It's Really Me

On a given day
I am on a roll
everything seems to be working for me
I look at a person and he is already smiling

I ask help from a colleague
and it's immediately given
all experiences pleasant
whether at work, the coffee shop
at the cinema or social scene

Yet on other days
I feel people ignoring me
are unfriendly & unhelpful
I am diffident to even seek help...

How can it be
that the same people behave
differently on different days
how can they be rude
and friendly to the same 'me'

with a little pondering
observation & introspection
I can now see
that it's all about me
and what I am feeling

If I am feeling down
nonenthused & exhausted
these get reflected
on my face & body-
frowning face, drooping shoulders
moving away, withdrawing..

No wonder then
they pick up the signals
and return to me
the same things I projected

So it's all about me
what I am thinking & feeling
it's not them
it's really me!

Grit, Challenge, Determination

Last night I saw the flick, Mary Kom
had tears in my eyes at the end of film
the audience rose spontaneously
as the national anthem played
in honour of the nation & Mary Kom

It hit me then, the simple truth
that achievements of Indians
more so of women
are so much more laudable
as they make it against heavy odds
poverty, sports federations
family pressures, cultural pressures!

and yet,but for the cricketeers
others are forgotten & fade away
some sell hard earned world medals
to make two ends meet...

I salute the makers,
the crew before & behind the camera
I salute Mary Kom
the gritty determined
five time world champion who
tasted success before & after marriage
even after motherhood!

Her saga of grit, challenge
and determination continues
as she eyes the championship
for the sixth time
come 2016...

Routine

It is killing me
up early-rush to work
repetitive tasks
eat, work,sleep,work,eat sleep
over and over
again and again
It sucks life out of  me...
what about you?

Shades of Love

As a young man then
listening to an experienced senior
I was in a  light hearted mood
felt what he was saying
was not of immediate significance

yet, he was in  all earnestness
explaining how love, its intensity
and meaning changed over a time & period
he started from  the beginning..

As a young couple
love meant excitement
yearning for a telephone call
and passionate letters
when away from each other

Later, with the arrival of children
the love got diffused & diverted
to the new VIP  members...
and he, the husband felt
a little  lost- a little ignored

With time...
The content in the letters changed
from "miss you so much dear!" to
"water the plants and
don't forget the monthly provisions
before my return."

These changes he concluded
are natural , to be expected
and to be accepted gracefully
the younger "me" then, was not convinced..

but he was very clear
unwavering in his view
wisdom of experience dancing on his brow
 Today with salt & peppered hair
 I can understand him
 his point of view  better

But what  of those
who lack similar maturity & acceptance
who  refuse to accept
the varying shades of love...?