Fountain of Love

“A fountain of joy, hidden in the woods!”

Proclaimed the one-eyed old man.

Seven and ninety years I have made merry,

And lived as God in paradise can.

“For me”, goes the southerner all clad in blue.

“‘Twas the fountain of youth

In caves, I searched a century ago.

Today, I strut around an un-ripened fruit.”

"Ha! My lads, I know the secret of wealth

Deep in the jungles lies a fountain

I will say no more," a third sniggered

"Save that it rests on a golden mountain."

The innkeeper smiles at the boasting men

He remarks at their playful volley

"Gentlemen", he protests, "What about love?

Be there a fountain for such a sweet folly?"

Silence reigns, and a strain is heard

As silhouettes frame the window beside

A couple in the moonlight caught in a dance

Clinging, unaware of the viewers inside.

Hold me tight, don’t let me go

I’ll be yours forever my dear

No fountain shall hold such water

Like the love you sprinkle right here

This valentine's. Happy Valentine's Day. May all of you find love and happiness with each waking moment! :)

Here's a beautiful song for the moment:

La Vie En Rose (Cover) 

Note: All rights for the video rest with the musician. You can contact them on their Youtube channel: Daniela Andrade

And You Thought Dragons Didn't Exist!

Towered it did, yet did not deter,

The flames could no longer be doused.

He bellowed and cast aside the fetters,

And made strong for the pinnacle, aroused.

They called him back, he heard no soul,

The ears deafened by his heavy pants.

He bled, a darker crimson toll,

Yet, trudged on into darker lands.

Screaming thunder, blinding lightning,

Curses thrown like rocks and fire.

Weary, the clutches of despair tightening,

He lunged for hope, meeting mock and ire.

Entombed in black, he withdrew,

Courting the dreaded darkened pull.

Faith he held, courage found anew,

The inner fire soon stoked to full.

He surged , the final hurdles stood beyond
Fought each one with rigour and zeal.
Climbed atop, triumphant , now reborn
Or, in another mythical land, we did see-

A fierce roar, he spewed fire.

As darkness melted, the demons did twist.

Unfolded its wings, leapt, soared higher,

And you thought that dragons didn't exist!

Each one of us is like a dragon. We are beings capable of the extraordinary on the routine. But, it may so happen that in the face of adversity, we lose hope and falter, turn our back in failure instead of persevering. It is not our destiny to sit back and despair, it would also be inhuman to do so. We should strive to soar high, like the mighty dragon, and fulfil our destiny. Let us not shy away from our demons but vanquish them with the fire of determination and success. My best wishes to everyone on their endeavours. 

A Citizen's Tribute : The Indian Air Force

Yesterday was October 8, the raising day of the Indian Air Force, a jewel among the armed forces of the country. A day that is celebrated each year with an amazing display of daredevil acrobatics performed by the brave pilots of the IAF. To these warriors, I raise my hand in salute.

As a civilian, I have always been overawed by the armed forces,, especially the Air Force. Seeing jets fly across the sky on every Republic Day and Air Force Day teases the imagination and compels one to fly alongside in a daydream as winds rush past and the aircrafts turn circles. It is a reverie that has kindled patriotic ambitions in the kids of the nation since the introduction of the IAF. A few of them have gone ahead and today serve the nation as proud members of the IAF. To these bravehearts, I raise my hand in salute.

A report released in 2015 states that the IAF has the fourth largest active fleet in the world comprising of combat aircraft, transport aircraft, training aircraft, helicopters etc. A fleet tasked with the mission to defend each and every inch of the 3.28 million sq. km of Indian territory. It is the presence of this impregnable line of defense that allows us to feel safe in a land that is constantly under a threat of attack from external forces. It is this might that holds them at bay and it is this factor that fills us with pride and awe as we witness the sacrifices of the IAF members. To those on a constant vigil, I raise my hand in salute.

