Transformation
We were just married a while,
The world had yet not been invaded by mobile.
So there was lot of laughter and smiles
Early morning we would walk for miles.
Chinaar trees, Tulips, Daffodils, cherry blossoms-
The beauty of it was truly awesome.
On an indolent noon, a shikara ride
With the boatman working as a tourist guide.
How effortlessly the hours passed,
As we slowly waded through the calm waters and went past,
Dal and Nishaat Lake, in utter awe.
Pristine beauty of the hills for the first time I saw.
Young girls in boats selling local ware,
So calm, serene, gentle and fair.
In just ten years all hell broke loose,
Blood all around in place of soft hues.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A Festival of Colours - Holi Hai! ! ! !
I heard familiar footsteps on the stairs,
Lo, in walked Anika with clips in her hair.
Come on Nani, I have come to play HOLI.
Take out the colours, let’s make Rangoli.
But darling, its still four days away,
So what, I feel like celebrating today.
See, I got water balloons and water gun,
Oh, she sang, we going to have such fun.
Yes, my dear I have been waiting for you,
Your visit, you know was long over due.
The house with her excited prattle alive
She laughed, danced and we did a jive.
Her vivacity is oh, so very infectious,
She is a darling, so very loving and precious.
I cautioned, we shall play on the terrace,
You can put as much colour you wish on my face.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A Man Walks The Streets
That old man near the traffic light
Was expelled from home at midnight.
He walked away steady on his feet.
And made his home on Delhi streets.
My driver whispered in a resigned tone.
I looked up putting down my mobile phone.
He carried on his shoulder a jute bag,
And in his hand a clean yellow rag.
As the traffic light blushed red,
The driver to stop compelled.
The old man near the traffic light,
Asked the driver –may I wipe?
He had a gentle voice and even stride,
Erect back and manner polite and mild.
Now this was his new means of livelihood,
He hoped to be paid to pay for some food.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
On the banks of a river...! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Incense sticks, a match box;
And an earthen diya with wick
In a bowl made of dry leaves
Held together by twigs;
I stood at the banks
Of mother Ganges in Haridwar,
After paying change
To the young boy
Who put it together for me
At that morning hour.
I lit the wick and incense stick,
And holding it in both hands
Walked towards the river bank
And put it in the lap
Of the river, watching it
Join other such offerings,
Made by devotees and kin
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Secret of beauty! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Sitting with my feet in a hot tub
Full of soap suds and a gentle scrub.
The smart, young attendant said with a smile
Mam, just let go and relax for a while.
Feet have more than a dozen acupressure
Points, it will take just under an hour
Before I am done, and your dainty feet
Feel rejuvenated, and you sleep in your seat.
He was right; I did feel restful and nodded off
Woke, when heard him ask, pink or mauve
I mean nail enamel, massaging my calves.
‘I can see you love your job’, he laughed.
Lovely damsels with feet on my lap
What more could want a young chap?
This was my first experience of pedicure
He saw to it that had no complaints for sure.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Of locks and thieves! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Am truly enthralled by your heroic epic, Sir Pope
A bit of feedback, take in the right spirit, I hope.
Let me avoid in good faith to be circumspect.
The epic was inspired, I believe by true incident.
‘Belinda’s eyes flashed lightening on rape of lock
Filled with indignation, shrieked with shock’.
Honestly Sir am not here to just condemn or argue
I agree, a lot of fuss is made over trivial issues.
But rape of lock made of tantalising hair
Or one of shiny brass is called theft to be fair.
It’s good to laugh, kiss and (no pun intended) make up.
But Belinda’s woes were overflowing from the cup.
Baron for sure showed lack of breeding and taste
And thus lost his lady love, by acting in haste.
High or low, decency behoves everyone, even gentleman
Or he loses respect of the object of his ardour- woman.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
On the banks of a river....! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Some marigold flowers,
Incense sticks, a match box;
And an earthen diya with wick
In a bowl made of dry leaves
Held together by twigs;
I stood at the banks
Of mother Ganges in Haridwar,
After paying change
To the young boy
Who put it together for me
At that morning hour.
I lit the wick and incense stick,
And holding it in both hands
Walked towards the river bank
And put it in the lap
Of the river, watching it
Join other such offerings,
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Now the waiting is over! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Now no one knocks
On the door.
The waiting is over.
Mobile and landline
Don’t make claim
On my time;
I don’t wear it anymore.
I am more tuned to
My instincts,
And find it
Exciting to guess time
By the length of shadows
And my body clock.
Complete strangers
Walk up to me and ask
In the park,
“It’s in your eyes,
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
In Remambrance
It’s my sister’s birthday today,
She left us three decades away.
We watched her lying on her hospital bed,
And slowly right before our eyes she was dead.
Her face looked serene and free of pain,
Though it was drawn and drained.
The memory of her last breath,
As she slipped into the arms of death,
After so many years still fresh in my mind.
She was so vivacious, gentle and kind.
I feel it was only yesterday
When in the morning, on our way
To the school in a cycle rickshaw,
We would play pranks unmindful of who saw..
Though we had lots of tiffs and fights
We normally made up by the night.
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Nithari Killings
The inhuman heinous crime,
Took lives of so many who had not reached their prime.
One man’s perverted mind and lust
Filled me with horror and disgust.
Is it really true
That the law had no clue?
Despite the parents doubts and fears,
Whose life went out of gear,
Running from pillar to post
To get someone to see what they had lost.
it makes me nauseous.
How can any one be so self righteous?
the poor lost the light of their day and night
who can empathize with their plight?
No guilt, shame or remorse,
What if someone gave him a fatal dose
Of his own lethal medicine
And killed his loved ones and kin?
[...] Read more
poem by Mamta Agarwal
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!