Showing posts with label Meghna Kaul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meghna Kaul. Show all posts

Special Edition: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
Reversal

Her arm caress the chair
Her hand firm on gun
the dark eyes conceal the care
and turns wild to protect her man
An axe thrust on the log
The canopy shades her man
both pair of eyes obscured in fog
of ruled and ruler of the clan
He sits oozing power and prey
She stands fixed in purpose
Does he cave in or fixed in his sway?
She vascillates as if nervous 
A bloodlbath trickles and leaves a furrow in the grass
Was it a power struggle or the retribution of the mass?
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Special Edition: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
  The Bird’s Flight

The bird flies in the unfathomable sky, the wings widespread cutting the wind, slithering further unnerved through the billowing clouds threatening to capture the whole void, vast stretched endless, the scuttling clouds intimidating the lone soul determined,’ this will also go’ she repeats all the time. She swoops down, envisioning a last minute escape in the glimmering grove of trees, her wings drenched, she escapes among the wet leaves, her empty eyes peep through the criss cross of leaves, night approaching, now desperate for her darlings nestling among the twigs and straws anxiously she looks at the weeping sky, why did she leave them in the morning, the numbness smelt of rain but she ignored, she had to gather the grains from the barn, so she risked her life and perhaps theirs too, she looked at the menacing clouds for mercy . Between the pitter patter she soared, her moist wing heavy on her back, her breath full but she kept on flying slow low no pause till she reached the familiar grounds, inching closer she saw the twigs, lying forlorn, the baby stickling to the dangling branch. She pecked him on the forehead, fondling him beneath her wings, all her exhaustion evaporated, she looked around the broken pieces, saw the scattered fragments of life 

the gales strong, the ship capsize
among the debris 
picking the pieces of life
***

Bio: Meghna is a teacher by profession, loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates simplicity of life.  She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.
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Special Edition: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
Meghna is a teacher by profession , loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates simplicity of life. She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.

Beyond The Fence

I always try  to peep beyond my reach, a sense of unknown, untread, unvisited mesmerizing the regular rut of life, like the clock that ticks unnoticed though measuring the immeasurable time, that slips like the smooth sand escaping my palm beyond the fence, the wide expanse

beckoning a mystery
a sense of surrender to the supreme master 
the world  is a stage and past is the glass beyond which there is eternity
the grey sky is the silence
that precedes the first dew of the morning 

the gossamer shed
    a mystic call
  the petals uncurl
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Special Edition: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
Meghna is a teacher by profession , loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates simplicity of life. She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.

The Brushstrokes


The swollen sky stretched on horizon
the white bubbles sprinkled on the grey canvas
the tranquil calm pervades the nature
as if it bends to salute the creator

The hills that caress the water so deep
a solitary boat skims on the water
the shadows perch implying deep
the deft brushstrokes use the creator

the feathery figures that randomly walk
seem to merge in the picture with ease
the desolate scene
and unperturbed peace
are the subtle strokes or cues the creator

the jetty plies on the water so calm
half submerged and half seen
like impending thoughts emerging from deep
what to play now, muses the creator

a word of caution hangs on board
tread carefully lest you fall
do the words fall on deaf ears?
spraying the crimson, rues the creator

The beautiful swathe sprawled wide
was the sweep of his brushstrokes
for his progeny, the mankind
did he take trivial for sublime, confuses the creator


What to sketch now?
the prints on the board taken from canvas of life
the crown and glory of creation
ruined the larger portrait, accuses the creator

fondling the feathers with soft strokes
bereft of humans the earth moves
the self-proclaimed hierarchy seems to shift
the avians reign, amuses the creator

he sketched the blueprints
and filled the colors
for his children to nestle in his heaven
but oh, the ruins, and how it bruises the creator

he was there every inch
protecting his benumbed portrait and fragile hearts
standing on your threshold but you refused you lost your faith and lose the creator.
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Special Section: The Moaning Mother (Unfolding Worlds)

Meghna Kaul
She walks staggering
on the desolate roads
her eyes in disbelief 
the cracked crust,
the arid air rustling through her dry hair
She looks at her progeny, the crown and glory of her creation
now reduced to stony limbs and stony eyes
the mother is shattered to see the sight
 her stunned child,
the loss of life,
where were life- giving rivers that flowed above her?
their soft caress
tickled her moist heart
how the rays above reflected on them
that dazzle display
but now the scroaching heat parched her thoughts
and pained her heart to see the thirsty milieu
the universe seems to have taken a turn
and the blue ball turned to grey
a swing hangs derelict 
where the merry giggles echoed
among the vast green stretch 
she had nurtured this with her head, heart and sinew
but her sons and daughters 
and their bizarre ways
how they devastated
their home and hearth in their bickering
many a time she moaned in pain
her bosom scratched with marks and lines etched 
to satiate the ego of her child
borders and bindings and the clash of mankind
but she bore all, succumbing to nourish his self
after all it was for her doting sons and daughters
but now she reflects and repents
she gave it all, she was too kind
the mirth, the life, the ecstasy of familial bliss
the pleasure that soothed her soul
were long lost in oblivion
nothing is left, only traces of memories
like piece of broken glass 
lying shattered 
and a sense of disbelief 
She startled to see a bird shrieking high
and thought was it worth to seek unassailable heights
when the earth below seems to sink from sight.
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Special Edition: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul

