Untitled

`
I saw,
Early in the morning,
A green leaf,
On a green tree.
The sun wasn’t yet out;
A caterpillar
Nibbled at the leaf’s edge,
The leaf didn’t speak though
A bird
Fluttered,
And hovered round,
It spotted the green caterpillar,
On the green leaf
Of the green tree…

The bird satisfied its hunger
The leaf was still quiet.
`

Pilani, RJ,

November, 2003

Apoptosis

`
Life said, “Let’s kill Mr. Death!”
“I’ll never suicide, dear Mr. Life,
I’m all-powerful, I am too strong,
Hardened by my business” ---
the narrow incandescent eyes glare at Life...
“Ha!” Life smiled aloud,
“You forget, you are naught but my parasite dear,
If need be, I’ll destroy myself to destroy you,
For your methods are most sadistic, cruel,
That make a mockery of my creative genius...”
Death had sprung up,
Utter joy written all over the dark face,
“Characteristic weakness Life, your characteristic weakness,
That you can never overcome,
Self-destruction in the end, what a joke,
To kill me, what a peach of a joke...Ha! Ha! Ha! ...”

[Exeunt]
`

Pilani, RJ,

November, 2003

To Somik on his birthday

`
A mass of men and women
Walk on;
Faces meet, and part,
Strangers grow stranger,
And masks all around...

Here's a friend, and there's a friend,
They hear you, they do not listen,
They see you, they do not observe,
And they're friends...

Thank you God,
I am one of those lucky few --
Someone listens to my unspoken words,
Observes my face beneath painted masks,
Someone knows me inside out,
I am not the strangest in this strange crowd.
`

Pilani, RJ,

November, 2003

Untitled

`
I wander away often
Into the countless masses
Searching for love –
For a small corner
Within someone’s heart,
Where I can lie
In peace and glory…

How you wait patiently
Gently smiling there
Without a single beckoning –
That is how You are You
And myself Your servant dear!
`

Pilani, RJ, 

October, 2003

To Soumi on her birthday

`
You are to me fresh morning air
That I breathe in and breathe out,
Your silent company accompanies me
Far away from the crowd.

I am one who loves solitude
Worships and thrives on it,
Yet this tranquility isn't a void
Filled by dew laden air so sweet.

Your sweet voice loud, expression pout
Those disinterested sparkling eyes,
That's where I flee in sorrow or glee
For that's where my poor soul lies.

Just remember a little thing
On this twelfth of September,
The holy bond 'tween you and me
Distance can never wear.
`

Pilani, RJ,

September, 2003

Puja

`
The hour of thy Puja was drawing near
At the temple had gathered so many Brahmins
I wast in the garden, thy servant dear
Gathering bright hued blossoms in the shadowy greens.

A vagrant spring breeze brushed against me
Young birds hopped, skipped, chirped around
Above, fleecy clouds floated on azure canopy
Nature smiled in joy with life abound.

She smiled at me, a warm beckoning,
To join her calm, reposeful ceremony
My heart it seemed, was dying to sing
In chorus with Nature's other children, so many.

I reclined on the soft green grass below
I felt I had been there since ages ago
In a trance I wast, my senses mellow
I felt thy divine presence across the meadow.

An embroidered shadowy green danced around me
I surrendered my all at the graceful face of thee
I never heard the Brahmins chant or the people calling me
Only thy touch, thy voice O Lord, I heard only thee.
`

Chandannagar, WB,

April, 2003