The Choices We Make

My 50th poem!

I wrote a poem for a guest post I did for Carol Graham's blog Battered Hope early this month. Thought I would share it here as well.

I wrote this poem on the bus on the way to work. Observing people on the bus and outside on the streets was the inspiration for this poem.

We reach our destinations

In our own time and way

Many stops at many stations

Sometimes we go, sometimes we stay

Many points of destiny

Some choices we can make

Don't give it too much scrutiny

There's always give and take

All things in life must balance

No constant joy or sorrow

Most things are not a game of chance

In His plan we trust and follow.

~x~

Linking to:

Poetry Pantry #237

Real Toads Tuesday Platform 

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The Bliss of You

The word I chose for 2014 was Joy so it's only fitting to end the year with a poem that depicts Joy or the Bliss of God.

image source:  google images

Sing that song you sang to me

That intoxicated my heart many millennia ago

Sing that song you sang to me

That made my heart overflow

Play the melody you played to me

That enticed my spirit and bound me close to you

Play the melody you played to me

That sparked a love so true

Dance that dance you danced with me

That exhilarated my soul through time and space

Dance that dance you danced with me

With cosmic swirls and perfect grace

For when you sing and play and dance

The Universe hums in harmony

And souls then sing and play and dance

And peace prevails consciously

For joy is the essence of your creation

And joy is the way to eternal life

For joy is your blessing for all creation

And joy is the way to your side.

~x~

Linking to:
Imaginary Garden With Real Toads
Poetry Pantry #233

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Lost and Found

image source: google images

Life you threw me all askew

In despair I travelled trudging on

Ignorant of  jewels yet to be born

Of experiences wonderful and new

I lost it all, those material things

I thought that I had lost my soul

Then Lord you held me, made me whole

And Your flute, it brought me joy and wings

Written for:
Real Toads in Octave form = rhyming pattern abbacddc
Poetry Jam - Lost and Found
Linking to:
Poetry Pantry #205 


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Blessing Or A Curse?

The sound of the flute, soothes my soul

A heartache acute, a longing uncontrolled

My body is aching, my mind is numb

My eyes are failing, I can eat only crumbs

But once I was young, my mind sharp as a tack

And life was a song, and there was no lack

I thought back to those moments, when I played with my mates

Jumping in puddles, no cares no complaints

Is life a blessing, or is it a curse?

What was its purpose, did I deftly traverse?

What were its components, pleasing or grim?

Did the Gods chant a lament or a blessed  hymn?

My mind is uneasy, my body is fading

I'm old and so weary, I'm slowly decaying

I long for some comfort, my heart is in pain

Then the sound of the flute, begins again.

~x~

The sound of the flute is so soothing and so comforting.
And those that hear Lord Krishna's flute are truly blessed.


Written for:
Poetry Jam - Age, Aged, Aging
Real Toads - Curse
Linking to:
DVerse Open Link Night
Poetry Pantry #204

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The Spirit Of Love

Prompts this week:
One Single Impression - prompt #279 - Demon
Verse First - Lock
Linking up to Write Tribe picture prompt

write tribe picture prompt - image source

Verse First prompt:

Virginia Woolf once said, "“I thought how unpleasant it is to be locked out; and I thought how it is worse, perhaps, to be locked in.”

Upon consideration, one realizes that being locked - in  or out- can be literal, emotional, medical, figurative.  And there are other meanings to ponder. A lock can be a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed. It can be a section of canal that can be closed to control the water level; used to raise or lower vessels that pass through it. Or a lock can be a simple strand or cluster of hair.

Write a poem around the notion of a lock, using whatever meaning sets free your creativity.

image source: google images

Lock the door of my heart so I can behold only you

Hold the key in your hands to the end of time

Let my love not waver nor question this bond

Let my soul shine through like a beacon of love

You and I have sailed the tumultuous seas

In millennium after millennium

Locked our hands that none could break apart

And sang together the songs of our souls

Let me hear again the melody that entices my spirit

And binds me ever closer to you

Let me rest awhile in your loving embrace 

So my weary soul may dance again; renewed, refreshed, awakened

~x~

OSI prompt - Demon

The mind is in constant battle with the heart and is the mastermind behind that creeping fear.

