ಲೆನ್ಸು

ಧುಮ್ಮಿಕ್ಕುವ ಜಲಪಾತಗಳು
ಬಿಳಿ ಮೋಡದ ಮಾಲೆಗಳು
ನಿಶ್ಚಲ ನೀಲಿ ಸರೋವರಗಳು
ಕೊನೆಯಿರದ ಹಸಿರ ಹಾಸು
          ದಿಕ್ಕು ದಿಗಂತಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ದೇವಲೋಕದ ಹಾಗೆ
                                               ದೃಶ್ಯ ಕಾವ್ಯ !

ಇಂಥ ಅದ್ಭುತ ರಮ್ಯ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ
ಸದಾ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿವ ತವಕ
ಲೆನ್ಸುಗಳ ಆಚೀಚೆ ಮಾಡಿ
'mode'ಗಳ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಿ
          ಕೊನೆಯ ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ನಿಂತು ಕಣ್ಣು ಕಿರಿದಾಗಿಸಿ
                                               ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ....

"ಛೇ...ಫೋಟೋ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿಲ್ಲ
ಬೆಳಕು ಕಡಿಮೆಯೇ? flash ಹಾಕಲೇ?
ಮೋಡದ  ನೆರಳೇ.. ಮಳೆಯೇ ..ಹಿಮವೇ ?
ಏನೂ ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ನೋಡಿ ..
          ಸದ್ದಿರದೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯ ಸೊಬಗು ಸವಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದ
                                       ಪತಿರಾಯರ ಕೇಳಿದೆ ...

 "ದೇವರು ದಯೆಯಿಟ್ಟು ಕೊಟ್ಟ  ಲೆನ್ಸಿನ ಮುಂದೆ
ನಮ್ಮ SLR ಗಳು ಯಾವ ಮೂಲೆಗೆ ?!
ಈ ಕ್ಷಣವ ಕಣ್ಣಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆ ಹಿಡಿದು
ಮನದಲ್ಲಿ  ಮುದ್ರಿಸು ಮರೆಯದಂತೆ "
             ತಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಟ್ಟನೆ ಬಲ್ಬು ಹೊತ್ತಿದ ಹಾಗಾಯ್ತು!
                                "ಹೌದಲ್ಲವೇ  ?  "

ಕಣಿವೆಗಳ  ನಡುವೆ  ನಗುವ ಬಯಲಲ್ಲಿ
ಹುಲ್ಲು ಮೇಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು ಹಸುಗಳು ಹಾಯಾಗಿ
ಕೊರಳ ಗಂಟೆಯ ನಾದ ಹೊಮ್ಮಿಸುತ್ತ ...
ಕೆಚ್ಚಲು ಬರಡಾದ ದಿನ ಕಸಾಯಿಖಾನೆ ಎಂದರಿಯದೆ ....
                       ನೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ಮರುಳಾಗಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಕ್ಯಾಮೆರಾ ಹಿಡಿದು
                                   " ಒಂದು ಫೋಟೋ......." ಎಂದೆ

"ಶ್....ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಹಠ ಮಾಡ ಬೇಡ
ಅಂಗಡಿಗೆ ಹೋದಾಗ ಹಸುವಿನ ಗಂಟೆ ಕೊಡಿಸುವೆ
ರಿಟೈರ್ ಆದ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಸು ಸಾಕೋಣ ನಾವು .."
ಎಂದು ತೆಕ್ಕೆಯಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದರು
                        ಏನು ತೋಚದೆ 'ಹೂ....' ಎಂದು ಗೋಣಾಡಿಸಿ
                                              ಬೆಪ್ಪು ಬೆಪ್ಪಾಗಿ ನಕ್ಕೆ !

         

ಜೆಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀನು

ಎಂಥ ಕ್ಷುದ್ರ ಜೀವಿ
ಈ ಜೆಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀನು
ಇದರದ್ದು ಒಂದು ಬದುಕೇ?

ತಿನ್ನಲು ಒಂದು ಬಾಯಿ
 ತುಂಬಿಸಲು ಒಂದು ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ

ಹುಟ್ಟುವುದು ಸಾವಿರಗಟ್ಟಲೆಯಾಗಿ
ಹಸಿದಾಗೆಲ್ಲ ತಿನ್ನುವುದು
ಬೆಳೆಯುವುದು ಜೊಂಡು ಜೊಂಡಾಗಿ
ತೇಲುವುದು ಅಲೆಯೆದ್ದ ಕಡೆ

ಬುದ್ಧಿ, ಮನಸುಗಳಿಲ್ಲ
ಆಲೋಚನೆಯಂತು ಬಲುದೂರದ ಮಾತು
                      ಬದುಕಿ ಬಂದ ಭಾಗ್ಯವೇನು?

"ಏಯ್ ಹುಲುಮಾನವಳೆ
ಎಷ್ಟು ಬಡಬಡಿಸುತ್ತೀಯ  ...."
ತನ್ನ  ನುಣುಪು ಮೈ ತಿರುಗಿಸಿ
ಉದ್ದ ಜಟೆಯಿಂದ ಗಾಜು ಕುಟ್ಟಿ
                  ಹೇಳಿತು ಜೆಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀನು ...

"ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ ಚಿತ್ತಾರ ಜಾಲದಲಿ
ನಾನೊಂದು ಸಣ್ಣ ಕೊಂಡಿ
ನನ್ನ ಕೆಲಸ ನಾನು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವೆ
ಆಸೆ ನಿರಾಸೆಗಳಿಲ್ಲದೆ ...
ನನಗೆ ಬರಿ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯ ಹಸಿವು
                ತೀರಿದರೆ ನಿಶ್ಚಿಂತೆ.

ನಿನಗೆ ??

ಇಂದ್ರಿಯಗಳ ಹಸಿವು
ಮಿದುಳು, ಮನಸುಗಳ ಹಸಿವು
ತೀರದ ದಾಹ
ಬೇಕು ಬೇಕೆಂಬ ವಾಂಛೆ
ನೀನು ಮುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೆಲ್ಲ ಹಾಳು
ನೆಲ ಜಲ ಬಾನೆಲ್ಲ ವಿಷ
ನಿನ್ನಿಂದ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯ ಸರ್ವನಾಶ...
ಮಾತನಾಡುವ ಮೊದಲು
   ಜಗದ ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ
      ನಿನ್ನ ಪಾತ್ರವ ನಿಭಾಯಿಸು..
                .................ನೆಟ್ಟಗೆ"
"ಫಟಾರ್...."
ನನ್ನ ಕೆನ್ನೆಗೆ ಬಾರಿಸಿತು ಜೆಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀನು
              ಗಾಜಿನಾಚೆಗೆ ತನ್ನ ನೀಳ ಜಟೆಯ ಹೊರಚಾಚಿ

ಬೆದರಿ ಅತ್ತಿತ್ತ ನೋಡಿದೆ
ಎಲ್ಲರು ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಗ್ನರಾಗಿದ್ದರು .....
           cameraಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಮುಖ ಹುದುಗಿಸಿ....

ಯಾರು ನನ್ನ ಗಮನಿಸಿಲ್ಲದ್ದು ಖಾತರಿಯಾಗಿ
           ಹಲ್ಲುಬಿಟ್ಟು ಪೋಸು ಕೊಡತೊಡಗಿದೆ
                            ಜೆಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀನಿನ ಜೊತೆಗೆ.

ಸಮಯ

ಸಮಯ ಬಲು ಅಮೂಲ್ಯ

ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಪೋಲು ಮಾಡಬೇಡಿ
......

ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗೆ ನನಗೆ ಅಚಾನಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಲಾಟರಿ ಹೊಡೆದು

ದಿನದ ಇಪ್ಪತ್ನಾಲ್ಕು ಗಂಟೆಯ ಬಂಪರ್ ಬಹುಮಾನ ಬಂತು! 

ಸಂತೋಷ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳಲೆಂದು ಫೋನು ಮಾಡತೊಡಗಿದೆ

ನೆಂಟರಿಷ್ಟರಿಗೆ……….

        ಗೆಳೆಯ ಗೆಳತಿಯರಿಗೆ..................... ಯಾರು ಉತ್ತರಿಸಲಿಲ್ಲ.

           ಎಲ್ಲ ಬದುಕ ಬಯಲಲ್ಲಿ ಬಸವಳಿದು ಓಡುತ್ತಲಿದ್ದರು.....ಪಾಪ

                     ಇನ್ನು ಕೆಲವರು ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿ ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಹೊರಗಿದ್ದರು.

ಬಾಕಿ ಇದ್ದ ಕೆಲಸಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ಖುಷಿಯಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿಯೇ ಮಾಡಿದೆ..

ಇನ್ನೂ ಮಿಕ್ಕಿತ್ತು ಬೇಜಾನು ಸಮಯ

ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಬಹುಮಾನವನ್ನೇನು ಮಾಡುವುದು ..

ಅಲ್ಕೂತು ಇಲ್ಕೂತು ಮಲ್ಲಕ್ಕ ಬಡವಾದಳಂತೆ....

ಬಡವಾಗಲು ನಾನೇನು ನಿರಕ್ಷರ ಕುಕ್ಷಿಯೇ ?

"ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿ ಮಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದು ಏನು ಮಾಡಲಿ" 

                      ಎಂದು ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲವ ಕೇಳಿದೆ

"ಫ಼್ರಿಡ್ಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇಡಿ...ಹಾಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟರೆ ಹಾಳಾಗುತ್ತದೆ"....

             ಯಾರೋ 'ಅನಾಮಿಕ'ನ ಯಾಹು ಉತ್ತರ!

ಸರಿ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದೆ

ಸಮಯವನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಒಂದು ನಿರ್ವಾತ ಡಬ್ಬಿಯಲಿ ಹಾಕಿ

ಮುಚ್ಚಳ ಭದ್ರ ಪಡಿಸಿ ಫ಼್ರಿಡ್ಜಿನಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟೆ

ಬೇಕಾದಾಗ ಬೇಕಾದಷ್ಟೇ ತೆಗೆದು ಬಳಸುವೆ

ಸ್ನಾನ-ಪೂಜೆಗೆ, ತಿಂಡಿ ಅಡಿಗೆಗೆ, ಕಸಮುಸುರೆ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ

ದಿನಕಿಷ್ಟೆಂದು ತೆಗೆದು ಬಳಸುತ್ತೇನೆ

ಒಮ್ಮೊಮ್ಮೆ ಅಂದಾಜು ತಪ್ಪಾಗಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಉಳಿಯುವುದುಂಟು

ಅದನ್ನು ಹಾಗೆ ಖರ್ಚು ಮಾಡಿಬಿಡುವೆ............

