Sangeetha Kamath

                     CERAUNOPHILE  Dusk rolls out on the lavender fields,  Carpeting paths of Tuscan vineyards,  A shimmering violet cradle for diamond dust sprinkles Tear-drop petals of lupine and periwinkles  The quietude in the iris swathed valley paused as sangria flutes tinkle The sky ribboned with heather, mauve and colors of berries The sweeping gossamer trails of her lilac gown; A wreath of fragile orchids as her crown  She was the dawn on the mountain, mulberry over the town  Purple has many memories,  the welts too in her heart buried deep down, within She's the storm who travels over the oceans and the seven seas O'er the hills, deserts, countryside and deep valleys An impending cataclysm, a beautiful disaster  Charging forth, the stereotypes she'll break and shatter She's a blizzard on the frozen Tundra A stinging dust storm on the scorching Sahara A pelting summer rain, a downpour...

                        EMPTY CHAIR  In a sun drenched liquid pool of golden light sheen Untouched sits grandpa's rattan and bamboo chair, of the brightest canary yellow I'd ever seen "Grandpa! Tell me a story", I would beam… Why didn't the white bunny visit me last night in my dream? Lounging on it, nursery rhymes were hummed for me and folktales were spun! Tapestries of dazzling dreams were woven  and melodious songs were sung! With your steaming cup of coffee in hand  The morning papers you ardently scanned Your voice baritone to that chair belonged Your siesta on it till dusk was comfortably prolonged No one would I allow, within an inch square of your favorite chair It was my territory to guard when you weren't there! Like a soldier I would barricade it if anyone slightly dared Like a tiger I would roar, mimic it's claws and fangs bared Grandpa was tired, he grew old and weak Wrinkles on his forehead and che...

Prompt: A message from an unknown number leads to a shocking revelation! Write a story in 200 words in a chat format. ENTRY 1: SHAZAM!  Unknown: Shazam ! Jasmine: Ha! Look who's here! Remembered me after a lifetime… Unknown: This is a new number, Jaz. I was unable to attend your wedding. Heard you were back in town, so texted you.  Jasmine: Where were you all this while, Rachel? I had called you several times in these past few months Unknown: I was buried deep in work, Jaz. Shall we meet? I can't talk right now. Jasmine: Of course, tell me where. Unknown: Bring along your Jon and all our pals too. Let's all meet together. Jasmine: How exciting! Say when. Unknown: Tomorrow at noon. 'Cottage By The Lake, No.33'. Don't tell him just yet, let it be a surprise. Jasmine: Let his eyes pop out when he sees my stunning bestie.  Unknown: Let's have some fun too like the good old times and play treasure hunt. Bring  along a shovel.  Jasmine: That's my girl! Unknown...

                      NERVES OF STEEL  Aching feet, throbbing back, swollen belly, yet stretched thin How phenomenal is the female body, tough from within Fatigue! Nausea! Insomnia! Soaring blood pressure and palpitations  Endless supplements and medications  Emotions on a rollercoaster Hormones going haywire  Twisting, turning, pushing, wriggling tiny kicking feet Growing by the day is her own heartbeat… Baby showers, unpacking gifts and shopping for more Excitement! Third trimester is nearly over, nearly there Contractions by the hour and minute, growing intense Exhaustion! Wishing for a release from this pain immense Incredible! Remarkable! The life she creates within is a true miracle! Pic Courtesy:ArtoonsInn Poetry Parlour  ©️ Sangeetha Kamath 

                            NOVENARY  Nine elements make earth, fire, air, time, space, ether, soul, mind and water Nine is the number of the Chinese dragon of magic and power There are nine points in a heart for healing Nine months for a fetus to fully form into a human being  Universe of nine worlds in Norse mythology Nine influencers in Indian astrology Greek mythology has nine muses Indian aesthetics has nine rasas Mayan pyramid has steps nine Nine days of Navaratri divine It is the highest single digit number Of 9th Symphony, Beethoven was the composer  Number 9 song played in a loop by the Beatles Nine days to fall from Earth to Tartarus Nine is sanctimonious ! Pic Courtesy: Pixabay ©️ Sangeetha Kamath

                                 THE BELLWETHER "Here comes the bride", was the song and anthem of the day They had chosen the venue, a destination wedding and also the party music to play! Father was at a crossroads, the dilemma and turmoil was a dizzying sway From his coffers he had to bleed dry, life savings he'd have to pay! Keeping up appearances in society and the pressure it wielded Was inevitable, evil and extremely cold blooded  Mixed emotions in her heart twisted and roiled How could she glow with radiance, they'd made sure the bounce in her step was foiled… Come big day she was dressed in a sari scarlet flame fiery Ornate necklace, the only heirloom legacy, made her quite teary… Tulips, orchids, lilies pricey, a live band and orchestra Made her cringe at the extravaganza! The moment of truth dashed her dreams in an icy downpour When the father of the groom showed his added greedy odor...

