SKY IS THE LIMIT: COMPLEMENTS BY JUD BOWNESS
COMPLEMENTS
*******************
This Anthology of Verses SKY IS THE LIMIT, translated from Rajasthani into English by multi-lingual Poetess and translator Rajni Chhabra is significant in so many ways.
These trans-verted poems open door of words from Rajasthani language and shed light on culture, traditions, natural surroundings and geographical conditions of beautifully distinct land.
Becoming a doorway through which these fantastically talented poetesses can be seen and heard . It enlightens, educates and surfaces points of view otherwise would be lost by a wayside.
It's so refreshing to be able to read, understand and absorb the bravery, beauty, kindness and emotions written and displayed by such talented writers.
These 25 enlightened poetesses give more than simple images that reach out through words and feelings and give their hearts to a world that otherwise would never have seen them.
Bravo, bravo!
JUD BOWNESS
Poet
Boston ( U S)
CONTENTS
****************
1. Abhilasha Pareek
Rose, Summer Vacations
2. Anita Vipula
I am not a Plaything, Summer
3. Anju
Lunar Eclipse, Mother, Scarecrow, Peacock
4. Ankita Kagadansh
Sparrow, Infused, Earthen Lamp and Wick
5. Asha Sharma
Deserted Village, Wish, True Words
6. Bharti Purohit
Father, Chains
7. kamana Rajawat
Bugcho, Community Square for Gossipping
8. Krishna Acharya
String of Beads, I am a Tree, Children of This Generation
9. Krishna Kumari
With Sunrise, You Know Better, Our Abode
10. Manisha Arya Soni
I Bow to You, O! Spinning Wheel, Mother before Going to Operation-theatre
11. Mansi Sharma
Anklet, Khejri, Tortoise, New Relation
12. Meenakshi Borana
Identity of Woman, Ordinary Woman, Longing, Haikus
13. Meenaksi Pareek
Agony of Tree, I Aspire for Such a World
14. Neelam Pareek
Sapling of Love, Where is My Sky? When Did I Ever Forget?
15. Nirmala Rathore
Creation of a Poem, Cloudlet of Reveries
16. Sanghmitra Rathore
Your Eyes, Bliss of Joy
17. Sanju Shrimali
Liberation, Sand, Woman, Bosom Buddy, Paid off Debt
18. Santosh Mayamohan
Wax, Aarti, Recall, Teachings, Avenge, Reputation
19. Sapna Verma
High-Spirited Woman, Grass and Woman, Afflictions, From D/O to W/O, I am a Free Bird
20. Shakuntala Sharma
Nimboli, Mother-tongue
Roti or Poem, Ring
22. Sharmila Soni
Pleading of Unborn Daughter, Daughters
23. Siya Chaudhary
Fly High, All Agree, Abkhai
Who Knows? Is It Plain-Sailing? Nature
25. Sunita Bishnolia
An Office-Going Woman, So That No Ahilaya is Resurrected
ROSE
******
O! Rose
You tell me....
How do you bloom daily
How do you embellish daily
How do you keep smiling daily
How do you look more refined daily
Though you know very well
You will wither away
After two days
Your rosy-pink petals
Will wither one by one
Your fragrance, your coolness
Is evanescent daily
Still
You bloom daily
You prettify yourself daily
You look more charming daily
You keep on smiling daily.
Glancing at me, then smilingly replies
That rose addressing me
I bloom, prettify, smile
And become more refined
Everyday
Because, by each and every petal
I shed my fragrance and coolness
I keep alive my smile
For this reason
I bloom daily
I prettify myself daily
And become more refined daily.
SUMMER VACATIONS
**********************
Those summer vacations have vanished
That merriment of summer-vacations is lost
Ushering of maternal grandmother has disappeared
Affectionate cuddling of grandmother have disappeared
Those summer-vacations.....
After departure of maternal grandmother
Where has gone tune of beating on drum
Gaining weight due to milk and cream
Where has gone that persuasion by her
In peak noon, fiery winds
Where has gone shade of *Kerunda tree
Hitting with stones on mango tree
Where has gone that gang of naughty children
Drooling
On the very sight of melons and watermelons
Where has that saliva gone
Picking in plenty *kakriya-kheera
Sucking mango-seeds
Where has gone that notion of pleaders
*Choupadh -pasa, snake and ladder
Where have disappeared those *Goutiyan-kodiyan-and ladders
Sprinkling water on hot terrace
Cooling down beddings
Sound of flash of light
Beholding stars in midnight
Sound of barking of dogs
Fresh morning breeze and wee hours
Where have these vanished
Where have gone those summer-vacations?
Where has gone that merriment of summer-vacations?
*Kerunda: cranberry jelly
* Choupadh -pasa: a traditional ludo game
* Goutiyan-kodiyan : coins and dice in Choupadh
ANITA VIPULA
I AM NOT A PLAYTHING
***********************
My heart can feel
Can reveal itself
Can feel
Can muse
And is capable of
Distinguishing
Between good and bad
Still I am under so much vigilance
I am not a chained prisoner
Listen!
I am not a plaything.
You intend to keep me
Chained utterly
You intend that
I should eat
Whatsoever you serve me
If I ever try to utter somehow
You want to lock my mouth
I an a living entity
Not a cattle
Listen!
I am not a plaything.