             ಬಾಲ್ಕನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿದ್ದ ತರಗೆಲೆಗಳ ತೆಗೆಯಲು

                       ಸೋಫಾದ ಬದಿ ಅಂಟಿದ ವ್ಯಾಸಲೀನು ಒರೆಸಲು

                           ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಪುಟದ ಚುಕ್ಕಿಗಳ ಚಿತ್ರ ಸೇರಿಸಲು.....

ಒಮ್ಮೊಮ್ಮೆ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿ ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಹೊರಗಿದ್ದವರು ಒಳಗೆ ಬಂದು

ನನ್ನ ಫೋನು ರಿಂಗಣಿಸುವುದುಂಟು 

ನನ್ನ ಕಿವಿಗೆ ಅಹಂ ಎಂಬ ಇಯರ್ ಫೋನು ಜಡಿದಿದ್ದೇನೆ

ಯೂ ಟ್ಯೂಬಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಡುಗಿ ಹಾಡಿಗೆ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಹಾಕುತ್ತಾಳೆ....

        "ಈ ಪ್ರಪಂಚ ಹಿತ್ತಾಳೆಯದು...."

ಉಜ್ಜಲು ದೇವರು ಬಲು ಪುರುಸೊತ್ತಾಗಿರಬೇಕು!

         ಅಥವಾ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಬಿಡುವಿಲ್ಲದೆ…

                       ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಹೀಗೆ ನೀಲಿಗಟ್ಟುತ್ತಿದೆಯೋ ?

ನಾನು ಬೇಕಾದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಮಯ ಸಾಲ ಕೊಡಬಹುದು ದೇವರಿಗೆ

ಫ಼್ರಿಡ್ಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ  ಜಾಗವಾದೀತು  ಹಾಲು ಹಣ್ಣಿಡಲು...

ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಯಂತೆ ಅವನು ತನ್ನ ಸಾಲ ತಾನೇ ಮನ್ನಾ  ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡರೆ?

ವಸೂಲಾತಿಗೆ ನಾನೇ ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕಾದೀತು !

ಫ಼್ರಿಡ್ಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಜಾಗ ಸಾಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಏನು ಮಾಡಲಿ ಎಂದು

ಮತ್ತೆ ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲವನೆ ಕೇಳಿದೆ ...

"ಶೈತ್ಯಾಗರಗಳು ಬಾಡಿಗೆಗೆ ದೊರೆಯುತ್ತವೆ" ಎಂದುತ್ತರಿಸಿತು ಗೂಗಲ್ಲು

ಹಾಗೆ  ವಿಳಾಸಗಳು, ಫೋನ್ ನಂಬರುಗಳು, ಹತ್ತಿರದ ದಾರಿಗಳು, ಬಾಡಿಗೆ ದರಗಳು 

                              ಎಂದೆಲ್ಲ ಹದಿನಾರು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೊಂಡಿಗಳ ತೋರಿಸಿತು

ನಾನೀಗ ಸಮಯವನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಚೀಲಕ್ಕೆ ತುಂಬುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ

ಶೈತ್ಯಾಗಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಡದೆ ಕಾಪಾಡಲು

ಮುಂದೆ ಮುದಿಗಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ಬೇಕಾದಾಗ ತೆಗೆದು

ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸುವೆ ನನ್ನ ತಾಜಾ ತಾಜಾ ಸಮಯವನು.....          

 ಅದುವರೆಗೂ ಓಝೋನು ಪೂರ್ತಿ ಹರಿದು...

                               ಭೂಮಿ ಕರಗಿ ಹೋಗದಿದ್ದರೆ...

             

.................

ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಪೋಲು ಮಾಡಬೇಡಿ

ಸಮಯ -  ಬಲು ಅಮೂಲ್ಯ

ಗಟ್ಟಿ

“ಕೈತುಂಬಾ ತುತ್ತು ಮಾಡಿ ಚಕಚಕನೆ ತಿನ್ನು

ಹೀಗೆ ಅಳುತ್ತಾ ತಿಂದರೆ ಮೈಗೆ ಹತ್ತುವುದಿಲ್ಲ

ಕೆನ್ನೆ ಒಣಗಿ ಸಣಕಲುಬಡ್ಡಿಯಾಗುವೆ ನೋಡು”

    ಎಂದು ಬೆದರಿಸಿ ಊಟ ಮಾಡಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು ಅಮ್ಮ

ಸುಡುವ ಬಿರುಬಿಸಿಲಲ್ಲಿ  ಬೆಲ್ಟು ಚಪ್ಪಲಿ ತೊಟ್ಟು
ನೀಲಗಿರಿ ತೋಪು ದಾಟಿ ಕುಣಿಯುತ್ತ ಹೊರಟಿದ್ದೆವು
ಊರ ಕಾಲುದಾರಿಯಲಿ ಅಮ್ಮನ ಹಿಂದೆ ...
ಹುಲ್ಲ ಹೊರೆ ಹೊತ್ತು ನಡೆವಾಕೆ ಕೇಳಿದಳು
" ಓಹೋ ಏನಮ್ಮೋ... ಊರ ನೆಪ್ಪಾಯ್ತಾ
ಇಸ್ಕೋಲು ರಜವಾ...ನಾಲ್ಕೂ ಹೆಣ್ಣಾ ನಿನಗೇ  ......"
ತಟ್ಟನೆ
"ಇಲ್ಲಾ ನಾಲ್ಕೂ ಗಂಡು" ಎಂದು
ಬೆನ್ನು ತಿರುಗಿಸಿ ಭಾರದ ಕಿಟ್ ಬ್ಯಾಗ ಕೈ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಿ
ನಮ್ಮೊಡನೆ ನಗುತ್ತ ನಡೆದಳು ಅಮ್ಮ

ಪ್ರತಿ ಮುಂಜಾನೆ ಮುಂಬಾಗಿಲ ತೊಳೆದು ರಂಗೋಲಿ ಹಾಕಿ,
ನಾಲ್ಕು ಜೊತೆ ಯೂನೀಫಾರಮ್ಮು,ಬೆಲ್ಟು , ಸಾಕ್ಸು-ಶೂ ಹೊಂದಿಸಿ
ಎಂಟು ಜಡೆ ಹೆಣೆದು ಟೇಪು ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿ
ಊಟದ ಬುಟ್ಟಿ ಕೈಗಿತ್ತು ಗೇಟಿನ ಬಳಿ ನಿಂತು ಕೈಬೀಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು ಅಮ್ಮ

ಸ್ಕೂಲಿನ ವಾರ್ಷಿಕೋತ್ಸವಕ್ಕೆಂದು
ನಮ್ಮಳತೆಗೆ ತನ್ನ ಬ್ಲೌಸುಗಳಿಗೆ  ಟಕ್ಕು ಹಾಕಿ
ಗಾಂಧಿಬಜಾರೆಲ್ಲ ಅಲೆದಾಡಿ 
ಮಿಸ್ಸು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದೆ ಬಣ್ಣದ ಸರ, ಬಳೆ,ಓಲೆ ತಂದು
ಪೌಡರ್ ಬಳಿದು ನಮ್ಮ ಮೇಕಪ್ಪು ಮಾಡಿ
ಆಫೀಸಿಂದ ಸೀದಾ ಬರುವ ಅಣ್ಣನಿಗಾಗಿ
ಮೊದಲ ಸಾಲಲ್ಲಿ ಸೀಟು ಹಿಡಿದು  ಕೂತು  ಕಾಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು ಅಮ್ಮ

ಮಹಾ ಕೆಲಸವೇನಲ್ಲ ಬಟ್ಟೆ ಒಗೆಯುವುದು
ಇಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಮಾಡಿಲ್ಲದ್ದೇನು ..
ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಕಂಪ್ಯೂಟರ್ ಕೊಡಿಸಿ
ಒಗೆಯುವ ಬಂಡೆ ಮಜಬೂತಾಗಿದೆ
ಆರೋಗ್ಯಕ್ಕೂ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದು ...ಎಂದು
ವಾಶಿಂಗ್ ಮೆಶೀನು ನಿರಾಕರಿಸಿಬಿಟ್ಟಳು ಅಮ್ಮ

"ಇನ್ನೂ ಓದು ಮುಗಿದಿಲ್ಲವಾ  ..   ಕೆಲಸ ಸಿಗಬೇಕಲ್ಲಾ...                          
ನೀವು ನಾಲ್ಕು ಮದುವೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕಲ್ಲಾ ಪಾಪ ..."
ಎಂದು ಸಂತಾಪ ಸೂಚಿಸಿದವರಿಗೆ
"ಅಯ್ಯೋ ...ನಮಗೇನು ಚಿಂತೆ
ವಧುದಕ್ಷಿಣೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಅವರೇ ಮದುವೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು....
ಈಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕಾಲ ಬದಲಾಗಿದೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿದ್ದೀರ ನೀವು "
ಎಂದು ಸಣ್ಣಗೆ ನಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು ಅಮ್ಮ

ಆರತಕ್ಷತೆ  ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಪತಿಯ ಕೈಹಿಡಿದು
ಹೊರಡುವ ಮುನ್ನ ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಸುರಿವ ಕಣ್ಣೀರು.... 

         ಒರೆಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತ ಅಮ್ಮನ ಕಡೆ ನೋಡಿದೆ .....

ಅರೇ...