 She Plays Her Heart


Her fingers tilt on the beautiful lays

as she plays her heart on familiar beats

the mesmerised air blows as it sways

Oh! what agony of heart she cheats

 

As she plays her heart on familiar beats

a deep sadness perches on her soul

Oh what agony of heart she cheats!

to keep enthralled was her goal

 

in spite a deep sadness

perches on her soul

burying the hurt she plays her notes

to keep enthralled the world was her goal

a void of loneliness she quotes

 

burying all her hurts she plays her notes

he was leaving, his final words

a void of emptiness she quotes

a crisp sheet, where he wrote

 

he was leaving , his final words

didn’t she know this was coming for sure ?

it took just a crisp sheet, where he wrote

she denied the reality, but not anymore

 

didn’t she knew it was coming for sure

her heart bled through her fingers

She couldn’t deny reality, not any more

but how to erase all, it still lingers

 

her heart bled through her fingers

the benumbed air blows as it sways

but how to erase all, it still lingers

as her fingers stray on melancholic lays.

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Special Edition: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
 Will Not Say Goodbye

The nimble feet startled me upright 
I grasped the chair with my fist tight
so this was the time I feared
Her tired head rested on the door
I heard her anklets approaching sound
But I didn't look back
I couldn’t meet those eyes
Through the haze of past I could see myself swinging in her arms
What giggles escaped when on
the joyous ride of the makeshift swing
how life changed its course!
how we ran barefoot in those alleys
those tender dusted feet
and now the lotus shaped crimson
How could I let go a part of me
The jingling of anklet, the clinging of bangles
How ostentatious has become she?
How could anyone part her from me
No, I will not meet her eyes
and let her whisper goodbye
***

Bio: Meghna is a teacher by profession, loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates the simplicity of life.  She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.
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The Lonely City

Meghna Kaul
Looking at those sky scrappers
at last he was, where he wanted to be
a land of dreams and life
the concrete skyscrapers reached the infinite
The multitudes rushing to jostle past each other
and lost in the labyrinth of buildings 
A few days passed and there was a sudden urge
to look beyond the concrete
and wrap the azure sky 
But so many things in between
 the abode of peace and clean
 the dazzling lights in the night
reminding the mad life palpable 
the sense of happening and life
a touch of calm he groped for
mundane life and a sense of sublime
trodding his way back 
from factory
he thought of ‘home’ and the lonely shack 
the cold shacks and the cold hearts
he missed the smell and soft shadow of trees
in his frenzy for more we miss the core
the laughter, the ease, the togetherness breathed
but all lost in the materialistic greed
 nearby he saw a solitary bench
his heart was melted to see an elderly couple
sitting and watching the life moving so fast
they watched around and as the night shrouded the day 
they made it towards their way
****
 
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Earth Melodies: The Voice of Calm

Meghna Kaul
Night slipping through blind to wrap him around
the dry twigs rubbed against the arid land
the dusty gust left the sand particles blowing and howling
the arrival of heat
He thought of the smooth sailing winds
that balmed his soul
How they caressed his face
Asif playing piano, the vibrations matched his heart beat
outside the sea curled its waves, 
the foam rush towards rocks 
to mingle and meet
 Sitting in his car the breeze blows his visage
Does this sound has an intent to embrace?
The solitary wind’s wish to 
whizz pass its companion
flirt a bit and then escape
The tickling lukewarm winds
they sing the melodies of the lingering sun
as it cools and invigorates the world 
As the lightening gleams and shrieks displeasure
at the pitter patter of rain
gossiping with earth
 So connected but so apart
 so much unheard and unsaid buried in heart
stamping its feet the lightening starts
at the infidel clouds 
above so charming when lone
down they transform as if unknown
hither we come thither we go
the mother earth whose bosom we fed on
there we lie in lap that seems our own
Asif chuckled at the clouds kissing the earth
When calm so much you glean
now sitting under the grove
where the birds chirp
at his arrival
and perch on his shoulder
as if to placate him “why so calm?”
he thinks a while
at the chamber of therapist
each word he pronounces
many a time
but a little stammer makes mother’s brow arched
he smiles as he stumbles
escapes  from there and reaches a bower
where bird sings and petals are showered
the bee buzz without a care
the cuckoo sings as she stares
the song of men are melodious balm
the exchanges of nature
have soul searching charm
***

