WELCOME TO MY WORLD

Welcome to my world
A little clear, a little twisted
And if you care to breathe in the scars
You'll find them quite infested
With dots that don't connect
And horizons that are familiar, yet out of sight
But if you care to go easy on me
You'll discover what they need is a torch of light

Back in the past, life was different
Finding a balance was easy, we had perspective
Of what freedom felt like, what we had to account for
Now we're guided by an upside-down introspective
Spoken words won't establish who I am
But there won't be a need for knowing
Because if you care to hold my hand
You'll figure which way the wind is blowing

Telephone conversations may do for a change
But they won't change anything for good
It will only make you cajole and castrate
But I still run the danger of being misunderstood
Maybe it's me, maybe it's you
But if we choose, our faith will change it all
And if you care to stay, just stay beside
You'll know how to pick me up after a fall.

WONDERFULLY WEIRD

She was like the twilight

Neither here nor there

She wore her hair in abandon

Her words were minus care

Her dreams were neon

Her stories were twisted, knotted

And when the stars shone down

Even they were strangely besotted

Wonderfully weird

Nothing was usual but here's the thing

She could bring a perspective

That no one else could bring

Wonderfully weird

She was like a mystery collective

So alluringly imaginative

Yet alarmingly reflective

It was difficult to keep up with her

So unfettered was her madness

And right in the middle of that smile

You'd spot a glint of sadness

So when she told you to dance

You'd never want to say no

For she would be your music

And her eyes would be your floor

Wonderfully weird

She didn't give any explanation

And even as she shook off the constant

She would show you the direction

Wonderfully weird

She was like a day in the sun

Sun-burnt and exhausted

But knowing you're not done.

FALL IN LOVE WITH THE RAIN

Umbrellas will get lost

Drains will over-pour

Traffic will be a bitch

Eyes may just get sore

Colds will become de rigueur

Flights will face delay

Taxis will become taxing

Plans may be dropped half-way

Nothing is as simple

As falling in love with rain

Introspect, Retrospect

A trip down memory lane

Nothing is as simple

As falling in love with the rain

Ruminate, Illuminate
Come, fall in love again.

Streets will be flooded

Coffee shops will get crowded

Clothes won't dry

Mornings will remain shrouded

High heels will take a setback

Mascara will run

Hair will get all messy

Grey will overtake sun

Nothing is as simple

As falling in love with rain

Melancholic, Melodic

A juxtaposition of pleasure and pain

Nothing is as simple

As falling in love with the rain

Cathartic, Hypnotic
Come, fall in love again.

THAT MENTAL NOTE TO BOSS

Before you were famous and so full of yourself

Were you preparing for the Lead Role

Or were you wondering if you'd get a designation
Which everyone secretly refers to as Asshole

Before your mistook pompous for clever
Were you taking tuition in Jargon
Or were you so busy thinking out of the box
That you jumped onto the same old bandwagon

Before you ate Vegan and spoke crap
Were you consumed by a feeling called Mercenary
Because that would explain why most consider you
To be on the same page as Ordinary

Before you chose to lead what others hate to follow
Were you part of a tribe called Loser
For you should know that when you're away
Each of us turn into an abuser.

Oh, you're back! And so we smile
And say 'Hey Boss, you were missed
But secretly we're pining and praying and hoping
That by some miracle, you're dismissed.

EVERYONE FUCKS UP

Everyone fucks up
And that's the only truth
Everyone hurts
And we all look to be soothed

Everyone isn't funny
And the ones who are, are blessed
Everyone is imperfect
But we never let our failings to rest

Everyone has a story
And it goes deeper than the skin
Everyone is fighting some battle
The one that's raging within

Everyone loves a winner
Especially when they're centre stage
Everyone has an opinion
But some just keep it locked in a cage

Everyone wants to be loved
But we mix it with expectations
Everyone wants to feel good
But we have our reservations

So real, yet so not actual
So true, yet so not factual
This is our world, this is our need
This is our life, this is our greed
And so our good and bad will collide
And so we'll show our human side.

OKAY-ISH IS NOT OKAY WITH ME

Okay-ish
Was how I'd started out
Till you came along and turned my world around
Don't you dare turn that page now
It's not a story that should end just yet
It's in fact the part that reads Lost And Found

 

My world was okay-ish, not great
My actions were stray, lightweight
My days were fine, not magical
My conversations were pretty, superficial
You turned okay-ish into awesome, don't you see
This is the best we could ever be
You turned okay-ish into awesome, don't you see
I don't want a cure for my insanity.

 

Okay-ish
Was how you were before
Till I turned your world into a roller coater
Don't you imagine you're going to stop this ride
It's not fair that you want to step off
Get back now, I'm right beside.

 

My world was okay-ish, not great

My actions were stray, lightweight

My days were fine, not magical

My conversations were pretty, superficial

You turned okay-ish into awesome, don't you see

This is the best we could ever be.

