सुबह

I composed and recited this poem during the online Kavyakaumudi International multilingual poet's group  meet on 17th December 2023.   The poem draws attention to the fact that each day brings good or bad tidings based on one's own mental state. It has nothing to do with the day itself, Keeping one's mind clean, saving ourselves from negative thoughts and taking responsibility for one's happiness would lead to each day being happy and abundant.

रोज़ आती है सुबह

सूर्य की रश्मियाँ-  खिड़की से निकलते   

मुस्कुराते ,खेलते खेलते , मुझे जगाती  है  

एक जैसा लगने पर भी 

रोज़ जगाने का काम करने पर भी 

हर सुबह एक सामान नहीं होती 

हर सूर्योदय ले आती है , अलग अलग अनुभव 

कभी ख़ुशी तो कभी ग़म 

कभी आशा, तो कभी निराशा  

कभी गुस्सा, कभी आनंद !  

परंतु, इस में  बेचारी सुबह का क्या कसूर 

सब कुछ है निर्भर, अपने ही मनोदशा पर 

 

मन साफ़ रखने से , बुरे विचारों से बचने से 

ख़ुशी का ज़िम्मेदारी ख़ुद लेने से 

ठीक रहती है मनोदशा 

तब , ज़िन्दगी भरपूर 

आनंद ही आनंदमय !

राजीव मूतेडत   

राहें

 

चौराहा पर खड़े होकर, मैं चारों  और देखा 

कुछ लोग  सीधा  जा रहे थे , कुछ दायें और कुछ भाएँ 

मैं देखता ही रह गया ,  समझ  में  नहीं आया कि कहाँ जाऊँ  

तब तक के  जीवन, की झलकें आयी  

एक के बाद एक, आँखों के सामने 

क्या मैं ठीक रास्ते से आ पहुंचा हूँ ? 

कौन जाने  , क्या सही , क्या गलत था 

ध्यान जब  केंद्रित था,   दैनिक जीवन  में 

ज़्यादा सोचने का समय कहाँ था 

पापी पेट का जो सवाल था !   

मैं दूसरों के ओर देखा  

उस व्यस्त, माहौल में  भी 

कई जा रहे थे आत्मा विशवास से 

सीधा ,  दायें, भाएँ 

वहीं, जहाँ उन्हें जाना था  !

उदासी में डूबी स्तिथि से ऊपर उठकर 

अपने  आप से, मैं पूछने लगा 

कब तक ऐसा खड़े रहोगे ? 

थोड़ी देर हिचकिचाने के बाद, मैं 

मन में निशचय  कर लिया  और मोड़े,  दायें ओर 

क्या मैं सही, कर रहा था ? रास्ते में पत्थर, काँटे ना मिल जाएँ ? 

अंदर से आवाज़ आई , "आयेंगे , तो आने दो 

झेल लेंगे , बेकार खड़े रहने से बेहतर हैं " 

एक बार मुड़ कर देखा तो , कुछ लोग वैसे 

वहीं खड़े थे , उस चौराहे पे , संदेह, सम्ब्रम  में  

न जाने कितने देर से ये खड़े थे

घंटों से , दिनों से , शायद कई सालों से...  

 राजीव मूतेडत    

NB: This poem was written for recitation during the Seniors Today online Poetry meet on 8th December 2023.   

यादें - जीवन का सहयात्री

 तरह तरह की यादें 

कुछ रंगीन, सुनहरे 

कुछ दर्द भरी , भूलने योग्य 

बचपन से बुढ़ापे तक, यादें ही यादें हैं 

ऐसा क्यों, कि  मीठी यादों से ज़्यादा 

कड़वी यादें आती हैं , सताती हैं 

इस बुढ़ापे में ? 

तो  बन गयी है  यादें 

पूरे जीवन का सहयात्री 

ये  रहेगी  साथ में 

मरते दम तक !

आगे  की यात्रा में भी  , अनंत यात्रा में 

क्या साथ देगी, ये यादें ?

कौन जाने ...?   

राजीव मूतेडत

     

The Pain of Separation

"Virah" or the pain, associated with separation 

can be intense, debilitating, a gnawing feeling deep inside 

often discussed  in the context of beloveds 

lovers separated by circumstances- financial differences

parental opposition, societal norms, objections..  