ನನ್ನ ಮುಖ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯಾಯಿತು..
"ಅಮ್ಮಾ ನೀನೇಕೆ ಅಳುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲಾ ?! "

"ಊರೂರು ಅಲೆದು ಅಡ್ರೆಸ್ಸುಗಳ ಹುಡುಕಿ
ನಿನ್ನಂತ ಹಠಮಾರಿ ಹುಡುಗಿಗಿ ತಕ್ಕ ವರ ಸಿಗುವವರೆಗೂ ಕಾದು

 ನೀನು ಸೈ ಎಂದ ಮೇಲಲ್ಲವೇ ಮದುವೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು...
ನನ್ನ ಮಕ್ಕಳ  ಮೇಲೆ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ನಂಬಿಕೆ ನನಗೆ..."
ಎಂದು ಕಣ್ಣಲ್ಲೇ ಉತ್ತರಿಸಿ 

ಮತ್ತೆ 

"ಊಟ ಮಾಡುವಾಗ ಅಳಬೇಡ ಮೈಗೆ ಹತ್ತುವುದಿಲ್ಲ"
ಎಂದು ಸಣ್ಣಗೆ ನಕ್ಕಳು ಅಮ್ಮ .

 ಬಾಣಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುದಿವ ನೀರಿಗೆ ಭತ್ತ ಸುರಿದು

 ಅರಳಿಸಿ ತೆಗೆದ ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿಯ ಹಾಗೆ

                                                  ಗಟ್ಟಿ ನಮ್ಮಮ್ಮ

ಭಾವ

ಈ ದೇಶ ಬಲು ಚೆನ್ನ
ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲು ಸೊಬಗು ಬೆಡಗು ಬಿನ್ನಾಣ
ಕಲೆಗಾರ ಕಣ್ಣನ್ನೇ ಚೌಕಟ್ಟಾಗಿಸಿ
ಚಿತ್ರ ರಚಿಸಿದ ಹಾಗೆ

ವಸಂತದಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲು ಬಣ್ಣದ ಓಕುಳಿ
ಮರಗಳ ತುಂಬೆಲ್ಲ ಕೆಂಪು ನೀಲಿ ಗುಲಾಬಿ ಹೂಗಳು
ನೆಲವೆಲ್ಲ ಹಸಿರು  ಹೊಳೆವ ಝರಿ ನೀರು

ಶಿಶಿರದಲಿ ನೆಲ ಬಾನು
ಮತ್ತು  ಅದರ ನಡುವಿನದೆಲ್ಲ   ಬಿಳಿ ಬಿಳಿ
ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕಪ್ಪಗೆ ಹಿಮತೆರೆದ ರಸ್ತೆಗಳು
ಖಾಲಿ ಹಾಳೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ
ಸಣ್ಣ ಹುಡುಗಿ ಪೆನ್ಸಿಲ್ಲು ಹಿಡಿದು
ಒಂದೆರೆಡು  ಗೆರೆ ಎಳೆದಂತೆ

ಕಾಲವೂ  ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಮಗಟ್ಟಿದೆ..

wordsworth ನ ಹಳದಿ ಹೂಗಳು ಇನ್ನೂ  ತಲೆದೂಗುತ್ತಿವೆ
ಕೀಟ್ಸ್ ನ ನೈಟಿಂಗೇಲ್ ಈಗಲು  ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ
ಶೆಲ್ಲಿಯ ozymandias ನಿಂತಿದ್ದಾನೆ ಮ್ಯೂಸಿಯಮ್ಮಿನಲಿ

ನೂರಿನ್ನೂರು ವರ್ಷದ ಕಟ್ಟಡಗಳೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸ್ಮಾರಕಗಳು!
ಕಾಯುವರದನು ಟೊಂಕಕಟ್ಟಿ ಯೋಧರಂತೆ
ನೆಲ ಜಲ ಭಾಷೆ ಭಾವದ ಮೇಲೆ
ಇವರಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲದಭಿಮಾನ

ಭಾವದ ಮೇಲೆ ?!
ಹೌದು ..

ಬಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ "ಆ ಆ ...ಆಕ್ಷಿ "  ಎಂದರೆ...
ಘೋರಾಪರಾಧ  ಮಾಡಿದವನ ಹಾಗೆ ಮುಖ ಮಾಡಿ
"ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ" ಎನ್ನುವ ಶಾಲೆಯ ಹುಡುಗ

ತಾಸುಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಅಂಗಡಿಯೆಲ್ಲ ಜಾಲಾಡಿ
ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ತಲೆ ತಿಂದು
ಏನು ಕೊಳ್ಳದೆ ಹೊರನಡೆದರೂ
ಬೇಸರಿಸದೆ ನಗುತ "ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು ಮತ್ತೆ ಬನ್ನಿ"                        
ಎನ್ನುವ ಅಂಗಡಿಯಾತ

ಫುಟ್ ಪಾತಿನಲಿ ದಾದಿಯ ಕೈಹಿಡಿದು
ನಡೆಯುವ ಪುಟ್ಟ  ಮಗು....
 ತಟ್ಟನೆ ರಸ್ತೆಗೆ ಓಡಿದರೆ
ಮಾರುದೂರದಲಿ ಸಾಲಾಗಿ
             ಸದ್ದಿಲ್ಲದೇ ನಿಲ್ಲುವ ಕಾರುಗಳು

ತಕ್ಷಣ ಓಡಿ ಮಗುವನು ತಬ್ಬಿ
ಬದಿಗೆ ಸಾಗಿದ ದಾದಿ
ಮುದ್ದಾಡುವಳು ಮಗುವನ್ನು
" ನನ್ನ ಚಿನ್ನ ರನ್ನ ಮುದ್ದುಮಣಿಯೆ
      ನೀ ನನ್ನ ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಗೊಂಬೆ
            ಹೊಳೆವ ಕೆಂಪು ಸೇಬು
                     ನನ್ನ ಕಣ್ಣಿನ ಮಿಂಚು ......"  

ಆದರೆ......
ದಾದಿಯ ಮನದೊಳಗಿನ ಮನಕ್ಕೆ ಗೊತ್ತು
ಸತ್ಯ
.
.
"ಇದು ನನ್ನದಲ್ಲ"

ಮಡಿ

ಬೇಡ ......ದೇವರ ಮನೆಯ ದೀಪ ಹಚ್ಚಬೇಡ

ಬೆಳಗಿನಿಂದ ಹೊರಗೆಲ್ಲ ಸುತ್ತಾಡಿ

ಮೀಟಿಂಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರ್ ಯಾರದೋ ಕೈಕುಲುಕಿ

ಕ್ಯಾಂಟೀನಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರ್ ಯಾರೋ ಮಾಡಿದ ಅಡಿಗೆ ತಿಂದು

ಬಸ್ಸಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರ್ ಯಾರ ಜೊತೆಗೋ ಕುಳಿತು ಬಂದವಳು

ಮೈಲಿಗೆಯಾದಿತು.............

ಆಙೆ ಮೀರಿದವರುಂಟೇ ??

ದೇವರ ಮನೆಯ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಹೊರಗೆಲ್ಲ ದೀಪ ಹಚ್ಚಿದಳು

ಮಡಿಪೆಟ್ಟಿಗೆಯ ತುಂಬ ಕತ್ತಲು....

ಗಂಡಕೀ ನದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಗೆದ ಬಟ್ಟೆಗಳ ನೆನೆದು ನಕ್ಕಿತು ಸಾಲಿಗ್ರಾಮ

ಶೂನ್ಯ

ಜೀವನ ಒಂದು ಭೀಕರ ಸಮರ
ನಿಂತು ಎದೆಯೊಡ್ಡಿ ಎದುರಿಸಬೇಕು
ಧೀರ ಗಂಭೀರ ಹಿಮಾಲಯದಂತೆ .........
ಘನಿಸಿ ಹಿಮವಾದಳು ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗಿ

ಜೀವನ ಒಂದು ದುರ್ಗಮ ಪಯಣ
ಅಡೆತಡೆಗಳ ದಾಟಿ ಮುನ್ನುಗ್ಗಬೇಕು
ನಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಹರಿವ ನದಿಯಂತೆ ..........
ಕರಗಿ ನೀರಾದಳು ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗಿ

ಜೀವನ ಒಂದು ಮಹಾಯಾಗ
ಬೆಂಕಿಯಲಿ ಬೆಂದು ಹಗುರಾಗಬೇಕು
ಉರಿವ ಹೋಮದ ಧೂಮದಂತೆ ..........
ದಹಿಸಿ ಆವಿಯಾದಳು ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗಿ

ಗಾಳಿಯಲಿ ತೇಲಿ ದೂರ ಸಾಗಿದಳು
ಮೇಲೆ.......... ಬಹು ಮೇಲೇರಿದಳು
ಶೂನ್ಯದೋಳು ಲೀನವಾದಳು ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗಿ

ಪಾರಾಯಣ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ವ್ಯಾಸಪೀಠದ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೈಯ್ಯೂರಿ
ನಡುಮನೆಯೊಳಗಿ ಇಣುಕಿ ನೋಡಿದರು ರಾಯರು......

"ಅರೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋದಳು ನಮ್ಮ ಪುಟ್ಟಿ?
ಇಲ್ಲೆ ಕುಳಿತು ನಾನು ಹಾಕಿದ
ಕೂಡಿ ಕಳೆಯುವ ಲೆಕ್ಕ ಬಿಡಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದವಳು?!"

The Pair

"I am not going to wear this ear-ring anymore..
this Pair you have got me is as good as you" said the girl angry.
"Is it so bad...?
& ...whats wrong with me...?!" thought the poor boy sad.
"It keeps pulling my curls just like you" said the girl & winked!

ಕುಲಾವಿ

ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಮೂರರ ಸಮಯ
ಸುಡುವ ಬೇಸಿಗೆಯ ಬಿಸಿಲು
ಮುಂಬಾಗಿಲ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲ ಮೇಲೆ ನುಗ್ಗೆಯ ಮರದ ನೆರಳು
ನಿತ್ಯ ಅಲ್ಲೆ ಕುಳಿತು ಹೆಣೆಯುವಳು ಹುಡುಗಿ...
ಕನಸ ಕುಲಾವಿ........
ಹೊಳೆವ ಕ್ರೋಶದ ಕಡ್ಡಿಗಳ ಹಿಡಿದು

ಆಗಾಗ ನೆನೆಸಿಕೊಂಡಂತೆ ಬೀಸುವ ಗಾಳಿ
ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆಯ ಗಿಡದ ತುಂಬ ಹೂವು
........ತಂಪು...ಕಂಪು...ಆಹ್ಲಾದ...
ಕುಲಾವಿ ಹೆಣೆದಾದ ಮೇಲೆ
ತುದಿಗೆಲ್ಲ ಕುಚ್ಚು ಕಟ್ಟಿ.......
ಚೆಂದ ಕಾಣಿಸಬೇಕೆಂದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವಳು ಹುಡುಗಿ

ನುಗ್ಗೆಯ ಮರದ ನೆರಳು ದೂರ ಸರಿದಂತೆಲ್ಲಾ
ಉಣ್ಣೆಯ ಉಂಡೆ ಸಣ್ಣದಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು
ಕಡೆಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಮುಗಿದೇ ಹೋಯ್ತು
ಕುಲಾವಿ ಪೂರ್ತಿಯಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಇನ್ನೂ....
ಸುರಿವ ಸಂಜೆಯ ಮಳೆಯಲಿ
ಊರೆಲ್ಲ ಅಲೆದಳು.....
ಸಿಗಲಿಲ್ಲ ಬೇಕಾದ ಬಣ್ಣದ ಉಣ್ಣೆ

.

