My Poems

Like little waves on a calm lake Came little waves of joy Like little pauses in music Came little stings of pain Together they made a pattern On the fabric of my life If I could look from far away It'll form a nice quilt

(This is not a poem, but a play I wrote for the Church's Annual Feast on 2/10/13.) The Talented Bunch Cast: Jim, a school boy Mom, Jim's mom Master First Servant Second Servant Third Servant Scene 1  - Jim's house [Mom is at home expecting Jim. Jim comes home from school. He is not enthusiastic. He puts his backpack down.] Mom : How was your day, Jim? Jim : Not good.  Mom : What happened? Jim : Today they took the pictures for the year book. Many of my friends were called for multiple pictures but I was not. They all have many talents - like sports and public speaking and they won prizes in competitions. I am not talented! Mom : But Jim, you are good at painting. Jim : (getting annoyed) Painting! What good is sitting in a corner and painting? There is no painting team at school! And how  does it help with athletic ability? That is all what matters to have friends. Mom : (in a calming...

ഇന്നാണമ്മേ പെരുന്നാ' പള്ളിയി- ലിന്നാണമ്മേ പെരുന്നാള്‌ ചില്ലിങ്കൂട്ടിലിരിക്കണ ചീമയ- മുത്തപ്പന്റെ വിരുന്നാണ് കോണിലിരിക്കണ കോന്നിത്തള്ളയ്- ക്കെന്തോന്നിന്റെ പൊരുപ്പാണ്‌ ? ചെന്നായ്ക്കുട്ടികള്‍ പിച്ചിച്ചീന്തിയ മുന്തിരിവള്ളി കണക്കാണ് .... സുന്ദരനായൊരു പൊന്മകനുള്ളത്  ദൂരൊരു നാട്ടി പൊറുപ്പാണ് ....  സുന്ദരിയായൊരു പൊന്മകളുള്ളതു  കുട്ട്യോളെ പെറ്റു കിടപ്പാണ് 

1. ജീവിതമാനന്ദനിര്‍ഭരമാകണ- മീവിധം ക്ലേശിപ്പാനുള്ളതല്ല  2.  കൃത്യം കൃത്യമായിട്ടെന്റെ കർത്തവ്യങ്ങൾ (നിവർത്തിപ്പാൻ) ചെയ്തുതീർക്കാൻ  ഭൃത്യനെന്നെ  തുണയ്ക്കണേ കർത്തനാമീശോ  3.  മെഡിക്കൽ ഇൻഷുറൻസ്  മൂക്കടപ്പത്രയും  രൂക്ഷമെൻ  ഡോക്ടറേ ഇക്കടപ്പത്രത്തിലൊപ്പിടാം ഞാൻ  4.  താമരസംഭവനുളവായ് വന്നൊരു  കാമരസം ഭവനുടനേ മാറ്റീ  നാമരസംഭ്രമമോടിതുപാർത്തു   

ഭാരതദേവിക്കു നാണം മറയ് ക്കുവാന്‍ കീറിയ കൂറയാമെന്നവണ്ണം കാമാര്‍ത്തനീചരാല്‍  ഭംഗിത ഗാത്രത്തെ പാവമാ പെണ്‍കുട്ടി വിട്ടുപോയി തന്മുന്നില്‍ തന്മക്കള്‍ ചെയ്തൊരാ ദുഷ്കര്‍മ്മം തെല്ലും തടുക്കാന്‍ തരപ്പെടാതെ  ഗാന്ധാരിയെപ്പോലെ കണ്‍കെട്ടി നീതിയും രാജാവിനെപ്പോലെ അന്ധനായ്‌ ന്യായവും നിസ്സഹരായിന്നു നിന്നുപോയി ആജീവനാളമൊരായിരം നാളമായ് പ്രാര്‍ഥനാക്കൂട്ടത്തില്‍ മിന്നിടുന്നു അപ്പൊരി പാറിപ്പടര്‍ന്നതി ശക്തമായ് ദുഷ്ടതയാകെ ദഹിപ്പിക്കും വഹ്നിയായ് കാട്ടുതീയായതു  മാറിടട്ടെ! ( Update: This poem was published in Manorama Online under the title  " ദുഃഖ, സ്നേഹാര്‍ദ്രം". You can find it  here ) (Update: Adding the transliteration as requested by a friend. bhaaratha devikku naanam marakkuvaan kuuriya kuurayamenna vannam kamaartha neecharaal bhangitha gaathrathe paavamaa penkutti vittupoyi thanmunnil thanmakkal cheythoraa dushkarmmam thellum thaduppan tharappedathe gaandhariyeppole kanketti neethiyum raajavineppole andhanaay nyaayavum...