The other day watched a Zoom discussion 

featuring senior citizens, living by themselves

 children had flown far away where their jobs took them 

 even to the other parts of the world...

Opinions differed between both sides of pendulum 

"Well, that's life, get real, be practical , learn to live 

happily by yourselves!  "Surely you don't want 

to be a stumbling block to son/daughter's future & growth 

moreover, isn't it lot better than being ignored, neglected

by children living in the same city, couple of blocks away?" 

On the other side were valid points too! 

"My only child" having a steady job 

with spouse also well employed 

decided 'out of the blue' to move to 'cold' UK 

We tried living with them, for short periods

the strong pull of grand kids being irresistible

yet the climate, our roots, need to socialize

brought us back to our country sooner than later" 

No matter how much we deny it, it is there 

this pain of separation -  whether from a beloved

a child , parent or sibling 

It's real for the ones who experience it 

who are we to sit in judgement ?

pooh, pooh what they actually  feel ...

After all, imagining what it feels, to another

is not the same as feeling its intensity, depth, magnitude

experiencing it ourselves! 

yes ,‘Viraha’ the pain of separation is real

it needs to be acknowledged and accepted

before it can be dealt with, handled effectively… 

NB: This poem was composed for and recited at the online Seniors Today Poetry meet in November 2023. 

Toddler's Day out

 

On this jolly day, on  a holiday, with parents 

hey toddler, you're having so much fun

even as, you have just learned to run !

There you are, running and chasing 

pacing with little  goats, birds 

and petting brown, white bunnies 

with love and tenderness...

Off  to the beach  at the resort's reach

for fun with water, splashing away in glee 

enjoying the lovely landscape too 

and then for a tour of  Kuah town 

to watch lovely sunset, turn orange & brown 

Finally, to end  great day,  exotic food

at fascinating restaurant, elegantly good 

mouth watering deserts like 'Cold creamy Godiva' 

By then toddler, you are fast asleep 

having said "Good bye" to a lovely day 

that can bring smiles years later 

sweet memories, told,  retold by parents and kid! 

NB: This poem was written in response to a call from "Million Muse" Facebook poetry group  to write on  the theme "Poetry on/  for children"   

Your Health in Your Hands

 "Prevention is better than cure" 

a quote dinned into our ears since ages 

yet, we pay no attention until it's too late! 

 

Even at the cure level, most want no responsibility

preferring to leave process to doctors and medicines 

content being a 'patient' slave  

following diktats of the experts! 

The other day joined a webinar on "Poly pharmacy"

a situation where  patients are on 5 or more medicines

That  act, interact and often cause more harm than good

Patients, particularly senior citizens 

become zombies, inert , dazed 

crippled physically and mentally, most of the time 

In such a condition, often forget things, people

even whether they already took the medicine 

Arise, awake oh human, time overdue to

take responsibilty,  put your foot down 

A living zombie with poor quality of life 

useful only to drug companies, doctors  

better an active life minus a few years 

than a dazed zombie for life! 

Yes, time has come to move away 

from being a mere 'patient' 

to becoming a responsible participant 

in managing your health, calling the shots 

ensuring your health is in your hands!  

NB: I recited this poem during the virtual October month meet of the Kavya Kaumudi Multilingual International Poets meet.   

Twin sides of a Coin

Mutual trust, mutual understanding-

Two sides of the same coin

One dependent on the other  

Complementing each other!

 

It takes two to Tango 

when both parties want it, value it 

Then, trust becomes possible 

Understanding happens….

Want trust? Be reliable and trustworthy!

 When followed through with genuine action

Relationships blossom, become gardens!

  

Rock solid trust, impossible

if promises not kept? if broken, once, twice

too many times...

The bottom line is caring enough 

Caring enough to make efforts

To understand, the priorities, motivations

Needs of the other person…

 

When the basics are addressed, 

understanding happens....

Just as daylight is a natural given 

of the rising sun, inseparable is

Mutual understanding and trust  

One follows the other

After all, they are two sides of the same coin! 

NB: This poem was composed and recited during the  Motivational Strips  "Be a Star Contest" featuring poets from over 100 countries. It won a Honorary mention certificate (Poetry excellence) .