.
.
.

ಮುಂಬಾಗಿಲ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲ ಮೇಲೀಗ ನೆರಳಿಲ್ಲ
ಮೊದಲೆ ತಿರುಗುವ ಭೂಮಿ,
ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ವಾಲಿಕೊಂಡಿದೆಯಂತಲ್ಲಾ.......
ಆಷಾಡದ ಗಾಳಿಗೆ ಉರುಳಿ ಬಿತ್ತು ನುಗ್ಗೆಯ ಮರ..
ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆಯ ಗಿಡವೀಗ ಬನವಾಗಿದೆ,
ಹೂವು? ಒಂದೂ ಇಲ್ಲ
ಕಂಪಿಲ್ಲ...ತಂಪಿಲ್ಲ...

ಅಂಗಡಿಗಲೆದು ಸಾಕಾಗಿ
ಕುಲಾವಿಯ ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿದಳು ಹುಡುಗಿ
ಎರಡು ತುಂಡಾಗಿ...
ಷೋಕೇಸಿನ ಬಣ್ಣದ ಬೊಂಬೆಯ ಧೂಳೊರೆಸಲೊಂದು..
ಬಂದು, ಹೋಗುವ ಅತಿಥಿ-ಅಭ್ಯಾಗತರಿಗೆ ಕಾಲೊರೆಸಲೊಂದು..

ಹೊಳೆವ ಕ್ರೋಶದ ಕಡ್ಡಿ ಅಡುಗೆ ಮಾಡುವ ಕೈಗೆ
ಒಲೆಯ ತೂತು, ಸಂದುಗೊಂದುಗಳು,
ಎಣ್ಣೆಯ ಮಿಳ್ಳೆ, ಸೀದ ಪಾತ್ರೆಯ ಶುಚಿಗೊಳಿಸಲು...
ಮುಸುರೆಯ ಕಟ್ಟೆ ಪರಿಶುದ್ಧ ?!

ಕಡ್ಡಿಗಳೀಗ ಹೊಳೆಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ...
ಕಪ್ಪು ಮಸಿ, ಕೊಳೆ....ಜಿಡ್ಡು...ಜಿಗುಟು

ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಮೂರರ ಸಮಯವೀಗ ಖಾಲಿ ಖಾಲಿ
ಕುಳಿತು ತೂಕಡಿಸುವಳು ಹುಡುಗಿ....
ತನ್ನ ಪಾಡಿಗೆ ತಾನು ಬಡಬಡಿಸುವುದು ಟೀ.ವಿ...
ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸನ್ನೆಯ ಹಿಡಿದು ವಿಮಾನ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸುವ ನೃತ್ಯಗಾರ್ತಿ
ಅರ್ಧ ನೋಡಿದ ಜಾಹೀರಾತು
ಅರ್ಥವಾಗದೆ ನಕ್ಕಳು ಹುಡುಗಿ ........ ದಡ್ಡಿ
ನಗಲಿಲ್ಲ ಕ್ರೋಶದ ಕಡ್ಡಿ.

Consumerism

"Oh....! what an enchanting aroma of these beautiful flowers...!!
Are they up for sale?" asked the girl
"Yes my dear customer..
Pay the breeze and take your share"
said the wild giant tree!

Outlook

"I want a Traditional Girl with a Modern Outlook..."
used to dream that boy all the time
Did he get one?
Oh! Yes....Yes....
His wife cooks ragi balls in the Microwave Oven!

Wavy Mind

"I am going to the beach &
I will never come back to you"
said the effervescent wave to the ocean!
The ocean gave a deep blue smile
and
.......................stayed quiet.

IM-PRESSED

The moment you come closing in on me
I get rejuvenated by the warmth in your breath
The moment you touch me
All my crevices are flattened by the heaviness in your mass
Do you think i am so alluring and irresistable?
.................asked the innocent pink dress
to the new Steam Iron Box !

ಮೇಲು-ಸೇತುವೆ

ಎಂಥ ಸುಂದರ ಮುಂಜಾನೆಯ ಪಯಣ
ಅಡೆತಡೆಗಳಿಲ್ಲದ ಈ ಮೇಲು ಸೇತುವೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ

ಸುಖನಿದ್ರೆಯ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಮೆಲ್ಲಗೆ ಮೇಲೆದ್ದು
ಕಣ್ಣುಜ್ಜಿ ಕೆಂಪಗೆ ನಗುವ ಸೂರ್ಯ
ಇರುಳೆಲ್ಲ ಮಳೆಮರದ ಎಲೆಗಳಲಿ ಅಡಗಿದ್ದು
ತೆಳುಗುಲಾಬಿ ಬಣ್ಣದ ಹೂಗಳ ಮನಗೆದ್ದು
ಎಳೆ ಎಳೆಯಾಗಿ ಹಾರಿಸಿ ಕದ್ದೊಯ್ಯುವ ತಣ್ಣನೆ ಗಾಳಿ

ಎಂಥ ಸುಂದರ ದೃಶ್ಯ
ಹಿತದ ಕುಂಚವ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತತೆಯ ಬಣ್ಣದೊಳದ್ದಿ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ ಚಿತ್ರ

ಈ ಮೇಲು ಸೇತುವೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ
ಗದರಿಸಿ ತಡೆವ ಕೆಂಪು ಸಿಗ್ನಲುಗಳಿಲ್ಲ
ಅಳುವ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಹೊತ್ತು ಬೇಡುವ ಕೈಗಳೂ ಇಲ್ಲ

ನಡೆವವರಿಗಾಗಿ ನಿಲ್ಲೆನುವ ಝೀಬ್ರಾ ಪಟ್ಟೆಗಳಿಲ್ಲ
ಪೇಪರ್ರು, ಹತ್ತಿಯ ಕಡ್ಡಿ ಮಾರುವ ಸಣಕಲು ಹುಡುಗರೂ ಇಲ್ಲ

ಒಡೆದ ಪೈಪುಗಳ ಕಚಪಿಚ ಕೆಸರಿಲ್ಲ
ಕೊಳೆತು ನಾರುವ ಮಾರುಕಟ್ಟೆಯ ಸೈರಿಸಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ

ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಸರಾಗವಾಗಿ ಮುಂದೆ ಸಾಗಿದರಾಯ್ತು
ಗಮ್ಯ ತಲುಪುವ ತನಕ ರಮ್ಯ ಪಯಣ

ಆದರೂ ಒಮ್ಮೊಮ್ಮೆ.......
ಸಹ ಪಯಣಿಗರ ಹಿಂದಿಕ್ಕೆ
ಮುಂದೆ ಸಾಗುವ ಭರದಿ
ಮೇಲುಸೇತುವೆಯ ಎಡದ ತುದಿಯನು ತಲುಪಿ
ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಕಹಿಸತ್ಯ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಬಡಿದರೆ...??

ತಕ್ಷಣ ಕತ್ತು ತಿರುಗಿಸಿ
ಊರ್ಧ್ವ ಮುಖಿಯಾಗು
ಎಣಿಸು ಬಿಳಿಯ ಮೋಡದೊಳಗಿನ
ಮಳೆಯ ಹನಿಗಳನು

ರಮ್ಯ ಪಯಣಕೆ ಬೇಕು ದಿವ್ಯ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ
’ಇದ್ದದ್ದೆ ಇವರ ಪಾಡು...’
ಎಂಬ ಜಾಣಕುರುಡು

ಮುಸುಕಿನ ಜೋಳ

ಝಗಮಗಿಸುವ ದೀಪಗಳ ಮರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಮಂಕಾದ ಬಿದಿಗೆಯ ಚಂದ್ರ

ಹೊಗೆ, ಧೂಳುಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿದ
ಸಪ್ಪೆ ಸಂಜೆಯ ಗಾಳಿ

ಗೌಜು ಗದ್ದಲದ ಚೌಕದ ಸುತ್ತ
ಲಘುಬಗೆಯ ಜನರಿಗಾಗಿ ಬಗೆಬಗೆಯ ತಿನಿಸುಗಳು
ಭೇಲು, ಗೋಬಿ - ಚಾಟು, ಚೈನೀಸುಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ
ಒಂದು ಹಳೆಯ ಬಡಕಲು ಗಾಡಿ......

ಸಣ್ಣ ಕುಲುಮೆಯ ತಿರುವಿ ಗಾಳಿಯನೂದಿ
ಇದ್ದಿಲ ಕೆಂಡ ಮಾಡುವ ಮುದುಕ
ಹಗುರಾಗಿ ಹಾರಿ, ಹಳದಿ ಬೆಳಕಿನಲೆಯಲಿ ತೇಲುವ
ಕಪ್ಪು ಹುಡಿ, ಕೆಂಪು ಕಿಡಿ.

"ಖಾರ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿರಲಿ...." ತುಟಿ ಸವರಿ-ಕೊಳ್ಳುವವನಾಜ್ಞೆ
ಯಾರೋ ನರಳುವ ಸದ್ದು.....

"ಅಯ್ಯೋ..ಅಮ್ಮಾ...ತಾಳಲಾರೆನು..." ಎಂದು

ಎಳೆಯ ಜೋಳದ ಕೂಗು......!