അന്യവിചാരമൊഴിഞ്ഞതിശാന്തം  കന്യക തന്നുടെ കയ്യിലുറങ്ങും  സ്തന്യപമായൊരു ശിശുവെ പാര്‍ത്താല്‍ വന്യമനസ്സും ധന്യത നേടും  (സ്തന്യപം = മുലപ്പാല്‍ കുടിക്കുന്നത് = കൈക്കുഞ്ഞ്  )

The Intellect scolded the Ego: "You think you are the most important one; But you are deluded!" The Ego smiled back and said: "You think you are the smartest one But you are deluded!" The Self watching this said: "Stop fighting with each other! I love you both the same"  Like an indulging mother, the Mind said, "They are kids, Let them play a bit more"

If I were a God,  I would walk past a row of plants Leaving a trail of flowers just bloomed If I were a Great Man, I would walk past people Leaving a trail of smiles of joy

Having traveled all over town in the hot and sweaty summer afternoon The wind has settled. The dust has settled. Arriving one by one at the parking lot The cars have settled Crawling up under the blanket of night lights The city has settled Carrying the last load to a far away city The freight train has left Having wallowed in very many thoughts about you all day My mind has settled My breath has settled My heart has settled Marking the end and the beginning

As for life, there is no status quo. As for things, might as well let them go.

The kid in me wants to play The grown up asks, who's going to pay What do you say?

In the coffee shop Breaking my reverie She walked in Without knocking My eyes followed her gentle walk As she moved around the tables Like a swan among lotuses To the coffee counter The sparkle of her earrings Reflected on her cheeks I could not believe that it was her So I opened my eyes  And she was also part of my reverie

Bathed by nature Blown dry by human Autumn leaves in the rain (Hint: I wonder why they use the leaf blower when it is raining...)

Evening Came but Night Didn't Evening came but night didn't. The setting sun has melted Onto the windshields of the cars  No more birds in the sky Evening came; But night didn't How can it come Without you returning home? There is no sleep for me I await your return There is no night for today

The Date You picked me up at the crack of dawn What a day it has been! You made me laugh,  You made me cry I went all the way to the top And then came crashing down And went back up again As if on a roller coaster I ate, I drank I thought, I imagined I dreamt Now that night has fallen I resign to sleep's awaiting arms Hopeful that tomorrow O life I'll have a date with you again  

I asked the stream  How do you keep yourself so pure  She answered  "Keep moving, keep moving"  I asked the wind  How do you keep yourself so fresh  He answered  "Keep moving, keep moving"  I asked the chirping little bird How do you keep yourself so happy  She answered "Keep moving, keep moving"  I asked the mountain range  How do you keep yourself so peaceful  He answered "Keep moving, keep moving"  And I was as surprised as you!

(അരിമഥ്യ നാട്ടില്‍ എന്ന രീതി)  എന്നെയടിമത്ത - ത്തീന്നും രക്ഷിപ്പാന്‍  എന്നുവരും എന്റെ - രക്ഷകനേശു?  ഞാനോരിടം വന്നു - മരണത്തെ വെന്നു  നീ വിശ്വാസത്താല്‍ - ഗതി പ്രാപിക്ക

[Not a poem but a thought fragment]   Like a little kid Who broke open the kaleidoscope To discover, to his disappointment, That the intricate patterns inside Were just the reflections on the mirrors Of the boring world outside The self Broke open the mind To discover, to its dispassion, That the intricate patterns inside Were just the reflections on the senses Of the inactive world outside

On a carpet of fallen leaves Stands a tree clothed with ripe old leaves  That all look the same, wavering in the cool breeze ...  Suddenly, one of them begins to fall. How unique its fall! Gently, gently Twirling, gently It moves down The leaf moves The wind moves The earth moves The mind moves What is it really? The moment it hits the ground It is part of the fall carpet; They all look the same From oneness to oneness Journeys the autumn leaf With its fall.

Like a flake of snow, Softly, Came Friday night.