A Priceless Day
One day,
On my way,
I went to meet my granddaughter
and spend the day with her.
I shared her joy
As she showed me her new toys.
Later we went for a walk
To the deer park.
She held my hand,
But soon ran ahead
Without any fear
As she spotted the deer.
And tried to peer
Into the enclosure.
She would not pay heed
As she tried to feed
Them with her small hands
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
AShort Course in Practical Living
If you are a victim of shoulditis
Its time you did a reality check and got rid of it
Right from childhood we are told what to do
So much stress and guilt it brews
For a sense of well being
You need a course in practical living
Learn to make informed choices
Even if it requires ignoring some voices
In your head, don’t dissipate your energy
On these shoulds, even if others get angry.
Of course genuine people deserve all help
Leave others to fend for themselves.
For when it’s time to receive
You will find yourself alone and grieve
After you are totally disillusioned
You learn you can count on Him alone.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A walk through the clouds! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Walking through floating clouds in a vale;
Only sound of rushing water, as we exhale
Out the white smoke one day, early December.
With envy I watch hill folk walk at leisure.
Panting, with sore hamstrings, how far
Is the water fall; it will take just about an hour
Don’t rush as the climb is steep all the way up.
We sat on the unpaved road – huffed and puffed.
With a walking stick, carefully took each step.
Plucked some wild flowers, saw some spider webs.
Looking at me, he said we are almost there, don’t frown.
If you wish we can catch our breath and sit down.
Take your time; we can’t give up after coming so far.
Suddenly we heard the gurgling sound of water.
He tucked a few wild flowers behind my ear
See, that wooden canopy; we are almost there.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Joy Of Seasons
At an informal get together,
When you find yourself
In the midst of strangers,
You invariably talk about the weather.
Oh yes, Delhi has extremes,
In unison all exclaim.
We are forever trying to acclimatise
It’s just too much, they proclaim.
Well I won’t live anywhere but in the plains of north,
Nature’s bounty all the year round.
Mangoes, juicy melons and amrood,
Keenu, raspberries and shehtoot,
Tickle the taste buds with their distinct flavour,
And the variety in colours and flowers,
I find too enchanting for words.
Cool chiffons, crisp cottons, and sensuous silks,
Help me reinvent a new me every few weeks.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A unequalled melody - for Sandra Fowler! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Edges of fluffy clouds are tinted pink
As Sun sets and Portulacca folds its lips.
Taking Nature’s cue, I slow down my pace.
Go back home to the rhythm of my breath.
At dusk, In company of poetry
Sit on the brown parquet floor, earnestly
It has come from distant lands to reach me.
Would you believe, words too have wings?
'Before the music ends', melody stirs
The long forgotten notes of Jal Tarang.
Eyes closed, am spellbound by sheer elegance
Of images; right word in the right place.
Jal Tarang is an ancient musical instrument. Cups of varying sizes, made of bronze or porcelain are filled with water. The pitch is changed by adjusting the volume of water in the cup. The number of cups depends on the melody being played. Bowls are arranged in semi circle in front of the player so he can reach them easily. He softly hits the cup with a wooden stick on the border to get the sound. it require great skill to produce right notes.Jal means water and tarang i think waves of sound.
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Sitting under a Weeping Willow! ! ! ! !
Sitting under a weeping willow,
At twilight, on a bench in the park,
My friend always cheerful, said
‘I feel so tense and distraught,
The stale air in the house
Makes me feel like going away.
I feel I live with a stranger,
And look back wistfully on the day
We took our vows to stand by
Each other in joy and grief.
Now he just hits the sack
And we just exchange a brief
Nod. I wonder if grandma was better
Off, education hasn’t changed
Our status from weaker sex
Am at odds, as I feel alienated.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Save The Tiger
As a child when I went to the circus,
Though I loved the clowns and the acrobats,
I hated when the ringmaster made the animals act
And do unnatural things,
To tickle human beings.
As the tiger came out of the cage,
You could see he was in rage.
On a visit to the zoo,
Seeing the tiger roam,
I often wondered,
How does it feel
To be uprooted from your natural habitat.
The frustration was writ large on the face of the royal cat.
On growing up, and on a visit to
A family friend’s farm house,
I used to squirm to see walls decorated with tiger skins
And the conversation full of anecdotes of the kill.
I often wonder
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A Furtive Kiss and a Hug! ! ! !
Here are your Roses, chocolate and wine,
I won’t be able to take you out to dine.
Please, please don’t start to whine
By the way, who was this St Valentine?
Put them in a vase before they wilt,
Don’t be overcome with guilt…
He said, planting a furtive kiss
Dear, couldn’t we have given it a miss?
Now, I need to really, really go, honey
shouldn't be saying, cost a lot of money.
Couldn’t you postpone the celebrations?
Until we got over the slump and recession?
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,
Love, oh... don’t look that way, I did try.
Now come on, I deserve a big hug,
I obliged graciously, feeling quite smug…
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
An Effective Prayer
For those embarking on
An internal life to meet the demands of the soul,
Withdraw to the sanctuary within, and sit
And pray fine tuned to your intuition.
Who says you have to renounce the world
And go seek him like a wanderer?
Just make a sincere journey inward
To quench this thirst and hunger.
You have reached a turning point,
When nothing any longer makes sense.
He will not disappoint
If you give up all pretence.
He is no unfeeling, mute being,
He is Love itself.
You don’t have to plead
Flatter, make offerings or supplicate.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Snow
Early in the morning, I stood at at my window
In my flat in a Chicago suburb,
And was delighted to see the snow
Gracefully descending on earth.
Fascinated I looked on,
As a carpet of powder white
Noiselessly spread on the ground.
Trees with outstretched arms, a pretty sight.
The memories of Christmas back home
Flashed across my mind,
How we went of to sleep in the hope,
That Santa Claus would come at night.
I snapped out of my reverie,
And pulled out my muffler and coat.
Excited like a child, in a hurry
Put on my gloves and boots.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!