You gave me birth
But never planned to educate me
You got me married at a very early age
And deemed yourself free
From all liabilities towards me
I consumed my whole life
In beautifying my home
Comparing me with Goddess
You tried to flatter me
I am a female
Not any Goddess
Listen!
I am not a plaything.
Male has
Plenty of attachment
With my body
And for sake of self
Battle of life has to be fought
Play with me in whatever way
You are pleased
But where is essence of sentiments
I am not a life-less entity
Listen!
I am not a plaything.
It is claimed that
Society has changed a lot
But, can I survive in it?
Can enjoy my real life
Can breathe heartily
Today, I have assumed
My own responsibility
I know my potentialities
I am not burden on anyone
Listen!
I am not a plaything.
SUMMER
**********
Summer with fiery flames all around
Emitting hot wind and scorching heat
This thirsty land is craving for water
This forlorn earth is like mirage
All the villages are facing scarcity of water
Restless and fed-up, life is base
Temperature has risen to melting level of mercury
Earth is burning like blazing flame
Rich persons are comfortable with A C
Blood of poor is twitching with hard-work
This summer turns human into human
This summer boosts fate of peasants.
ANJU
LUNAR ECLIPSE
****************
Darling of mother and father
Grows like sours on palm
With passing time
Sleep of family vanishes
Before she grows into a young lady
For managing her costumes
And petty amounts
For other rituals
Oxen are sold
And last fragment of
Ancestral land
Thrusting her head
On shoulder of her brother
Crying bitterly
The nightingale
Departs for her new home
Mending torn clothes of the poor
Putting patches on it
The whole life passes
All the joy of heart dries up
Like dry earth
She wants to complain
But words stick to
Her parched tongue
Whenever she misses badly
Her parental home and
Ripe-aged parents
Flow of her tears does not stop
Howsoever she might try to control
Nobody is moved
Whether she is happy or not
But Constellations
Playing in sky are
Moved by her plight
Worthy moonlight has not
Showered blessings on her yet
God knows when this anguished earth
Comes between scorching Sun
And the moon
Offering her cover
Removes all her pain
In pitch darkness of eclipse
Caresses her softly
Hugging her tightly
Soothes her
Bright eyes of the girl
Start glimmering
Just as the Moon shines
More brighter after eclipse.
MOTHER
***********
Light of dry eyes
A tender shoot
Growing in
Emotions-deprived heart
Crimson light of
Rising sun
Cool moonlight
Of moon
Heart is in all smiles
Shining glow in
Sweat of forehead
Innocent joy
Derived from
Getting gift
In beds of fields
In trickle of water
And in lush-green fields
Mother seems to be
Smiling always.
SCARECROW
*************
Confused
In choice of
Old or new
Human -beings
Dressed in
Half-tattered clothes
Speaking in weird fluent language
Seem as if
Scarecrow has become alive.
PEACOCK
***********
Three varieties of
Ornamental feathers of
Peacock are like
Three stages of our life
Crest beautifying
Forehead of peacock
Is symbolic of
Childhood
Full of comforts
Colourful enchanting feathers
Symbolize rainbow-coloured youth
And grey paws
Are indicative of
Helpless old age.
ANKITA KAGADANSH
*****************
SPARROW
From one branch
To another
Sparrow hops
Catches and kills insects
Flies in sky
Lands on
Tender branch
She is not scared of
Breaking of that branch
She has full faith
In her vision
And in her wings
Mother trained her for flight
Eyes and wings rare
Gifted by fate
But guts are
Developed by sparrow
On her own
Flies herself
Kills insects
Sparrow flies with her guts!
INFUSED
*********
Fasts that my mother
Used to observe
When were these
Handed over to me
I never realized
But, without fail
I observe austerity
And recite those narratives
That settled in my voice
With spontaneity
From voice of mother
Exactly same to same
I was not even aware of it.
I am well-versed with
As many songs
As my mother knew
I catch cold exactly
As my mother used to
I, too, have headaches
Just as she is used to
My heels ache exactly
Like her aching feet
I take meal only after
Serving meals to others
As was her routine
Maa!
When did you
Settle in me
Ditto.
EARTHEN LAMP AND WICK
****************************
If son is
Earthen-lamp of home
Daughter is wick
Treat both as equal.
Then only
Home flourishes
And gains prosperity
Earthen lamp alone
Imparts light to home
Why masses have this notion
Without wick
Has anybody seen
The earthen -lamp
Diffusing light.
We will have to apprehend
Significance of lamp and wick
Along with earthen-lamp
Significance of wick
Has to be acknowledged.
ASHA SHARMA
*****************
DESERTED VILLAGE
********************
O, Hawk Kuckoo!
Tell me
Why don't you sing in *Sawan now?
O, Black bumble-bee
Why don't you dance on flowers now?
Why *panghat is devoid of water now?
Why *Choupals are deserted?
Why doe not move with galloping pace
Young Gopal in mango-grooves?
Mango-groves have dried.
O, Nightingale! Why don't you sing?
Without cattle, habitat seems like graveyard
Fields are deserted as all are migrating to towns
O, milkmaid, why don't you measure gush of milk now?
Why don't you mix *mishree in butter of Kanha?
Shade of Bunyan and Peepal tree sheds tears
Branches have dried up
Now, who enjoys swings on branches of *Neem
O, Sparrow! Why don't you sing in sweet and shrill voice
Waiting for beloved gone to foreign lands
Why don't you reveal your heart now?
