People watching: Poem

I find myself in the Universe
As I pursue Poetry in people

Zephyr wind whistles whisper sing-song secrets
Tides of time tango in delight
A damsel's auburn curls spring free under evanescent skies
Gossamer threads unraveled by her sun-kissed laughter

Frozen caterpillar dreams
find fluorescent butterfly wings
frigid fantasies ignite into molten lava
Families find home

Held hands harbor hope
couples wade through vociferous tides
Flowers bloom in an iridescent ballet
Children dance in buoyant smiles

A man's indigo eyes hold stories untold
Tales of his treasure hunt, lost and found

Innocent infant laughter
plunges me into childhood
the embrace of all my past selves

Effervescent wisps of wisdom an elder exudes in grey
renders me naive surety about uncertain tomorrows

The people I watch, and the voyeur, I
merge in the song of velvet horizons
differences strewn, similarities celebrated
as giving Mother Nature takes us in her arms

As I pursue Poetry in people
I find me in everyone- and 
lose myself in the Universe.

Copyright © Roshni Ramanan

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Dreams: Poem

My tender hands
harbor emerald dreams
crystal balls 
pulsate potential
a future of my design

When my velvet dreams bleed
I, persevering, plead:
"Hold on tight
 Let's brave the raucous night
 Morning come
 We'll put up another fight."

We wander exotic lands
unmarked by hoof prints
build stoic rudders
set sail into
pregnant tomorrows

I cradle my silver dreams
caress of sanguine songs
"If my heart resolute, and
 Spirit be true
 hurdles, no heed
 I'll see you through."

My golden dreams and I
assiduous scale
precipitous mountains mighty
fecundate fertile life
from horizon heights

When my molten dreams
no longer incubate caterpillar
burst into butterfly flame
I unleash their lava
onto dragon skies

Variegated wings spread
Iridescence across infinite space
Victors wink at me jubilant
Beaming rainbow pride

Copyright © Roshni Ramanan

May your ardent, blazing dreams crystallize into a radiant reality! 

Eternal Summer: Poem

Dance me into the sunrise

Let's 
Foxtrot into fantasy
weaving our youth around
sunbeams of laughter

Waltz into wonder,
as butterflies garland us
with pollen pecks

Tango in triumph
to tanager tunes
cockatiel cheerleading calls

Sambo into solace
swaying amidst
jubilant bougainvillea

Mambo in merriment
mischievous sea breeze 
caressing my skirt

Rambo in radiance
fiery light rays igniting
latent desires

Jive in jouissance
hearts bloom open
under expansive umbrella skies

Quickstep into quest
exultant waves rush
delivering answers

Salsa away from sunset
stealing time
stilling cycles of nature

You've danced me into the
Land of eternal summer

Copyright © Roshni Ramanan

War: Poem

Cacophonous words clash and clang
Cluttered ink callously smeared
bleeding across lines

Between the stilled pauses
lie crouched conflicts
Wailing war cries
waft in the void

Half sentences sort-of phrases
hang in the aching air
hovering in terror
Strikes stilling protest
muffling urgent words  
need to be said

Worlds in disarray
Lives distorted
The nib scribbles on
disconcerted 
by our dismay
distant, deleterious

Destabilizing commas
disorienting 
Suspicious semi-colons
dangling false hope
Yet, the awaited full-stops 
never prevail

Horrified by iniquitous display
Reprehensible design
I long for innocence
an unwritten page

Refilling inkwells
I shut my eyelids
in hopes
they reopen to a 
cotton white parchment.

Copyright © Roshni Ramanan

A small tribute to the lost lives and a fervent prayer for peace

Laughter: Poem

Laughter
An explosion
releasing me from trappings
A manifest drum call for
cheer and celebration

Chuckle
Tongue-in-cheek humor
Caressing secrets
hidden in my cellar
They age with time

Guffaw
Showcasing glee
unapologetic, unreserved
Splashing joy 
Wholesomeness packaged
 
Giggles
Sweet nectar
Soft, endearing
An appreciation of 
life's smaller moments

Chortle
Thundering joy
commands attention 
Addictive calls for the
collective to join in

Grin
Thinly veiled treat
Display of your delight
Inviting others in 

Smile
Succulent melody
Acquaints strangers
Silver thread
Mirroring the soul's shine

An old poem from the reserves. Hope you're blessed with many a reason to smile 🙂

Copyright © Roshni Ramanan

Cwtch : Poem

Cwtch (rhymes with 'butch') is a Welsh term to mean a safe storage space or a cupboard. It also signifies a meaningful embrace to offer safety to a loved one. Hugs are for everyone, cwtches are for a special few. I dedicate this poem to anyone who's had moments of touch starvation in the pandemic, and could use a virtual hug.



