My Ancient Heart

 I shut down the book

& Switch off the song 

Halt my weary search through 

Pages, words & wisdoms

Of forgotten ancestors far and wide 

Looking for my meanings - outside.

I now turn with 

Unsteady step 

and faltering voice

to sing my own silent song

Welling in an ancient heart

Wisdom and truth quietly 

Showing right from wrong.

 

And I let them flow

In serene song streams,

Of forgotten dreams

To merge with rushing 

Rivers outside, from

turbulent and peaceful times

Of our human ancestors 

And the more distant divine

To recognise 

I'm now the ancient ancestor,

conjuring truths

Like magic on shafts of light

Created and escaping 

Into the stillness of this 

Eternal night.

खुद की बात

 मेरे जिगर 

      मेरे हमदम 

             मेरे दोस्त,

ये क्या बात है 

               आग है 

       किस चाह की तलाश है ?

कौन रास्ते 

       किसकी मोहब्बत 

            किसकी नज़र की राह है?

रुक जा 

     अंदर जॉक 

              तेरा यार

तेरे ही पास है।

Return Gift

 In small crumbs

Or big boulders

Pieces of my heart 

Come back to me.

Bruised and trampled 

Worn and tired

But with wide smiles 

For All to see.

They return to their source 

To make me complete & whole 

Wandering all those years and miles

To realise -

Stillness was their only goal.

Neti Neti

 No song 

No rhyme 

No melody 

Is mine 

No rainbow 

No light

Nor star studded 

Night

No friend

No Foe

No high

No low

No seeking 

Nor sought 

Devoid

Of thought 

No future

No past

Eternal moment 

Lasts

Silent 

& Still

Illumined

Within

Insignificant 

But integral

Completing 

Infinity.

Poem from Hanle

 Dust storms raging far, wide,

Obliterating landscapes out of sight 

Storms rage also in my heart 

Transforming life with a new start.

Deleting records of my past

Healing scars that painfully last.

My storms swirl in glowing light

Closed eyes, blue & violet bright.

Drive to Hanle

Burnished boulders in umber, gold 

Layer hills that incessantly unfold.

Indus curves gently to the right 

In colors of jade and frozen white.

Cobalt skies are clear now

Blinding Sun searing above.

Ochre grasses sway out of sight

Poplars rise in groves of naked white.

Willows sport a rusty crown

Wilderness spreading far and down.

Heart is silent in all this wonder

Emptiness sitting in wordless slumber.