"ಉರಿವ ಗಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಉಪ್ಪು...ಗಾದೆಯ ಮಾತು
ಸುಟ್ಟ ಗಾಯದ ಮೇಲೆ ಅಚ್ಚ ಖಾರದ ಪುಡಿ.... ಬದುಕಿಹೆನು ಸತ್ತು"

ಸುಟ್ಟೋ, ಬೆಂದೋ.. ಮುಗಿಯಲೇ ಬೇಕಲ್ಲ ನಿನ್ನ ಕಥೆ!

"ಹಾಗೇನಿಲ್ಲ...............
ಹಾಗೆ ಆಗಬೇಕೆಂದಿಲ್ಲ............
ನನ್ನ ನೆರೆಯವನೊಬ್ಬ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಉಳಿದ
ದಪ್ಪ, ದುಂಡನೆ ಕಾಳುಗಳವ..ಮತ್ತೆ ಬಿತ್ತುವರವನ...
ಕಾಳು ಮಣಿಮುತ್ತಾಗಿ, ನೂರು, ಸಾವಿರವಾಗಿ....
ತೆನೆದೂಗಿ ಬಾಳುವನು!’

ಚಿಟ್ಟೆಂದು ಪುಟಿಯಿತು ಒಂದೆರಡು ಕಾಳು ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯ ಖುಷಿಯಲೆ....
ಉರಿವ ಕೆಂಡದ ಮೇಲೂ ಮೆರೆವ ಕನಸು!!

"ಅದೃಷ್ಟವಿರಬೇಕಲ್ಲಾ...."

ಮರುಗದಿರು,
ನಿನ್ನ ತಪ್ಪೇನಿಲ್ಲ...
ಬಿದ್ದಿರಬಹುದು ಅದಕೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಗೊಬ್ಬರ,

ಹೀರಿರಬಹುದು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಗಾಳಿ, ನೀರು, ಸೂರ್ಯರಶ್ಮಿ..

ಅದೃಷ್ಟ ಎಲ್ಲರದಲ್ಲ.....
ಅಥವ
ಅದೃಷ್ಟ ನಿನ್ನದೆಯೋ?!

ಮರಳಿ ಬಾಯ್ತೆರೆಯುವ ಮುನ್ನ..
ಅದರ ಸಿಪ್ಪೆಯಲೆ ಜೋಳವ ಬಿಗಿದು ಸುತ್ತಿ
ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಬಿಟ್ಟನು ಬಿಳಿಯ ಗಡ್ಡದ ಮುದುಕ
.
.
ಮತ್ತೆ ಕುಲುಮೆಯ ತಿರುವಿ, ಗಾಳಿಯನೂದಿ
ಇದ್ದಿಲ ಕೆಂಡ ಮಾಡುವ ಕೆಲಸ ಅವ್ಯಾಹತ......

ಇದ್ದಿಲ ಕೊನೆಯೊ ? ಕೆಂಡದ ಮರುಹುಟ್ಟೋ ?

ಎರಡು ಒಂದೆಯೊ? ಒಂದರೊಳಗೆರಡೋ?

ಒಳ-ಹೊರಗು ತಿಳಿಯದ,

ಸೂತ್ರ- ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತಗಳಿಗೆ ನಿಲುಕದ

ಮಾಬಿಯಸ್ ಬಳೆಯೋ?!!

To A Bosom Friend

The loud shrill of the alarm clock
Wakes me up rudely,
I sit up in my bed………….
……..I just wish & pray in silence……..that……
The soothing morning breeze caress your face,
The tender rays of sun touch you gently
& you wake up with a smile for an enchanting day

I hurry through my chores,
Run to the bus stop & catch my bus
I sit in my seat………….
……… I just wish & pray in silence……….that…….
The time moves a bit slowly
To let you have your morning break-fast leisurely,
Reach your office in-time
& you start off with great enthusiasm

I am tensed & tired hustling through my work
A kind colleague gets me a cup of coffee
I take a sip…’.oh! It’s sugarless’……….
……..… I just wish & pray in silence……..that……
Somebody gets you a hot cup of a perfect special tea
That relieves you of your stress,
Makes you lively & fresh
& you get back to work with a bouncing force

I stand in front of my boss…
Blasting out at me for the mistake I made
I come out of his chamber…….
……….I just wish & pray in silence……..that…..
Your higher-up is a kind, cool man
Wise enough to guide you through your flaws
You complete all your tasks well ahead of deadline
& you are showered with compliments for the job well-done

I get drenched in rain
That lashes ruthlessly as I reach home …..
………..I just wish & pray in silence…..that…..
The winds don’t blow in your face & dark clouds don’t melt
As long as you ride your bike along the highway
& you reach home safe without getting wet


I light the lamps in the pooja room at dusk
The fragrance of incense sticks fills the air……..
…….. I just wish & pray in silence……that…..
Someone kind & beautiful
Lights the lamps at your home
& you lose yourself in the aroma of burning camphor

I again hurry through my chores
Finish of my dinner
I go to my bed exhausted & sleepy……
………. I just close my eyes to sleep
Alas………I can’t!!
I sit up & smile, fold my hands, close my eyes
……….. I just pray & pray & pray in silence……that…….
You get a nice, sound sleep
& all the dreams you get are sweet & beautiful



Now I shout loudly……… ‘GOOD NIGHT’
………..I just want my voice to cross the walls of my home,
Cross the hills & rivers,
Cross the curtains of your window
& reach your ears

My little sister is annoyed,
She peeps out of her blanket & says
………..‘Why are you shouting? Who do you think is deaf?’

Hm…! Can you be deaf?
Can someone who loves to hear ………… the splatter of rains,
……. the rustling of leaves,
……….. the babble of a kid,
……… & enjoys even the sound of a girl clearing her throat……… be deaf??!!

Impossible………
May be, I was deaf and……….. A bit dumb as well

Again I close my eyes
& say in a whisper ………. ‘goodnight my friend’
Now……….
………..hope you heard it………..



[This poem was written almost an year back for a 'Poetry Contest' in a website called 'p4poetry'. The topic given was 'Separation'. & Oh!..........the result....? ofcourse i didnt win...haha. Now, i feel the poem looks very low on 'Poetic qualitites' & is quite repetitive, but am presenting the poem as it was.......without n e editing ]

ಹೊಸದೇನು ?

"ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಷದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು"
"ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು, ನಿಮಗೂ ಸಹ"
ಕೇಳಿ, ಕೇಳಿ ಬೇಸತ್ತ ಅದೇ ಹಳೆಯ ಸಾಲುಗಳು, ಅದೇ ಕೈ ಕುಲುಕು
ಹೊಸದೇನು ಬಂತು?
ಎಲ್ಲ ಹಳೆಯದೆ.
ಹೊಸದೇನಿದೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ?
ಹೊಸದೇನು??

ಅದೇ ಆಫೀಸು, ಅದೇ ಕೆಲಸ, ಅದೇ ಜನ
ದಿನ ನೋಡುವ ಅದೇ ಮುಖ, ಅದೆ ಬಿಳಿಯ ಮೀಸೆ
ಆದರೂ ಏನೋ ಹೊಸದು?!
ಕೈಯ್ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಹಿ ಪೇಡದ ಡಬ್ಬ

"ಅರೆ! ಇವರು ಮುಂದಿನ ತಿಂಗಳಲ್ಲವೆ ರಿಟೈರಾಗುವುದು?"
"ನನ್ನ ಮಗಳಿಗೆ ಮಗ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ"
ಬಿಳಿ ಮೀಸೆಯ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ, ಸಂತಸದ ನಗು

ಹೊಸದು ವೃದ್ಧಾಪ್ಯವೆ?!

ಅದೇ ಕ್ಯಾಂಟೀನು, ಅದೇ ತಿಂಡಿ,ಕಾಫಿ, ಅದೇ ಜನ
ಎದುರು ಟೇಬಲ್ಲಿನಲಿ ಕೂರುವ ಅದೆ ಕಪ್ಪು ಹುಡುಗಿ,
ಅದೆ ಕಂದು ಯೂನಿಫಾರ್ಮು

ಆದರೂ ಏನೋ ಹೊಸದು?!
ಮೆಹೆಂದಿ ಹಚ್ಚಿದ ಕೈಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿನುಗುವ ಉಂಗುರ
ಕಡುಗಪ್ಪು ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಳೆವ ಮಿಂಚು

ಹೊಸದು ಯೌವ್ವನವೆ?!

ಅದೆ ಕ್ಯಾಬು, ಅದೇ ಬೀದಿಯ ದೀಪ, ಅದೇ ಮನೆ, ಅದೇ ಬಾಲ್ಕನಿ
ಫುಟ್ಬಾಲು ಹಿಡಿದ ನೆರೆಮನೆಯ ಅದೆ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗ

ಆದರೂ ಏನೋ ಹೊಸದು?!
ಕಿವಿಯಿಂದ ಕಿವಿವರೆಗೆ ಬಾಯಗಲಿಸಿದ ನಗು
ಮುಖ ಸಂತೋಷದ ಬುಗ್ಗೆ

ಹೊಸದು ಬಾಲ್ಯವೆ?!

ಕೇಳಿಯೇ ಬಿಟ್ಟೆ....
"ಏನಿಷ್ಟು ಖುಶಿ? ಏನು ಹೊಸದು?

ಕೈ ಚಪ್ಪಾಳೆ ತಟ್ಟುತ್ತ, ಕುಣಿಕುಣಿದು
ತಡೆತಡೆದು ಹೇಳಿದ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗ
"ನಾಳೆ........ನಾಳೇ.........ನಾಳೆಯಿಂದ ಬೇಸಿಗೆ ರಜೆ "

ಧಡಧಡನೆ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲ ಧುಮುಕಿ ಹಾರಿ
ಆಡಲು ಓಡಿದ ಬೀದಿಗೆ

ಸಿಕ್ಕಿತ್ತು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ

ಹೊಸದು................. " ನಾಳೆ !"

ಹೊಸದು ನಾಳೆಯ ಕನಸು,
ಹೊಸದು ಭರವಸೆಯ ಬೆಳಕು,
ಹೊಸದು ದಿನದಿನವು ಬದಲಾಗಿ ಬೆರಗುಗೊಳಿಸುವ ಬದುಕು,
ಹೊಸದು ಜೀವನ ಪ್ರೀತಿ.

ಹೊಸದೆಂದರೆ.......

