I’m grateful

I wake up to a new day 

Breathing , walking , talking , eating

I’m grateful –

For I’m alive and healthy . 

…….. 

I open my wardrobe

And stare in confusion 

What to wear –

Red or white, blue or green ?

I look at my shoes –

Heels or flats , peep toes or wedges ? 

I’m confused

Yet I’m grateful – 

For all the clothes to cover me

For all the shoes to protect my feet .

………

I walk to my favourite restaurant

Flipping the pages of menu 

Confused to choose one 

A heavy meal or a lighter snack 

A juice or a smoothie along ?

Yet I’m grateful 

For the food of my choice . 

………….

I drive my car 

All way to my home

After a days work –

As I sink to sleep 

I feel the gratitude 

To the almighty above me 

For the roof and car.

…………

I see my kids running around 

Messing the home and playing 

Giggling , crying and laughing 

I’m grateful –

For I don’t know what life is –

With no kids around .

I see my father , mother and siblings

Living happy and healthy 

I’m grateful 

For I don’t know –

How it is to be without parents.

I wake up to my partners hug 

Doing chores together 

Talking about movies  and books

I’m grateful-

To live and share with such a partner .

……..

Daily post prompt <a href=" Gratitude“>gratitude

Surreal moments

She walked past the door 

Holding firmly the job offer ,

Mind flasing back to a year ago

The moments bubbled up in her eyes-

The days in red streets ,

The day of escape 

The days of rehab 

And now in a job –

The surreal moment of her life .

…………

The moment she held him 

Wrapped in a blanket 

A tiny baby of her life and love

An answer to her prayers

An answer to the medications

An answer for the wait 

A decade long wait –

Tears of joy and nectar of pain 

The moments were surreal . 

………….

He turned and looked at her

Giving a toothless grin 

Smiling as heard his mothers voice

First time ever birth ,

Smiling again as she spoke

Looking into her eyes;

Thanks to the cochlear implant

A five month old can hear

The surreal moments for baby

The surreal moments for mama.

…………

Daily post prompt <a href=" Surreal“>surreal.

Identity of a girl

I see them doing mistakes

I hear them talking blunders 

I try to voice my concern

But I hear ‘Keep quiet’

‘Coz I’m a woman . 

………..

I see my father searching 

I walk to help him 

He says ‘Kid , go away’

Never knew a kid shouldn’t help.

………..

I’d my likes

I’d my dislikes

I’d my opinions

I’d my decisions 

But none mattered anywhere

‘Coz I’m a girl/ daughter/ sister/wife . 

……….

I hear them say ‘not loudly’

I hear them say ‘keep quiet’

I hear them say ‘no need of your opinion’

I hear them say ‘don’t talk your heart’

I do it and they say 

You are a good girl

You are a good daughter

You’ll be a good wife 

You’ll be a good daughter in law.

A single word -‘good’ and 

I’m caged 

I’m suffocated 

I’m draining –

They killed the identity 

Of a Girl . 

………….

More often than not , most of the above things have been heard/happened to someone you know -especially if you live in India. Most of poems/writings reflect my experience or what I’ve seen others experiencing . 

Daily post prompt <a href="Identity“>identity . 

Expectations

He was strict , 

He gave orders 

He hardly listened 

His way was the only right 

He forgot to show his love

He never knew affection mattered 

He thought advising was his duty-

The kids were young 

They obeyed , they lived 

Until the day they left home ;

He expected them to visit him 

But none came –

They never knew dad loved them . 

…………

She walked out 

Of the coffee shop and Of the relationship

She expected him to be sincere 

She expected honesty and trust 

But ,

She was just one among many.

………….

Father was angry 

Mother was upset 

Tumbling down their expectations

Daughter went ahead 

To study music 

And not medical science. 

………….

Daily post prompt <a href="Expect“>expect .