You turned okay-ish into awesome, don't you see

I don't want a cure for my insanity.

DON'T WORRY, I'M A WOMAN

I'm not making much sense

But I'll keep talking anyway

Because when I say things like Choice and Freedom together

Everyone thinks I'm liberated and cool

And then they will love me for 'taking a stand'
Though what the stand is, I'm a bit confused

But for sure, I'll pour my heart out

After all, saying I suffered a heartbreak is so damn bold

So I'll say it through a magnificently directed montage

People love montages where a crescendo builds up

I'll do the voice-over, give me words that sound powerful

Though what they mean, I'm not sure of

Let's cover that up with hair and makeup

We'll get 'likes', won't we

We'll change this world, won't we

So glad I could help

I'm so empowered, I'm a Woman.

I've been suppressed and oppressed for years

And men have to allow me to make choices, damn it

So I'll do that on TV and Facebook
Because in real life, I don't really want to be decisive
In fact, I often can't decide my drink
Or what to eat at a restaurant (I need my husband's help for that)
I also have to go to the loo with friends (come on, I can't go alone)
And hey, I still believe men should pay for me at restaurants
And be more ambitious, have more money
And when I bitch a female friend out for having random sex
I'm just being chatty, not judgmental
So start admiring me, let's get some media
Let's have a party, where I sign some wall
And you guys can take a pledge
It'll all be so cool
So glad I could help
I'm so empowered, I'm a Woman.

Who wants to make hard choices, for God's sake
It's much too inconvenient
For I may lose my servants and cars and shoes and bags
Fact is, I still worry silly about not being attractive to men
Or not having the guts to get all fat and wrinkly
Or about others being younger and fitter and prettier
Or the fact that I still don't even know what we women are fighting for
But that's too much hard work
Let's forget all that and write a song
Some man will do the job
Me? I'll look strong, you tell me how
So glad I could help
I'm so empowered, I'm a Woman.

THAT'S THE SPIRIT

Should we refuse to wake up

Till the Department of Deadlines has left town

Should we send Schedules & Such on a sabbatical

Then turn the file of If-Only upside down

Should we chuck our Unresolved Issues

Into the deep sea of Never Found

Should we dig into a jar of Seemingly Worthless

And come up with a cookie called Hang Around

Should we sight a rainbow called Distant Hope

And chase a cloud that's labelled Someday

Should we eat from a buffet called Lazy Humour

While listening to a record called Idle Play

Should we lace each drink with Sweet Surrender

And smoke up rings of Fatal Attraction

Should we go down a lane called Small Wonders

And stop for tea at Honest Reaction

Or should we wake up and take a Breath of Brimful

And make sense of Life, as we see it

For it's only when you blend the Real with the Dreamy
That you find a drink named That's The Spirit.

MEDIOCRE

Never ever came first
Or gunned for the ubiquitous gold
Never ever took the lead
When beauty was being extolled
Never ever fought for corner office
Or the chance to captain the team
Never ever thought of pursuing passions
That would improve my self-esteem
Never ever exceeded expectations
Or followed my true calling
Never ever made myself so interesting
That I could be called enthralling

 

There was a slot called Mediocre
And happily I settled in
Time flew and through it I knew
That Mediocre lies Within.

 

Never ever won anything
Or wrote anything too clever
Never ever took efforts
That would qualify as an endeavor
Never ever shone in charity
Or in talents that make one large-hearted
Never ever learned anything new
That would help me get re-started
Never ever earned a salary so high
That it would deem as taxable
Never ever had a dream so big
That it almost seemed impractical

 

There was a slot called Mediocre

And happily I settled in

Some run the race, others admit with grace

That mediocre lies Within.

 

GOSSIP-INSURED

I heard you got too tipsy and trashy
But that's okay, the person who told me is news-flashy
And just when she wanted me to believe otherwise
Her augmented envy hit me between my eyes

Hearsay is hearsay, it's a pity
Gossip is burning up this city
While it's better to be hated than ignored
Who in this world can be Gossip-insured?

I hear you found love in the arms of Mr. Not-so-Right
But that's okay, the person who told me is uptight
And just when his barb reeked of Patronizing
His impish boy-like charm turned agonizing

Hearsay is hearsay, it's a pity
Gossip is burning up this city
While it’s a sign of the distantly-matured
Who in this world can be Gossip-insured?

I hear you have an addiction all compelling
But that's okay, the person who told me is repelling
And just when I begin to feel a sense of déjà vu
I figure the rumour involves me, not you

Hearsay is hearsay, it's a pity
Gossip is burning up this city
No smoke without fire, I've heard
Who in this world can be Gossip-insured?

TRAVELLER

When I set out to travel

I'll drop the shadow

The shadow of being someone

Someone you or anyone else knows

I'll lie back in the anonymity

And stretch out my possibilities

The possibility that my North Star is on a sabbatical

And my Crazy Star is on the rise

Could I be foolish and yet make you smile?