My chest harbouring
two heartbeats
Head perching securely
nested on sturdy shoulders

Our right palms find harmony
thumb unveiling fate lines
Held hands hold hostage
secrets spoken in silence

You cruise through my curls
unsnarling knots
unravelling me

I support the small of your back
lest you disintegrate in the
ecstasy of our union

Eyes closed
See through the soul's shine
Treasure chests within

An embrace
Explosive electricity at first
Then a sweet, settled melody
sounds only we are privy to

Tasting safety
wholesomeness of home
Hugs are delicacies

Scents speak
an exquisite language
No words - yet
Meaning abundant

Sun-kissed smiles
One feathery curve
stroking, soothing sores

Windows closed
Freedom of wind flows
within our sheltered fort
Expansive as starry skies

Our feet still- as do the
Short and long hands
no miles to traverse
Here we find home 

We create a force field
Alienating the world- yet
Containing it
All at once.

Copyright © Roshni Ramanan

Within Arm’s Reach: Poem

Blessed with Abundance,
Buoyant with Curiosity,
Cradled in Comfort,
Cajoled by Peace,
Elevated with Experience,
Elated by Epiphanies,
Serenaded by Success, 
Stroked softly by Grace,
Cheered by Adventure,
Cherished with Love, 
Guarded by Courage,
Garlanded with Victory,
Fueled with Motivation,
Freed by Belief,
Powered with Enthusiasm,
Protected by Faith, 
Radiant with Novelty,
Resplendent with Content,
Guided by good Intent,
Gifted eternal Well-being.
Within arm's reach,
The Ideal is now Tangible. 
Copyright © Roshni Ramanan

 

 

Dear Discomfort

 

Dear Discomfort,

Puncture my parachute so I find my wings and fly.

Take me away from the outside world so I connect with the person in the mirror.

Cage me in a bubble so I break out of it.

Silence me so I find meaningful things to say when I regain my voice.

Push me into the dark so I find my way through the long nights.

Corner me so I reclaim my space. Violate my space so I erect boundaries.

Hold me close to the ground so my urge to stand tall and proud intensifies.

Bind me tight so I learn to play with knots of limitation.

Hit me when I’m down so I savour the ups when the rollercoaster turns.

Drown me in doubt so I wade towards my survival.

Take away the false shine, so I’m not blinded by glimmer. Snatch a real diamond or two, so I learn its value.

Punch me in the stomach so I learn to stand up for myself.

Lure me into Candyland so I separate fantasy from reality.

Lay me in rock bottom so I look up to the sky.

Pull the ground beneath my feet so I find new legs to stand on.

Stretch me so I know how to reach.

Pin me to the wall so I learn not to beat my fists against it.

Render me weak so I grow to be strong. Leave me helpless so I discover tools to help myself.

Burden me so I’ll relieve myself of some battles.

Drop me out of another’s world so I shoot for the stars in the galaxy.

Throw me in a cesspool of agony so I relish every moment of ‘happy.’

Place me in a well of tears and I’ll cherish every drop of the elixir of joy.

Destroy all that I’ve built so I create a better home for myself.

Erase all that I was so I get to rewrite who I am.

I’ve you to thank for any success, acceptance and progress that has been splashed onto my palette.

Thank you for being my cheerleader. My saviour. My best friend.

Kudos to you for knowing what I need before I do.

I look forward to when you come and visit me next.

Copyright © Roshni Ramanan

What’s the word for it? #2

I wish there were words to describe:

Having just the right amount of something. Not too much, not too less.

The terror in anticipation of a big fall when you’re riding a high. Too good to be true, often isn’t.

Having something happen to you that you thought “only happens in movies.” Ready to break into a song and dance, anyone?

Equally valid, polar opposite ways of thought and feeling. Delighted and distraught about moving abroad. That joke was both atrociously offensive and absolutely hilarious, all at once.

The joy of the last but one step. Relishing the hills and vales of the journey so far. Eagerly awaiting the fruits of the sweaty trek. One more class, one more day, and I’ll be done. This time tomorrow.

Garlanded by applause. You bag the prize every participant coveted. Every spectator’s eye on you.

Awkwardly being on the receiving end of a musical “Happy birthday to you..” Yikes. We’ve all been there.

Not knowing what to do after checking off a major goal. Hold on – I don’t have to prepare for this event anymore? Yaay! But, what do I do with all my time now?

Knowing you should stop but not being able to. One more song. One more minute on the internet. One last page before I turn off the lights. Oops, it’s morning.

Breaking into fits of laughter at the most inopportune times. Don’t give away the prank. Keep a straight face throughout your presentation. Please, not at a funeral.

Tripping and falling on flat surfaces. Every time.

Knowing something in your bones with no factual evidence to back it up. How can you be so sure? Because- I just know.

When “your day” comes around. All of a sudden, you’re the Scrabble king. Your bat solely secures sixes and fours. You’re psychic. Today, the wind’s on your side.

Copyright © Roshni Ramanan

(Part 2)

Wish granted: Poem

You’ve stilled my fleeting gaze

Pinned my wandering thoughts

Focused my temporal interest

Ice walls melted into a puddle

Stone gates crumbled into ash

My pillars now arch- curious

My sealed lips slightly curved

Cracks in the windows of my intellect

Logic kneeling with humility

The door of my emotions

given in to the relentless knocks

The trees in my front yard

bring to me songs of your persistence

I can respect a spirited fighter

Rake your wild thoughts

Will for one dream,

Ask what you wish for,

But, careful-

For it will be granted.
Copyright © Roshni Ramanan