Thoughts

Our beginnings are the womb, in warm protected darkness. I wonder if there is a glow that can be seen in the womb, of the light of the outside that goes on about its business until we arrive?

Once we arrive, it is light, illuminating us and our world. Depending on where we are, it could be harsh, surgical lights or the ambient light of a birthing room. Our eyes are closed at first, but after a day or two, they…

Joe thought in binary terms. His mind a whirl of dots and dashes signalling certainty in all his actions. You are either right or wrong, with me or against me, winners and losers, light and darkness. As Joe stood on the bridge looking down upon the murky depths of the waters swirling beneath, he was thinking, life or death.

Dark clouds were looming on the horizon, swirling in his direction. He stared in defiance embracing the coming darkness, his body electrified with the anticipated intensity of the storm. It suited his mood and the state of his soul. For Joe was a trojan horse offering himself as a charming gift to…

There was once a traveller

Though young but sad

Some questions from life

Somehow he had….

As dusk drew in he lost his way

And losing his sight he went astray

Cursing the dark with the onset of fright

If there was something to do he thought he might

But darkness had taken his vision away

And had left him alone with deep dismay…..

As aimlessly he walked hither and tither

An old man he found carrying a pitcher

He was heading to the river that ran not far

The young man was wrong to think that help lay afar…..

To the river they went conversing all way

The young man spoke out his cause of dismay

On reaching the river the old man asked him

What do you see in the water?

A thought crossed him….

I see reflection of the moon

The young man replied

That’s the beauty…

नहीं मयस्सर थे फ़क़त मुझे ही गुल
काँटों से ही सजा लिया गुलिस्तां मैंने

कहाँ फुरसत उसे पढ़े वो आशार मेरे
जिस से लिखे थे अफ़साने वाबस्ता मैंने

मुड़ कर देखा ही नहीं उस ज़ालिम ने
देर तलक ताका था उसका रास्ता मैंने

शायद अब भी हो सूरत-ए-विसाल कोई
सुनी हैं इश्क़ की ख़ुशनुमा दास्ताँ मैंने

कब तक करूँ सुबह का इंतज़ार अमित
अंधेरो से ही कर लिया समझौता मैंने

In response to: Reena’s Exploration Challenge # 81

as the cars go by

we sit on the corners

of the public walkways

under tattered canopies

that used to be hanging gardens

and fields of golden straw

our chiffon gowns encrusted with
rubies

are dwindled to greasy rags

crystal chandeliers and exquisite
ballrooms

transformed to milk crates and
cardboard boxes

dignity and the strength of spirit
stand tall while

we grow accustomed to darkness

AwesomeBestPictures.com

life is waiting
for us to appear
lacking strength
once again

this blanket of doom
intervenes
feeling wrapped up
in cold dysfunction

held hostage by fear
it stakes a claim
on our courage
strangles it

eyes can’t face the day
legs won’t move
a body screaming
with electricity

the weight of the world
too much
retreat the only option
back to bed

we grow accustomed to the dark

Inspired by Reena’s Exploration Challenge #81

the
winds
are too
strong to keep
the fire burning
we grow accustomed to darkness

In response to: Reena’s Exploration Challenge # 81

As we age, stuff has a bad habit of going wrong.

We don’t move as quickly nor as agilely as we once did. Things hurt that didn’t hurt before.

It’s as if there is a darkness descending upon us. Our eyes need stronger glasses, our hearing suffers, and our will to live is challenged in so many ways.

Each morning and night we treat ourselves to a handful of drugs designed to keep us alive one more day, and we are told if we don’t stick a healthy diet and exercise regularly there may well be dire consequences.

Along with that, we have to contend with the press and every health guru telling us that 60 is the new 40. Rubbish I say, our bodies are subject to years of neglect by that age, things are wearing out, our internal organs have been abused through years of poor eating and…