ಉದುರಿ, ನಲುಗಿದ ಹಳದಿ ಹೂ ಹಾಸಿನ ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಕಡೆಯ ತಿರುವಿನಲಿ
ಅರಳಿ, ನಳನಳಿಸಿ ನಗುವ ಕೆಂಪು ಗುಲ್ ಮೊಹರ್ ಹೂವು !

THE HILL

“Why do you climb the hill?
For many people are climbing?”

Many more are not climbing!

“Why do you climb the hill?
To squeeze pleasure out of pain?”

Can do that in hundred other ways!

“Why do you climb the hill then?”

“Because It Is There!”

Trek along………
Sweating profusely,
Sweltering sun beating on your head
Soil & Rock beneath burning like coal

March ahead……
Wielding the stick,
Wild thorns scratching the skin,
Wilder monkeys staring & scaring

Trek ahead………….
Bent down by the weight of your baggage…

‘Oh! You are at the peak now!”

‘Yes, I am……..!
The high wind blowing in my hair,
The trees, farmlands & houses, tiny,
…………….just beneath my feet!

“I conquered the hill!”

Oh! Is it so?

Did you conquer the hill?

Think over………., think over………

The hill….is still there!
Still & Unconquered!

The hill is Unconquered….
As long as there are men & women,
Men & women with desires,

Desires………..
……to reach the peak of hills,
…… to cross the endless horizons,
…… to Conquer the infinite universe

The hill remains…. ‘Unconquered’

&

“You…….. My dear…”
Huh! Ha…ha……
Laughed my mind,
……….mocking at me

“You Are Conquered, By your Ego!”

The Sunbeam

The chill breeze of December morning
Seeped through her thick blanket
The little girl woke up
Brushing her dreamy eyes

“Oh…look at this!!" She jumped out of her bed
Eyes wide with excitement!

She ran to the little boy, Shook him vigorously…
“Hey!! Wake up, wake up”
She pulled his blanket, snatched his pillow
“Look what’s in the room!!”

The boy got up grumbling…
Looked around and there it was…..!!!
His narrow eyes twinkled with glee
“Oh!! That’s a beauty “

A glittering conduit of gold!
With shimmering dust floating in it!
A ladder of luminance!
Leading to the land of ecstasy!

Descending from a tiny gap in the roof tile
Piercing the darkness of the room
In all its glory………The Sunbeam!!

‘Let’s get there…
……..to the abode of bliss’ said the little boy
He swiftly started gliding up
Grasping the radiant golden beam

The girl gazed up,
Her face was a riot of colors…

Colors of fears and fascination…
of doubts and delight…

The little boy was glowing like an angel now!
His hollow mind filled with the golden dust!
His face radiating bright!

The girl followed him
Grasping the smooth yellow beam …with two small hands
Gripping it tight…with her little fat toes & tiny fingers

With joy and wonder
They moved higher and higher

Just a few more notches …
They will be at the doors…
At the doors of that dream land

The boy looked down
“Oh! Sweet little girl!
You gleam like an angel!

The girl smiled, said ‘u too look the… …’
And suddenly
A thud …..!
A loud bang….!
The two were on the ground
The sunbeam has vanished!

‘Must be a thick cloud ...
That obstructed the path’
A cloud…?! On this winter morning?!
Nature’s folly?! …… Not a chance….
‘Oh! Must be the smoke
Billowing from the kitchen chimney …’
………..the boy’s thoughts were cut abrupt.....
By the cry of the little girl
With bruised knees & elbows

‘I will never speak to you…’
The little girl sweared with anger

‘As you wish…, as you wish…’ said the little boy calm
‘But let’s put the blanket straight
…before your mother drops in’... & he smiled, she... didn't

The girl wiped her eyes
With the arm of her laced frock
she clutched her lips tight to stop wailing
took the two ends of the blanket

The boy took the other ends…but …the wrong way
The blanket was twisted…
To flip it... he didn’t change his hands…

He just held it tight & did a Somersault …!
…..to the girls’ amusement
‘Phew..!! The blanket was straight!

‘Funny you..!’ laughed the little girl
Her clear ringing laughter ….
Engulfed the chillness in the room


Now......There was some sound
sound of approaching steps….
Behind the closed doors….
“knock…
…..knock……knock”

The rubber Washer... of thickness 10mm

“Just 72 pins, remove & reinsert” said the man. The girl looked at him aghast with a question mark on her face. He searched his tool kit & thrusted a shining steel pin remover into the girls’ hand & got down from the coach no. DT-21.

The apprentice girl was working on that connector in the relay panel since 7’ o clock in the morning. Her fingers were aching for she marked, stripped & crimped the 72 cables of the connector with her tools. She had finished inserting the pins, closed the lock nut & was about to connect it to the panel when her Korean Team Leader climbed up the ladder & inspected her work. She had done a good job …but…..she forgot to insert a rubber washer inside the lock nut. A rubber washer all of 10mm thickness, used as a safety measure.

Two of her senior colleagues who were working on the other side of the coach came to her & one said...”why do you worry so much? Just loosen the lock nut, cut the washer, insert & close it off! Now have some coffee & relax”. The other looked a little worried but he smiled & gave her the cup of coffee he was about to have & they went down to have their coffee. “Oh!! Yes!” That was the simplest solution to her problem. What’s the big deal if the 10mm washer is cut & rejoined with some adhesive? She admired the Indian innovativeness...

The girl sat on the wooden work bench with the cup in her hand. The furnishing team members have finished their work & they were having coffee, sitting on the glittering stainless steel side seats of the coach they have fixed themselves. As she gazed at them, sipping her coffee, a strange image appeared in front of her eyes…….
.
.
.

The automatic door of the train opened. A crowd of people rushed into the train. The seats were already full. There were men & women on their way to work, few busy with their cell phones, few tapping away on their laptops, an old lady with a huge basket in her hand, a group of small boys armed with their cricket gears, another bunch of young girls & boys chatting loudly, laughing & sipping cool drink…............& .....................&......................suddenly there was a loud bang & a flash over…a fire broke out in the train……..the old woman’s basket has caught fire……..the kids bats were burning, the laptops & cell phones flashed & burst. There were shouts, & cries for help ……&…… helpless wails, the automatic doors couldn’t be opened & ……….the cause of the fire…..oh! the relay panel was burning!!!….must be short circuit due to some cable damage... may be due to the cable brushing with a little sharpness at the edge of the lock nut….may be the rubber washer was not strong enough………..

“Ooh!! NO!!!” cried the girl, her coffee cup fell down. The furnishing team turned & looked at her. “What happened dear girl?” asked a senior man. She shook herself out of the nightmare & said “Sorry Sirs, I am all right”. He went back to his work smiling, murmuring something to himself.

The time was 5 mins past 9’o clock. She loosened the lock nut. Took the pin remover & started removing the pins she has painstakingly inserted into the connector with a firm hand. She removed & inspected each crimped pin lest it doesn’t gets damaged while pulling it out. She pulled out all of them. Slided the 10mm thick rubber washer into the lock nut carefully. Drew the cable bunch out of it. Started re-inserting the pins into connector checking the pin assignment drawing with cocentration.
.
.
She now inserted the 72nd pin into the connector & tightened the lock nut. She gave out a sigh of relief . She heard a familiar voice calling out her name…it was her Korean Team Leader. He climbed the ladder, got into the coach, and looked at the connector. The girl expected him to do a thorough check of her work. but he didn’t bother to even touch the connector. “Time for lunch- break my good girl” he said to the girl smiling & then he called out to her senior colleagues “Mr. King cobra & Mr. Lord of Victory… time for lunch”.

“Yes sir” said the girl happily & got down the ladder jumping along with her team. Her face was lit up with a sense of relief or was it the light of self satisifaction?!

The girl had a hearty laugh in the canteen, telling her friends about the English translations of the Indian names done by her Korean Team Leader.

Back in the coach someone was smiling. It was a smile of joy & contentment.
The relay panel was smiling! Happy at the thoughtfulness, sincerity & responsible nature of it’s would be Engineer-in-charge.

A Pledge

Our steps never matched
Didn’t we walk miles together?

Our tastes never matched
Didn’t we had breakfast & lunch together?

We counted the unlit roof lights
In the dingy hangars taking turns

Bartered sorrows for smiles
that lit up the dull afternoons together

we played with a single racket taking turns
tired......we left the club together

We loosened our purse strings taking turns
& were lost in myriad dreams together

We even fell sick taking turns!
Alas… just fell out of luck together

I know I let u down in the dark
Driven by devilish instincts

I know am not brave enough to
Hold u r hand & lead the way

But be assured that the next time
You are down in the murk
I shall scare my instincts out of its wits
to stand besides you until you get up
& we shall walk together

The circle around me may increase its dia
With changing times & fleeting life
But I will always try & will stand on the edge
To be a little closer to you my friend

I know our steps will never match
But I never wish to part ways with you

I know for sure
Our steps will never match
But it doesn’t matters
As long as our pulses do

The Little Prince

“Let’s start the voyage”
Said the little boy
harnessing a gigantic blue whale
“ Move on beast ,
Will discover new lands today “

The whale galloped high in the air
Dived deep into the dark blue sea
Carrying its little master!

The boy cruised along with great zeal
His way lit up ….
by corals…. bright & dazzling
A gold fish here…A green turtle there…
Standing at bay……Giving him the way…
Saluting their little master!

“hey! Stop there! Said the little boy
“ I see some one is waiting..
Waiting for me in there….
There in …..a little westward……MOVE”…commanded he

The whale moved west….into a triangular coast
& phew! There it was ….!
A giant elephant with long white tusks
waiting for him!!
It lifted him softly with its trunk,
seated him on his back
& took him along to an old lady

“R u waiting for me…
My grand old lady?

“yes, dear little boy

“boy??!!
How dare u call me that?
I am the king !
King of kings!!
The lord of my dreamland!!!
Said the little boy

“ pardon me my lord, & please accept these..

…little hot cakes smeared with ghee
……………….I made them for thee “

“Oh! by all means’

Said the little boy & munched on them...
licking his fingers, he said…..