*Choupals : community space in village
*Sawan : monsoon
* panghat: community well
*mishree : sugar candy
WISH
******
O, my heart!
You become like ocean
That encloses rain
In its lap
But, for sake of
Turning into cloud again
O, heart!
You become like cloud
That transforms again
For sake of filling
Lap of earth.
TRUE WORDS
**************
Rivers that mingle into sea
They remain full of waves
Rivers that mingle with worthless destination
They will get thorns only
Without striving with waves
Can lap be full of pearls?
Without struggling with thorns
Can favourite destination be attained?
Without getting scared of pitch-dark nights
O, human! Keep pacing forward in dark nights
In dense layer of light
You are sure to get one or two stars
Even if your path is stony
Don't be scared , O, human!
Keep moving ahead.
Embrace this uneven land, with open arms
You might be confronted with pointed pebbles
But don't get disheartened
You will be bestowed with precious stones
From lap of earth.
BHARTI PUROHIT
FATHER
*********
When father was alive
Everything was perfect
Merry-making and laughing heartily
Father boosted our will-power
Immeasurable affection persisted
We had everything
When he was with us
Our home had identity due to him
Now, devoid of him
Home has turned into house
Words had very existence in father
Words are silent after his departure
After his ultimate departure
Innumerable books have
Lost their interpretation
We are ourselves unaware
How many unspoken words
Remained confined in heart only
And got entangled in whirlpool of heart
A deep silence has spread
In inner cores of heart
Utter silence like that of desert
A pretentious laughter
Just to make a show off
Unushered, complicated
Only memories reign in mind
Limitlessly.
CHAINS
*********
Breaking cage
I might fly high
Any moment
You might impose
Lacs of restrictions on me
In spite of it
I will create space for myself
In wide sky
Yeah, due to my birth as female
I have to peep a lot within me
Indulge in self-introspection
This world might
Chain my feet
With shackles of
Obsolete traditions
I will break these chains
Turn pages of history
Neither I was defeated in past
Nor will be defeated in future
All the liabilities of this life
Are acceptable to me
I will abide by customs
I am female
And I insist that
You, too, know
This life is not as easy going
As you deem it to be.
KAMANA RAJAWAT
BUGACHO
************
I have noticed
My grandma
Opening her *Bugacho
Whenever she found time
Shuffling clothes
Kept on searching for long
Then, again tied its string.
And mother, too
During dusting prior to
Festivals of Holi-Diwali
Used to open her box
For putting clothes in sun
Used to move hand on these
Very tenderly.
And me too
In days of spare time
When I relax
Open old diaries
Amba kadhi, Gaanje kee kali
I have read so many times
Still , I caress these with my eyes.
Like Ma and Grandma
Perhaps, we females
Try to search ourselves
In our own unaccomplished dreams
That we have forgotten
In complicasies of household
We have mingled ourselves
In the soil of house
Probing self is just an attempt
And a means of self-amusement.
*Bugacho: A box shaped bag of cloth, tied with string after folding.
KRISHNA ACHARYA
STRING OF BEADS
**********************
I am not familiar with
Principles of sects and religion
I don't apprehend meaning of
Prayers
Ma! I don't know
What is latent meaning
In string of beads
That you made me wear
What fruit will be gained
By maintaining it properly
I don't know price of the
Pearl of strings that you made me
Wear round my neck
Still, I am wearing it till date
Around my neck
Not because I like it
But, I keep on wearing it
Because you made me wear it
In this necklace are
Infused my deep faith
And fathomless depth of
Emotions of your heart
I am not wearing this necklace
I am wearing the passion
The sentiment of your deep faith.
I AM A TREE
*************
I not only view
But apprehend as well
That about me
Innumerable verses
Can be composed
I am tree who has stuck
To the affection-brimmed bosom of earth
Sipping nectar from it
I have entrusted my whole life
To creatures and cattle dwelling in it
For livelihood and for survival
Holding upright
My branches and foliage
I invoke God for strength
To provide shade to travellers
With my greenery
I turn into a resting place
Along with my own family
I get access to family of human-beings
Even across sky.
CHILDREN OF THIS GENERATION
***********************************
Children of this generation
With the rise of day
Bloom like sunflower
For sake of seeking knowledge
Go to school
Holding heavy bags
They are not scared of
Any ghostly appearance
They don't believe in baseless notions
They compose new stories daily
For future
Children of this generation
Don't get tired, observe patience
They are same inward and outward
Children of this generation
Discuss plans to save water
They discuss about harvesting
Gold from earth
Fly high in sky
Children of this generation
Make new plans
Create new job avenues
Maintain a new life-style
Just, they don't about
Ancestral vocations.
KRISHNA KUMARI
WITH SUNRISE
Accomplishing
All the domestic chores
After Sunrise
She moves towards
Her fields
Holding bundle of roti
On her head
And flanking infant
Reaches her husband
Handing over food to him
Starts feeding her infant.
YOU KNOW BETTER
This tiny sparrow
Whenever she feels like measuring
The earth and vast sky
Spreads her wings and takes flight
She sits for feeding herself on grains
Sometimes on tree
Sometimes hopping on grass
She starts playing with
Unfamiliar he and she sparrows
Nobody demands any
Explanation from her
Nobody restrains her
With whom you were playing
Throughout the day
And on which tree
You spent your whole night?
