The Deal-Maker

One sun in the sky
and a million others shining up
from the railway tracks
that lead unto me, everyday
like the million lines on my face
each line for the million times i have prayed
exhaling a million plumes of smoke
that fill the million braids of my hair

You ask me a question,
I close my eyes,
I crease my brow, and nod my ashen-face
as though I've always known you'd come
but all I do
is take a long drag
and stare at you
as your faith stares back
and snares me between the million lies, tracks
that lead away from what is true

I quietly put my conscience away
"Son, you have sinned!", I say,
And you grow pale
"Maharaj, is there a way?"
you ask,
as you tremble with the memories of that frightful day
Another drag; you wait,
as i close my eyes and negotiate
"Sure, but there'll be a price to pay"

And you are happy
to trade your guilt for a hundred rupees
and thank God for deal-makers under trees

As i hoard my own guilt,
and pray to find a deal-maker for me

- Inspired by the powerful 'Immersion', by a friend, Ayan

The Road Taken

On the way
decided to take the flyover today
for a moment or two
i rise above the city view
eye to eye
with fifth floor skies
then down again
with hoi-polloi
and in my bliss
never knowing what i missed
i flew right over
my dreams today

Ramblings, 02:31:22

Two cries for the will of this night
and a shout to coax a show of might
the sun can wait, your darkness prevails
this now is mine, it shares my plight

a note or two that make me think
a clever A-minor that does the trick
a quest for rhyme and a stranger gone wrong
lost for words and a perfect string

shining lights, too bright inside
will somebody please turn down this pride
dreams and tramps that beg at my feet
but i'm pre-occupied with pacific noise

puffy eyes, crooked lips
thoughts come knocking, but mind's on a trip
answering machine says "please go away
i'll get back to you, but there'll be a delay"

getting crazy with a piece of wet chalk
we're done with chat, we're yet to talk
two thirty one, and twenty two gone
i yawn
and yet, and yet i stare at the clock

Thoughts for a New Year

The still, silent night
is fading away
dawn is smiling
and promises day
a little tree yawns
and rustles its leaves
a gentle draught blows
and sweeps the streets
a lone highway truck
rumbles by
a trembling road
shudders and sighs
flaps in the wind
and chirps in the sky
the birds are waking up now
when will i

A Prayer for the Damned

Revenge on my mind
replays of the deed spinning
slowly as my pain rewinds
to see the winking, smiling face
revulsion brashly winding up around
to force my hand, but
Mozart's fifth playing softly slows me down
far-away-look peers into time
and best-served-cold it comes to town

Nurturing father, me
the potter, fate, my child of clay,
scheming into night, the plotter,
bringing hate to life and play,
bottled and preserved, a moment,
by a cold heart lest it strays,
stalking memories in the dark
lest they lose their way

As i gently run my fingers
through his mangled, evil hairs,
to the restless demon on a leash
i whisper Godless prayers
"Patience, patience, child, thy will be done,
like the wisdom of things that chime
slowly but surely you must bide your time,
forgive not, forget not their trespasses, this crime shall pay,
and twisted justice will be delivered
and see the light of day"

-Amit

The Road

A young boy wide awake at his old man's feet
staring up at purple sky watching it turn bleak
his little heart chained by his father's last words
his soul imprisoned by what he'd just heard
he shudders at the thought of what he must complete
and bids a brave adieu to his life in this street
though fear rings loudly at the doors of his mind
and blinking eye gives way, and tears spring forth
the young boy turns back one last time
and packs his small bag and changes his road

-Amit