*The Beautiful Heart of a Mother *

 

The moment she knows she has conceived,

Her hands clasp in prayer

Hoping that you’ll be a healthy child

She prays all night and day.

 

A few months pass

And she is all aglow

Everyone who meets her declares

That they can see the happiness flow

 

Nine months later

A beautiful baby is born

The mother’s face is astonishingly radiant

But also tired and worn

 

She carries you gently

 In her warm, protective arms

Cradling your tiny head

In her soft, fragrant palms

 

She caresses you gently

And nourishes you with care

And proudly tells everyone

About your lovely, curly hair.

 

She massages you with love

To get strength into your bones

And buys fancy stuff and toys for you

Even if she has to take loans

 

Ma-ma, the first word you utter

Sends a thrill of joy through her soul

To make you take your first steady step

Is then her objective and goal

 

She sees you growing day-by-day

Before her very eyes

And if she sees you hurt by someone

In her heart, she weeps and cries

 

Her life and energy revolve around you

When, with high fever you are sick

She’ll stay by your bedside

Unaware of the passing hours that tick

 

In a few years, you’re off to school

She eagerly waits to hear your stories

And when she meets her friends

All they hear is your praise and glories

 

Finally you are in high school

A rebellious adolescent at that

She finds her angel turning into

A roguish, mischievous brat

 

Now, getting bad grades is common for you

And so are the scoldings from your father

But the one who has mercy and saves you each time

Is your adorable, sweet mother.

 

In college now, you’re almost independent

She hopes you won’t go off-track

And if she hears of any of your misdeeds

She tries her best to get you back

 

College life over, you soon get a job

 You are your own responsibility

But you are always welcome on her lap

That’s her wonderful, special ability

 

When you have your bad days at work

And you’re all depressed and sad

You can always share your troubles with her

Of her presence, you should be glad

 

On in life, you meet a wonderful person

The perfect partner, you know

Sadly, your mother feels in her heart

That it’s time to let you go.

 

Then you have a family of your own

To care for and look after

Busy with parties and merriment

Your days are filled with laughter

 

Your dear, sweet mother

Is now becoming frail and old

And when she doesn’t understand things easily

You just shout at her and scold

 

But she doesn’t say anything

You won’t even hear an utter

Silently at her own pace

From your life, she clears up all the clutter

 

You get mad at her for being slow

And not understanding the things you say

She patiently tries to explain to you

That you’ll be in her place some day

 

So be understanding, kind and gentle

Never ever call her a bother

And respect her for all that she is

Coz she has the beautiful heart of a mother.

 

FREEDOM*

These four walls they speak to me

They tell me of a freedom that I lost

I gave it away so easily that day

Not knowing how much it would cost

 

I long to feel free again

Not to be bound by these prison rules

Not to be told what to do and say

Not be treated like a mindless fool

 

After a decade has passed,  

They’re granting me reprieve 

A clean shirt on my hardened back 

And an identity on my sleeve  

 

Liberty is at my door step

Soon, I’ll be homeward bound

My second chance to live life,

A new freedom I have found.

 

                                     *terms and conditions apply

 

Co-written by Faye Brooke D'Cruz

http://fayology47.blogspot.in/

 

Watch our very own short film:
Freedom: Terms and Conditions Apply
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdhi4DFvO9g

 

 

 

 

Inside-out or Outside-in

Outside is a man rushing to catch his train

While the seconds keep ticking by

Inside I lie by the sea shore

Unaware of the hours passing by

 Outside life is a rollercoaster

Swinging rapidly to and fro

Inside life is a boat floating over each wave

No use for the oars

 Outside the world is topsy-turvy,

Each one going his own way

Inside it is living for each other

At every moment of the day

 Outside life is a jumble,

You never know what you may find

Inside is a treasure house of wisdom

Where you can see even if you are blind

 Outside is like a storm,

Challenging yourself at every step

Inside is at the calm lake

Where you shared, discovered, even wept.

Outside is a maze

With it’s surprising twists and turns

Inside are unused paths

Leading you to new things to learn

Outside is a body-

A structure to keep pace  with the world

Inside is a heart that opens to anyone

And lets them in, in a swirl.

*Beauty lies in the eyes of the Beholder*

She is delightfully gorgeous,

Funny and oh, so fair.

Her loving heart seems so overfull,

It could almost tear!

 

My name always sounds exotic

When she calls out in her lilting voice.