Let the demon of doubt vanish from my mind

Let him not start a feud with my heart
Let him no place in my existence find

Let him not tear my soul apart

For love is the key to conquer all

With faith in my heart I free my mind

The demon of doubt then begins to fall

And unlocked are the fearful chains that bind

Also linking to dVerse Open Link Night #105

The Mirror Of My Soul

Written for Poets United Mid Week Motif
Linking to:  Poetry Pantry #186

image source: google images

The mirror of my soul my moments reflect

Not just of this life but of sojourns in time

Somehow I know but ever warily suspect

But like a nurturing mother she repeats the mime

If only I look and heed her care

For she is the essence of His love

And yet I rebel and ignore and dare

And close my eyes to her and above

Gently she coaxes and shows me the way

Patience epitomised love never wavering

Until at last in my life breaks that day

When I finally understand my soul's labouring

The mirror of my soul my moments reflect

Not just of this life but of sojourns in time

My soul I am blessed, for you I have met

Now the journey with you in this life is sublime

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Resolutions

Written for:  Real Toads
Linking to:    Poetry Pantry #183

Real Toads prompt - Resolutions

The challenge is entirely open to personal interpretation of the theme: "Resolutions" and the poem you write for this challenge may be reflective, narrative, analytical or abstract. 

image source:  google images

New Year Resolutions

I left a long time ago

Never comes to fruition

So now I go with the flow

The Universe has

A plan of its own

Erases mine enmasse

Plants its, firm like a throne

Its amazing plan

I've learned to trust

Sometimes hard to understand 

But always robust

Eventually I find 

They're grand and exciting

Better than mine

And always uplifting

New Year Resolutions

I left a long time ago

Never comes to fruition

So now I go with the flow

~x~

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The gift

Written for  Poetry Jam - Gifts   Verse First - Gifts and Blessings
Linking to   dVerse Open Link Night 126    Poetry Pantry 180 
                     Real Toads Open Link Monday

image source: google images

The heart of gold you gave to me

A symbol from the blue

An angel handed it to me

In a dream I lived with you

Your soul you merged with mine through that

A message of your love

My body bathed in your enchanting glow

And peaceful like a dove

The heart of gold you gave to me

A symbol of our love

My heart is joined with yours you said

In an everlasting bond

~x~

This poem is based on an event that took place during one of my meditations recently. Feeling blessed.


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Running with me

Written for:

The Write Tribe: 
Pick one of the provided quotes from Ernest Hemingway and write on that quote. The quote I've chosen is:

You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another ~ from The Sun Also Rises

Poetry Jam:
Write about what you know for sure, what you don't know for sure, what you wish you knew for sure and use one of the provided quotes to write a poem. The quote I've chosen is:

If we cannot name our own, we are cut off at the root, our hold on our lives as fragile as seed in a wind

Verse First:

The body becomes the landscape

creation of Carl Warner

I can't get away from myself by moving from one place to another

My load I carry everywhere, that much I know
No matter where I run it's never going to be further
For with me I travel wherever I go

I don't know what you look like or from whence you came

But without you I would be lost, that much I know

What would my life be if your guidance you refrain

My life would be more ebb and less of the flow

Wherever I travel, I blend in with the landscape

For earth is my present home, that much I know

My travels with you, my soul, my life does reshape

And through my adventures you learn and you grow

I wish I knew the reason for this life's quest

But you know all lifetimes, that much I know

And each step that I take is a cause and effect

And of journeys you planned a long time ago.

~x~

This was a real challenge trying to combine all three prompts, but that I wanted to combine them was something I knew I needed to do - challenge myself a bit. I hope I managed to make some sense of what I wrote.

Linking to:
Poetry Pantry #175
dVerse Open Link Night #122

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I Cried Out

Written for:  Verse First    Poetry Jam    G-Man    WoW

Also linking to:  Poetry Pantry #164        dVerse Open Link Night #111

Verse First - I cried out
Write in the first person. Avoid cliches; eschew the ordinary. Surprise, inspire, educate, elucidate. That's it. 

Wow - Fun with Repetition
your entry has to have one sentence that is repeated at least thrice in your post. You cannot repeat the sentence consecutively.

image source: google images

Why are you so elusive

I cried out, my beloved Lord

My soul it cannot truly live

Without your love and accord

I cannot find you anywhere

I cried out, my beloved Lord

My soul is weary with many a tear

My heart desolate and gored

Please hear my prayer 

I cried out, my beloved Lord

For you are my life, and breath and air

For aeons you I have adored

Let me hear your sweet flute

I cried out, my beloved Lord

For that's my guiding star, the route

That makes my spirit soar.