Could I be mindless and yet come out wise?

Could I wander and yet not be lost?

Could I find a new address that is not home?

Could I swim in an infinity of strangers

And find something to share with each one of them?

Could I do something for the sheer fun of it

And not feel plummeted by the 'what ifs'?

I will be that traveller

Where I'll be the chorus in the silence

Where I'll be the applause in the noise

Where I won't be Someone you know

But I'll still be the One who Knows.

THE JOURNEY WITHIN

Look at you

So strong, so bullish, so carefree

And yet, you can’t see, you can’t see it at all

You've been such a mess lately.

The world has stood still in your playground

And you've been grouped into Anonymously

And that's the thing about dreams you nurture long but die fast

They end cruelly.

Look at you

So worn, so wishful, so weary

And yet, you're here and you're surveying this life

And it feels like infinity.

But you choose not to draw the spotlight on you

After all, you've been pretty busy

Fighting the daily wars that take you away from the big battle

And that's a pity.

Look at you

So out there, outspoken, outwardly

And yet, you're not so sure about where to start

Or when to swim against the tide vehemently.

Take my word, let's clear this patch

For past the obscure, you'll spot it quite clearly

That what you thought had passed, has been in you all along

For without conviction, what are we?

SEE IT'S DECEMBER

See, it's December.

The nights will intrude earlier

The Sun will seem less friendlier

The wind will sharpen its claws

And the air will get fiercer

But it's not going to change a thing

For our conversations will last longer

Our connection will get stronger

And we'll do good to remember

That no matter May or December

No matter how fake this splendour

You're that place I like to call Centre

So screw the left-of-the-centre theory

You're my goddamn centre.

 

 

See, it's December.

Sweaters will be in season

Coffee will be drunk without reason

Mornings will be tinged by darkness

Melancholy and fog will see collision

But that won't change anything for us

For it will only make things clearer

If at all, you'll grow dearer

And we'll do good to remember

That no matter May or December

We'll never have to surrender

Our lack of what others call sanity

Call it friendship, call it camaraderie

So screw the reason or the season it may be

You're my reason to be Me.

HIGH DEFINITION GIRL

I'd spent half my life in vanity
Till you came around with a brand new sanity
It wasn't like I didn't have Perspective

But you acquainted me with Introspective

In the midst of clutter, you got clarity

In the thick of glitter, you got gravity

And all of a sudden I was shining

With thoughts that were Me-defining

I'd have been such a lesson in Despondent

If your unambiguous ways weren't so resplendent

High Definition Girl

Never pixelated

Something about you
Has got me fixated

High Definition Girl

You're mega resolution

I want you as you are

No dilution.

There's nothing more sexy than certain

And you reveal yourself, with no curtain

Your point of view may not be altruistic
But it's never whimsical or unrealistic

And while your smile acts like a trigger

Your ability to cut the crap is far bigger

So each time I have second thoughts on winning

You kiss me like it's a new beginning

Then you tell it as it is, make matters clear
And things seem brighter than they appear

High Definition Girl
Never pixelated
Something about you
Has got me fixated
High Definition Girl
You're mega resolution
I want you as you are
No dilution.

DETACHED

The years have passed, his smile has died

And he’s nursing a void in his heart

When he ventures out to get a drink

They tell him to make a new start

So he sips his ale, plays with words

And leaves the party just when it’s fun

Then goes home and drinks some more

Till he remembers nothing and no one.

There’s a world where the preachers don’t reside

Where nothing comes attached

He has a home in that cold little dome

He’s Distant. Detached.

The evangelists of Happy keep shaking him off

Some others feel cheated and spurned

But through it all, he’s like a wall

Quite consistently unconcerned

Over the last few years, he’s gotten worse

And today, his gut is splitting with pain

He wants to cry, to laugh and speak up

But all he does is pull the chain

In a world where stories make us all

He’ll always be that mystery mismatched

And theories may fly, but no one will cry

He’s Distant. Detached.

SAY WHAT WE MEAN

She means a no but says yes,

He's sure about it but says 'more or less'
I want to find love but I say maybe
You want to say bitch but say baby
He is so gay but says he's heterosexual
She wants someone cool, but says retrosexual
They don't want to hurt us, so say they're undecided
We know we're doomed, but say we're misguided
Our tangled minds are doubtful of coming clean
So we take the easy road and not say what we mean.

It's tough for her to cope but she says it's easy
He's lonely as hell but says he's been busy
I want to win you over but say it doesn't matter
You like them quiet and calm but say you like the chatter
He wants to be sarcastic but says he's not so clever
She wants to take that trip but says 'probably never'
They don't want to know us but they come and say hello
We've been cruelly dumped but we say we let go
Truth can be so cruel, lies are a sweet vaccine
So we use it liberally and not say what we mean.

