands, never again to fight.

The Buddha Replies

Why me she cries,
Why did it have to be my son?
He was so young and sprightly
His life had just begun.

Why he? Just what had he done?
To deserve an end, why not somebody else's son?
Master tell me, I have come to you
Seeking an answer to my question,
Who else can help me besides you?

You are the divine master
Enlightened and worldly wise
I know you can bring back
My dead son in a blink to life

Please do me this great favour
That my son's long life I may savour
Please Lord bring him back to life
For my sake and for his wife's

The Buddha listened silently
While the lady in grief shook violently
Dear Lady he said in a voice quiet and calm
Lady, calm down, I'll help you
His words worked like a balm

But if you will first fetch me some rice
From a home at any price
Where never a dear one was lost
I'll revive your son at any cost

The lady went from house to house
"Lady last week I lost my spouse"
"I lost my dear father"
"Yama took away my brother"

or"I lost last year my wife
What use my useless life"?
Plague took away my sister
Before life's joys had even touched her".

And so went on the mourning
Everyone under life's eternal strife groaning
To the master the lady at last returned
From every house having been spurned

She prostrated before the master
Very practically he had passed her
The wisdom of the worldly wise
By asking for a handful of rice

Death is the only certainty
In life there is no other guarantee
The wise therefore learn
Never for the unattainable to yearn

Life and death is a cycle
From birth to death we go full circle
Death is not life's end
But on the road just a bend

Every end has a beginning
Every beginning an end
It is to learn this eternal secret
That God us to earth has sent.