Teacups and Starlight

I sit atop my ottoman

With my mug brimful of tea

A vast sight I behold

From out the balcony.

I see for miles ahead

I see for miles below

I see for miles all around

And observe the daily show.

Sky streaked with colour

of purple pink and blue

The ochre sun dips below

I bid the noon adieu.

Evening has set in

All blue and murky grey

A different stage is set

Marking the end of day.

Little by little the city

Transforms before my eyes

Lights dot the buildings

Speckling each high rise.

The office goers’ headlamps

Torch the highway bright

The darkness now sparkles

Like fireflies in the night.

I sit atop my ottoman

Empty teacup in hand

Gazing from the balcony

At the sight so grand.

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If You Disapprove of This Generation

Oblivious to reality

Being a 21st century teen

I care less about real life

Rather, I’m glued to a screen.

 

Ticking away and chatting

Earphones blasting all day long

Ignoring my elders all the time

The youth is in the wrong.

 

Now that pleased adults have left

Clicked off my poem, mumbling

Obscenities about my generation

‘Good for nothing’ I’m sure they’re grumbling.

 

Of course, there’s lovely people

Who aren’t like them, I’m sure

But you must agree, there’s lots

Smug and whiny, opinions obscure

 

Kids in 2018 aren’t as monstrous

As by the public we’re often seen

Yes, some things we do are cringy

But once, weren’t you also thirteen?

 

Always on their cell phones!

Is a point that you might raise

But isn’t posting a selfie better

Than being a racist, sexist laze?

 

In fact isn’t it a shame

From a five minute video I learn more

Than sitting for seven hours in a room

Listening to some frightful bore?

 

Hair pinned back and skirts pleated

What a pleasing sight to see

Spit out crammed information in exams

Lo and behold! You have a degree!

 

These video games promote violence!

Scoffs a grandma somewhere

Well, serial killers existed quite before

Mortal kombat was there.

 

Too outspoken! No respect!

Some of you might wail angrily

We aren’t the ones shouting at retail

Lowering workers’ morale, are we?

 

My classmate: bright and gentle

You couldn’t meet someone sweeter

Whimpers at the sight of a bad grade,

Afraid her mom will beat her.

 

Another is a boy who loves to dance

His ambitions in ballet clear

But scared of father’s disapproval

He studies to become an engineer.

 

The future is doomed, some complain

These kids are clearly no good

Mam, take a look at the present

Is it doing as well as it should?

 

Disclaimer: all elders aren’t like this

But there’s many who are, truly!

Many are lucky to have good parents

We’ll make you proud, we’re not unruly

 

But if you stick to backdated ideals

And still think children are out of whack

Do young individuals a favour

And cut us a little bit of slack.

 

We’ll voice our opinions, aid our friends

(What a lot of you don’t want us to do)

But I’m afraid we must rise up

Else (I’m sorry), we might end up like you.

**mic drop**

Sunset at Aao Nang Beach

A chilled drink in hand

My swimsuit clinging to my skin

After hours of skipping and splashing

I’m seated, relaxed from within.

Like the artists pallete

The sky a canvas sprayed with hue

Sunlight peeking past the clouds

Dipping from the pink and purple to blue.

The ocean sparkling like a night sky

The last of sunlight glimmering on waves

While the sun descends ever so softly

While at the beautiful sight I gaze.

I watch a boatman return from the last ride

I watch a toddler in wet sand play

The breeze, the sight, unwinding at Aao Nang

The end to a blissfully perfect day.

A Dip By The Beach

Barefoot in the warm sand

Letting a toe into the sea

My wary self descends gently

Submerged in water, I am free.

My feet find the soft sand

The cones tickles my chin

I waddle gently across the ocean

Cool waves rippling against my skin.

A tender roar I hear far-off

My eyes meet the sight

Foamy, frothy, curly white waves

Whoosh unto themselves with might.

While lycra sticks to my body

It approaches, backwards it impels

In a matter of seconds, it dissipates

into sand, leaves behind sea shells.

Unwound, surrounded by nature

Relaxed, enveloped in peace

Savouring every timid second

Of the dip I took by the beach.

~inspired by Railay Beach in Krabi, Thailand 😀

Plane Rides

The fun before the fun begins,

The prequel to the show

The medium for your destination

The first step for your excitement to grow.

Plane rides! Quite exhilarating

Even for motion sick victims like me

Provided an adult’s managing all the work

(Thanks parents!) it’s all fun and carefree.