The truth behind our lines
The shadows behind the scene
The fact behind the fiction
The blunt behind the sheen
It will all stay behind wraps
For we don't say what we mean.

LEAVE THESE DAYS BEHIND

The year’s coming to an end and so is
Our promise to turn things around
And as our timelines burn, we fail to return
To a place called Lost and Found

Lastyear, we spoke of living easy
But Monday after, we were living manic
Our resolves got hazy, our schedules crazy
As Peaceful got eaten up by Panic

There was a time when we’d play it by ear
And meet life on the front foot
But these days we’re unclear and driven by fear
So we stay salaried and stay put

Our senses have been numbed by the commonplace
And we’re comfortable to procrastinate
But the more we lie low, the more we’ll let go
Of our chance to rethink and recalibrate

Truth is, New Year is just another time warp
And we choose to stay confined
But if we change our view, and start something new
I reckon we’ll leave these days behind.

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE

Closer to my heart, I’m feeling
A sensation I’d describe as crazy
Something that prompts me to get better
In areas I was hitherto lazy

I’m often trying hard but failing
In convincing you of my affections
My words are clichéd, attempts naïve
Leaving behind mere good intentions

Good food is key and I’m learning
How to put my heart onto a plate
But the more I fuss about the garnishing
The less I worry about the taste

I tried to sing a song once
With lyrics that were laced with passion
But that didn’t go down too well either
For bad music is never in fashion

Rocking your boat with books and debates
On topics that were both somber and eclectic
Was working well till you laughed at me
And said you preferred me poetic

So I wrote a poem that described my pathos
And how you could be the one to change that
But the poem was tragic and lacked magic
And my attempts to win you just fell flat

It’s been a struggle and agony aunts
Tell me that I shouldn’t try so hard
And I’ve done that too, but tell you what
I’m not too good at doing disregard

So closer to my heart I’m feeling
A sensation I’d describe as hazy
Something that I understand perfectly
And yet, you describe it as crazy.

SAY NOTHING

There’s a lot to be said and you’re saying it
But now’s the time to stop, no point delaying it
You’ve exhausted your stories and tales
Having told the world about your travails
Your verbal backlashes are exhausting
It’s like a cake that’s drenched in frosting
And you know what they say about words
If used in excess, they’re not heard
Take a step back, zip that mouth
For your credibility is headed south
Now get back out there, stop bluffing
When you have nothing to say, say nothing

Freedom of expression is over-rated
Once you’ve spoken, we wish you’d waited
You may have had experiences slimey
But somehow, they sound bitter-whiney
I’m not saying you’re shouldn’t speak
But you won’t get the sympathy you seek
Life is a bitch, we’re all dealing
And you’re not getting any special healing
So stop the verbal diatribe, get a hold
You trusted this world, you got sold
Now get back out there, stop bluffing
When you have nothing to say, say nothing

Take note, my friend, you have fair warning
Self-worth is not adorned by self-scorning
I know you wish you had an editorial
That celebrated your suffering immemorial
Bad things happen to good people and vice versa
Who’re we to keep score, its all karma
Dignity however is a matter of choice
Choose to stay silent, than make empty noise
I know you hate advice but this is the real deal
Shape the life you want, feel what you feel
Now get back out there, stop bluffing
When you have nothing to say, say nothing

TAKE CONTROL

So the year has come and gone
And you think you’re old and worn
It all seems to you like déjà vu
But that’s just a breakdown point of view
So find the courage to feel breathless
Settle for nothing but restless
You’ve got the fire, stoke it
Your mojo is buried, provoke it
Have the cake and eat it too
Don’t feel guilty, bite more than you can chew
Turn it around, my friend, show us how you roll
It’s a brand new year, take control.

Make a resolution, break it
But don’t be stupid enough to fake it
For those who’ve taken you for granted
This year, tell them you’re disenchanted
And the ones who run you down, spurn them
The lessons you say you’ll learn, learn them
Bu there’s the thing, be curious
For the things you can change, be furious
Fall in love, write that love letter
Wake up tomorrow, feeling much better
Turn it around, my friend, show us how you roll
It’s a brand new year, take control.

If not now, then when
Take the steering wheel, it’s time
Being optimistic isn’t a remedy
But being morbid is a crime
Freshness is contagious for your heart and soul
It’s a brand new year, take control.

JUST WHEN YOU THINK, I'M OUT OF IT

I've done things I'd rather forget

I've said things that are captioned by regret

And while the tears are welling up within

I prefer to find solace in the din

And when I find a secret place to hide

Where I can keep my perfect aura aside

Instead of looking within and feel introspective

I get curdled, spoilt and depressive

And just like that, in a matter of a minute

I'm a new person, I'm out of it.

