Dilemma in Adversity

During an illness, divorce, misfortune
well meaning people move in
with advice, tips and more advice
overwhelming the poor victim 

While moving in a direction for solution
some tell you to do it differently
others are horrified by the 'bizaarre' alternative
more and more conflicting views
confusing, agonizing and debilitating the poor victim
mentally, physically, emotionally...

The best you can do, in such times
is simply share your thought
and leave it to them, to listen to their heart 
instead of insisting, "My way or the high way"!

This poem was included in the 4th anthology of multilingual poems "poetic prism" edited by Ms Padmaja Iyengar for the Cultural centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati(CCVA)

സെൽഫി ഭ്രമം ( Selfie Craze )

മലമുകളിലെ അതി മനോഹര കാഴ്ച 

താഴെ അതി രമണീയം, അതി സുന്ദരമാം താഴ്വര 

പക്ഷെ അജയൻ ദൃശ്യം പൂർണമായി ആസ്വദിച്ചില്ല ...

അവൻ്റെ ശ്രദ്ധ മുഴുവൻ ക്യാമറയുടെ പല കോണുകളിൽ

ചിത്രം എഫ്ബിയിൽ, ഇൻസ്റ്റാഗ്രാമിൽ, സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയയിൽ 

 വരുമ്പോൾ ഉള്ള കോളിളക്കം! 

ആ നിമിഷത്തെ ഓർത്തു , താലോലിച്ചു 

സെൽഫി എടുക്കുമ്പോൾ 

കാലുകൾ തെന്നിയതോ 

താഴെ,  താഴെ, താഴേക്കു വീഴുന്നതോ 

അവനറിഞ്ഞില്ല ...... 

This  Malayalam  poem titled "Selfie Brahmam" (Selfie Craze) was contributed by me to the Poetic Prism organized by the The culture center of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA) in November 2018.

The English version titled " Exciting Selfie" which was published earlier in my blog is reproduced below:-

From the cliff top

exquisite, stunning view

of the landscape, the valley below

Ajay thought it beautiful

but couldn't dwell on it

He was busy adjusting camera

for better n better angles

visualizing the impact, it's thunder

on FB, instagram,other social media

this pleasant thought and feeling lingered

even as he slipped and fell into valley

down, down, down below....

Danger in a click:  ( incidents in the state of Karnataka alone)

Feb: 12,2016: Three medical students drown in Visveshwaraya canal, Mandya
Jul 18, 2016: Two drown after falling into Alekhan waterfall in Charmadi Ghat, Chikmagaluru
Jul 25, 2017: Man dies while trying to take sekfie with captive elephant in Banneghatta National park
Sept 26, 2017 Student drowns in temple tank in Ramanagaram during photo session
Oct 3, 2017: Three students run over by train while trying to take a selfie
Oct 18, 2017: Man slips off Channagiri peak while taking a photo of himself 
Jul 15,2018: Two software engineers fall into Kaveri river during a group photo session

Dealing with the Cowards

Like cowards who pelt stones
hiding behind women and children
the trollers throw things more vicious
hiding behind anonymity

Giving themselves strange names
like "Wise man", "Free man" or  "Nation's man"
they use language that would shock
outrage their own parents,
ancestors would turn in their grave
if posted in their real names!

Some victims give them back
in their own coin
others take pains to find and shame...

The best way perhaps
is to ignore these specimens
with all the contempt they deserve!
After all you never paid any attention then
nor give a damn now, to the filth written
behind doors of public toilets...

Banana Republic?

One by one they come
tumbling down....
sacred institutions meant for the rule of law
from a pedestal to being "caged parrots"
to abysmally low places...

The plight of the average citizen is akin
to the ancient tale of the frog and Sri Rama
Ram while in forest noticed his legs
had been on the frog which was in acute pain

"But why didn't you let me know?" asked Rama
"when others trouble me I call out to Rama for help
but if Rama himself is the cause of my pain
whom do I turn to? "