Lessons from the yonder

Here we meet again in our past
Where time had stood still
A heartache that never heals
Shouting silent prayers in the void
Seeking in the shadows and voices
An image, a song to get me going.

Polished shoes and junior chemistry class
Lessons taught best when not in school
Warm hands that had comforted me
Harsh words that still echo inside

Between then and now
I am losing a part of me
While I walk through the years without you.
Around the hearth,
We sat to relive your memories
Biding time to do its healing.

The Way Home

Cuss, swear, shout and nice smile
Mr. Autowallah wants a little too much for a mile
Can’t give him what he asks and sign away my bargaining power

Next comes the pumpy ride,
Always something to see between the sasses
I miss nothing behind my powerful glasses.
Scowling faces
Mercs and Nanos fight for their spaces
Between them are the people
Huffing and pushing their way like a popple
Big man, small man, the world is your john
Just don’t stay on

Tomorrow will be just a repeat
With a new story to tell
And may be a little more.

Page from the diary: Seeing the bright side

Nothing extra ordinary. I am trying to look at the bright side here. The problem is: it is dark. Very dark. No electricity. Nothing new here too. It is 2:40 in the morning and I can hear the roosters. Never mind the roosters. The question is why should I be staying awake when the whole world is sleeping? Adjusting to Mr. Electricity playing spoilsport. I was told he was haunted by Light. Some-good-for-nothing-Big-wise guys sitting on big rolling chairs play ‘roll my arse’ with their legs tangling in the air and happily use up my river to light up their house. Big dams consume our land. They said this was to light up our homes. The problem is they are all in the water.

And mother thinks the government is very generous every time the electricity lights up for 2 seconds. At least, she can see her children in the light. Every time the electricity passes through our homes, you can hear the shouts of jubilation. The rushing of feet to put on the boob tube. Kids fight for their favourite TV shows. The local movie library does brisk business. It is amazing how we get adjusted to the timing of electricity. We just have to do whatever that needs to be done with power when there is power.

And then, there is the music. The neighbourhood music box rapping and screaming at 5 in the morning or 10 in the evening. Otherwise, it would never get used.

Make hay while the sun shines is the theme. Recharge your batteries, inverters, cell phones, lamps, press your clothes, enjoy your ice cream, the fridge is on. [It actually reminds me of the days before water supply came inside our homes, when we have to fetch water from public supply. We had to fill up each and every available container. Ah, the satisfaction that we got out of filling them up! Bliss.]

Candle lit dinner has nothing to do with romance or courtship. But, again, may be, it is! Mr. E leaves us and we go back to sitting around the fire pots, sharing stories, laughter, kids do their home works in front of candle light. And here I am typing away my battery. It says 14% remaining. Let me get some sleep before the neighbourhood wakes me up with their music. I just hope it is not hip hop! November/2009

The die has been cast

Look at us, there is nothing left.
We could have taken another route
But we would still end up here
Our reality, a chemical fried journey
To the fairyland that exists only in our mind.
Our body scarred by choice,
Or was it forced unto us?
Disowned and forgotten,
I tried to go back
But I was told I did not belong in their world
So I chose to sit here and take another trip
With that little piece of whatever running through my blood.
The good preacher came looking for me to save me from sin
But, he left. He could not stand the stench.
The social worker vowed to save me
I guess she got tired waiting for me to wake up.
They found me this morning.
Lifeless. "Just another loser", they said.
I made my choice.