POEM
Wearing the cape of meaning-maker
I go forth.
Seeking intimations along the way.
Signals from the sea, wind, leaves, and sky.
Signals from the moon, sun, horizon, and clouds.
All those things hard to come by in the urban landscapes
Dense with concrete and the fumes of exhausted air.
#1
Wind
Breath of life
Swirls around in gentle sighs.
Caresses the soul
Soothes the spirit
Dusty with soot and grime
Deposited by the humdrum of the decades.
Sea
Stretches endlessly
Drawing a long-swept gaze
Left to right, in circular embrace.
Grains of sand
The twinkle tiny shards of reflected light
And, the blue sea meets the blue of sky…
The horizon is a-brim with eternity’s kiss
Beckoning from afar.
#2
Morning, Sun.
Gazing at the spherical dome of the sky
Embracing dawn’s arrival.
Once more
After the night watch,
See the sun come to light
From behind the night’s black cloak.
Evening, Moon.
The host held high in the evening sky
Makes her appearance.
She shines transfixed above the hearts of men,
Wishing to swallow her purity.
Whole unreachable host
Reigning above the darkness…
Sun is eclipsed.
Moon has stolen his glory.
But, wherever men
With deep-felt whisperings
With profound longings
Send tendrils of smoke,
Incense into the heavens.
The heavens hear.
#3
Night.
Sitting in zen-like stillness
Silence, inside
Under the black dome of sky.
Waiting, patiently
Waiting, expectantly
Waiting, humbly.
The moon glows from overhead
Stars come twinkling out
From behind the black sky-carpet
They send morse code messages—
Oh little one, sitting with patient eyes
What universes await you
Above and around and within.
Invoke.
Ask.
A host of heaven-whispers
Within the inner sky
Sends gentle rays…
Illuminating the darkness
Within.
#4
The hushing of the rain
Is punctuated by splotches
Is hitting stones
Is growing louder.
Insistent, insistent
Not to be ignored
Listen to the melody it sings.
From a low, low, slow rush
To crescendos of pizzicato sound.
Then, gradually mellowing away…
Into the distance
It brings its tuneful message away.
In its wake, it rains
A coolness, a coolness that calms…
Wash away all anxieties.
Wash away all fears.
#5.
Stepping stones
On the ground, they lay.
A mosaic-like pebbled path
It leads to a wide, domed pavilion
With whitewashed walls
As yet still and empty
Waiting, just waiting to be filled.
The morning dawn spans the horizon
A serene tinge, with hues of blue
A white dome of sky circles overhead.
Stand at the center of lush mango trees
Past flowering fruit, verdant and ripe
Crowned with leaves,
Stand at the center of lush life.
Quivering gently with the sea wind blowing
Ask for well-being
For self and for loved ones
For fellow men in war zones and peaceful mornings.
Ask for peace in the heart.
For force in all I, we, all do.
For joy today, and in the future to come.
