Special Edition: Sushma Malhotra

Sushma Malhotra

Unifying

A string below a finger

Touched to produce some music

Calm surroundings with motionless skies

Sleeping birds and hidden squirrels and rabbits

Bring a movement with stirring all.

I just needed one string not cello or harp

To break this silence 

To create a connection 

between Him and me.

In silence, this sound

Entered into my soul

Deep enough to pierce my thoughts

Brought old memories

Yearning for true love and a hug in quietness

To subdue the sad thoughts of missing someone.

As the string with a touch of my fingers

Gave way to break monotony 

Merged with the twittering

Of melodious sounds around 

Eventually became one with heart and mind.

***

 

Cycle of Music

Music of seclusion

Played in isolation 

Filling the surroundings

With the emotions 

Of joy and sadness.

Sweet enough to pierce 

Merge with the soul 

Be a part of the body

From mortal humanity

To the immortal nature.

Spreading in the enormous clouds

Touching horizon reaching the orbit

Echoing in the vacuum

Returning down to the earth

More melodious and musical.

***

Uplifting Music

Standing alone amidst the nature

Singing with her ability and vigor

Her soulful vocal cords affecting

All those feel lonely in the crowd

As offering an unfeigned company.

Approaching the swirling rivers 

Falling from the high mountains

Splashing and spraying waterfalls

Thundering and producing

Soothing white natural voice.

Chances to reach a forest

Amidst the fallen trees

With crashing and cracking noise, 

Snapping of the breaking branches

Or a thud of the trunk hitting the ground.

On a tranquil peak with serenity

In the placidness of Nature 

Undisturbed and untouched

Echoing and resounding to 

Reach back to integrate and merge.

***

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Setu, January 2025