What God Whispered

You ask me what God whispered
to me when I first met you

He did not tell me that you are
the one for me

He never told me that you'd
be happy with me

But he whispered gently
into my willing ears...

That you are the rarest and the
purest gem he ever made

That he once threw you into
the hellfire of a dark agony

That he again dug you up
from its deep mines of despair

That he cut and chiseled you
many a time with cruel knives of fate

That he put you through the
hottest furnace of all of hell's fire

And then he gently bathed you with
the waters of his compassionate tears

And he lovingly polished you with
the blessings of his tender hands

And smoothed the lines of sadness
he'd etched on to your withered soul

And breathed a new life into you
and made you whole once again

And then he scooped up all of nature's
beauty to adorn you abundantly

He whispered he's a bit tired now
And needs to rest awhile

He wants me to bring the spring
and sunshine back into your lonely life

He wants me to bring the shine and
sparkle back to your lotus eyes

He wants me to paint the rainbow colors
once more on your lovely cheeks

He wants me to hold you close to my
heart and waltz you through the skies

He wants me to smell the Jasmine
fragrance of your intoxicating breath

He wants me to kiss your drowsy lips
and make them quiver with hope

He wants me to give you a bouquet
full of dew-drenched fresh pink roses...

And then kneel down and tell you
That I'll love you ETERNALLY!
-----------------------------------------
Published in the anthology
"A Bouquet Of Verse' Vol 3
by Ardus Publications, Canada (2017)

Will I Be Awake Tonight?

Wondering about you the whole day through

Wondering how you still manage your days

Wondering how you still manage to smile

Wondering how you are still cheerful.

Wondering about your life's ups and downs

Wondering about the melody of your laughter

Wondering about the tears behind the smile

Wondering if that smile is a mask.

Wondering about the real you behind that mask

Wondering if it would hurt if I unmask that face

Wondering about you the whole day through

Wondering how you still manage your days.

Wondering if you are feeling lonely and sad

Wondering if you are feeling alone and bad

Wondering if you ever feel frightened at times

Wondering if you ever feel the need for a man.

Wondering if I could wipe off those tears

Wondering if I could bring joy to that heart

Wondering if you are now fast asleep in bed

Wondering if you are now dreaming of me.

Wondering if you are the gift of my life

Wondering if I'm the right guy for you

Wondering if I am now falling in love

Wondering if I'll be awake tonight...

Between You And Me

Between you and me

there exists many barriers

both visible and invisible.

Between you and me

there exists heartaches

and memories of stolen kisses too.

Between you and me

there exists the agony

of a longing to hold and be held.

Between you and me

there exists many abandoned

dreams that refuse to fade away.

Between you and me

there exists the anguish

of scarlet passions seeking relief.

Still between you and me

there is a reluctance to transcend

artificial restrictions and social mores.

Yes! Between you and me dear

a wry smile across empty spaces

is all we can afford today.

So within you and I dear

let our yesterdays compete to cry out

the agonies of their silent desires!

Sakhi,
Your friend that poet
the one who's eccentric
and egocentric
is now in search of Krishna
that elusive riddle
wrapped in a mystery
forever inside an enigma
that master weaver
of romantic illusions
he who playfully beckons
teases with soothing smiles
and haunting flute notes...

Sakhi is this man friend
of yours hallucinating?

Maybe it's the wine
or maybe it's his perpetual quest
for an endless love so pure
or to discover the futility of love
or maybe it's the genius of a soul
that seeks to seek the truth
behind all the hidden logics
in every philosophy's obscure truths.

Whatever Sakhi he's so obsessed
if you give him more wine today
either he'll undress to find Krishna
or dress up as Krishna himself
with a peacock feather crown
and a peacock feathered smile
to whom all the gopikas will flock.

* A tribute to Ampat Koshy

Land of Lost Souls

I knocked and was kept waiting
in the darkness, shivering.
I did not know where else to go,
only that void behind.

I kept on knocking and knocking
till someone came, a stranger
with a soothing presence
who asked for my passport and visa.

Visa? I asked mildly surprised.
But I thought you gave visas on arrival!

He sighed that stranger, gave a deep sad look
and almost whispered, it's true,
but you are on the reject list.

Back in that planet, you were greedy, selfish, cruel,
adulterous and egoistic - businessman, politician, poet,
you had everything you desired - wealth, fame and power!

But you were ruthless, power-crazy, corrupt, manipulative,
self-centered - despite all the warnings, you cared not!

What do I do now, I asked, can I go back to redeem myself?
He shrugged! It's a one-way ticket. I'm sorry!

Go next door and knock on the gates of hell.
You belong there in that land of lost souls!

Published in the anthology
'A Poet's View of Being'
by Brian Wrixon Books, Canada (2012)