poetry – The Roaming Desi

VERSE | I AM PARALYSED

I saw a man at a street vendor’s todayHe was engaged in the enterprise of buying fruitHis expression was a breath short of displeasedHe wanted a bargain; he planned to depart with his loot.The air conditioned grocery store was his next stopWhere he paid three times as much for some shrivelled carrots.I watched these transactionsContinue reading “VERSE | I AM PARALYSED”

VERSE | RISE

There was once a blade of grassShining an emerald green It swished it’s bright little head In the gently flowing breeze The other plants stood tall and proud They seemed miles away The little blade grew in his glade In the warmth of sunny days One day a big machine rolled inWith a mighty roarContinue reading “VERSE | RISE”

VERSE | PARADISE LOST

I see a woman standing at the traffic lightEven in her shabbiness, she’s neat and cleanShe stands on the wayside wondering For the hundredth time what she is doing on the street.People look at her from their car windowsA nonchalant glance up and then awayTheir psycho-social barriersComfortingly coming down to save their dayFrom unpleasant pangsContinue reading “VERSE | PARADISE LOST”

VERSE | YE, CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK!

I carry this thing, it sits on my shoulderSome call it a chip; I call it my boulderIt gnaws at my insides, it makes for low blowsWhen I’m swirling around in its treacherous throesI am sometimes deceitful when I feel its weightDignity and grace I cavalierly leave at the gateIf it tells me I’m worthContinue reading “VERSE | YE, CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK!”

KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | AUBERGINE

There was once an aubergineThe lightest of lilacsAll the other eggplants madeFun of him behind his backHe would drop his little stem And give his breath a pause He thought this would make his skin Purpler than it was But that never really workedHe continued to be paleSitting small with the other brinjalsNever included inContinue reading “KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | AUBERGINE”

KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | RAVEN

Brightened by the glimmer of starsI am the shadowy shade of the night I am the colour of the mysterious cat All you can see of her are her eyes I’m the colour of the scuttling beetle Of the bear that lives in a cave I’m the hue of the berries that he eats I’mContinue reading “KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | RAVEN”

KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | ACORN

Almonds and walnuts, cholocate and gingerAll share the colour that I amWoodchucks that chuck wood, baskets and bagelsI am the colour of a beaver damI am the colour of the moose and the swaying camelThe ruddy duck and the wolverine,Wood and toast, I am the colour of roastThe garden snail and the centipedeI am theContinue reading “KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | ACORN”

KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | GRAPEFRUIT

I am the colour of cherry blossoms And of the beautiful magnolia I’m like the onion, chopping which is no fun I’m also the sweet flesh of the guava Himalayan salt and the Pygmy seahorse Are the colour of your little tongue Which is the same as the river dolphinI’m also the colour of bubbleContinue reading “KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | GRAPEFRUIT”

KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | ARCTIC

I am the colour of cold winter daysWhen the snow falls in big flakes I’m the colour of the graceful swanThe seagull and the beluga whale I’m also half of a panda’s colours Of clouds and vanilla ice creamPersian cats and cauliflowers And the sweet smelling jasmineI’m the colour of your pearly teethThat you brushContinue reading “KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | ARCTIC”

KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | PERIWINKLE

I am the colour of the dancing peacock And also of the humpback whale I’m the delicate shade of a robin’s eggsI am the colour of the racer snake I’m like the cresting and falling ocean I’m the shades of a summer skyI’m the colour of the planet Neptune As it orbits up on highContinue reading “KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | PERIWINKLE”

KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | STRAW

I am the colour of ripe corn fields And of the dancing daffodil I’m the colour of cheese, if you please And also of the pineapple The singing canary is the same shadeAs the yolk of your breakfast egg Which is like the “get set” traffic light And the marmalade on your bread I’m theContinue reading “KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | STRAW”

KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | CHERRY

I’m the outside arch of the rainbowAnd the colour of tropical sunsets,I’m the colour of sweet scented roses I’m like the seeds of the pomegranate I’m the colour of the lovely ladybird Of lobsters and flamingoes The colour of rubies and autumn leaves Of watermelons and tomatoes I’m the colour of the fiery garnet AndContinue reading “KIDSBOOKS – COLOURS | CHERRY”