~x~

Poetry Jam - Vision  and  G-Man -Friday Flash 55

The vision of You
Is a sight to behold
A beautiful blue
And a halo of gold

I sat in awe
As she described You to me
My soul did soar
You set my spirit free

A moment Divine
Is now etched in my soul
I long for another sign
And your vision to hold.

~x~

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda. We give out themes for creative writing each weekend for Indian bloggers.

Update 30/10/2013 - My post was selected as a WoW post

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Writers are Lovers

Written for: Verse First and Poetry Jam
Linking to:  Poetry Pantry and dVerse Open Link Night

Verse First - Writers are Lovers
Choose one poet you adore and write a piece to honour or express that adoration. 
One of my favourite poets is Jalaludin Rumi. So my poem today is to honour this great poet. My blog headline is a quote by Rumi.

image source: wikipedia

Oh Rumi

Ardent student of Tabrizi

Your poems soothe the soul

Spiritual ecstasy

Divine intimacy

An ode to Spirit

Does truly uplift

Devotion to love

Peaceful like a dove

Heavenly mysticism

Entwined in Him

Spiritually liberating

Life exhilarating

Immortalised in verse

With heartfelt verve

Oh Rumi

Ardent student of Tabrizi

A gift for those who seek their soul

~x~

Poetry Jam - Steps

Life is a journey

Starts with one step

Easy or stormy

Like the flow and ebb

Each step that I take

I learn something new

Asleep or awake

Takes me closer to You

What will I take away?

When I stop my own tread

Savour each moment and day

Don't think too far ahead

Life is a journey

To feel and know

A gift not a tourney

Take steps to grow

 ~x~

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He Said, She Said and a Backward Twist

Written for:  Verse First  and  Poetry Jam
Linking to:   dVerse Open Link Night #117

image source: google images

He said it didn't matter if he was there or here

As she was entrenched inside his soul whether far or near

She said even though she understood the spiritual concept

Earthly limits play a part in her feeling quite inept

He said he heard her every word, felt her love and care

Their souls were tightly intertwined, bonds unbreakable and rare

She said she didn't understand why they journey so apart

Although his thoughts do bring her peace they also break her heart

He said that when her time was up he would be waiting on that side

She said the purpose of her life she first had to abide.

~x~

She said the purpose of her life she first had to abide

He said that when her time was up he would be waiting on that side

Although his thoughts do bring her peace they also break her heart

She said she didn't understand why they journey so apart

Their souls were tightly intertwined, bonds unbreakable and rare

He said he heard her every word, felt her love and care

Earthly limits play a part in her feeling quite inept

She said even though she understood the spiritual concept

As she was entrenched inside his soul whether far or near

He said it didn't matter if he was there or here.

~x~

Verse First prompt

Poet and short story writer Grace Paley said, "It is the responsibility of writers to listen to gossip and pass it on. It is the way all storytellers learn about life."

Natalie Goldberg expounded on this idea by saying, "We should learn to talk, not with judgment, greed or envy, but with compassion, wonder and amazement."

Today you have some options. Write about gossip. Write about what happens when wagging tongues do harm. Or not. Write a poem of conversation. Or write about the growth potential when interactions are based on compassion, wonder and amazement. You choose.

Poetry Jam

Write a short poem, 12 lines or less, and then read it backward, from the bottom up. The lines aren't backward, just the order of the lines. Rewrite the poem backward, with the last line first and the first line last: a palindrome poem.

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October Connections

Written for:  Verse First  and  Poetry Jam

Linking to:   Poetry Pantry #169   dVerse Open Link Night #116

Verse First - Interconnected
 Natalie Goldberg once said, "We are all interwoven and create each other's universes... We don't live for ourselves; we are all interconnected."
You affect me. I affect you. One action begets a series of reactions, which expand the web of connectedness. Every action is a pebble in the pond, every reaction a ripple. And so it goes. Consider the vast truth of this and write about it.

Poetry Jam - October
Be inspired by the month of October. Share what October means to you.

image courtesy of markuso http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Oh what passion do you ignite

Like a bird soaring high my soul takes flight

A whisper a thought I feel in my heart

Though we are countless miles apart

An invisible connection we do share
An eternal bond so true and rare

Do I meet you in travels to spiritual lands

Do you feed my spirit to knowledge expand

You are the flame that beckons my soul

And only with you can I be whole

~x~

A time in October I came on this Earth

To meet you here, to share some mirth

But Destiny plays a cruel game

Doused your fire, put out the flame

Connections we share through space and time

Knowing you are mine is a feeling sublime

I reach for you through invisible veils

To guide the boat of my life for you are its sails

A time in October I might come again to this Earth

Can we journey here together in my next birth?