Quaint things come around in a platter
But I choose to ignore them, they don't matter
Blatant is where I'm putting my money
For it always go down well, when laced with funny
Looking back into memory's file
There's a hopeless tear that's locked in a smile
I want the release, to just let it flow
But in desperation, I replace it with a show
And just like that, in a matter of a minute
I'm a new person, I'm out of it.

Oh the minds of the done and deflated
We're not so cool, we're over-rated
But just when you think you can treat us like shit
We're new persons, we're out of it.

LBD

See, the thing about the LBD
Is ladies, you’ll look all PYT
And no matter where in the world you be
It’s never gonna be too OTT

See, the thing about the LBD
Is it makes the guys go OMG
And if your man takin' you to a place fancy
Pimp it up, you’ll look VIP

See, the thing about the LBD
Is that you can slip on one JLT
And dontcha worry about bein' sexy
Be rest assured, he’ll BRB

See, the thing about the LBD
Is you’ll get yourself some TLC
So one more time, listen up baby
Get your hands on one, ASAP.

Mid-Way Musings

Mid-way between Home and Nowhere

We got off at a stop called Stranded


Mid-way between Lost and Somewhere

We discovered our world had disbanded

Mid-way between Sure and Don't-know

We didn't muster the courage for a fight

Mid-way between Now and Never

We couldn't take a leap into the light

Mid-way between Arrived and So-Gone

We met up with a friend called Superficial

Mid-way between Truth and Disbelief

We put our faith in a mate called Prejudicial

Mid-way between Swayed and Steadfast

We gave in to everything that seemed different

Mid-way between Left-behind and Let-Go

We decided that we'll push ourselves to be brilliant

And so the wheel of Life has turned

And so our lives have been led

And so we'll go into the blasted light
And still believe we're not dead.

Let's Do This!

I don't have a strategy for fun
And I'm not sure if you're The One

There's a part of me that's feeling distorted

And yet, somehow I stand here feeling sorted

I won't distill my feelings, I won't clarify my thoughts

I'll let the evening play out, I won't connect the dots

This night is not for reason, it's for the ache in our heart
Sometimes the journey is wonderful, when you upset the cart

So let's settle down, send our doubts to the pyre
I've got a steady gaze, what else do we require?
Let's do this, baby, let's make it wow
Epic can wait, let's live in the now.

I don't have an appetite for drama
And I'm pretty certain your middle name is Trauma
There's a little voice that says I should be cautious
And yet tonight, that voice makes me nauseous
I won't look for your back-story, I won't slot you into a category
I won't impress you with my wardrobe or my vocabulary
For what are we, if we haven't lived raw and unfettered
If we haven't understood that not all experiences can be bettered

So let's settle down, tell our phones to retire
I've got an open mind, what else do we require?
Let's do this, baby, let's make it wow
Epic can wait, let's live in the now.

On Turning Older

Over the years, the lines will deepen

The body will lose its dexterity

Wearing my jeans may still be possible

But wearing my shorts will be a rarity

Skin will sag, chin will jiggle

And drooping shoulders will be regularity

And even as they walk behind me thinking

That my bottom is an aspect of hilarity

I'll hold court with gusto, with my news and views

Each laced with sarcasm and vulgarity

My body will give up to age and time
But my wit will still display peculiarity

Old age is coming and more often than not

The mind is a haze of non-clarity
So before I turn comatose and clueless
Let me donate my eyes to charity.

I Believe You're Not There

They tell me You live in that big temple with bigger security

But I believe You're not there

They tell me You'll only see people who walk bare feet and wait for hours

But I believe You're not that unfair

They tell me You like blocking the traffic and blaring the music

But I believe that's not Your style

They tell me You can be won over by keeping hungry on Tuesdays

But I believe that will only prove futile

They tell me You love it when we share praises about You on Facebook

But I believe You're not that pretentious

They tell me You'd rather not meet women who're menstruating

But I believe you're far more judicious

They tell me You're inventing new ways to win people back to You

But I believe You're not that desperate

They tell me You only reward people who're ready to pledge loyalty to You

But I believe loyalty and love are not commensurate

They tell me You send those who do bad stuff to hell

But I believe You display better acumen

They tell me You have a big appetite for the good stuff and the bad

But I believe it just makes You more human

They tell me You have a thing for self-righteous priests and retarded rituals
But I believe You just don't care

They tell me You live in that big temple with bigger security
But I believe You're not there.

Romantically Adept

You've always been factual, not endearing
Your words precise, so persevering


Factual is wonderful really, but you don't understand
Sometimes, all you have to do is hold my hand


And say something that will make me feel less solitary
Rather than console me with a de facto commentary


Yes,I know I'm strong and independent and blessed
But to constantly remind me so, makes me suspect


That you don’t want to say anything undue
Maybe you fear that I’ll misconstrue


But you ought to know that a woman won’t misunderstand
When you say Darling, she won’t think of a wedding band


So I'm just saying this with as much clarity as I can collect
To hell with being factual, be romantically adept.