Bio: Meghna is a teacher by profession, loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates the simplicity of life.  She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.
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Special Edition: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
The Flashes of Memory
 
The crimson petals that open and spread
The dew that muzzles the flower’s bed
The night that veils stars in its embrace
The shy eyelids that droop on a blushing face
The dizzying drops of heaven
that flash on fist and then are blurred
The river that saunters to mingle in sea
The dreams that linger on a balmy sleep
The cattle led to meadow 
Sheperd’s pride
The peacock in the neighbourhood in its nimble flight
I turn and turn to capture the fleeting sight
The baby nestling in my arms
the touch of piety reaches the deepest calm
few seconds seem to surpass the serenity of a sacred psalm
The pot on the terrace bears deadly winds
the solitary leave flutters and fights
in this lone battle of strength in strife
vulnerable to gales, she has only self faith
Oh! I wish I could keep it safe
buried mid the pages of eternity
the flickering flashes that touch and flow
in the layers of memories they grow
If I could keep them ceased
but they slip like sand from the grasp
a transient breath upwards leaves
or a prayer towards the heaven pass
the trivials of life have depth infinite
nothing is everlasting in this world
So I soak my pen and write indelible
If nothing remains visual in my fragmented memories
My words soaked in emotions will always be with thee
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From the Other Side of the Fence

Meghna Kaul
Meghna is a teacher by profession , loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates simplicity of life. She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.

Sitting at the chipped fence of the factory building
he looked at the billowing smoke of the chimney
six months have passed since he left his village
and mingled with the multitude rushing past
the sugar factory that sustained their lives 
his tattered vest now replaced with a new shirt
a semblance of respect the mirror reflected
smouldering bidi and sipping the tea from a stall
his keen eyes moved to ever stretched fields of his village
near the banyan tree he rested on one such exhausted day
the sun streaked mildly through the leaves making patterns
at the clank of the anklet, he lifted his laboured laid drowsy eyes
Bholi clung to her slender veiled mother
placing her into his arms, she laid the food for him
the little one snuggled into his arm as he offered mother the first bite
blushing and looking around with her soft eyes, she ate the food
Oh! such tenderness touched his heart
What he would not do to make their life happy!
Shaking him from the reverie a whistle blew 
a call from the verdant to the mechanical
among the noise of the running machine 
the slow music of the rustling leaves moved in his heart
back home on the way to a busy market
he passed a few shops laden with green bangles
green bangles of Sawan on those tender lean hand
suddenly he saw a herd of birds soaring high in the sky
he thought of the nest that was left behind.
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The Morning of Mingling: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
Brushing aside a nearly escaped tear
her feet led to a door that invited the arrival of a new day
her heart almost skipped a beat
the infant cosmos seemed to blink
Will he, or won’t he?
She closed her eyes in prayer
there she found him staring
shyly she took the narrow lane and seemed to be tickled
the grassy path touched almost
untrodden region of her heart
impatient at the expectation of her arrival
 the blooms began to dance
sweeping her off her feet
Among the trees, a raised mound was their rendezvous
the rose chuckled hiding behind the bushes
“Oh! she is coming”
the flowing fountain slid with joy
the mesmerizing fall 
of water on water
here fell the pansy, there gushed the fall
Toasting to sun for the beautiful morning
the jasmine and gardenia indole setting her heart on fire
walking along the hedge, the meandering maze of emotion 
the chirping of sparrow 
brought elation
was it a sound faraway coming near and near?
from the corner of her glazed eyes
she saw a figure coming down the grassy yard
pushing aside the Madhumalti*, hiding his visage
she gazed and gazed drinking the beauty gulp by gulp
her feet sank in the moist clay of the dewy morning
did she envision for surreal it seemed
or it was a dream within a dream?

Madhumalti = Rangoon Creeper vine (combretum indicum)
***

Bio: Meghna is a teacher by profession, loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates the simplicity of life. She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.
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Summer 2024: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
Meghna is a teacher by profession , loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates simplicity of life.  She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.

