The Divide

Pushed to the other side,
Too much joy to hide.
Comforts, a habit
Want - never enough of it.

Hard to go back,
For now, all focus on lack.
Complaints, the new habit,
Not prepared for a hard hit.

If good, easy to change...
If bad, we choose only rage.
Past, easily forgotten
Unless a future so rotten.

In times of joy,
Or tangled in coy,
Smile and be frank,
For there's too much to thank.

Past buried & gone,
Future, known to none.
Present, all we need
Life, not so bad indeed.

Subhashini
August 2009

Metamorphosis

Colors gracing soft skin,
Fluttering and free!
No more a coccoon,
Now mature, proud and sane.

Webbed in virtues...
Selfishness, an err
Dishonesty, a scam
Expressions, an art
Speaking up, a need.

Life's hard lessons,
Troubling heart breaks,
Memories to smile,
Only few truly matter.

Breaking free to fly,
Hidden shell to soaring heights,
Sweet nectar to seek,
Life, an endless adventure.

With flight, values renewed -
Selfishness, a necessity
Diplomacy, the new honesty
Detachment, a secret
Silence, a virtue

Fly, my butterfly, fly...
However far you soar,
Forget not -
A coccoon makes you break free!

- Subhashini
July 2009

The Fugitive

Four walls and a dim lamp,
Scary thoughts and a future so damp.
Problems to solve,With little resolve,
So much to act,
Yet, he chose to retract.

Coward, they screamed
For escapists were never redeemed
Loneliness, a companion
Pressure to act, hardly a battalion
So much to achieve,
Yet, he chose to grieve.

Success all around,
Smiling faces mocking his ground.
Faking joy and a friendly pat,
Complaining through every chat.
So much room for zealous,
Yet, he chose to be jealous.

Stupid, he thought
Escaping, hardly a battle fought
Troubles may for a while astray
But will never really go away.
So much to change
Yet, he put it off for another age.

Fleeing to buy some time
Hiding his fear like a mime
Delaying choices, forgoing results,
Avoiding dilemma and possible insults.
So much of a life to reshape,
Yet he continues to escape.

- Subhashini (Mar ‘09)

Water – I wish I were you…

Curvy and playful in a river
Yet squared, cold and icy shiver
Furious in a Pacific wave,
Calm and silent lakes I crave.
Water streaming down the road
Turn west and its all white and snowed.

Fun and naughty in the west,
Serious and smart at the best,
Traditionally quiet for the east,
Fiercely taming an internal beast.

Water flows, water goes
Changing in all highs and lows.
Seamlessly fitting in,
Without choice, no fear of sin.
Everywhere and nowhere I go,
With choice, adapting is all I do
Fitting in, a mighty task
Standing confused with tons to ask.

Oh Water! I wish I were you…
To be flexible on every cue.
Changing just a tweeze,
Life – just another breeze.
Transform all I can,
Freedom in every span.
Yet, I just want to be me
With a choice to be free.

Water, I do want to be you
Just with a choice to be me too.

- Subhashini (April ’08)

If only...

Innocent footsteps and hand in tangled hair,
Everything beautiful and fair.
Messy and yet no one to glare,
Scold her no one dare,
Her world – only love and care
No fear to face, not a dangerous snare
If only innocence was not so rare…

Buzzing lights but hidden crime,
Sad faces with no joy to mime
Slogging hard, ignoring the bells chime
Wounds stinging like sour lime
College as old as nursery rhyme
If only I could go back in time…

Opportunities, all that matter
With the wind, we scatter
Conversations now a mere chatter
Like cold food on a platter
If only distance didn’t matter…

Among the talented few,
Strong, determined and without rue
One thing amiss, luck set me apart from the crew
Life changed without cue
Far far away from the wanted view
If only dreams came true…

Without music and only dance
Alas! Life was but a trance
Living life with no penance.
Only on a second glance,
Learn to live freelance.
All you have is one chance…
If only life gave you a second chance…

- Subhashini (Feb ’08)

It's Complicated

Eyes met, hands shook,
Unnecessary for a second look.
Not anger, not fear, not hatred.
Just the beginning of a newly felt kindred

Her silence, a conversation
His touch, an explosion
Their blink, sound understanding
Their smile, heaven’s bliss
One word, a novel
A big fight, just a silly quarrel
If this was love,
A shame it was complicated.

More than just friends,
Less than soul mates.
More than rapport,
Less than an everlasting chemistry.
Mostly a special bondLittle time to abscond.

Eyes teared, hands parted,
Uncertainty loomed their gaze.
Not calm, not happy, not peaceful
Tight hug but a weak goodbye…
A mature smile, a silly chuckle
This was not the end
Yet far from the beginning…
Time had spoken,
Feelings were real,
Difficult to admit
A shame it was complicated.

- Subhashini (Feb ‘o8)