Poetry: Kiren Babal

Kiren Babal

RESOLUTIONS VS 2025

My mind always plays

A perennial boggling game.

What new resolutions would be? 

For the coming year?

This time too...

I scratched my head

Squinted my eyes

Chewed the pencil stubs.

For the list was long

Did not understand 

Which ones to focus

And which ones to shun. 

2025 Came loud and clear amidst all cheers.

Still caught in the web

The brilliant ideas for

New Year's Resolution

Stayed at bay. 

 

Unmindful of my thoughts

2025, in its goblet held

A unique champagne

To hold a toast, cheer

And celebrate The New Year. 

1st Jan, A gift from my cousin surprised me

A ticket to see a movie

An energy packed thriller

Fully energized me. 

3rd Jan,

My daughter virtually airlifted, for a family surprise trip

It fully mesmerised me.

My dancing heart, on the clouds of nine

Learnt yet another lesson of life.

Right now, this moment, Enjoy

What life has brought in store?

Let resolutions take a backseat. 

The flow of time will decide and

Make its own resolution. 

And my mind... cleared of all webs 

Gave a grand salute to

The New Year. And its resolutions.

***

LOVE PERSONIFIED!

I am love,

Yes! For you to know;

I have no beginning,

I have no end.

I just flow, like a rapid fire;

From one heart

To another, I fly

Without a hue or a cry!

I am hidden within

A cupid's arrow!

Oh! Please don't fret

For there is no threat!

It's not to pierce,

Nor anyone to bleed;

But touch a gentle soul,

With that happy feeling.

To make the eyes sparkle,

For Hearts to skip a beat,

And language so to speak,

All sugar and honey-sweet.

You may not know,

Let me apprise you,

I don many a hats,

Come I'll show you some!

The baby in the cradle,

That Apple eye to mother.

Her breasts feeding milk,

Is oozing Love in suckle.

A sibling bond cherished,

Is none other than me, for

That sacred divine thread,

That’s Love my dear friend.

Parents, Lonely and forlorn

In twilight years staying alone,

Yet smile a toothless smile.

When the son visits, even for a day.

That day love is there,

In their home to stay.

In their moist eyes,

And kitchen noise.

So you see my friend,

I reside in everyone's heart;

The whole of mankind,

Whether they know it or not.

You may desert me,

It's your own choice,

Just tap your heart

When, wish to seek.

Close your eyes,

And see me rise,

In all the shades,

Of colour red!

***

Bio: An Educator, Voice modulator, Author & Poet, Radio-Artist, Creative Artist for Crafts and Dramatics, Kiren Babal has a rich experience of 60 years; with a flair for writing both in English and Hindi. To her credit she has many children's books, poetry books and anthologies both in English and Hindi. Her focus always remained in keeping her hobbies alive.

She is passionate about storytelling and loves to interact with NGO children by way of storytelling. Life unfolds itself in all her creative pursuits, be it writing, singing, painting , poetry , storytelling, or social services.

Every new creativity is a new identity of her persona. So does she believe! 

A new beginning, a new understanding in the world she belongs as she treads the path of her life!

The journey goes on…

***

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Setu, March 2025

Animal Tales: The Magic of Love

Kiren Babal

Kiren Babal

Dogs are very attached to their masters and show their displeasure in various ways when left alone, such as stopping eating, being aggressive, having accidents here and there, etc. Well! I have never been particularly fond of dogs, but here I am talking about my daughter's pet dog ‘Nacho’-A Toy Pomeranian who just celebrated his 4th birthday on 6th June. 

His excitement is worth watching:  spinning in circles, talking back with his amusing barks, standing on his hind legs begging for a biscuit, and running to hide in small spaces when scolded. Whenever I visit my daughter and hug her, he frantically barks and is appeased only when she picks up and cuddles him in her arms. 

In the first week of June, my daughter went on a holiday, and as always, her two house-helps (Sheetal, Lakshmi) and Nacho were transported to my house for the stay. Nacho barked, whined, followed me everywhere, and showed little interest in eating. Wherever I sat, it cozily settled between my feet and growled at Sheetal and Lakshmi, when they tried to take him on the terrace for a bio-break. It took a lot of cuddling and snuggling to make Nacho comfortable, allowing him to sleep on my bed too.

It so happened that on 4th June, Dr. Sangeeta Sharma and her husband Dr. Sunil Sharma, came to visit my house. They are well known in the poets’ fraternity. 

As the bell rang, Nacho rushed to the door barking. I opened the wooden door. From the iron-grilled door, they saw Nacho.

“Does he bite…Please chain him…we are scared of the dog.”

“Seetal, take Nacho away to the other room” I gestured to the house-help and opened the iron grill door to welcome my guests. Exchanging pleasantries, I made them sit comfortably on the sofa. “Don't worry he is a friendly dog, and will just try to lick you… that's all! He won't bite.” Saying so I closed the sliding door of the drawing room so that my guests could be comfortable.  We discussed common interests, such as poetry, their online Setu magazine, and knowing each other better. Tea was served. Carrying on the conversation, Dr. Sangeeta asked, “Is this your dog?” 

“No, he’s my daughter’s. She went on a vacation, so the house-help and Nacho are staying with me.” 

After tea, I took them around, showing the house, and then back to the drawing room.

We had barely sat down when Nacho quickly sneaked in, without a single bark, hopped onto the sofa, passed through the back of her husband, Dr. Sunil, came out, and quietly squatted next to Dr. Sangeeta, with his head down in total surrender like a baby cuddling close to its mother.

 We all glanced at each other, noticing the dog's surrender. She hesitantly started patting the dog. The more she patted the more he sprawled himself. She kept patting him, and eventually, all her fears subsided. They were amazed at Nacho's loving behavior and commented, “Wow, we have never witnessed this kind of love from the dog. This is truly magical.”

It surprised me too, but immediately I understood, and told them, “Dr. Sangeeta, I know the reason. You resemble my daughter. You are as tall as she is and you look similar too. Nacho is identifying you with his master. That's why he’s sitting quietly next to you.”

Dr Sunil quickly got up to click pictures of this moment. Nacho seemed happy getting his pictures clicked. He then hopped down and sat near her foot, and stayed there. He made sure not to alarm the guests, and to be with them too. This moment was supremely divine. Happiness spread all around like an effervescent spell. As long as they stayed, Nacho squatted peacefully between her feet.

By 5.30 pm, it was time for them to go as another meeting was lined up. I walked them to the door for the send-off. Nacho kept wagging his tail giving them a warm sendoff too, peering at them until they were out of sight.

I cuddled Nacho in my arms, “Love you dear, Nacho…You are so adorable. Stay happy and healthy. You are always welcome in my house.”

Bio: Every new thought is a new identity of her persona. So, she believes. A new beginning, a new understanding of the world she belongs to, as she treads the path of her life. A graduate in Psychology Honours. She has dabbled in many shades with creativity. Be it doing plays in AIR, teaching in schools, theater, writing scripts, short stories for children, etc. The focus always remained on keeping her hobbies alive. She has children’s books and many anthologies in poetry in English and Hindi to her credit. Poetry, she believes is just like a spring that wells out from our inner reservoir, called soul. She finds joy in the little things that life offers, which come alive through the power of a pen... Yet there’s a long way to go.

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Setu, June 2024