Being

Word by word, I stripped myself naked.

The flesh and blood of shameless confessions, desires,

truth, lies, pleasure and pain -

twisted and twirled

in a shabby bundle of memories.

I shed away the worn-out skin

with itchy patches of reality

to unveil the veins coloured with ageing dreams.

And slowly crossed over to the unknown shores,

Took a dip in the deep blue vastness,

washed away a life-time,

and re-emerged with a handful of tender fragrances

that  had always eluded my memory.

As the blue glow gently mended the sore wounds,

I turned back to see a trail of footsteps

that were too strange for my feet.

When the sea was mine

Everyday on my way to school

I traded off  time

for a little chat with the sea.

My pink uniform, flying ribbons and the window-seat.

The speeding, crowded bus was merciless

Most of the days, a fleeting glimpse was all that I could manage .

Yet, the vast blueness saturated my days

the caressing breeze,

silvery touch of the  morning sun,

small boats –  swaying afar or  resting ashore,

and the familiar salty fragrance.

At night, the waves came close to my ears

its their lullaby that put me to sleep.

The sea was mine, and it was a secret-

that I had shared only with the fish.

Back then, I had made friends with them.

It was all a long time ago

now, they no longer recognise me.

Inertia

I duped myself into believing that I am a rebel

fully aware that I had chained myself to a hundred-thousand doubts.

Procrastinations and justifications,

pretentious peace, coward patience,

and silent acceptance.

I spent time relishing in ideas

thinking others’ thoughts

juggling ignited words

angst-ridden conversations

fighting with self

believing and then denying

marching ahead, reclining in the shade,

clinging together and straying away.

The weary silence giggled when I asked myself

“Where have I reached?”