And this mother cow is also free
To have her own will
For sake of grazing
Moves anywhere she likes
Sometimes she dozes
In the mid of road
Carts, houses, people
In front of her and backwards
All stand still, trying to escape her.
And this chit of ant
In her own way
Swings here and there
Keeps on doing
What she wishes to do
Keeps on wandering
Meets another ant
Whenever she intends
And start gossiping
On various subjects
Nobody demands explanation from them
With whom were you flirting?
Nobody imposes restrictions on them.
And this squirrel
And this rat
They, too, are at ease always
They don't have to bother about marriage
Neither botheration of moving to in-laws
Nor they are supposed to put on veils
Nor are they scared of getting burnt alive
In the fierce flames of dowry
Dare any husband treat them as foot-wear
Will be kicked to fall headlong
But this poor woman?
What to describe? O! God
O! This world
This world of males
What can I say?
What can I say?
You ponder over this
You know better.
OUR ABODE
*************
Where wind of
Pretentious customs
And traditions does not blow
Where people don't hate love
Where people are not stone-hearted
Where restrictions are not imposed on love
Where stones are not thrown on *Laila
Where *Anarkali is not wall-pinned
Lat us move there only
And build our abode.
*Laila: heroine of love saga Laila-Majnu
*Anarkali : heroine of love saga Anarkali-Salim
MANISHA ARYA SONI
I BOW MY HEAD
*********************
I bow my headIn front of Entire speciesOf CactusThat is growing with prideWithout any support from anybodyWhich is nor worshipped by anyoneWhich is not watered by anyoneIs not associated with any auspicious Or inauspicious ceremoniesNeither it is granting any boonNor accomplishing any auspicious event
ButIn scorching, fiery dunesIt nurtures water in form of juiceIt has preserved it in inner cores of heartJust as A poor female hides her youthWith her torn, tattered clothesThis Cactus reared it so muchThat it turned into medicine
If you ever apply ' Alovera Gel' on your faceThen, remember how problematic it wasFor the cactus to hold water withinFor a noble causeIn fiery heatIt is *Kawad-Yatra ofThis seemingly worthless thorny bushIt is outcome of severe self-mortification
Whenever you see dodging face Of a beautiful dame.Then, just remember-------
Kawad-yatra : Journey of a devotee carrying pitchers of holy water in a sling on his shoulders to offer to God, with utter care lest any drop falls.
O! SPINNING-WHEEL
OBSERVING MA WHILE GOING TO OPERATION THEATRE
I was shuddering with fear
When my mother was moving
To operation- theatre
Without any apparent tension
Without caring for her ailment
MANSI SHARMA
***********************
ANKLET
**********
I have
Due to this reason
Removed anklet
Gifted by you
Because
Whenever
I move ahead a step
That very moment
Its tinkling
Makes me remind of you
And, after it
I am not able to
Step ahead.
KHEJRI
********
Khejri
Bearing
Chilling winter and frost
Storm and rain
You are standing aloof
In midst of desert
During famine of 1956
You bestowed life
On human-beings
With your pods and bark
Perhaps due to
Your this sacrifice only
You have been given medal of
State tree.
LIKE A TORTOISE
*****************
I often think
That I should move out
To some other place
For sake of seeking education
Establish myself
And have my own will
But
Again, I retreat
Confine
Within myself
Like a tortoise.
NEW RELATION
******************
Why
You are wasting time
To see him
Whether
He is online or not
He
Is busy
In developing
New relation
With new numbers.
MEENAKSHI BORANA
IDENTITY OF WOMAN
Who worships woman
Who versifies in praise of woman
Who can grasp what she ushers
Who understands her
Who paid due regards to woman
Who bestowed woman with identity
She acquainted entire world
With truth
She landed charm
To customs of this world
Don't enthrone her as deity
She is dignity of humanity
Embodiment of compassion
Let the woman be
Woman only.
ORDINARY WOMAN
*******************
At peak of night
Deserted cross-road
At that spot arose
A woman
Imploringly says
Don't kill me
You won't get rich
By killing me
I am only an ill-fated being
Feeble
Due to lashes of time
I am an ordinary woman
Of this country.
LONGING
A wish sprouts in my heart
In this picturesque evening
To sing melodiously
Songs about my mother
Waves sway in my heart
Heart is brimmed with
So many ideas
That my eyes turn watery
Throat is choked
Voice has turned silent
So much affection has
Arisen in my heart.
Heavenly bliss on earth is
Derived from shelter in maternal home
On this earth, for children
This is the main hope of comfort
That corner of earth is desolate
Where laurels are not sung
In praise of mother
Such divine appearance of mother
Can not be elsewhere in whole universe.
Mother leaves behind
Wish of comfort for herself
Meditates
As if Heaven lands on earth
When heart is
Full of love for mother
Today, waves of new notes
Are swaying in my throat
Light of affection is
Glowing in my heart
Mother hugs me tightly
In every re-birth on earth
I wish you to be my mother
This is my only longing.
HAIKUS
*********
(1)
Seven vow
Taken during wedding rituals
With changing times
False
or
True
2.
Life of woman
As if being ground
Between two stones
Of grinding wheel
Domesticity
And
Profession
(3)
Keep human-virtues
Alive in you
Or else
What is difference
Between you
And
Beast
(4)
Modernity
A blind race
End-result
Elopement
From
Traditions
And
Cultural values.
