SUMMER LOTUS

26/12/23 1 min read (published in The Power of Poetry)

Author in Boston, December 2023

One morning in beautiful Boston,

I left the hotel to meet up with my friend who had gone shopping

She did not wait for me as I was napping

The biting blustering wind scoured my face as soon as I stepped out onto the pathway.

I was poor with directions and feared that the GPS would mislead me

I walked briskly on the verge of running, keeping my fingers crossed

It’s not so much the cold but the fear that the person behind me might pounce on me

Few times I threw side glances to size up the figure behind me.

I could run, I could kick, I could scream

Noticing people coming in the opposing direction comforted me

Everyone seemed to pace along, nonchalantly

Being well covered up by his neck buff added to the mystery and my tension

600 m later, the destination loomed up before me

The figure behind me had passed ahead

I was relieved

All in my mind

I have a fertile imagination and innate fear

Anyway, I am glad to overcome my doubts by setting out

What’s worse

To be held captive in my own mind each time I am challenged

Or face the uncertainty, realise the truth and fortify my mind

Many times it’s the tricks of my thoughts

I had chosen not to submit to fear

16th Dec 2023. 1 min read

Author at Climb Central, Singapore

My palms develop calluses as I grip the handholds

My feet ache as I pushed against the footholds

My arms are pumped up as blood is diverted to them

I feel the power of gravity as it hauls me back to earth

And I am tempted to let go

It’s the next level of difficulty

My mind says breathe

My heart says be still

My eyes say look for a better grip

My arms and legs say rest on the wall

My soul says be positive and move along

Rock climbing develops your grit, your persistence and your intellect

There is always a way to finally reach the top

Some can do it because they have unravelled these traits

They are strength, stamina, strategy, stability, stillness, silence, style and sentiment

I will get there, at the top of this level, one day.

These are the qualities that will get me whatever I want in life

29th Nov 2023. 1 min read (The Power Of Poetry)

The world is full of trouble

And it will continue to struggle

Man has since not budged an inch

As he has not looked within

Life is a mirror that reflects

If you want to make yourself glad

Remember what one sees but others do not

Accept that it’s no one’s fault

Rather, it’s a matter of different views

To another, one’s thoughts may seem skewed

It’s important to have mutual respect

Even when we differ in many aspects

What is a true human strength

It is the power to not take offence

To all who are different, let’s adopt a sincere embrace

So as to live life with peace, joy and grace

19th Nov 2023. 1 min read (poetry)

Author’s mutt, Happy

Happy, the love of my life

Everything was perfect about you except you were a runaway kid

When you went missing without my knowing

I did not relent as I went searching

Such a small creature could create so much upheaval in my being

At one point, I became so good at philosophizing

That I could handle a new beginning

But deep down, there was no pretending

That this event was too heartrending

When suddenly, a white shadow darted right

I leapt from the car and grabbed the mutt

By now, all terror stricken by the ‘wild’

But both of us were glad you were back in my arms like a child.

Thank God!

(First posted on my FB dated 6th June 2012, now shared with medium.com)

Yoda, the thinker

18th Nov 2023 1 min read (The Power of Poetry)

Yoda, picture taken on 16/6/2013

People think that cats do not think

It depends on where you do this thing

Finally found a couch where my ideas flow

No wonder the shrinks are in the know

Is it something about this mystic couch

Or does the ceiling makes me vouch

Or does lying flat makes me ponder well

Getting in touch with my inner self.

(First written in FB inspired by Yoda, submitted to medium.com)