The way those enticing lips must move,

When around playful words she toys.

 

That wonderful soft touch

When she holds out her lovely hand,

Sends unnerving shivers down my spine

And makes it even more difficult to stand.

 

When she walks into the room,

I try to breathe her all in.

Her honeyed fragrance teases my nose,

And sets my already-dizzy head into a spin.

 

She’s a friendly shoulder to lean on,

To anybody in despair.

She’d never reveal the sins you confessed

Or the secrets that you shared.

 

Always so graceful and charming,

She’s a woman of poise.

She would never ever leave my side

Even when given a choice.

 

She says I am the hottest guy in town!

I really am a catch!

She is blessed to have got someone like me,

It seems like a heavenly match.

 

I brush that aside modestly,

It’s me who is the lucky one!

For who could fathom that a guy like me

Could transpire to gaze at the sun?

 

For when my world is monotone,

She brings in her warmth and hue.

She can illuminate my darkness

She’s one of the very few.

 

She constantly reminds me

That her beauty is actually inside out.

And if my eyes were to see again

The sight would finally clear the doubt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Lost Childhood

Sitting at the table

Of your neighbourhood teashop,

From the waiter’s eyes you see

A tiny tear drop.

He rubs his eyes with the back of his hand

But his face is still tear-stained

Even though you see him smile

You know that he is pained

Just about a year ago

His parents had promised him books

But now serving tea for a living

From the customers he gets dirty looks

His father, who had lost his job

Just stayed at home and stuttered

Dizzy from the drinks he’d had

His heart was always a –flutter

His mother was a simple woman

Who didn’t know left from right

She wanted to send her son to school

She wanted him to read and write

But the bills were high

And the dues had to be paid

To get three square meals a day,

The poor child, day and night, he slaved

He had only finished his second standard

He wanted to rise and conquer all

Now he had to work hard all day

He had to maintain a tea stall!

His daddy’s friend had given him a job

And he earned 10 rupees a day

But he had the heart of a child

He only wanted to learn and play

He served the people politely

And went to work on time

He was paid nothing but harsh words,

Insults and occasionally a dime.

He brings the hot cups of tea

And gently wipes the tables

While his mind is filled with thoughts

About his mother and her fables

Late in the evening, he returns

Weary and covered in sweat and grime

Why do I have to work, he asks his daddy

What is my crime?

To this he gets no answer

But a few slaps and bruises

Later his mother holds him in her lap

Trying to pacify him with various excuses

He cries himself off to sleep

The family’s responsibilities he can’t shirk

He has to follow the path he hasn’t chosen for himself

The next day he must return to work.

HAPPINESS :)

What is happiness?

It is a state of mind.

It is a concept,

That is very hard to define.

It brightens up your day

And brings gladness to your heart.

It does away with the mundane

And gives life a new start.

Happiness is when

You finally let go of a grudge.

It is also when you see

A huge helping of delicious chocolate fudge!

Happiness is a feeling

That's very difficult to fake,

II's when your friend fulfils her promise

And bakes you cupcakes.

You can find happiness

Whenever you forgive and forget,

It leaves you light-hearted,

With no room to fume or fret.

You feel that joyful happiness

When you are finally content.

It's when every ounce of energy

On a good deed you've spent.

Happiness is insanity

It's when you lose your mind!

It defies all logic

It leaves the past behind.

Happiness is that wonderful feeling

That grows deep within you,

And if you nourish it carefully

It spreads to others too!

Happiness is an energy

That enlivens you after a tiring day.

It entices you and cheers you

When you see children at play.

Happiness is when

All your dreams are fulfilled

It is when you receive a reward

For all the hard work that you've tilled.

It is the blissful warmth in your heart

When you are with your near and dear.

As long as happiness resides within,

There is no place for fear.

It is like an inner strength

That can bring a glow on your face.

If we seek it, we shall find

It is also called God's grace!

Happiness has the power

To bring a smile to your face.

It is so contagious that it can affect

The entire human race!

Go and smile at someone,

Whenever you see them pout...

Tell them that happiness can make them beautiful

Both on the inside and out!

I’m powered or Empowered??

“The drowning man takes hold of his own hair.”- A Lithuanian Proverb

With an amazing life to live
And parties all night long
Life is beautiful, life is bliss
Filled day and night with song

When they look at me, they see

A maiden, Oh so fair!
A little nudge here, a sly smile there,
Trying to get into my lair.