(5)
In solving
Complicacies of
Unpredictable life
Whole life
Is consumed.
MEENAKSHI PAREEK
I ASPIRE FOR SUCH A WORLD
*****************************
Forehead of the earth is glorified
By bright crimson Sun
Azure is blue
The moon has milky glow
Plate of sky is
Ornamented with stars
Birds fly chirping
Singing in unison
Soft, cool wind blows
Enchanting bloom all-around
I aspire for such a world
Every home has place for worship
Evenings and mornings echo
With hymns and prayers
Hearts of human-beings are filled
With feeling of intimacy
Relations are never hurt by
Falsehood and deceit
Elders are held in esteem
Sweetness flows in speech
Human-beings, animals, group of children
All behave affectionately
No distinction of caste-creed prevails
Nobody nurtures jealousy mutually
I aspire for such a world
Prosperity reigns
May the conflicts be curbed
Our country progresses by leaps and bounds
Granaries are full of crops always
Literacy and literature spread
Trade of weapons comes to an end
Universal fraternity prevails
I aspire for such a world
Drinking water is available
To each and every being
Pure air diffuses all-around
Veil of the earth remains green
Every being on this earth gets food
May not be very vast, but
Every one has a roof on his head
I aspire for such a world
Public is united
Misdeeds are shun away
Everyone is truthful
Human-beings observe humane values
Everyone is willing to serve nation
I aspire for such a world.
I ASPIRE FOR SUCH A WORLD
*****************************
Forehead of the earth is glorified
By bright crimson Sun
Azure is blue
The moon has milky glow
Plate of sky is
Ornamented with stars
Birds fly chirping
Singing in unison
Soft, cool wind blows
Enchanting bloom all-around
I aspire for such a world
Every home has place for worship
Evenings and mornings echo
With hymns and prayers
Hearts of human-beings are filled
With feeling of intimacy
Relations are never hurt by
Falsehood and deceit
Elders are held in esteem
Sweetness flows in speech
Human-beings, animals, group of children
All behave affectionately
No distinction of caste-creed prevails
Nobody nurtures jealousy mutually
I aspire for such a world
Prosperity reigns
May the conflicts be curbed
Our country progresses by leaps and bounds
Granaries are full of crops always
Literacy and literature spread
Trade of weapons comes to an end
Universal fraternity prevails
I aspire for such a world
Drinking water is available
To each and every being
Pure air diffuses all-around
Veil of the earth remains green
Every being on this earth gets food
May not be very vast, but
Every one has a roof on his head
I aspire for such a world
Public is united
Misdeeds are shun away
Everyone is truthful
Human-beings observe humane values
Everyone is willing to serve nation
I aspire for such a world.
NEELAM PAREEK
BUD OF AFFECTION
*******************
With a myriad -touch
Cloud of love
Where Is My Sky?
****************
Maa!
You used to tell me
Daughters are like chippers
They fly away one day
But Maa
Birds fly freely
In vast sky
If I am a bird
Where is my
Share of the sky?
WHEN DID I EVER FORGET?
***************************
When did I ever forget
That waiting for you
Since evening till morning
My mind in awe of darkness
Those sleep devoid nights
That weaved endless dreams
I never forgot
Those dark lonely nights
Devoid of dreams
Nights with tearful eyes
Whom could I complain
Who was mine
Of whom I was hopeful
Did not turn true to my expectations
Might not get annoyed with me
This thought also scared me
Haunted me day and night
In a corner of my heart
A sapling of hope sprouted
It withered at times
And flourished at times
With shower of pretentious love
Nurtured, kept on growing into a tree
But, even till now
Not to mention of Nectar Fruit
Even fragrant flowers have not grown
Only some leaves have grown
With pointed ends
Even shade of this tree is
Meant for you only
In my share are only
Sharp thorny leaves.
CREATION OF POEM
***********************
Diving in depth of heart
Swaying on swing of expressive words
In oceanic depth of heart
Swinging countless times
Words are created.
Anguish of heart
Tears flowing from eyes
Land into this pen
And versify emotions of anguish
When anguish of heart
Gets out of control
And in the heart of poet
Anguish settles down
Storms of agony start uprising
In the inner cores of heart
It may be agony of anybody
Pang of separation
or else
That situation of sadness
Patient, sobre , passionate heart of poet
Preserves that swelling pain
In the cores of his heart
When water of ocean
Starts swinging in the cores of heart
Uprising of agony enhances
Then a writer holds his pen
That agony assumes form of
Cloudlet of rainy season
And constantly flows
In the form of tears of the writer
And settles down on paper
That anguish, pain
Does not merely confine itself
To pages of copy
When by chance
Any literate person catches glimpse of it
It become a means of applause
Creating or writing poems
Is never any easy nut to crack
When is it easy to versify agony
One has to dive deep
In ocean of pain
One has to bear anguish
Several times while composing verses
Composer gets so much deep that
Not only his eyes
But heart also cries in pain
Gush of tears flows from
Eyes as well as inner cores of heart
Conscience feels that agony
Wherever moving
That agony is penned on paper
Writing poems, versifying
Is not an easy task
Pen has to be dipped
In ink of tears
Before writing on any issue
One has to dive deep into it
One has to feel it
A composer
Absorbs himself completely
For fathoming depth of it
After following this process
Several words are incarnated on paper
In the form of poem.