An Ode To The Common Cold

Of all the worries, of all the woes
Nothing quite matches a stuffy nose

Nasal congestion is pretty democratic

It could strike a child, adult or geriatric

When it hits you, you feel like crap

Your voice sounds whiney, your nose is a tap

If you try to sleep, guaranteed you'll fail

You'll toss and turn, but you won't inhale

The mucus, you see, is a terrible malady

Steam could clear it, or some other remedy

Some use an inhaler like a baby pacifier

Others drink whiskey, but it only gets them higher

As for me, I roll in self-pity

Let my friends all know that I'm in Viral City

Hire a DVD, take tissues to bed

Or crawl to the kitchen, make soup and bread

My septum is on a strike but my stomach is not

So while my nose is runny, I still eat a lot

Then as I sleep, I remember to pray

And surprisingly, tonight there's just one thing to say

Oh Common Cold, I'll forget and forgive

But for goodness sake, just let me live.

You Should Hang On To Him

You keep telling me he’s no better than slime
And all because he asks for more me-time
And just because he goes to sleep watching TV
Doesn’t mean his love for you isn’t sublime
You guys seem good, or am I missing something?
Agreed, he doesn’t visit the gym
He’s worth his weight in gold, what I’m saying is
You should hang on to him.



He lacks ambition and I won’t describe him as driven
The fact that he’s lackluster is a given
But he’s a likeable bloke when drunk and quiet
And when you see that sincere smile, all is forgiven
You love him, unless that has changed – has it?
Then the situation looks kind of grim
But if you think you’re cooler, that’s not true
You should hang on to him.


You’ve got designer friends and a job with a title
Your features are sharp, statistics vital
But you’re a selfie who doesn’t need a camera
Somewhat like a performer always giving a recital
So stand back and stop writing him off
You’re just as forgettably interim
Hang on to what’s best, hang on to my words
You should hang on to him.

Lost My Heart, Never Found It

It was a whisper of a suggestion

And it triggered off a flame

I guess I wanted a reaction

I thought you felt the same

And as I burnt in the demolition
Of love going down the drain
I knew what we'd shared was over
And we'd never go down that lane

I lost my heart and never found it
To be honest I never tried
Because it felt good to have burnt in passion
Which forever, I thought had died

I lost my heart and never found it
To be honest, I'm glad I'm crying
Because it's true that love is faithless
But that shouldn't stop me from trying

You've sold out to the rhyme and reason
And my life has hardly been a clean chit
But there's just one truth left, till the end of days
That I've lost my heart and never found it.

A Mean, Mean Note

You've made it amply known and how

That you're surrounded all the time

By fan mails and admirers and crazy flying objects

I'm not saying that's a crime

But surely you're competent enough to know
And it doesn't take Holmes-type detection
Your updates are packed with fizz and froth

But your toxic persona needs more conviction

One day, I thought I'd have a seizure

When you went on for hours about your phone

Then I heard you talk about some campaign you cracked
And it was as insufferable as a kidney stone

Much like a corporate brochure you sound

Brimming with lofty vision statements
And your pathetic attempts at being humble

Are just as forced as in-film placements

Am I being mean, yes undoubtedly

I'm a bad penny, I feel no remorse

And much as you're bound to be fit and fantastic
In being nicer, I'll take a refresher course.

Good, Bad

The good news is the flame is still there

The bad news is I've forgotten how to start a fire

The good news is that work is aplenty
The bad news is that plenty of the work is terrible

The good news is that people are generally nice

The bad news is that I'm not generally nice with them

The good news is that laughter is easy

The bad news is the laugh is often on me

The good news is the house looks great
The bad news is it's still not my home

The good news is that friends will beckon
The bad news is that I've nothing to hold them back

The good news is that change is inevitable
The bad news is that I distrust change

The good news is that life is decent
The bad news is that I'm not good with decent

The good and the bad
The yin and the yang
On a melancholic morning
A not-so-young poet sang.

My Selfie is for You, not for Me

I tried a top angle first, then a side profile
My Sunday overflowing with frustration
Then I got one where I looked thin, but not too happy
Finally, I met my expectation
Now only if you'd like it,my world would be complete
Only if this picture would change your perception
If not I'll change it in a nano-second, you see
I'll do anything to seed a deception


My selfie is for you, not for me
Coz I'm trying my best to distort reality
My world is fun, it's got no glitch
Though up close and personal, I'm just an empty little bitch.


Candid works best, but the pout is essential
Naive is wholesome, if laced with wicked intention
Whether we nail the conversation, matters miniscule
As long as we nail a selfie, we'll fight ridicule
So judge me on my selfie, not my self-worth
And crown me the princess in your head
If not, I'll clutter your brain with a thousand more images
I'll do anything to mislead and be misread


My selfie is for you, not for me
I've sold out to a world debauched on imagery
My world is cool and I'm pretty and rich
Though up close and personal, I'm just an empty little bitch.