The innocent man

Two decades of fights-

Fights of legality 

Fights behind the bars

Fight for innocence;

Time flew 

Days to weeks 

Weeks to months 

Months to years 

Grey hairs and wrinkles 

Loose skin and muscles 

Forever gone youth 

And an all time old age 

Came out to sunshine and freedom-

To the warmth of family and friends

The smallest circle who trusted him

The only people who stood by him

The only people who fought for him!!

Labelled as anti national 

A young boy was behind bars;

Proven as innocent

A man whose youth –

A man whose energy-

A man whose life – is out !!

Who’d pay for his time ?

Who’d pay for his life ?

…….

Daily post prompt <a href=" Release“>release 

Express – Expressions

Days moved to weeks ,

He sat alone 

With no food and no sleep .

A best friend , A close aide – 

She entered her married life 

All he knew was –

She was more than a friend –

Though he never expressed . 

………..

A strict father , A disciplinarian 

Kids were scared 

Kids hardly opened their hearts 

Kids hardly spoke to him 

And moved off as they grew ;

All alone in the old age 

He wished , he showed his love to ‘em. 

……….

The toothless grin 

The giggles in high pitch 

The clapping of hands 

The moving to and fro’s

Expressions of a ten month – 

To show her happiness . 

……

Daily post prompt <a href="Express“>express . 

The world around me

Neither did he think nor decide

All he saw was a drowning mother and kid 

Jumping and saving them-

All when he was just ten .

……….

He couldn’t contain himself 

Until the day –

When he accepted him as ‘she’

And walked out as ‘she’

Starting the life afresh . 

………..

People were killed , people were burnt

Women were raped and killed

Neither a girl or a foetus was saved

Houses and cars all charred;

There she went to dig the truth

As undercover 

When the faulters were state heads. 

…………

When doctors ask to pray 

When medicines are of less hope 

Fourth stage was not an task 

But she bounced back in health 

‘Coz she was a believer

‘Coz she trusted her God 

‘Coz she never lost hope

An epitome of bravery . 

………
All of these are incidents I know or I’ve read about – the brave people around me. 

Daily post prompt <a href="Brave“>brave . 

The marriage

Some said “It’s not worth”

Some said “This is risky”

Some others “This won’t last”

Few others “You won’t be happy”

Hardly anyone supported her 

To be with the man of her choice-

‘Coz he was a man for people 

‘Coz he fed the poor and needy 

‘Coz he lived to serve unfortunate

Still she went ahead – 

Neither did they wear branded clothes

Nor they bought premium watches 

Neither did she fly to luxury vacations

Nor did they dine at star hotels 

But they made a family 

Built on trust and honesty

-On hope and peace 

A decade down 

Still a honeymoon couple . 

……..

Daily post prompt <a href="Risky“>risky 

The maid and the dog

The fateful day arrived –

Parents died , 

Siblings left with the assets 

Leaving her alone 

Mentally disabled ,physically weak 

She looked past the window –

As the cars moved away 

She knew they’d never visit her 

She knew she lost all of them ;

A touch on shoulder ,she turned

The maid , since her parents’ married

Who saw her birth and growth 

The most loyal of all .

……….

Wife left him for someone 

Children found their ways and left 

The  dad – an old man today 

Whose life was wife 

Blood and sweat were kids 

Now all alone ,

But with a dog wagging tail

Running to him when he coughs

Lying near his cot as he sleeps 

The sole loyal bystander 

The most loyal to master . 

 ……….

Daily post prompt <a href=" Loyal“>loyal 

Success

He climbed the ladder ,quicker than many

The ascend made him proud

‘Coz he’d put his sweat and blood,

His day and night –

All just to reach the top .

As he climbed farther and farther

Little he knew , he moved far and away

From his tiny kids and wife 

A winner in corporate company 

At the cost of family .

……….

She was mocked for her accent 

Laughed at her poor language 

Ridiculed for making mistakes ,

But never these defer her 

As she stepped towards the success

Tumbling and falling many a times

The ascend was tougher than thought

Still she moved 

To achieve a doctoral degree in the subject

The nectar of pain .

…………

Daily post prompt <a href=" Ascend“>ascend