She waited......

She stood alone

A forlorn figure

Among the bare cliffs

Waiting for him…

He had gone

Promising to come back soon

So she waited…..

She scanned the horizon

Watching for a sign

Of his return – but..

The dust remained still

No stones rattled

No figure came up the hill

Whistling tunelessly.

The winds brought no word

And the birds were silent

There was no sign of him

Yet she waited…..

He had promised to return

(She knew he would)

To claim her as his own

And build a home

To share all his dreams

And make them come true

To do everything together

As they used to do….

….Sit by the fireside

   Lie counting the stars

   Hear the brook gurgling

   And the trees swaying

   Watch the rain pouring

   The snowflakes falling

   The clouds up in the sky

   The birds flying so high….

To share such moments

She waited……

A shadow flitted

Across her memory

A shadow – of her former self

With those days of fun

And carefree laughter

Running happily together

Through the woods and fields

Singing with the river

And over the hills

Walking by the sea

On the golden sand

Dashing through the snow

Always hand in hand

Crazy as the wind

And excited like kids….

…..The shadow blurred

    And merged into yesterday…..

Hair blowing across her face

She looked vacantly

At the familiar landscape

That seemed so strange to her.

Thinking of him

Memories crowded her eyes….

A drop of remembrance

From the past

Settled on her cheek

To face the winds of the future

As she waited……..

Forgotten Corner....

The first rays of the sun
always sought out the corner..
She loved waking up 
to the play of light and sunlight
throwing mingled shadows everywhere
while the rest of the room 
remained still and watched..


The glow of the lamps 
reflected in the ornate mirror,
the wicker laundry basket under the sink, 
her favourite chair...
the chintz prints on the wall, 
the frothy lace curtains,
Her frilly, feminine room......


Familiar things in their places 
gave her a sense of comfort,
a calming, soothing feeling 
that blended each day into the next...
A belief that nothing had changed 
and every thing was the same...
Yet, everything had changed.....


They had gone, husband and children,
leaving her all alone...
Trapped in a world of memories 
where only the past existed,
without any present or future, 
where her mind continued to move
between the shadows and light......


Inspite of being left behind by life..... 
In a room forgotten by time......



picture courtesyhttp://creativewriting.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/prompt-1.jpg

Flying high

She loved heights....
Feeling the breeze...
Touching the sky...
Looking down at the world
Spread out beneath her
Shrunk and shrivelled.....

What terrified her below
Seemed trivial up here....
Peaceful silence and
Distance helped her
View things objectively....
Shape her perspectives....

She loved balloons
So colourful, so cheerful
Bobbing up and down....
Held by a single thread...
Ready to break free
And float away....

Just like her...
Hanging on to life
And counting the days
Until she would be free
Of the ties, the pain...
And drift into oblivion...

She always brought
Balloons here with her
She felt a sense of power
Releasing them one by one...
Giving them their freedom
And watch them soar.....

She knew then, that
She was strong enough
To let go of what she loved....
The people she cared about....
And watch them flying high
Way beyond her reach.....


picture courtesy:http://creativewriting.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/prompt-4.jpg

Silver Recollections

SILVER RECOLLECTIONS

A spray of silver

Leaping in an arc

Sprinkling sunshine

In rainbow sparkles

Soaking the skin

Drenching the soul…..

Teasing the heart

Into remembering

An era long gone….

Buried under a heap

Of new memories

And experiences….

Struggling to surface

Evoking recollections

Of an age of innocence

Freedom and harmony…

An age of beauty

And joy in simple things….

A moment frozen in time

Still…. and fluid

Lost… but within reach

Happy…. tinged with sadness

In another lifetime….

Another existence…..

Picture courtesy:http://heart-bytes.blogspot.com/

What being a woman means to me

A friend called me up in the morning, wishing me a ‘Happy Women’s Day’, and I thanked her.Then I wondered what was there to be happy about? Happy in having a day in a year to celebrate as a woman? Or happy to be a woman? What did it mean to me – being a woman?


Being a woman means appearing soft and feminine, but being strong inside.

Being a woman means trying to fly and touch the sky, even when my wings are clipped.

Being a woman means loving sunshine and stars, along with rains and rainbows.

Being a woman means being sentimental and emotional at times, without being practical.

Being a woman means smiling when I am hurt and crying when I am happy.

Being a woman means taking joy in dressing up, even if no one is around to appreciate it.

Being a woman means slaving over a hot stove knowing my family prefers hotel food.

Being a woman means keeping my insecurities to myself because no one is interested in them.

Being a woman means holding on, even without hope and often without support.

Being a woman means being considered weak when I cry, and unfeeling when I don’t.

Being a woman means knowing how and when to let go – of feelings, emotions, things and people.

Being a woman means caring for the happiness of my loved ones, more than my own.

Being a woman means accepting the faults of others and still loving them.

Being a woman means knowing that each person I love is different and still letting them be.

Being a woman means having to ask for sex when I need it and to be ready when my partner needs it.

Being a woman means knowing that only my anger will be seen and not the hurt and fear behind it.

Being a woman means valuing people and relationships, more than material things.

Being a woman means finding the strength to come to terms with things beyond my control.

Being a woman means learning to be content with what I have instead of wishing for what I don’t.

Being a woman means finding happiness in the little things of life, often overlooked by others.