The Lady Got Spunk

She isn't the goddess of propriety

And she hasn't lived the life of a monk

She may have a few skeletons in her closet
And a couple more hidden in the trunk

But when it comes to biting the bullet

And speaking aloud what she's thunk

Make no mistake, she'll roll the dice

Coz that lady, she got spunk.

She won't be checking the right boxes
Or walking hand-in-hand with the hunk

She may not look half as graceful
When she stumbles and falls, quite drunk

But when it comes to taking her chances

And making do with joys that have shrunk

Make no mistake, she'll spin the game

Coz that lady, she got spunk.


She won't win the Grand Slam for popularity
And her manner, it's eyebrow-raising funk

She's planned her life to be plan-less

And knows that she's pretty much sunk

But there's one thing about her that is boundless
There's one fact you can't debunk

Make no mistake, she'll show her mettle
Coz that lady, she got spunk.

So Vanilla

Once upon a time, you had a point of view

One that was atypical, but so typical of you

Today it's watered down into 'everything is fine'

Nothing is improper, you never cross the line

Non-committal reactions

Non-frictional interactions

You were a pretty cool fella
When did you become so vanilla?

Your stories at parties are always so nice

They're like beautiful looking dishes, that somehow lack spice

You never have an opinion that comes with a sting

You're scared of being the outsider, or the ridicule it'll bring

Conformist not by choice

Always the reasonable voice

You were a pretty cool fella
When did you become so vanilla?

Some things are wrong, yet they feel so right
Some days are lived, without clinging to the light
Some thoughts should be aired, even if they're volatile
Some risks should be taken, even if they're futile
Go against the grain
Stop being so plain
You were a pretty cool fella
When did you become so vanilla?

The Ordinary Side of Me

I cry easily

Unnecessarily at times

And eat ginger biscuits

Too many for my good

But that's not going to make you like me

Because that's not wild or whacky or wanton

So let me try and say something shocking

I've shoplifted.

I like crows

But I like owls better

And hate lukewarm tea

Not down my throat, no

But that's not going to make you like me

Because it's not clever or cool or catchy

So let me try and say something shocking

I've kissed a girl.

I am clueless

About money and maps and meditation

And I pretend to read some books

When actually, I haven't even heard of them

But that's not going to make you like me

Because it's not sassy or spunky or savvy

So let me say something shocking
I'm done.

Kerosene

One day you're surprising me

Next day, you're chastising me

And when I do something out of character

No doubt, you're analyzing me

Your faults are only human

And mine are close to umpteen

But you're the fuel to my fire

Baby, you're kerosene

There's a blowout in the making

And you know it's coming fast

It's going down and won't be pretty

And we can only hope to make it last

Our life will get all tangled

Like a dish of say, chowmein

But when you come close, much closer

Baby, I'm kerosene

So the moment is here to live out

Much like a glistening, polished knife

And whether you flick it or drag it

It'll leave a scar for life

And simply because you don't get it

And simply because it's not routine

It's still a bonfire in the making

And Baby, we're kerosene.

Simple, Normal Day

The chai is good, my maid has come

The sun is streaming, breakfast is done

I got up late, no deadlines to meet

I have no need to look pretty or neat

No one unexpected has come to the door

I've cooked dal and rice, it tastes as good as before

It's a simple normal day, I hope it stays that way

And this poem is ordinary, but that's okay.

The television is on, and love is in the air

My favourite show is serving predictable fare

My mind is wandering, and I love that it does

There's nowhere to go, so why make the fuss

My friends call, they're staying up late

But by going to bed, I've sealed my fate

It's a simple normal day, I hope it stays that way

And this poem is ordinary, but that's okay.

Then I close my eyes, and expect to sleep

But what I see, takes an astonishing leap

And normal becomes strange, and strange becomes crazy

And crazy gets crazier, my thoughts are a bit hazy

And my roller-coaster mind, it takes a long-haul flight

And simple normal days turn into not-so-simple nights

It's a simple normal day, I hoped it would stay that way

And this poem is ordinary, but nothing else is okay.

Today's not a Day like Everyday

I walk out into the morning

Do the skies seem a little bluer?

It can't have changed in a day, I mean

But can it be that today is truer?

Today's not a day like Everyday

Today's not like Everyday at all

Today's not a day like Everyday

Today, I don't feel all that small.

A crow looks beautiful on the wire

The traffic is dragging, but what's the hurry

And when I feel the sun skim upon my skin

It doesn't feel like this day is so ordinary.

Today's not a day like Everyday

Today feels a little inside-out

Today's not a day like Everyday

And I know tomorrow willl be filled with doubt.

