*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.