Little do they know or see

The person hidden behind the mask
They just assume I live like a deity
And no one cares to ask

A lonely person in my home

Neither filled with warmth or light
I need that little pill to get to the next day
Or fight another sleepless night

The horrors of the days gone by

Still leave me catching my breath
When, just to enjoy the heights of life
I nearly jumped to my death.

My friends all smoked it now and then

Yet, they seemed just fine
I guess, I finally went overboard
When I crossed the line.

My insides burned with fury

And I doubled over in pain
I swore I wouldn’t smoke again
But my oath went in vain

“A near disaster,” that’s what I said

“It really did me no harm.”
I didn’t realise I had turned deaf
To my body’s own alarm

So, back again, in my lair

This time would be the last
But my mind lost control over me
And my heart stopped beating fast.

There it was, that bright red light,
The stop sign, I had ignored
“Live a little,” Life whispered to me,
“Before you turn cold.”

My journey from there, my battle for Life

Made me realise I could be strong
I had the power to steer my own life
And judge when I was wrong.

So here I am, on my own two feet
Now proudly standing tall,
I know I can pick myself up,
The very next time I fall.
 

 

Dare to be Different!

Ever looked at the parts of a jigsaw puzzle? They are all different shapes and sizes! Some rounded, cornered, jagged, crooked, straight, long, short etc. If you look at a single piece by itself, it holds no significance. But once you put all the pieces together, in their right places, you can see the bigger picture (pun intended).

All of us, are like these pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. We are all different. Some introverts, some extroverts. Some, by nature, are happy-go-lucky while others are sour pusses. Some studious while others sporty. Some street-smarts and some book-worms. Some, whom you can go to for advice and others just to laugh your lungs out with. We each have our own quirkiness and qualities. We keep grumbling about others, finding faults in them. But life would be so boring if all of us were the same. Imagine looking at a mirror wherever you go. Instead of always pointing out the differences, why not just accept them?  We all need a nerd here, a genius there, a prankster here and a counsellor there. These are the various ingredients that add a little zing and zest to life. After all variety is the spice of life!

We are all rough around the edges. But put together, we make up for each other’s faults and differences. We are the yin to another’s yang! Our differences are what actually makes us compatible with each other. In unison and in harmony we make the bigger and better picture. Everything falls into its own place.

So be proud of who you are! Never try to be like someone else. Your uniqueness is vital. Because if even a single piece of the puzzle gets lost, the picture remains incomplete.

Living LIFE!

She felt on top of the world

Life, for her, had never been so good.

A good job, friends and a fiancé

There just was no reason to brood. 

Suddenly her life turned upside down

She started losing weight,

Pain racked her frail body,

She questioned God about her fate. 

The doctors prescribed many tests

She awaited the diagnosis with bated breath,

Cancer! Third stage! The words boomed in her ears

She resigned herself to an impending death. 

Regarding the chances of survival she had

The doctors sadly said it was too late.

They would do everything in their power

But the rest was left to fate. 

Their words hit her like a sledge-hammer

Her heart was all a flurry,

                                                There were so many dreams she had to fulfil

To accomplish them she had to hurry. 

Realizing she had limited time

She set out with a frenzied fervour,

To return a thousand times and more

The love that people had given her. 

She called her beloved to meet her

Knowing that marriage was not in her cards.

She broke the terrible news to him

Breaking their hearts into a million shards. 

In the recesses of the lonely, dark nights

She would shut her eyes and earnestly pray

Pleading, begging, asking God

Just to give her one more day. 

She was filled with despair

A feeling of foreboding within her grew,

She pondered about the life she had led

And wished she could begin anew. 

Determined to make the most of life,

Her eyes started twinkling with glee,

She gave up the illusion of control she had,

At last she was free! 

She visited all the places she loved

She dug her toes in the sand

Glided through the air on a ‘chute

She waited for her feet to land 

She went to meet her near and dear ones

To say her final ‘Goodbyes’

She told them not to grieve for her

‘Cause true love never dies 

The time came to part from the world

She had no regrets or pain

She thanked God with all her heart

For giving her the chance to live life again 

It’s not how many seconds there are in life

But how much life there is in every second,

She closed her eyes and breathed her last

As God, to her, had beckoned. 

Her frail and weak body lay there

But her vibrant spirit lingers on,

Let’s pray that this spirit of living life

Is never truly gone.