CLOUDLET OF REVERIES
************************
Whenever cloudlet of reveries
Rises again and again
My eyes shed tears
With that flow
Ocean of my heart is filled
And in water of that ocean
My heart swings
Even afterwards
When does this
Reveries smeared cloudlet
Dispel
Ultimately
Raining continually
Drenches my *kasumbal Chir
Keeps me tossing in bed whole might
But
Immigrant does not come back home
Just, cloudlet smeared with reveries
Comes again and again
Who can convince
This anguished heart
We can interpret a letter
But, neither can heart be interpreted
Nor this cloudlet of reveries
Exhausts.
*kasumbal Chir : colourful red attire worn by married ladies in Rajasthan
SANGHMITRA RATHORE
*************************
YOUR EYES
*************
Your eyes
As if a casket of mysteries
Shimmering, like earthen-lamps of Diwali
Like stars twinkling in silvery moon-lit nights
Your eyes converse more than your lips
As if your eyes don't know how to remain silent
These are so expressive that they prevent
Your tongue from ushering
Your eyes keep on spying me
Won't let me hide any secret of mine
Unveils layers of my heart and
Disclose the entire story
Just as a child burst out
After making so many lame excuses
About how did his dress got shabby
How it caught dust
Your eyes are neither like a maze
Nor like a thicket, which deviates from path
Your eyes are like gist of this world
Devoid of disorientation, boundless peace prevails
Love floats in your eyes
Just as reflection of sky in flowing river
I view in your eyes
Almighty glancing at me smilingly.
BLISS OF JOY
**************
The Sun was about to set
Not a single hope of his was sold
Throughout the day
He followed so many people
With a hope to sell
In a circumference of ten yards
He measured so many miles
Shops are about to be closed now
Crowd is dispersing
He is holding in his hand
Unsold flute
He is holding in his hand
Empty plates of food
Clouds of sadness are over-casting
His hopeful eyes
He, too, is packing, not only his bag
But shattered pieces of glass-like dreams
These pieces prick his heart
His heart is flinching
Like a hurt deer
The bundle that he carried on his shoulders
Seemed to be heavier than it was in morning
On his tiny shoulders, he was not only carrying flutes
He was carrying burden of broken roof of his home too
Evening had set
Diffused everywhere was
Deep silence after fair was over
He saw a boy of his own age
He was collecting peels of pleasure
Probing in his bag
For a complete piece of happiness
Perhaps, he, too, was looking for
A meal for one time
His eyes, too, were burdened
With load of hopes
Turning around, as if he saw his own shadow
The one who could not sell anything
And the one who could not get anything
Both were glancing at each other
As if both are tied with same line of fate
Both smiled in unison
Just as two friends meet in battle-field
They fight in the same army
Are wounded, but don't accept defeat
They conquer this world
Not only with valour, but with their smile too
He picked out from his bag his best flute
Tied with a yellow colour thread
Studded with beads
Dipped in colour of beauty
He extended it towards his unfamiliar friend
It was not only a wooden piece of music
But a missed pleasure of his part
He, too, accepted it smilingly
And relieved his friend from load
Due to which his tender shoulders were over-burdened
Both of them returned
Deriving from the festival
Own share of bliss of joy.
SANJU SHRIMALI
*********************
SAND
Sand does not
Change its temper
Keeps settled
At one place
Consistently
As long as it
Produces crop
Sufficient to
Appease hunger
And
When it starts rising high
Assuming form of sand-storm
Sways along with it
All dreams of human-beings.
WOMAN
********
A woman can
Manage home
Along with her job
But man
After returning from his job
Is used to comment this only
What do you do whole day
Poor woman
In spite of knowing all this
Keeping mum
In her heart
Can say this much only
Only for a day
Manage domesticity
And you will know.
PAID OFF DEBT
*****************
Today
I am carefree
After paying off
Your debt
When
Corpse
Of my son
Reached my courtyard
Whom I had seen
Flying in sky
Saw same son
Wrapped in coffin
My life is blessed
That
Such a son
Was born from my womb
To relieve me of my debts
He forgot home
To fulfil
Dignity of valour
Of our ancestors
Look
Our dear son
Is wrapped in
Tri- colour flag.
LIBERATION
**********
Come
Let us fight together
A fight for liberation
Emancipation of
Self from self
We know very well
That we are enslaved to
Intoxication
To malpractices
Enslaved to bonds of
Mutual affection
Enslaved to self-consciousness
Enslaved to leaders
Whom we follow blindly
We fulfil all the tasks
Assigned by them
But after their purpose is accomplished
Same leaders shun us away
Just as cattle
Forget their off-springs
When they grow up
So, let us start fight
To get liberated
From all these
You become comfortable
And me too
Feel comfortable
All human-beings
Feel comfortable.
BOSOM BUDDY
O, My bosom buddy!
Come with me
Leaving everything behind
Let us move far from this city
To our native village
Dunes stretched till far
Lucidity of *kakadia-mateera
Vegetable of *Gawarfali and *fofalia
Pouring ghee on * sogra of bajra
*Teej and other festivals
Fairs and gatherings
On auspicious occasions
Lively conversations at *choupal
Affection of companions
Intimacy of strangers too
Sips of * rabadhi
Perhaps
Still, are waiting for us
Pleasant wind
And fragrance of sand
I miss a lot.
