Meena Chopra (Diaspora Dual Identities)

Meena Chopra

Ripples Of A Fading Past

 

I see the unfathomable sky, 

reflecting in the deep waters of Naini lake
Shadows of mountains rise 

kissing the drifting clouds.

Among dense trees on the hills

I see fluttering faces of a fading past
Waterfalls murmur sweet melodies 

of the passing years.

Golden marigold scent 

Scattered upon the cool breeze
Distant echoes of temple bells 

Bowed in a silent prayer.

Wrapped in flute’s tune

The morning sun glides gently from the peaks

Sliding down the slopes--

In the lake waters

Playful rays dip into the ripples
Paddles splash, 

Breathing life into a drifting boat
Waves of silence float in the night’s shimmer,
Fireflies return, 

Their dim glow colliding on the shores.

A traveler’s dreams race with the winds 

on a cold road of hope,

Receding footsteps embrace winding trails
Reaching where destinations pause—mere reflections in time.

Sinking into the lake’s depths
In a lulling slumber
Dissolving into the stretch of a rising dawn!

 

*Inspired by my hometown Nainital in North India.

 

Autumn Ink

 

The pen rose,
Whispered softly to the blank page
And I, like ink, began to flow—
Rustling through the veins
of drifting autumn leaves

Humming and swishing an unbridled silence,

Elated, brimming with zeal
They set forth upon the winds
Writing their own colorful tales.

Stardust gently caressed them
And the pen, in quiet delight
Smiled within—Throbbed, murmured
Singing its seasonal glory.

*Inspired by the autumn in Canada

Above poems are original and my own creation- Meena Chopra

 

 

Meena Chopra is a renowned Canadian Indian poet, visual artist, designer, and art curator. Writing in English and Hindi, her poetry appears in literary magazines and anthologies, translated into Urdu, German, and Punjabi. She has authored five poetry and art collections and co-edited a Canadian Hindi-Urdu poetry anthology. With over 120 global art exhibitions, Meena blends literature with visual arts. She has received numerous accolades, including the NALANDA AWARD for Best Hindi Poet (2023) and Civic Recognition Award (Mississauga, 2022). She has been a former media professional, radio broadcaster, and publisher of eminent Arts and Entertainment StarBuzz weekly from Toronto. Website: www.meenachopra.art

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Setu, April 2025