Being a woman means learning to look beyond words into the hearts of those I love.

Being a woman means having to work twice as hard to prove myself.

Being a woman means surrendering my dreams to let others fulfill theirs.

Being a woman means opening my heart to love, knowing it will be broken.

Being a woman means having the courage to carry on even when I feel like giving up.

Being a woman means forgetting my aches and pains when someone I love is hurting.

Being a woman means having no ego or pride where my love is concerned.

Being a woman means expecting nothing from anyone, yet rising up to the expectations of others.

Being a woman means doing what ought to be done, whether I like it or not.

Being a woman means acting out different parts, while longing to be accepted as I am.

Being a woman means putting my family before my career and ambitions.

Being a woman means getting hurt trying not to hurt others.

Being a woman means living for others inspite of being taken for granted.



So am I happy to be a woman?

I am not just happy to be a woman, I am proud to be one……… because it is so much harder!

Picture courtesy:http://creativewriting.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/prompt-7.jpg

My Little One

You came into my life
After a very long wait
You made me believe
In God and miracles
You gave me hope
When I had given up
You gave me a zest for life
And made me feel young again….

I loved the warmth
And cherished the feel
Of your little body
Cuddled close to mine
It felt so good
To hold you in my arms
And feel your tiny fingers
Curling around mine.

You brought so much joy
Into all our lives
And your gurgling laughter
Still echoes in our hearts
Your enthusiasm brings out
The best in everyone
As you go about spreading
Your happiness all around

You are so small
But act so grown up
You are already independent
And make your own decisions
Displays of affection
Seem to embarrass you
And you calmly take
Everything in your stride

You throw no tantrums
Make no unreasonable demands
Your calm acceptance
Of events and things
Leaves me amazed
Your adoration of your brother
And control over your emotions
Makes me feel ashamed at times

You have an inner strength
And a quiet determination
That sees you through everything
At times you seem
A perfectionist, going on
Stubbornly and ceaselessly
Till you achieve
What you set out to do

I wish I could hold on
To your childhood
So that you wouldn’t
Grow up quite so fast
But you are so self reliant
And there are times
When you seem more mature
Than you ought to be….

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
You will always be
A part of me…
My baby…..
My Little One…..

My First Born

You came into my life
When I least expected it
You made me feel needed
As I had never felt before
You helped me steady myself
As I drifted along in life
You helped me hold on
And gave me a reason to live….

Your smile lit up my life
And I lived for you –
Your spontaneous hugs
And unconditional love
Your gave me the priceless identity
Of being a ‘mother’ – your mother
And I felt so proud
To have you as my son….

My inexperience while bringing you up
May have hurt you at times
I may not have always
Understood you or your needs
But I have only wanted
You to be happy always
And have tried my best
To do what is best for you….

In temperament and taste
We do seem alike, and
I often see myself in you…
Trying to hide your fear
And hurt behind your anger…
Trying to act brave
And not letting anybody see
How afraid you are inside…

Now you have grown up
And sprouted your wings
You want to try them out
Chaffing at the bonds which hold you
Restless with the restraints imposed,
You are impatient at having to stay
Wanting so badly to just
Fly far away and be free…

But you are still my child
And I worry, afraid you might fall
Scared you might get hurt
By the selfishness and hostility around
Its so hard to let you go alone
Into the dangerous world outside
Knowing how precious you are to me
But not to anyone else out there…..

I know you are brave and fearless
And don’t give up without a fight
I also know you will make it
To wherever you want to go
You will reach your goal
And stand up tall and proud
You will rise from your ashes
My wonderful, blazing phoenix!!

Whatever you do
Wherever you go
You will always be
A part of me….
My son…..
My First Born…..

MY SPECIAL FRIEND

I wonder if you know how blessed I feel
To have you in my life as a friend…my special friend

You are always there to listen and hear me out
You help me hold on when I want to pull out

You help me keep in sight my various priorities
You help me see things in their proper perspective

You reflect my thoughts and help put them in order
You never judge me or take me for granted

You are there to share my laughter and my tears
You never make fun of my insecurities and fears

The warmth of your care and understanding is so real
It’s not what you say or do but how you make me feel

You make me feel good and proud about myself
You give me confidence and restore faith in myself

You accept me the way I am, I don’t have to act with you
I can just be myself and tell anything to you

You coax and encourage me to try out my wings
You help me face with a smile whatever life brings

You trust and support me in all that I do
And lift me up when I feel low or blue

You always cheer me up whenever I’m sad
And always take time to make me feel good from bad

You can see my soul though we are apart
You believe in me and listen to my heart

You walk by my side even in the rain
You hear my silence and feel my pain

All this may sound like sentimental mush
But I do cherish your friendship so much

You are one of life’s special gifts to me
My soul sister……My friend……

Words

Words spoken……

Having no form
Or substance
Echo for some time
Then float away
Trying to hold on
But so elusive…..
Actually heard?
Or imagined?
Leaving doubts
About their reality
Hard to recapture
The same feelings again………..


Words written…..

Having shape
And substance
Remain forever
As reminders
No doubts about
Their existence
They are real
They are there
For always
To read and remember
Evoking the
Same feelings again……….

Sorrow

Sorrow is great
Not when eyes pour forth
A flood of crocodile tears
But when a single drop
Loathe to leave its shelter
Hangs on the lashes
Glittering like a diamond!