*kakadia: vegetation in desert area
Mateera : pulpy juicy fruit in desert
*Gwarfali and fofalia: food crops grown in Rajasthan
*Sogra of bajra: a dish prepared with bajra
* Teej: a festival of females in Rajasthan in monsoon
* Choupal: meeting place in village
* Rabadhi: a traditional Rajasthani dish prepared with buttermilk and bajra
SANTOSH MAYAMOHAN
REPUTATION
*************
I am
Your Ash-tray
In me
You knock down
Your cigarette's ash
I
Gather it
Preserve
And
Nourish it
Hand over to you
And restore
Your reputation.
SAPNA VERMA
HIGH- SPIRITED WOMAN
While milking cows
Along with milk squirt
Amidst being hit by tail of cow
Who co-ordinates rhythm
That woman only is high-spirited
While making cow-dung cakes
Who pays heed to
Uniformity of shape
In hand- impression put on* theprhee
Who tries to find impressions of
Lines of her hand
That woman only is high-spirited
While grinding
When the rhythmic sound
Produced by grains
Is fused into sweet music
Flowing from her
Melodious voice
That woman only is high-spirited
Working like machine
But not turning into machine
keeps shaping and framing
Her own dreams
That woman only is high-spirited
But every woman
Who seems alive
Is not full of life
When vision turns stony
When vision gets stuck
To a specific point
When she becomes like a wall
Though sitting in front of hearth
Milk boiling overflows
When in squirt of milk
She hears noise only
When while making cow-dung cakes
She hears only sound of dung-slapping
When grinding-stone
Solely produces sound
When hand gets burnt
While making chapatis
O human-beings!
Just pay attention to it
This is not woman
But moving corpse
She is devoid of life
Only seems to be alive.
* theprhee: cow-dung cake
GRASS AND WOMAN
**********************
A woman is like grass
Swaying and waving
Delicate and soft
Always keeps sticking
To roots
As soon as it tries to
Grow high
It is ripped
And again rooted in earth
She learns to live again
All afresh
She abandons habit of
Swaying and waving
The more she flourishes
The more she is ripped
AFFLICTIONS
*************
I AM A FREE BIRD
******************
I am
A sparrow of sky
Cage is not
Acceptable to me
My eyes nurture dreams
My wings flutter with courage
Vast sky is my abode
If you view this world
With wide-open eyes
I am entitled to
As much share of right
As you claim for yourself.
FROM D/O TO W/O
SHAKUNTALA SHARMA
**********
In courtyard of
Our dear father
We, all sisters are
Neem trees
Viewing Neem trees
My grandmother
Scolded father
How is it that
You are sowing
Neem and neem
Fetch one rose
Our courtyard will
Appear charming
Courtyard
Will bloom
Will shed fragrance
And, we
Where we were sowed
Flourished and extended widely
Inwardly
Kept on expanding
But that rose plant
Every winter
Every summer
Father kept on moving it
Lest it suffers due to high temperature
Lest it gets frost-bitten
Focussing all attention on
The beautiful rose
Taking utter care of him
Thorns pricked hands of father
At times, a thorn
Caused wound by and by
Due to negligence
Father became sick
Thorn turned into wound
And caused skin- infection
So many wounds
So many skin-infections were
Healed by leaves of Neem
Bitter leaves of Neem
We leaves of Neem
We seeds of Neem
Our trees provide cool breeze
And plentiful shade
Entire pain
And anguish
Goes away
Healed
By trees of Neem
We are trees of Neem
We are trees of Neem.
Nimboli: berry of Mergosa tree
Neem : Mergosa.
SHARDA KRISHNA
*******************ROTI OR POEM
RING
******
A celestial nymph
Matchless beauty Meneka
And consequence of
Circumstantial consummations of
Sage Vishwamitar
A staunch meditator of truth
Refuted Shakuntala
Brought up in Hermitage
Foster daughter of Father Kanv
Enchanting innocent youth
She was unquestioned beauty.
In maze-filled roads of past
Narrow lanes and crossroads
On highways of Hastinapur
In confused mob of feminism
She is wandering
In search of finding
Exact definition of her dignity
In each and every street are
Echoing songs of revolution
Of torch-bearers
And she wants to know from mob about
Fathomless depth of water of Shuchi-pilgrimage
Effacement of ring with royal seal
And consequence of selfless love
How a ring
Erased
Memory and consciousness
Of the king
Which proficient goldsmith
Could have moulded gold
Matching my finger only
Stomach of Rohu fish
Would not have been pierced
Without any purpose
She was destined
To become an instrument
Of oblivion of the king
God knows why
She swallowed my very existence
And held it for years
In her abdomen
She, too, was killed ultimately
Like a character of some suspense story
But, prior to it
In full gathering in court was
Shattered dignity of female
Was ridiculed with harsh words
Abomination by the king
Annoyance of Mother Goutami
Contempt of foster-brothers of hermitage
Inner cores of heart of
Daughter of Kanv
Pierced
Then she observed
Truth beguiled to lie
Bereaved faith
And triumph of
Forced fraud!
She did not find refuge in earth
Many Agni-pariksha she might have to face
She will have to probe for herself
Response to these questions
Where Royals society is mum now
Where had been the ring
How it vanished
When did Rohu fish
Come on surface of
Shuchi pilgrimage?
Who was the fisher-man
That took the ring
To the royal court
Exactly after disdain of Shakuntala
By the King
And if it was a mutual lapse
Why the entire punishment
Why the whole blemish is
One sided.