Since its inception in the pre-Independence era, the Royal IAF (then) and the IAF (since 1950) have contributed successfully to many victories in the battlefield. From stopping the Japanese in their advances during World War II in Burma to the Kargil War, the IAF has been instrumental in turning the tide against the aggressors. Not only domestic security, but the participation in UN missions is another badge of honour for the IAF, To those who have laid down their lives for the nation, I raise my hand in salute.

In recent years, the most promising development has been the increasing role of women in the IAF. Active participation in rescue missions during the latest disasters proves their mettle and shows that they are second to none. To these women of steel, I raise my hand in salute.

Fly brave warriors , fly high

Touch the zenith as you beat the clouds

Show your valour, conquer the sky

Hold the enemy, fulfil your words avowed

The nation, the mother-as you defend

We salute you, O lion-heart

Be the protectors, the foe's dreaded end

O immortal souls, script your glorious part!

Best wishes to the nation and the IAF on this Air Force Day!

Jai Hind!

Note:I do not hold the rights to the above image and it has been sourced from Indian Air Force Official Website : Photo Gallery

Sources : World Air Forces 2015 - Special Report (Flightglobal)

Get you to smile, maybe

I'll sing you a song

whistle a soft tune or,

rustle up a new melody, maybe.

Tinker with some tools; tall

build you a castle, in line

decorated with roses and lilies, maybe.

Call the circus, host a show fine

Make the clowns go round a-round

Jump on the trapeze, break a leg, maybe

Voyage with the treasure map, bound

in search of pirates' gold, you at the wheel

'Aye, aye Captain!' I'll shout, maybe

Or simply , with a promise, I shall kneel

and hold you close, gentle after;

get you to smile, maybe.

Beauty

#This29th

Each day I feel the world rush

as the eyes twinkle naughty; treat

me to love, I see the magic

the beauty of my dreams

With each word, a lyric luring

me to depths of a fable

I sit to swoon, I strive to woo

the beauty of my dreams

I hold a hand, it pulls tight

whispers a promise, to hold true,

forever it says , I close my eyes 

for she is mine, the beauty I dreamed.

Five and thirty gone, millions more to come!

Like A Red Rose

#This29th

Beauty like the red rose

brimming; A scene, spectacular to behold.

Enchanting, withholding but, pulling close

My lady, I see  like the blossomed red rose

In eyes, precious. A smile pure gold,

Seems a fairy tale, in a joyous and dreamy abode.

Lose a beat or two( O! Yes!) as she looks my way

My lady, a beauty ,more than a blossomed rose.

Image Courtesy : Google Images

Inhuman

Dilapidated, an ugly scar cut into her being,

Polluted, by shapeless and grey venom ,

Torn, in part and as a whole in soul,

Screaming -  poisoned by the holy serum.

The rut and rust crawling on her body,

Insects drawn to foul and filth.

A distant scream, not one , nor two,

to survive, to die, to squander all tilth.

No rush to aid, but blood sucking termites,

'Have mercy on my soul'  unnoticed from her lips,

Falls on ears deaf and sound.

'Kill me slowly as you murder my daughters' her heart rips.

The motherland cries, the mother - she dies,

Each moment, each time a cruel blow fells a daughter.

Society reeks of inhuman waste , a sorry cry

for the men and women who consider humans meat and fodder.

Be it the December gang rape case , or any other such act of cruelty, society as we know it is, at the brink of an end. It is not such cases that should serve as examples to open our eyes. The society is ours - yours and mine and therein lies our duty to stop such inhuman actions.  To see news paper headlines speak of nothing else but rape and such gruesome horrors as female foeticide, infanticide and such unspeakable deeds shows the lack of humanity. I just wish we were better. I just we were good enough to be called 'humans'.

My view after I saw an entire side in the online TOI page filled with rape cases from top to bottom an hour back.

In Memoriam!

For years you toiled, a friend, a faithful mate

Helped shape life by the bit; I complained

yet, steady as a rock you stayed

In memoriam, I raise a toast, brother

In memoriam, I let those tears flow

Forever you I shall remember

Farewell precious, you leave a memory etched in gold

Written in fond memory of the first car we had in the family, a '96 model Maruti 800 which was retired two days back. It was the first car my father bought. The car I learnt to drive in. We used it more roughly than in a gentle manner. It had its share of accidents too. The last one was pretty brutal. On taking delivery of the new vehicle, both my father and I were sadder to see it go than being happy at the prospect of owning a new car. 