~x~

I wrote the first poem a long time ago and thought it fit the prompt.
October is a special month for me, the beginning of my life.

Just Past Centre Battles

Written for  Verse First    Poetry Jam    GBE2
Linking to    Poetry Pantry #168   dVerse Open Link Night #115

Verse First - Just past the centre
We are, now, just past September's center. Funny way to look at a span of time, from the center. But that is exactly what I want you to do. Look at something, anything really, from just past center. It could be your life, your kitchen table or even a task at hand. It could be your equilibrium, your goals, a relationship or... Whatever you choose, write a poem from the perspective of Just past center.

GBE2 - Imperfection

All things must balance

That's my belief

Life's like a dance

Unbalanced it's grief

Sometimes a new venture

Swings left, then right

Just past centre

No use being uptight

A little imperfection

Much easier to achieve

It's a matter of perception

And what you believe

All things must balance

The ride up and down

Life needs an easy stance

Smile, don't frown

~x~

Poetry Jam - Battles

Mind is a battlefield

Of earthly understanding

Heart is a vault unsealed

Of Divinity enchanting

Sometimes the mind wins

It's morality's tool

It keeps us from sins

And within earthly rules 

But the heart is blissful

It tolerates the mind

Its connection is universal

Invisible and kind

There's balance in life

When mind and heart agree

Then our journey is free of strife

And the spirit is free

Mind is a battlefield

Of earthly understanding

Heart is a vault unsealed

Of Divinity enchanting

~x~

Paying it forward
This week I feature Mary's Just past centre - loved her take on the prompt and it made me smile




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Obsession and Steps

Written for:  Verse First   Poetry Jam

Verse First - Obsession
Make a list of obsessions - free flow for 15 minutes.  Select three obsessions from your list. Write a three-stanza poem, one stanza per obsession

Camera and Lord Ram images from google images

Oh camera, the medium of my precious memories

I am lost without your presence

For when those moments appear on my journeys

You are the one that captures their essence

Oh pretty dangly earrings that beatify

You sparkle as you swing

You never fail to catch my eye

Your loveliness makes me smile and sing

Oh Lord, you are my refuge and my joy

You are the melody of my soul

And when life falls apart or does annoy

Then Your love steps in and makes me whole

~x~

Poetry Jam - Steps
Wherever we go, whatever we do steps are always there. Just putting one foot in front of each other is taking a step forward. So this week think about and write about steps. Where would you like steps to take you? Do you make steps in your personal life? Do you follow others steps? Do you hate steps and the restrictions they can bring? 

image by sattva from  http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Let each step I take be ever mindful of Your presence

Let each step I take for another life make a difference

Let each step I take be always in the reflection of Your love

Let each step I take be guided by You from above

Let each step I take be Your work that I do

Let each step I take bring me closer to You

~x~

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Close to the Source I Swoon.

Written for the following prompts:
One Single Impression - Swoon
The Verse First - Close to the source
Linking to: Poetry Pantry #160   dVerse Open Link Night #107


Verse First's - Close to the source:
Good writing takes the reader on location. Good writing doesn't "talk about," but emanates the warmth, light and life of the topic at hand.  A good poem feels vivid and visceral and close to the source. Today, become the experience. Write from the source. With detailed yet precise language, make us feel your meaning. 

So here is my attempt, please let me know if I achieved the goal above and let me know if there were any improvements I could make. Drop by and leave a comment with your thoughts. Thanks.

A haunting melody

Whispering through the forest mist

Tickling my senses

Like a magnet I am drawn

Earthy boots crunching on fallen leaves

Searching blindly for that sweet sound

Footsteps quickening 

Anticipation testing my patience

The gurgling sound of a rushing brook

Mesmerising sweet refrain, tantalizingly near

Feet running fast, heartbeats quickening

Eyes aching to behold that source

~x~

One Single Impression - Swoon

And having beheld that source ..

There you sit by the pretty gulmohar

Under the light of a silken moon

That mesmerising sweet refrain

My senses begin to swoon

Mind intoxicated by your presence

Heart a flutter dancing wildly

Senses swimming uncontrollably 

Eyes locked and loving blindly.

~x~

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The Lesson

Today I have the privilege of being the host for The Writers' Post blog hop and my chosen prompt is "The Lesson".

My belief is that we all arrive into this world into this life so our souls may learn and grow.