Agni pariksha, a trial by fire described in the Hindu Sanskrit epic Ramayana.
SHARMILA SONI
PLEADING OF UNBORN DAUGHTER
***********************************
Ma! I am your unborn child
You are my real mother
On issue of boy or girl
Why this differentiation
Ma! Don't get me assaulted
With these sharp-pointed apparatus
Ma! I am scared of surgical tools
You got examined for son
But instead of son
Reports revealed daughter
Wretchedness arose in your mind
For sake of killing me
You joined hands with killers
Ma! Don't get me killed
With these pointed instruments
My tiny -tiny fingers
They will cut and
Throw anywhere
This butcher will have own will
My heart trembles at the thought of
My limbs getting cut in pieces
Ma! Don't get me assaulted
With these sharp-pointed apparatus
Ma! I am scared of surgical tools
But, you might have been helpless
This unbearable pain will exhaust you
How will you be separated from me
Your heart must be shuddered
With blood-smeared newspapers
Ma! I am scared of these sharp-pointed apparatus
DAUGHTERS
**************
Daughters are pride of
Our home, mohalla and street
Daughters are soul of father
And pride of mother
They achieve fame in
Own country as well as abroad
Fetched medals for nation
Daughters are very meritorious
They drive rail-engine and fly aero planes
Conquer over every pain
Such strong are our daughters
Daughters are pride of
Our home, mohalla and street
They protect nation
Become judge and pass judgements
Do researches in science, enhance prestige of nation
Daughters are pride of
Our home, mohalla and street
Once determined to have their will
Cause upheaval in whole country and world
If it be needed, they shoulder corpse too like sons
The nurture their prodigy soulfully
Enhance family tree
They are prestige of two pedigrees
Daughters are pride of
Our home, mohalla and street.
Fly
Fly with full vigour
Fly in such a way that
You can view world and
Entire world sees you
Nobody is going to restrain you
Except you yourself.
Just as birds measure
Vast sky and entire earth
Scribble your name
In hues of vibgyor
Till where vision reaches
Nobody is going to restrain you
Except you yourself.
Then one fateful day
Without preparing me
Sent me to my in-laws
Just as kite is tied with thread
Now mother does not instruct me
What to do with these wings?
Perhaps, she, too, knows
Plenty of people are here
To restrict me
Except myself.
ALL AGREE
*************
All agree that
A female is capable of
Doing everything
She can reach Space
But, don't let her go
What will become of
Our dignity
When she will
Converse with males?
All agree that
That female can
Hold responsibility
Equal to male
Standing on one foot
But won't let her
Assume responsibility
What will people say
How she crossed
Threshold of house
Your daughter or your wife
They agree that
Issue of equality is right
But why to let her stand equal
How can she wear that
Pant- bush-shirt , suit-boot
Who has been wearing
*Aangi- ghagra
And covering her face
With a long veil?
*Aangi-ghagra: traditional dress consisting of blouse and long pleated skirt
SUNDAR PARAKH
Who Knows?
***********
Flying high and high
Touching further heights
She mingled with clouds
Cared to see the earth?
Thread got cut
Tomorrow is never
Same as today.
It hung on
Pond of water
Then moved to
Branch of Banyan tree
Neither up, nor down
Stuck midway
Who knows?
One has to bear
Results of own deeds.
Leaving behind
Hut in his own village
Leaving behind younger brother
In lap of mother
Moved in bus
Reached our home
For livelihood
Exhausted after whole day's work
Sat outside to have plateful of meals
Asked her on mobile
Is everything okay overthere?
Has Nainu slept?
Now I will have meal
Pay my regards to father
I will send money
After completion of month
Till then....
Okay
Disconnecting phone.
And starts having meal
For re-charging phone
Spent a hundred Rupees
Means, it will be due upon me
Eighteen years old elder brother
Matures very early
Leaving behind two brothers
And ailing father
In care of mother
In village
Came to our house
For livelihood
How much plateful
We might serve him
He gobbles it down
Only after chatting with mother
Then only satiety follows
Departing from native-soil is
Very hard
Leaving behind
Playful ways of childhood
Is it plain sailing ?
***********************
Fiery sunstrokes
Autumn
All are washed away
By a shower of rain
Greenery is resumed
This is power of Nature
Don't keep on blowing
Your own trumpet
Pay heed to what
These seasons usher
All these sing
Diverse forms of melodies
With rotation of seasons
Demeanor of all changes
Only that can survive
Who has an easy-going temper
Nature remains in unison
With good-tempered humans.
SUNITA BISHNOLIA
AN OFFICE-GOING WOMAN
SO THAT NO AHILAYA IS RESURRECTED
****************************************
Due to unrighteous persons
Till how much time
Innocent female
Will keep on becoming
Ahilaya
Till how long
Carrying on commands of males
Will remain mute
Why should she wait for
Another Ram
When her own Ram
Could not understand
Her anguish
Yeah, Ram is needed
Yeah, Ram is needed
But
Ram that emancipates
Ahilaya is not needed
And we don't need a Ram
That had shun Sita
Abandoned her
Due to fear of social modesty
We need a Ram
That dries up whole ocean
In search of Sita
And puts an end to Ravan
Along with unrighteous
Mentally sick persons
Who impose blame on Sita
So that, again
No Ram sends
Sita to exile
And
No Ahilaya is resurrected.
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