                           ORIGAMI  To the girl that she was, building castles in the air Who believed in all the lies and every fairytale The blinders were shed as were the rose hued lens Everything was crystal clear in a flash, in each and every sense! Now she's sceptical, cynical, realistic, pragmatic A docile doe once, who, now, doesn't hesitate going ballistic She's a paradox of a version she once was Learning how to swim alongside the piranhas while dodging their jaws A blank canvas once, gullible and naive Stark change has overcome, shes now worldy-wise and suave Knights in shining armour are a mirage, a mere delusion  She's her own hero and saviour, everything else is just a fiction! A lioness of the Savannah, the albatross of the ocean, a graceful Blue Heron She even becomes a fire breathing dragon! No longer harbouring any illusions dreamy She modifies herself, a shape shifter in a jiffy like a pi...

                        SUNNY UPLANDS  Standing out among brick houses of the same colour Vibrant was the red among all others bleached white and ochre Beckoning to me was this freshly painted archway Tourists looked through it, was it visible only to me, pray? The door was a portal to something new Reminding me of fragrant sunkissed tomatoes of a burnished vermilion hue Excitement knew no bounds as was my enthusiasm  To be pulled into a world of surrealism  Tugging at my adventurous heart, my imagination ran wild Was I in fairytale that I'd read as a child? What if I found a chocolate gingerbread house from Hansel and Gretel Decorated with candy canes, sugar pops, and cream filled bagel  A mystical sunny uplands where I could sing, dance and be happy, escape into the world of Pied Piper Wouldn't that be a happy ending, super-duper! A ship to Neverland could be waiting for me with Captain Hook, Peter Pan an...

                           LEMON PIE Looking back, I see the bigger picture At wide crossroads and a puzzling juncture There was a reason for my wins, a reason for my vanquish Despite the odds, steady were my aims to accomplish  During the hardest seasons, trudging over hot coals I didn't deter nor swerve, fixated only on my goals I chose to be happy, I chose to be brave I chose to walk slowly and not run in the mad rat race I learnt to observe, to quieten my mind The wheels stopped burning, unnecessarily in the grind Saying no was a priority to guard my time and energy Closed doors wouldn't barricade me from opportunities, I broke down the walls entirely  Stubbornness was a virtue I wouldn't self doubt or second guess Believing solely in my mantra " God removes to replace" In the nadir I reveled, slowing down, taking it easy Indulging in self-care, sleeping in late didn't overwhelm, neither ridden with feel...

                            CATACLYSM  Words are all we have, to cast a magical spell as a fairy godmother  Or spew poison like a trolling monster! They can be darts dipped in venom impaling like an arrow,  Trailing behind a chasm of sorrow Tender-hearted are ripped savagely,  Alike a nuclear BOMB, an annihilation of the spirit, the damage is done ruthlessly  BULLETS of stinging words rip them apart with a frenzy and insanity  The echoes dousing them in a lifetime of brutality Weave words of exotic motifs on velvet and satin tapestry,  Entwine floral wreaths of POEMS they will augment your glory Transformation and change occurs for good or bad,  Can we influence others to be serene and glad? Few want to build you up, lending you bricks to erect your castle and palace, Some get sore and spurt vicious malice! Rumors and mud-slinging are hallmarks of a LIAR  Ne'er fall into ...

                  CASTLE IN THE AIR  Her daydreams had pirouetted like a ballerina on tiptoes Always holding the audience enthralled, in ecstasy with her pliés and all her moves She transforms into an ice skater on the rink Swooping in rhythm on the glassine floor in a blink Her eyes had met yours across the prom, stealthily Wishing that you would sweep her off her feet instantly Withered flowers of your name she preserves among the pages of her diary A decade old rose too, once scarlet, now crisp and a shade of muddy The tributes and letters unsent to you were poetic and lengthy She keeps her secrets beneath her eyelids, coyly She tells her stories to the moon and the shooting stars To the butterflies and the breeze and all the flowers You and her unrealised chimera are like a candle flame making her heart sigh Incessant sparkle a pie in the sky! Some secrets are to be held close, not to flaunt It's stashed away in a hidden cache of a c...

This is an Acrostic on UMBRELLA.                           PARAPLUIE U-under an overcast sky with a cloudburst well nigh M-mottled metal gray descends low, a pelting rain is expected to drop by B-broad awnings and gamps unfurl—yellow, blue and red R-rushing footsteps in puddles of water splash and wade E-embracing every weather, the umbrella is my companion L-lazy walks on summer days when rainbows adorn the empyrean L-lingering in bistros and beach cafes beneath kaleidoscopic striped parapluies  A-a friend for all seasons, call it a parasol, canopy or simply…brollies. Pic Courtesy:ArtoonsInn Poetry Parlour  ©️ Sangeetha Kamath 

                          ALCATRAZ Her vibe was vintage, thousands of years old. In a world full of trends, she remained a classic Refusing to adhere to the norms Wings were clipped and rebuked for showing her fiery side  Boundaries were set in place, lest she saw the vast sky And escaped to Elysian Fields Born in the wrong generation, Puce and sepia felt like home stark preference to flashing tints  Captured in black and white, Monochrome and mellow, muted ochre, ecru light A collector of the old world, precious knick-knacks; some more  She's a reader of cherished memories of eras bygone and days of yore  A keeper of books, a collector.. A preserver of old-fashioned delight A diarist, a writer---even today, she still uses pen, ink and paper  Restrictions now are flimsy threads, a colossal spirit is her anchor  Societal taunts and barbs are water off a duck's back  They hardly matter...