So life presents us with situations to learn the lessons we are here to learn. And the situations present themselves over and over again until the lesson is learned.

If we look back at our lives, we can see a pattern emerge and from that we can establish the lesson(s) we are meant to learn. Steve Jobs put this quite nicely as "looking back to join the dots".

If the lesson evades us I believe that we carry it through from life to life until eventually we conquer and move on.

Over the years I have realised that there are a few lessons I'm pretty sure my soul is here to learn. Perhaps my karma is intertwined into this.

One of these I am sure is forgiveness.  Looking back to "join up the dots", I can see so many situations where an opportunity to learn forgiveness was presented. And I have finally learned to let go of bitterness where events have occurred that have been hurtful or where I felt betrayed or wronged.

So here's a poem I wrote and stored away for that opportunity to share. 

Image courtesy of akeeris http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Oh forgiveness, you demanding friend

Through many journeys my soul you bend

A heavy load I carry through aeons

In life after life as queens or minions

My spirit is worn down and heavily chained

That elusive lesson from my mind refrained

A flash of light, a beautiful blue

A Divine intervention experienced by few

A message is handed in the kindest of ways

The mind is enlightened, dissolved is the haze

In anger I walked off, tired and weary

In proving my love was pure and worthy

I should've forgiven, looked into your heart

We may have journeyed together, instead of apart.

~

This poem is inspired by a past life reading that I had. It was one of the most amazing experiences I ever had. So truly the lesson of forgiveness I have carried over from a life a long long long long time ago. 

So what is The Lesson for you?

Fact or fiction, poetry or prose, take this prompt as you will and share The Lesson. Then link up with the linky below and please link back to my post.

I look forward to reading your lesson.


Also linking this post to: Poets United Poetry Pantry and dVerse

Appetite and Omniscience

The prompt this week at Verse First is Appetite.  But as I missed last week's prompt Omniscience I thought I would combine both

And also linking to One Single Impression - Fragile

image source: google images

A soothing melody

Invaded my daydream

Gently flowing

Like a singing stream

It teased my thoughts

It disturbed my reverie

It opened my eyes

It shook my lethargy

It came and went 

And it was haunting

I was captivated

It increased my longing

I closed my eyes

To capture its essence

It filled me with bliss

I felt His presence

Omniscient

All pervading

Love ineffable

Ever aiding

His Divine grace

Soothed my soul

My appetite insatiable

For His love and to extol

~x~

When we hear the beautiful strains of the Lord's bansuri (flute) we are blessed and yet we so easily forget His love and grace. His melody is everlasting, always enticing, yet we choose only to listen when we need something.

Our love for the Lord is so fragile

It waxes and wanes like the moon

But His love is steadfast without guile

Eternal, and ready to grant any boon

Also linking to dVerse Open Link Night #104

Freedom

My soul is trapped or so it seems

In a body where restriction teems

It feels like it is disconnected

Torn, tattered and fragmented

I must find a way to free my soul

From the clutches of life's control

Stitch it up and keep it together

Yet break free from unyielding tether

In quiet solitude I sit still

But noises around me seem so shrill

Turbulent thoughts shake my resolve

I quietly pray so they may dissolve

Slowly chatter around me fades

Through the mire my mind it wades

Something lifts and oh it lightens

A serene connection to Spirit heightens

I am floating like a feather

Earth and Heaven come together

The scattered fragments slowly bind

Enlightened is the feeble mind

Body and soul merge like one

The mind no longer on the run

Seems I've suddenly found the key

To set my restless spirit free

Freedom freedom cries my soul

Life is beautiful, and I am whole.

Meditation is freedom!

~x~

Written for Verse First - The function of freedom (is to free someone else)

Linking to  Poetry Pantry #152   dVerse Open Link Night #99

A Place in the Universe

image source google images

A benevolent Universe

Lights my path

Sending me messages

in a myriad of ways

Helping me traverse

through this lifetime

as in lifetimes before

My immortal lover

Holding me 

in an eternal embrace

Leading me 

In a cosmic dance 

Comforting me

Protecting me

From the beyond

My Spiritual guide

Taking my soul 

On a journey 

Through space and time

Helping me 

to liberate myself

From the effects of Karma

 to attain Moksha

My place in the Universe

Is with my Divine Soulmate

In His heart

By His side

Helping humanity

Together

From age to age

To eternity

Moksha - liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth

Written for Verse First - A place in the Universe

Linking to:    dVerse Open Link Night #97  The Poetry Pantry #150