Story of a River...

I was nurtured in the womb of God,
I was born in the lap of the Himalayas
Heaven and Earth celebrated my birth,
Creation chose to name me- Yamuna.

In my childhood, I was chirpy and free
I was happy, as happy could be.
The mighty hills, the narrow valleys
They lifted me up, proved to be my allies.

Civilisation around me grew,
I was witnessing a world totally new.
From a child, I turned into a woman so pure,
People termed me Divine, some were so sure.

I was in Taj the power of love,
Towards me flew the pigeon and the dove.
Never the one to tire and stop,
I entered the plains, leaving the hills atop.

The large industries made my head reel,
No one seemed to care how I would feel.
Bags and trucks of waste they dumped,
For their greed, more and more water they pumped.

I grew weaker, strength I had no more
The filth slowly penetrated my heart's core.
While I struggled to breathe fresh air,
The ministers sat comfortable in their chair.

It seems like another lifetime, when I was considered Divine
Today, I'm struggling for life, but known as the "Lifeline".
That was my story, you patient child
I hope you'll come to me and not be blind.
Till then, all I have are memories and dreams,
Help me, don't let me break at the seams
Help me, don't let me break at the seams.

Sorrow of the Sparrow

I stand against the window
Watching the gentle raindrops fall
What a melody they make, what a sight they create
A day like this, I cannot easily recall.

Suddenly, I hear a muffled twitter
So soft, I almost can't hear
It contains an emotion of both joy and bitter
Is it really there or is it just my imagination?

As the uneasiness grows, I walk away
A small creature it must be, nothing to worry
But the sound still lingers, it's here to stay
Unknowingly, I find my feet following the cry

The shimmering sun joins the rain
My feet lead me to the shade of a tree
A bird breathes softly, trying to hide the pain
Its wings lie broken, its moment seems numbered.

I kneel down and realized I'm shivering
Those iridescent eyes look at me
Long forgotten memories and instantly reverberating
Taking me back to a childhood once cherished.

I reminisce the open fields,
The crisp air and the sounds of Nature
Those eyes, they manage to penetrate my shield
Oh! how selfish I had become, how could I not see.

The sparrow's heartbeat quickened
It did not respond to my touch anymore
Not to the hands that had left her threatened
The breath slowly quietened, the life slowly faded...

It was the end of a song,
The end of a childhood memory
The bird had gone, it had suffered for too long.
And I was left lamenting, for a part of me was gone.

Never-ending Quest...

I was looking for courage

I searched high and low,

In the mighty mountains, in the deep sea

Bruised and broken, I didn't find it.

I was searching for wisdom,

It took me to different places, different faces

No wise men could provide the answers

I appeared to be no wiser.

I began my hunt for faith

I went to temples, churches and mosques

My pilgrimage seemed never ending,

At the end of it, I knew no God.

I started in pursuit of love

Tales of heroic romance, historic monuments

Nothing could quench my thirst,

My craving only grew.

The years passed by, the miles stretched on

My face showed signs of weariness

My heart wanted to give up,

There seemed to be no answers.

Summer changed to autumn, autumn to winter

I lay, praying for Death to come.

Praying for the other life to provide me answers

Hoping for God to come and show me the way.

Death came, so did God

He took me on a heavenly ride

To a world so beautiful, so happy

But the raging sea inside me knew no calm.

Then the answer stuck me,

Walking blindly on my road of quest,

I had forgotten to look in a hidden place

The place where all the answers lay...

Inside me.