Poetry

I don't think I have ever liked poetry that much. Never given it too much attention. It was always something that I was skeptical about. Too sweet and flowery and it would become boring. Too intellectual then it just wouldn't make sense. Actually come to think of it there was one English poem that I liked. CBSE syllabus of IX and X don't have anything that I remember except The Highway Man. Reminded me of Daphne Du Maurier novels. Haunting tale with a tragic ending.

And still of a winter’s night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,

When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas, 

When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, 

A highwayman comes riding—

Riding—riding—

A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.

                                       -Alfred Noyes

There were a number of Hindi poems that I did like. As I was recounting to my husband while we walked from the parking to our office today, I learnt of similes, metaphors and alliteration. Of roopak and anupras alankar. Alankar.. an ornament to decorate rhyming sonnets. And poetry is essentially about rhyme and rhythm at least for me. Raas and bhakti..words that never fail to make me sigh and space out for a bit.

जीवन में एक सितारा था

माना वह बेहद प्यारा था

वह डूब गया तो डूब गया

अंबर के आंगन को देखो

कितने इसके तारे टूटे

कितने इसके प्यारे छूटे

जो छूट गए फ़िर कहाँ मिले

पर बोलो टूटे तारों पर

कब अंबर शोक मनाता है

जो बीत गई सो बात गई

                                                                                    -Harishvansh Rai bachchan


No tough words, but a beautiful profound teaching. And have you ever heard Amitabh Bachchan recite his father's poetry? This poem and Madhushala. Dadaji would hear it on Doordarshan and it plays on repeat in my head even today.

Another favourite has to be Meera Bai. No secret that am enamoured by the concept of Meera. Not a mortal's poetry, but am immortal's bhajan. Why was it worth remembering I have no idea. That I do know the lines verbose is still a pleasant mystery.

बसो मोरे नैनन में नंदलाल 

मोहिनी मुरत सँवारी सूरत 

नैना बने बिसाल 

                          - Meera bai

All this was in classes IX/X . More than a decade ago. And then came into my life poetry. My forum..yes still the same one as my previous post.. and people would post lyrical couplets.. And it was not boring.. au contraire highly interesting. And in true writer fassion one morning I woke up with the short rhyming lines in my head. Soon I was frantically scribbling more lines. Adding in words, striking off other words. Completing thought, writing a story. Only surprise this time the words coming to me were rhyming. Poetry. Lovely word isn't it?

Perhaps my one and only. My inspiration..Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon.. Its long and its mine.. My name under it. Makes me feel like Howard Roark.. The architect..

Our hearts had started beating fast

And instinct would know right from the start

It was not to be a simple love story

This would turn out as something legendary.

Innocent Aphrodite reincarnated in glittering gold, pink, green up on the stage 

He was the wearisome raj kumar in black who opened his eyes in a haze

She fell into those waiting arms, love had its first victory

But we knew things would not be this easy, as soon as he ripped that pearl dori.

Suddenly in his orderly life she injected chaos everywhere

Welcome to hell in exquisite anger when he challenged her to dare

Vision in red trembling she stood, his lungs needed air to breathe

She raved and ranted that night in the guesthouse, "Khushi" her name on his lipswould seethe.

A tentative right step into his house, orange jooce made it's first appearance

The cutest smile possible would soon light up his whole countenance

Reminder of what all he has lost, reckless rage directed at the girl

Compelled to say sorry, he notices her cheeks glazed with liquid pearl.

Something has changed, ethereal rabba ve knows

Fights and breezy hey hey hey come together in a healthy dose.

Sultry temptress encircled by flickering diyas, he went aflame in desire

Disorientated he broke away, soon they would be playing with fire.

Wondrous star gazing together, forming a bond eternal

Time for jealousy, fark parta hai kyunki life without her would be dismal

Divine dance claiming right expressed in teri meri

Swirl of dhak dhaks no longer controlled by just a sweet sanka jilebi

Besotted lover with his flirtatious "hi" and striking looks

The sweetest kiss spreading crimson blush would keep her on tenterhooks

Beautiful in a twinkling bindi, baat karni hai on an unforgettable night

Fate had its say, heartache could not be pushed away try hard as Arnav might.

Into the darkness desolate he drove, outrage against life in his yell

6 month wedding to his unfaithful beloved, the solution as far as he could tell

Shattered dreams, broken promises she knew not why

All this agonizing hate, oh how we would cry!

Enchanting magic, hyperventilating hearts, would get added to holi history

How all this was left behind to move to the next phase still remains a mystery

From Harvard he studied MBA, we get to see an unfamiliar soft side

Leading to the revelation of the betrayal he so badly attempted to hide.

Overnight a girl grew into a woman as she heard her loved one's confession

Staying apart, the longing grew and now there would no longer be any hesitation

Most loving hug bringing two souls in the closest embrace

Fireflies turned up the heat, Reunited they sizzled under devi maiya's grace.

Infinite unwavering belief once he returns will be his redemption

But fighting to keep her for life still needs some attention

Engaging teasing, red nose, no wonder the bride is shy

"I love you dammit" he yelled out, now I can happily die!

                                     - Aarwen