Random Observations of a Hungry Mind

You Sir, you're a Flirt

And it's quite known that you chase the skirt

And while you pretend to deny

 That you've got a case of glad-eye

 Be warned, you won't escape unhurt

You Madam, you're a Tease

And while you can do as you please

 You can't cry foul

 And then begin to howl

 When you lead them on and then freeze

You Mister, you're a Quitter

What's worse, you're a fence sitter

 You're not sure what you want

And despite the machismo you flaunt

You're as lost as a pup in the litter.

You Girl, you're a Keeper

Problem is, men don't look deeper

So while you're all homely

And decidedly comely

There's a high chance you'll end up a weeper

You dude, you're a Show Stopper

And by god, your looks are a jaw dropper

The gym keeps you busy

You send girls into a tizzy

But as for wit, there you're a pauper

You lassie, you're a Whiner

No obstacle is ever minor

Tears are your tool

But nobody's a fool

So brace up, life won't get any finer.

Oh weary world, don't stop reading

Just because my words are bleeding

With sarcasm and acid

And nothing close to placid

I think I'm hungry, I need feeding.

The Fix

Fix me a drink, will you

Make it strong, two cubes of ice

I’ll laugh while you tell me a joke

Or we could just stop being nice

  

You could tell me of your travels

And I could pretend to ask more questions

But the night won't be charmed by our chatter

Or with our best intentions  

You’re charming, I’m cute and all that jazz

But that never makes for an igniter

So should we shut the lights and go our ways

Rather than make it an all-nighter?

And just as you start to light a smoke

And just as I look at the ceiling

The unsaid gets spoken, the spoken gets bite

And we discover a nice, new feeling  

So give it time to brew

Fix me a drink, will you

Make it strong, two cubes of ice

Settle down, let's make this nice.

But Stay?

You're done speaking and yet, you've got something to say

You're done blaming yourself and yet, you have demons to slay

And while others are figuring out your life

It's been cutting you up like a knife

And you just want to go

You just want to go

But stay?

You're done holding on and yet, you're told to keep doing it

You're done paying for your lies and yet, you can't help undoing it

And while others are talking of healing

You've got this empty feeling

And you just want to go

You just want to go

But stay?

You're done with the smiling and yet, you wish there was a reason to smile

You're done with the philosophies and yet, you wish they weren't so futile

And while hope is in the making

Your resolve is kind of breaking

And you just want to go

You just want to go

But stay?

Sold

Out there is a world

That's opening up to your story

And just when you stand at the brink

You trip and fall into glory

It takes you for a sweetened ride

And you devour it in haste

One bitter pill of failure down,

You choke on the after taste

The road has ended, the ride is done

And the sign on you says 'Sold'

And all you have to show is this

That you're weary and rich and old.

Don't give up on me just yet

Truth is, I’m a little less stronger
I’m a little more brittle and broken
Truth is, there’s nothing new to tell you
Except that I’m out in the open

Truth is, I’m such a sham and bad at it
And I play it up by being direct
Truth is, there's a smile that's hiding somewhere
So don’t give up on me, just yet.


Truth is, there’s an open diary out here
And it’s got tales that are far from diabetic
Truth is, we’re all alike but we don’t know it
So you and I, we’re pathetic

Truth is, life has made its own choices
And we’re not part of its chosen set
Truth is, we’ll leave it all behind someday
So don’t give up on me, just yet.

His Myth, His Truth

He battles traffic to reach work on time
While another battle rages in his head
He cracks a joke, steps out for a smoke
And then carries his pain to bed

He makes a point at most meetings
While he desperately looks for one in life
And it goes without mention, he gets the attention,
As the loneliness cuts through like a knife

He shares his bed with the ladies
He makes friends at the bar
At karaokes he's singing, his phone won't stop pinging
But thats the view from afar

His reason to live is a myth
His manner of living is all-suffering
But he'll continue to shine, and believe he's fine
While his tale, it continues buffering.

Don't Ask

Don’t ask me if I have the time

When you don’t have the inclination

Don’t ask me if I will take forever

When you don’t have a hold on the situation

Don’t ask me if I am feeling bad

When you’ll never do me any good

Don’t ask me if I feel insecure

When you’ve never made yourself understood

Don’t ask me the road to happiness

When the path you take is long and winding

Don’t ask me if we were meant to be

When you’re so clueless, it’s blinding

Don’t ask me if we’re heading for trouble

When trouble is what we’re having for dinner

Don’t ask me if we’ll ever be good

When you don't know a saint from a sinner.

When I Let You In

 

I'll let you in
Through the stories
To the sadness
To the shame that makes me lie

I'll let you in
Through the filters
To the sorrows
To the fears that make me cry

And it will all be rather morbid
And it will all be rather strange
For your journey will end in nothing
Nothing that you can change

I'll let you in
Through the wildish
To the childish
To the girl that makes me shy

I'll let you in
Through the maze
To the mayhem
To the passion that makes me fly

And it will all be rather wonderful
And it will all be wicked-strange
And that's the thing about journeys
One turn and things will change.