Skidding on vast airport lobbies

Getting to board the aircraft at last

Bidding your hometown farewell for a while

Ready to go and have a blast!

Finding your seat and plopping down

Flipping through airport magazines

Collecting and keeping aside vomit bags

While ignoring hostess’ procedural scenes.

At last, with a soft rumble

Picking up speed, by and by

The plane prepares for takeoff

Lo and behold! We’re in the sky!

Inches away from fluffy white clouds

Afloat in the stratosphere; flying

Oh, plane rides- they’re pretty great

Besides the blocked ears and babies crying.

~Tapasmi, inspired by a lovely year-end trip to Thailand 🙂

The Ride Through the Forest

Ochre sky and warming rays

Thawing into the dense haze

Stretched as far as eyes can see

Lies mesmerizing forestry

Bathed in sunlight, shielded faces

Scent of leaves the air traces

Swaying in the gypsy ride

Eyes darting from side to side

The cemented road, in some time

Melts into raw path of compact grime

Our voices hush as we explore

The abundance of nature galore

Trees extending up into the sky

With hives of bees scattered high

Nails of bears carved onto the trunks

Ripping the combs into syrupy chunks

Dappled light under the leafy awning

Sandy hills of termites spawning

Monkeys grooming as they gibber

Birds curled on twigs while they chipper

Foliage rustling by whistling wind

The trail we travelled slowly thinned

Rolling away from the verdure

Into a breath-taking moor

A savannah carpeted with grass

Strands with hue of faded brass

The wheaty threads cast on the lea

Dry, yet filled with life and felt so free

For miles across, their bewitching dance

Left me enchanted by nature’s trance.

Box Of Memories- Poem

He tucked his child in bed to sleep

In the still of the silent night

He yawned, but he had work to do

Office chores by the night lamp’s light

When from the corner of his weary eyes

A stowed away box he spied

He inched his way towards it

Swept decades of dust off its side

In mild curiosity it was opened

And these were the box’s contains:

Picture albums in black and white

Snippets of past, childhood’s remains.

The 40 year old gazed at himself

Locked in mother’s embrace

Twelve years old, young, carefree

Now a tear rolled down his face

He turn the page and stared

His heart heavier as he went on

The days with his own family

Those beautiful days were gone.

He close his eyes; before him flashed

The day which held the most regret

At 19, he had left his parents

Whom he had sworn to forget.

From a distance came a voice

“Daddy?” he heard his princess say

He yearned she’d never leave her papa

Like he abandoned his one day.

“I’m coming my love,” he smiled

Giving her soft hand a little squeeze

The lights came off and he slept,

Remembering that box of memories.

The Little Things In Life

There’s little glee that for sale

That earthly greed can purchase

Little things that make us smile

That’s where true delight emerges.

 

Laughing and dancing in the rain

The sweet scent of petrichor

Cuddling on a winter morning

Aroma of cedar and myrrh.

 

The warmth of holding hands

Crickets chirping through the night

Marshmallows toasting on a fire

A new born baby’s delight.

 

The things that warm the heart

Which repel all the strife

What truly makes us smile?

It’s the little things in life.

Unity In Diversity

What’s the colour of your skin?

Is it black, white, yellow or brown?

Physically, it sets us all apart

So wear your identity like a crown!

 

From which country to you come?

From the north, south, east or west?

You represent your land’s uniqueness

So epitomize what makes it best!

 

Your culture, your traditions, your family

Your colour, your home, your beauty

Wear your individuality as a badge

Glorify it, as is your duty!

 

Unity in Diversity. It’s what

Makes our hearts come closer

Spread brotherhood through the world

Find intimacy within exposure.

 

Without fragmentation, we are diverse

Without uniformity, we are united

Celebrate your difference my sisters

Forget the need to hide it!

Foul racism and inequality

Is going to tear the bond apart

Now or never- we must begin

To make amends we should start.

 

God blessed us all with this treasure

How thoughtful is the Almighty

We are different- exceptional

Only to shine ever more brightly.

 

 

Piano

An inexplicable beauty of senses

A pacifying and soothing serenade

Finger flying swiftly over the keys

Harmony thrillingly does fade.

 

Every note piercing stillness

Yet seemingly dissolving in the air

Chords amalgamating into brilliance

An effortless, incalculable flair.

 

So gentle and majestic, music

Melting into a dream for the mind

Human senses and the piano

So ostentatious; created to be combined.