Canvas

How beautiful it is to be so aware. 
Aware of the sea of people flowing so relentlessly beside you 
Observant of their different faces and emotions. 
Passing kitchen after kitchen serving bhaturas the size of human heads.
Conscious of the hot then cool gush of air as you drive by the canal banks
Of the bright hotel lights twinkling as if they were the stars themselves
The new moon sky where the glittering celestials got room to shine. 
Squinting through the darkness to get a glimpse of the river 
Peering at the homes dotting the hills around it. 
Finally you reach the end of line & the bright 'city' lights suck you back to reality.
The neon lights banish all the glorious darkness 
The canvas that would help you glow

Lingering leftovers

I left a piece of my heart in the wilderness
Amongst the tall towers and wandering wraiths. 
I left a piece of my mind in the mountains
Floating in the clouds above all the consuming chaos.
I left a piece of my soul with the spirits 
Dancing to the soothing silence of the zeniths. 

Out of order

Having pipping hot tea on blurry borders,
Bus swaying ferociously over sharp corners 
The French foreigners needed translation 
The youthful gang a little deflation. 
Street lights twinkled in the rain 
Specular view through the misty pane
Quiet is the mind that sits still 
Full is the life that has thrill

Universes' Spicule

It's strange 
How powerful a photograph is
How fickle words are
& how permanent actions are 
But then you remember 
You are a tiny spicule 
In this ginormous universe.
So sit back relax 
Sip your délicieux coffee
& enjoy la comédie show 

Apercevoir

Chai Wala misses you 
The one day you couldn't 
make it for the evening break. 
A large smile & humble heart 
Is what he offers with his cuppa.

The selfless store keeper 
Offers you his lunch.
Just an outstretched hand 
a hearty welcome
& a warm conversation.
.

The mother and her two children 
Pack their bags on the sidewalk 
The lil' girl squeals with glee 
At the sight of the monkeys 
While her son takes cover. .
.
The dogs are unhappy
With the बंदर झुंड
The waters are gushing on 
The light blazes downward
The dust swirls all around but .

The girls with the matching glasses
Can't take a moment to
Look up from their phones 
All the world's passing by, dearies. 
Look up. 

Kosmos

A few minutes of quiet
Before the confusion of the crowds 
Before the maddening of the memsahibs 
Before the pandemonium of the patients 
A few seconds for me 
And the unadulterated Kosmos.

Lumos

A day to remember 
A day to celebrate 
The life of someone
Who so easily
brightens all of ours. 
Forever smiling 
Forever twinkling 
Ever grateful are we 
That you bring so much 
happiness to the world. 
Stay blessed 
Stay charming 
The light that you have 
Unfathomable force
That you are, 
Always remember
Always celebrate
All the glory
That is you.

Stand

Stand tall, chin up
Pause & see 
The branches holding on 
Stop & watch 
The mist swooshing by
Halt & sense 
All the will inside of you 
Stand up, shoulders square 'cause the sky is the limit. 

Gorgeous Goodbyes

The streets have emptied .
& barricades lifted 
Time to say adieu .
& reminisce
all the time gifted 

Follow the Maddening Crowd

The unending queues 
Beginning at dawn
end disappointingly! 
What is it you are looking for? 
Is being part of the herd
So, rewarding?
Is following a blind king
That satiating?
What is it you plan to achieve? 
Can’t you see the puppeteers?
Pulling on feeble strings
Can’t you see the pied piper?
Leading with muted pings
Can’t you see the show? 
The ever-blinding ruse
beginning in the frigid sand 
end disconcertingly! 

Lost Confluences

The tide of people - 
overpowering 
The wave moved 
in unison –
up the road – 
down the slope 
Follow the red flag 
they said 
Hold hands tight
they said 
Don’t lose one another 
they tried.

A monkey cap lay 
crumpled outside 
The waiting areas full
but chairs empty
Shoulders bumping, 
fists pumping 
Words thrown, eyes
shown. 
A stampede brewing
But the cap was left lost & alone.

She decided to leave him 
The slipper abandoned 
by his partner 
Lay dejected and rejected 
Drowning in the 
sand and dust 
Hopelessly staring at the floor 
He never knew how to be by himself
What was his purpose in the world then? .

The loud speaker blared on 
Day in & night out 
Over worked and under valued
He croaked on about 
all the missing people 
He screeched on 
In hopes to find those lost.
Cards dropped, hands slipped 
Phones stolen ; wallets cut. 
The speaker was all that lay 
Between the lost & found. 

Aventure Exotique

New places with old faces, 
Exotic spaces with raw paces
Truly sublime are these worlds 
Peculiar the wind life twirls
Come see the spirit ,
Come feel the madness,
The adventure of a lifetime.