“hm… crisp & yummy….
He is a lucky chap…the grand old man
who lives with you
Eating your hot cakes, day in … day out…”

A bright, happy smile
Adorned the lady’s face
She bowed and said
“at your service my lord
Anyday……Anytime….I wait for thee”

“Time to get back…
End of excursion for today….
My subjects…
are waiting for me”
Said the little boy..!
Rode the elephant quick
Jumped on to the blue whale
That galloped in the air
Dived deep into the blue sea

He rode along ……..
Rode along swiftly………
Across the bright coral reefs
Swish…swash…...swooooooooooosh

“Wake up dear boy...
Time to have some warm milk”
Said the pretty young lady

The little boy woke up
Brushing his dreamy eyes
& babbled
“ mamma …..
me wenth on ekch - kulchun”!!!

“eckch…..what!!??
Oh!… I got it”
I got it… my little prince
U want some extra chocolates?
I will get it for you!!!

Freedom

Stuck……….. stuck……… stuck

It hithered and tithered
Hopped and slided
Up, down, Left and right
But there was no way out.....

The butterfly was stuck
Stuck in the jam-packed city bus
Stuck on the glass panel above the window.

It flapped its wings frantically
Moved its antennae desperately
But it went unnoticed…..
…….in the bustling crowd

It seemed there was no hope
Until…….
Her bony hand reached out …….
…..stretched a piece of paper towards it

The butterfly slithered on to it willingly
She opened the window,
moved the paper out

The butterfly spread its wings
Stretched it beautifully
broad, wide and colourful
It fluttered away happily
into the dense Bougainville bushes
that lined the footpath of the busy road

Her face lit up with joy…….
joy of relief
joy of fulfillment
joy of satisfaction
The joy of freedom

&

then

A thought struck her

Who will help her……!?

To break the barriers blocking her

Break the mould encasing her

Cut the strings entangling her

& let her into the terrain of freedom………
……..into the dense void of Eternal bliss

Eyes

It was a lazy Sunday morning
The two were sitting in the balcony
With steaming hot coffee mugs in their hands

Her eyes seemed to search something…………..
………for the pair of parakeets on the champak tree
That stood elegantly beyond the angle of the balcony

But He was gazing at her eyes
................... Eyes wide and beautiful
He just mused
“ Ahh…! What is she holding in her eyes?!

Is it the vast, blue sky….?
The sun seems to rise in them
Beaming the golden yellow rays
That lights up my soul
Eyes so shimmering!

Or
May be the deep dark ocean
The waves, massive emerge from them
Rushing with colossal zest
That engulfs my soul
Eyes so mesmerizing!

Or
Is it a large jewellery box kept open?
That holds dazzling diamonds & precious pearls
Shining so bright
That is piercing my soul
Eyes so sparkling!

Now he said passionately
“What is there ………in your eyes my girl….?”

“Oh!!...she exclaimed…
Suddenly remembering something………
“I just forgot…….
Am so sorry…
I just forgot to tell you…….
That…..I bought a new pair of contact lenses!!! “

A Piece of ....errr..........Peace of .......

A piece of cloth
Was lying on the road

A pack of cute little puppies
A bit curious
& a bit playful
Chanced upon it

They knew it was not food….
Smelling food is in their genes !

Nor were they hungry
Have sucked enough milk from their mother !

They just played around it
Flipped it,
Scratched it,
Sheared it,
Ripped it into pieces
With their young sharp teeth & sharp nails
They squealed merrily
As the cloth was reduced to a rag

But what of the piece of cloth?

…… pity it……..?!

Whose fault was it anyway?
Of the puppies…..?
that were playing around
Of the clip…….?
that couldn’t hold the cloth on to the clothesline
Of the autumn winds….?
that blew the cloth off

certainly.....none

but what of the piece of cloth?

hm………. pity it


Dreams, desires and duties
Wishes, wants and wisdom
Rights & responsibilities

………have teeth sharper than canines


What of the piece of mind?

& no one to pity it !

instead
………..blame it
………………..tame it

& if nothing works…..

Slice it,
Silence it.

Happy Father's Day

15th June 2008

It is that time of the year again. The whole world is celebrating father’s day. Every magazine, every paper carries articles on ‘dear dads’. Photos showing the new age fathers (the metro sexual men as they call themselves) hugging their kids are strewn on the paper.

Being from a conservative family where fathers are required to be strict disciplinarians, my father never showed off his love for his daughters. But his personality has embraced my soul. I can feel the warmth of it through various incidents in my life.

An adamant teen girl that I was, I demanded a brand new saree for college ethnic day celebrations. Mother’s sarees won’t do as they were all old fashioned. My father brought me a new one-a dark green silk saree with peacock embroidery. I never knew how difficult it was for my father to arrange money for it, being the only earning member in the family feeding six mouths & giving the best possible education to four dear daughters.

When I got a prize in a school essay contest, my father congratulated me & said “You have prepared for it, all by yourself! That shows your hard work. I am no good in such things to help you out”. But it was not necessary for my father to sit besides me helping with my essays. He has given us everything in the form of books. From Ruskin Bond to Arundathi Roy, Wren & Martin to Prof. L.S. Sheshariri Rao, DVG to Abdul Kalam, I have always got every book I have asked for & also what I haven’t asked.

Speaking of books I am reminded of a few of my classmates. All of them from affluent families. They would wear swanky clothes & come in snazzy bikes to college. But they never bought text books. They would stand in queue to borrow books from library or get important topics xeroxed ie..photocopied. But I bought all my text books. Brand new ones & father asked me never to buy an old edition or second hand books & never ever borrow books.....

OH.!! I can go on & on & on speaking of so many incidents but lest me stop here...will continue someother time.

The Key

The doors were locked
Since a long time
The doors ………….of her mind


No one saw what lay beyond…….
……behind the closed doors
In the realm of darkness
In the vast lands of her mind…

The doors were locked
& the key was lost
……..lost in the abyss of seclusion

Silver fishes were swimming merrily in the pages of her mind
Spiders weaved webs of thoughts in the four rooms of her heart
Dust gathered on the wall was thick enough…
……..thick enough to block anything,
Anything soft & gentle from entering in
…….the warm rays of sunlight
…….the pearly drops of dew
……& the whips of fresh air

Her friends tried breaking in
To set her mind free,
to let her enjoy the little joys of life
…….they couldn’t
Her foes tried breaking in too
To set her mind free,
To let her get distracted from her path
…….they couldn’t


It was a breezy Friday morning of August
She was lost amidst her files & drawings

The wind tried blowing her hairs a bit
She tightened her hair pin
That locked her jet black locks tight
Lest it doesn’t disturbs her work


He was looking at her…….
………leaning against the window

She guessed what he might say

“You look beautiful……….. if you let your locks free”

A dialogue she was tired of

She has heard that a hundred times before

From hundreds of people around her
She has heard that………

………From the boys playing marbles
When she used to jump across the hopscotch
………From the boys in the back benches in school
When she was busy jotting down notes
……….From across the test tubes in the college lab
When she was busy preparing solutions

She knew the tricks of trade

& so……she delved deeper into her files

But he didn’t say that…….. !

“you may get headache
If you tie your wet hairs………
………used to tell my mother
To my little sister……..
My pretty little sister…….
……… used to hide behind me
as my mother dried her wet hairs with a soft towel……..”

So saying ……..he was lost in thoughts
……..lost in memories
……..lost in the cosy corners of his home….. far away

Her hands seemed to have their own whim
They just removed the hairpin from her locks

.
.
.

Now she just wonders……..
Sitting besides him ……….
……….in the garden at dusk
…….as the wind blows her silky hairs
…….a soft little curl tickles her ears
She smiles & wonders……….
How did he open the lock..!?
The lock of her mind
A lock so intricately designed
Lock which none could open...Over the years……
……………with a humble hairpin ………
That too was hers!!!!

The Rainbow

It was the month of June
The month of monsoon rains…
The long, wide road lined with trees
..........seemed to wait for the visitors
With the red carpet spread on the road
A red carpet ……….of Gulmohars

A little girl on her way home
Stopped at the sight of beautiful reds
Her eyes fixed at the red canopy
If only she could pluck a bunch………..

Just then a small boy came along
A bag hanging from his shoulders
‘ Oh…!!What flowers..!! His eyes gleamed with joy
‘Come on ……..we will pluck some’
He hugged the trunk of tree
Crawled up…... climbed up…….,
Stood on a low branch of the giant tree
His hand stretched down …

...’come on little girl, it’s so Dreamy up here!’
The wide eyed girl seemed puzzled

‘Shall I ?!... shall I not??!!’

Her eyes gazed the huge red umbrella above
Mesmerized her little soft hands went around the rough trunk
She creeped along its crevices
Clutched the boys hand
Jumped on with delight……..jumped up with joy

‘Wow!!!’…was all she could utter

‘Come on….up here…up still…’

Moved the boy higher & higher
Pulling along the little girl

There they were at the top of the tree
The dark clouds seemed to hug them
The sky looked like a canvas

‘Let’s paint a Rainbow’

The boy took out a brush &
A box full of colors from his bag
His deft hands stroked colors …one by one
Across the blue sky, in a big bow

The girl watched in awe
& sheer admiration
Violet…… indigo……. Blue……. Green…… Yellow.... Orange………&

He just stopped……..

‘Oh............!! I don’t have red..?’

‘Not to worry’ …said the girl smiling
……..lets get it from the Gulmohars’

The boys face lit up….

But …

They heard a worried sweet voice
From the ground…. From the base of the tree

‘Come on dear boy…its time to go home’

‘Oh!! Yes mom……...coming….........’

Said the little boy

‘Let’s get down….’

He clutched the girls’ hand
Pulled her down the branches

‘But…….the Rainbo……& the Gulmo……?’

‘Will do it on the morrow....’

Just a blink …there they were on the Ground
The Boy ran to his mom,
Turned back…….. Waved his hand
The two just went away…….

The girl looked up
There it was …………the unfinished Rainbow
……...that had no Red
She sighed …………..started walking back


Summers…, springs…, winters…
Seasons rolled over
…………& that morrow never came

But still ……….
The girl sighs……..when the rains lash
………when Gulmohars bloom
………when she sees an unfinished Rainbow
………..bent across the sky in a bow………that has no Red in it…….