The Brick lady

Under the glare of piercing sun
rustling hot winds washed her visage
crushing the dry leaves beneath her feet
the brick carrying lady sat under a mango tree

The salty sweat soaked her skin
her body ached with the labour of the day
the twisted leaves of the mango tree waved with the winds
the cool caress intoxicated her into a balmy sleep

Soon she was walking past her village alleys 
into the fields of golden blaze
the flowering mustard stood smiling to the glaring sun
their smell engulfed her senses

The humid the heat overpowered her feet
and led them to a grassy field
where the boys boisterously bathed from the flowing water of the tube well
the droplets soaked her cheeks

the churning in her stomach led her to an orchard
where the village maiden gurgled with laughter 
in their mad pursuit of drooping mangoes
Oh! how she sucked the sweetness to her soul’s fill.
a sense of soft and sweet brought her back from his childhood ease

Her makeshift shack boiled with the heat of hearth
the lady preened at the summer moon
that glowed her boys’ sweaty face
his chest heaved in the calm of sleep

She tossed and turned in the long and lonely nights
her beau had sailed to the foreign shore
his memories smitten her with blush
her summers slowly sailed without love.
***

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Ms Das and Mr Smith: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
Mr Smith adjusted his tie
Standing at the gate of Ms Das
Who opened the door to his call bell’s reply
The waft of aromatic bhaat his nostrils pass 
Her shining black hair flew with the waves of Rabindra sangeet
Ms Das stretched her slender  hand to meet his greet

Seated, he found himself staring at a portrait of Tagore
With smiling eyes Ms Das offered him gondhoraj julep
The icy drink took away the heat in a gulp
It was sweet and salty like the smile  her beautiful face wore
He met her in a concert so beautiful was she
When she invited her for dinner, he accepted with glee

She smiled and slipped to rannaghar
The spluttering and sizzling of the five spices was scintillating in air
Mr Smith soaked in the smell,
sailed further
Ms Das was marinating the rohu with such care
Her slender fingers caressed the fish
She caught him there by the clang of a dish

Born and brought, he soaked in the smell of land
Sweet music to his ears were tinkling of the bangles in her hand
The saree she wore all white bordered with red
Led his heart to regions untread
Her kajaled eyes had unfathomed depth 
As billowing clouds of asad full  length

Dining in the room, he beheld the patachitra on the wall
What an artist, a reminder small
The dinner on the table was such a treat
The smell, the sight, all the sensation meet
The succulent rohu melted in his mouth
Chholar dal, slightly sweet and spicy spread its hue all about

With such love and care the maiden laid the table
Her beauty and manner made her more amiable
Taking his eyes off with some efforts
With kosha  Mangsho, he made his rapport
The cinnamen, the clove, the onion and garlic in tangent
The aroma and sweetness of mutton  was so pleasant

The luchi with golden glow
made majestic the whole show
mishti doi sweet and saccharine
made a match with maiden’s smile so win-win
the home and hearth and a warm host
what mad fancy his heart hold

holding the flow of flight of fancy
he caught Ms Das offering him 
sandesh, oh! Could she see?
Ah! The beautiful day was over
But it had him to Ms Das a little closer
She came to door to see him off
Her eyes made promises soft

He left for home thought of her galore
The dinner and the diva were in his mind for sure
He looked forward to more evening like this
Why he fell for her? the time with her was bliss
A chuckle escaped him, he smiled with glee
Of course his mother was also a Bangla taruni.
***

Bio: Meghna is a teacher by profession , loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates simplicity of life. She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.
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The Trees: Meghna Kaul

Meghna Kaul
The trees are standing in the courtyard
The warmth of winter sun glows the path
The saplings that shiver with wind in the yard

The sickly buds shivering in the cold swathe
Have a new lease of life as the ray of sun pass
The blackened bough now ready for ripeness to burst forth

The peasant who looked forlorn in the mass
With the huge haze that wrapped his field in shroud
Is joyous at tickling warmth as a dream drunken lass

The lamb in the valley bleat loud
The mild sun kisses the earth and she smiles
The gay buds, petals, leaves and bower bowed

To the majestic marvel that lingers in sky
And lends its grace from the heaven high

The plants that seemed withered with cool breeze
have a glow of fullness rushing, maturity to meet
the plump gourd and crimson strawberry seem to cease 
 
the senses with their tender hue and softness sweet
the green and ripe meet and mingle
the bulls with their jingling bells greet

the warm rays kiss the boys’ cheeks and tingle
as they run in field as if left loose
from the cool moist corner of their home on their feet nimble

the damsel intoxicated with sugarcane juice
are mad at the lads pushing past in haste
then burst in laughter that seduce

What mad frenzy the nature is surrounded with
The sparkling sun hides the star in noon beneath

The scarecrow stands staring while
the dormant crops shower in golden light
He chuckles quietly at nature’ guile

The bees buzz the cricket chirp in a row
Leaves rustle as wind sweeps the floor
The river gurgles, the cataract blow

The bells of bulls ring and tingle more
He bellows at heaven sending salute
to warm days ahead and tales of life 
and lore

As the sun goes and gentle wind pursuit
The crops thrive of imminent wealth
Warm days are ahead, plenty and pleasure suit

Happy days are here life is back
Spring has sneaked, slow and slack
***

Bio: Meghna is a teacher by profession, loves to read and write. She composes poems and writes short stories. She loves to write on nature and celebrates simplicity of life. She has written reports and articles for TOI. She is currently residing in Lucknow.
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