It is funny how humans attach sentiments to inanimate objects. It is weird that a normal momento means such a lot. I guess it is just how we are wired .

We'll never forget you!

Some Midnight Fun!

So what are N. and I up to now? The usual chitchat and of course a new activity!

Well , with not much to do tonight, N. suggested that we play the Keats- Kabir Jugalbandi -a game of poetry. The rules are simple :
1. The game is played in teams of 1 or more players, a minimum of two teams is required.
2. The team that begins first is decided by a toss (or a throw of dice in the case of more than two).
3. A topic is chosen (or given by the person who loses the toss)
4. The toss winner begins a poem on the topic and gives the first line/couplet/verse (as you require)
5. The next team adds on to the same poem.
6. There is a time limit to the time given to think up one's lines (normally 2 minutes)

Since, the mood of the evening had been set by a rather nostalgic recollection of the School Farewell (courtesy :Facebook photo albums),it was no surprise that N. came up with the topic "School". We decided on a time of 2 minutes per person (This regulation was exclusively violated on almost all instances!). Another ground rule that we introduced was that a mixture of Hindi and English was to be allowed i.e. it was to be a piece of Hinglish poetry.

So, with skype and the topic School I contributed the first line (a toss in my favour!). N. was slow to come up with the first one but she soon found rhythm. The rhyming was tough to follow up and many a times we had to seek each other's help in digging out rhyming words!

What rhymes with bus? - N.
ढाढस - Me
More - N. with an exasperated look.
Cumulonimbus! - The' Oh-so-helpful' me replied. (Bite me!)

My choice of words to end the sentences (we followed the aaaa bbbb scheme) was regularly cursed after each sentence. (For instance, take brrr!!...)

Apart from this seriously fun activity, I had a hilarious time renaming N. with the most varied assortment of words on Skype.Each time N. typed something, a new and highly interesting name appeared. Keeping in mind the need for peace and happiness, I shall refrain from divulging any further information on this topic.

One and a half hours of fun (It would have ended twenty minutes earlier but then circumstances were such!) culminated in what you shall read below.

Warning : Any critical consideration of this poetry is prohibited. It was intended for the sole purpose of fun. So,read it and enjoy.Discretion is advised on all other action.

Early morning 6 बजे shower के नीचे ...brrr!
School uniform, breakfast and then never reaching the bus stop समय पर ।
Bus गयी !Now rush, drag the bag take a lift from a stranger.
Long drab morning assemblies and teachersके वह  lecture!

Shoes are dirty,Shirt not tucked - "Have you come to school or what?"
Mimicking the teachers behind their back and cheerfully gossiping away a lot
A meander- like queue now. O! Please spare us the daily thought.
Walking in 'straight' lines we reached the class, for the last benches we always fought

The first period - not an excuse to be alert (see him sleeping last bench पर !)
Oh and look at those corner benches, already opened lunch boxes and eating चपड़  चपड़,
Shakespearean drama next on the cards! Et tu Brute? Ma'am we WONT study Julius Caesar!
Algebra, Calculus and trigonometry ने तो बिलकुल खा लिया था सर!

RECESS now!! We enter a battlefield - (THIS IS SPARTA)- chaos begins,
Of the school corridor we were the queens and the kings
Dusty, sweaty back to class -next, the tale of sanskrit, shlokas, water bottles and other things,
Almost sleepy on the last bench, desperately waiting for the bell to ring!

RING RING! the bell goes, saying goodbyes we rush to the school bus
And all the days went the same, the school always seemed such a fuss
Yet I miss , the golden moments - I wish to relive, एक  chance बस !
School की मस्ती , friends के साथ पागलपंती , काश मिल जाए वह सब वापस ।




And so ended this interesting Jugalbandi!

Goodnight from us sleepyheads now!