THE APPLE CART

The cart was filled with sweet apples
But the sweetness couldn’t be seen in its color
Apples were dull,
not bright red
but pale yellowish

The vendor was worried
Who will buy his apples…?
Apples that didn’t shine ……those were not bright red

A little boy with shabby clothes
With a stick that moved meticulously,
the rim of a cycle tyre,
stopped by the apple cart

He was hungry
Took an apple in his hand &
“Can I buy this apple sir?”
The apple seemed to smile in his hand

How much will u pay?
I have just Rs. 2 sir
Said the little boy

Hahaha…
Laughed the vendor
“I am selling apples dear boy…
….Not guavas
An apple for Rs. 2!!!! Ha….ha…ha…”
He snatched the apple from the
Little boys’ hand
The apple writhed in pain

The boy tried hard to stop his tears
Clutching his cycle tyre & the stick
He ran away from there

No one bought the apples,
Apples that didn’t shine,
That were not bright red,

The vendor took out his scarf,
Started rubbing apples… each one of them…
With a speed that defied time,
Apples writhed in pain under his vigor
Then, took out a bunch of stickers
from his dirty shirt pocket,
started pasting it on apples…..all of them

One by one he arranged them
In a perfect sequence,
sequence that turned heads,
caught eyes & stopped speeding cars.

Apples shone,
bright red,
labeled,
but…. withered inside
withered…..being rubbed by the vendor,
withered…..being stamped with labels,
withered….being unable to satiate a little boys hunger,

But the vendor laughed……..
Laughed at the thought
……of his moneybox being filled to the brim.

A CONVERSATION

It was a hot Saturday afternoon. Maithry was busy in her room preparing her quarterly performance report. Just then her mom came in “putty, r u busy? Pay a visit to the beauty parlour, we have a visitor in the evening”. “hm..ok” grumbled Maithry.

The visitor – the prospective groom who was to come at 5.30 arrived at 7.30 & blamed the Bangalore traffic for the delay. Now, after savouring the special dishes served the prospective groom & Maithry went to the terrace to “exchange” their views………maithry noticed her neighbour – a north Indian lady peeping out of her window to get a glimpse of the prospective groom.

Prospective Groom: hi, let me say a few things about myself first. U might be knowing I am working as manager in the QC dept. of this famous biotech co., I joined there as a store keeper for a paltry salary u know!? I have climbed the success ladder with lot of hard work & years of efforts. I have achieved soooo much though I am just a science graduate. I am a self made man u know.

Maithry: hm…(smile)

(She wondered…. is he speaking to me or addressing a bunch of fresh recruits in his co.)

PG: I am a happy man now…but I was happy when I had nothing as well. That’s the principle for my life…be happy whether u have money or not. I have never borrowed a single rupee from any one in my life. I may lose my job one fine day then also I will be happy & I want ‘you’ also to be happy in such a situation as well. I am not bothered about u r qualification & u r job. Its upto u to decide whether u want to work or not.

M: hm….
(She thought “why is he speaking as if I am already his wife! she wanted to say that she did her engineering from the education loan that her dad got & she has got a career graph that’s any bodies envy……..but kept quiet)


PG: ours is a big family you know….I have got four elder sisters who are married & settled & two elder brothers who r not married…. they r not financially very well & am supporting them. I want you too to take care of them very well.

M: hm…
(she thought is that an order or what?! she thought of asking why his brothers were not married.. but thought that is none of her business & so kept mum)

PG: I respect elders very much. I want you also to respect everyone in my family & you should treat everyone of them with high regard………. & I think its my responsibility to take care of my parents. Isn’t it the duty of children to take care of parents? What do u say?

M: Agreed…By the way…. my mom said u r parents live in u r village.

PG: oh ya… I was alone here na…& am quite busy with all my responsibilities in the co. I am the manager in the company na…..but once we r married my parents will come & stay with us. You must “take care”of them very well. They r quite aged & isn’t it “our” responsibility to look after them...hmm?
(Maithry wondered why his English came down from corporate level to friendly chat)

M: hm... I too want to take care of my parents. May not be now. But perhaps in their old age

PG: (gave a startled look & mumbled) of course ….your parents should also be “respected”.

Maithry thought it was enough & wanted to end the conversation but the guy suddenly remembered something & started of……

PG: do you watch TV? I like S M Janakiram’s serials very much.

Maithry: hm… (She wanted to say I hate serials & prefer watching NGC or MTV if she had time but she didn’t)

The guy suddenly shifted to Kannada

PG: nanige yavdu ketta abhyasagalu illa…nanu thumba adarshagal iro manushya…

…………..pause………….

Nan helidna hege nambtheeya?

(maithry thought of asking him how will he - believe her …but kept quiet)

Prapancha ninthirode nambike mele alva….ond sala commit madkond mele adakke baddhavag irbeko ….nambike droha madbaardu….alva…neenen heltheeya?

Maithry felt a bit giddy & she knew the dialogues he hammered were lifted from one of those TV serials that he watched & she felt irritated by the way he addressed her…she thought… English is a strange language …u can’t make out whether it is ‘neenu’ or ‘neevu’ when somebody says ‘you’.

She had had enough & said “shall we go?”

PG: Ha ok…nimge yenadru prashnegalidre dharalvag kelbodu… feel free to ask me….any time…

(Maithry felt his tone has suddenly mellowed down)

‘ha khanditha’………..said Maithry & started walking down the stairs…without waiting for him to lead the way….


The time was 9.30pm & Maithry came into the balcony after her dinner. Her north Indian neighbour seemed to be waiting for her…. peeping through the window, with her face lit up with excitement she said ............

“kyaa decide kiya Maithry…ladka tho bahuth smart hey…bahuth fair bhi hey…. bilkul chocolate hero hey….”

M: ha didi …par zyada chocolate khane se danth mey sadan ho jathey hey…….heyna?

Isn’t it true dear….she is Maithry living in 2008 & not Savithri of the puranas. & wonder why men still try impressing a girl by being Sri Ramachandra prabhu ....with all those double standards of the Ramayana intact!!!

ignorance is bliss..............

January 6, 2008

Today morning I got up late, got ready & hurried to the bus stop. Got into the bus & was lost in thoughts. When I got down near the factory I was startled! My office building has just disappeared!! Am I still sleeping & is this a dream? Or some problem with my eyesight?

I looked around & saw hazy pictures of people entering the gate. Oh! It was just the morning fog. It was so thick that you can hardly make out what lies after five steps.

I made my way through the fog. The uncertainty of what lays a few steps ahead scared me a bit. But soon I reconciled myself & started enjoying the bliss of ignorance…………the ignorance about the person you are going to meet after a few steps.

Is it going to be an old familiar face? Or a perfect stranger with a friendly smile or your ever arguing, never agreeing dictator boss? Or your co-operative, supportive colleague.

Oh my mind……., it is just a phase that you are going through. Just be calm & accept your ignorance. The uncertainty of future, the unsettled thoughts of getting settled, unpredictability of practical things & impractical things that are quite predictable.

Just wait……..as the sun rises through the horizon, the fog disappears. But you can’t move the sun at your whim. He moves at his own pace. But he sure will rise across the horizon and clear the fog. So be patient and learn to accept &…………….. enjoy your ignorance!

Swing of Life

Up.............. down................. up.................... here goes the swing
Sometimes along the wind
Sometimes against the wind
“Enjoy the swing little girl”

Her little friends stand behind her
Push her & cheer loudly
A few strong hands push her higher & higher
The girl laughs merrily………
……… as the swing goes up in wind

A few tender hands push her lightly …… hands not strong enough
“ stamp your feet on the ground dear…
… so that you can swing higher “
Says the tender hands

And two graceful figures …… Stand beside the swing
Leaning over the pole……… Watching the little girl swing

The lines on their face says they have seen
…… many many such swings
“Why don’t they push me?!” thinks the little girl

Little kids get tired of pushing
They leave her swing & go play for themselves
The two step in now
they just rock the swing
……… as the swing looks like a cradle to them

The little girl turned back & saw a twinkle in their eyes

My little girl, it’s not in their eyes…..
That’s the dream in your eyes
.........................getting reflected in theirs

Swing along little girl
Merrily along the wind
Boldly across the wind
& bravely against the wind…………
…………… that gushes through your ears

A BAG FULL OF MEMEORIES

Written when i moved out of the department

.

.

.

Pack your bags dear…
It is time to move out
Move out of the office room
Room filled with things & just things


But things seem to have a life…………….A life of their own
The creaky chairs, noisy tables,
The cleaning cloth & the unclean racks
The dustbin filled with chocolate wrappers & tablet covers
The numbered files, unused covers
The calendars of a bygone year


The bag is filled to the brim
With memories & just memories


Memories
Of Smiles, guffaws, cheers & tears
Of sweet chocolates that melted in mouth
& those which got stuck
Of Letters accepted, rejected & saved forever
Of Pins, pens & stickers abased, lost, got & given away

The writings in the log book
read, laughed at, misspelt, & missed

Tiny yellow stickers that scared, reminded & shared the work
Tiny red knives that teared papers, carved labels & shared apples
Glittering wrappers that changed hands & changed minds


The motors & minds burnt & rewound
The bills, cheques, requests & doubts paid, cleared & left pending
Hairs & thoughts left astray
Songs & messages played, saved and deleted
Clips and photos shared, hidden and flashed





But one thing seems unfazed…………the window grill
The window grill that had witnessed many things
The bright, sunny mornings
The foggy, chilled mornings
The scorching hot middays
The cool, cloudy noons
Soothing breeze in the evenings,
The tender drops, drizzles and heavy downpours……..
…………Both on that side as well on this side

Oh….! Is it the third siren dear?
Is your bag ready?
Close the window and switch off the lights
Shall I lock the door now?
Hey……! What is this I am hearing?
Did u forget your cell phone ?
“No nonsense, it is in my bag”
Then from where is this music beaming out?

Hmmm…………… the table drawer is singing!!!

believe it or not

this is a not a bedtime story as it looks like

once upon a time there lived a bunny and an owl in the deep forests of western ghats
the owl always wanted to have the bunny for its lunch
the wise bunny somehow escaped
but on a full moon day a beautiful angel came to the forest
the bunny came out to see the angel
just then the owl jumped on the bunny and killed it

the angel felt pity for the bunny and asked it had any last wish

the bunny replied
" i want the eyesight of the owl as it is so sharp and a heart as light as u
and i would like to retain one of my bunny quality in my next birth......."

the bunny meant the fairness of its skin
but the angel gave it its teeth!!!!!!!

Thus a girl was born with bunny teeth and owls eyes with a dark complexion and a light heart


now it is for u to find out who the girl is