Sangeetha Kamath

                       KONNICHIWA  Poets, writers, lyricists and composers You led me into your magical world of  emotions, sentiments, thoughts and fears A month we spent on weaving words together On a single prompt everyday which brought  us as friends much closer Appreciation and emojis of hugs, love, hearts and surprises Virtual fingertips gently wiped away sorrow, anxiety and tears Witty and hilarious pieces were like a much needed manna on careworn day NaPoWriMo ends today, tomorrow's just a another boring 'Manic Monday'  It does feel like a send-off from college Good times will rock and roll again soon but April was the exquisite privilege Walking the sun-scorched days next week, meeting you all was something I looked forward to every morn,  I'll be back to my grind so bleak Reminding myself this strand of pearls is still intact  We'll have another stage to play our part and interact A meeti...

                        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...

                      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 

                                 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...

                        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...

                            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 ...

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 

                  MERRY-GO-ROUND  Sometimes I wish I was the topper Soaring the ranks in my class Stun everyone with my marks whopper Stumped at why I don't make top brass Often I study late into the night Orchestrating my time with subjects nine Only mum feels sorry for my plight "Oh I have set my eyes on the trophy Argentine." Fractions, formaldehyde, fermentation Forfeiture, mergers, bonds and stock Fiction and literature sparks my imagination Fahrenheit 451, Caesar, Othello, Keats and Mark Twain Racking my head night and day Relinquishing rest, I'm always on my toes I grew up too soon I've not a moment to lose Now the he world is mine to conquer and oceans are mine to sail On my stark white study table still sits my favorite cuddly teddy bear  Trailing a blaze from the Antarctica to the Arctic From the west to the Far East, my travels quite surrealistic Painting the canvas of my life with hue on the palette Capturing every hori...

                   WHERE ARE YOU ? Those wrinkled hands, they spoke volumes You patted my back, caressed my head Applauded for me, held my hand tight You were my pillar of strength and my steady rock, a gemstone lustrous bright. In your eyes I saw the sun, moon and all the stars You were my universe and my world In your embrace I felt nurtured and loved Could I ask for more when you could read my mind… Food blossomed in your kitchen with its own aroma and essence  A simple lentil stew or a tomato soup exuded a regal fragrance The sunshine in our laughter and the warmth in our hearts  It was the soul curry which soothed our winters, our cozy autumn vibrant… We were oceans apart waiting to reunite Hoped that my holidays this year would be jolly and merry I reminisce the good times we had together Beneath cerulean skies with laughter and cheer The table is set with rich plum cake Seven course dinner and eggnog shake Our Christmas...

              SNOWFALL OVER SAHARA Pale halo of the moon glistens in the shadowy glens As bitter lyrics float under the eerie starlight  Time was a savage sandstorm mourning all her pain Through cracks and splinters, all things encountered in vain Intense and conflicted were rifts and ripples With the first fall of snow, masquerade of masks were lifted There were no blue skies  Or strawberry cakes to ice SCARLET haze stretches across the sky like an INFINITE petal With savage hurricanes in her heart, she wandered through the darkness Oceans magnificently rose in tides… Untamed inside her were, once, secret chambers of laughter  Where tales were written about prince charming and happily ever after  A BLAZE through shifting sands she now writes her own story She's a flowering cactus in the Sahara, a lioness of the Savannah, A diamond in the dusty quarry Sailing over shipwrecked waters she's found her shore Exploring new worlds, she ...

                                              TRUMPET  Surrounded by snowcapped mountains in a rustic cabin Amid an aquamarine lake placid and dreamily glassine  A woodland setting away from the glamour and bling 'Twas my dream to have my fairytale wedding  The distant calls of the birds flying overhead As I walked the ramp without a family or friend I looked forward to meeting my Prince Charming Holding out to me a diamond studded platinum ring Flaunting my pearls and ivory lace bridal gown With a bottle of champagne and a bouquet of exotic flowers I'd homegrown Into the threshold I stepped to see a dashing groom I had a surprise for him ; he had no idea what would happen soon Raising a toast to our future and wedded bliss He took large sips and realised too late something was amiss Choking and sputtering, he was clearly in distress Managing to gasp in...

                            NESTING Twigs and sticks, straw and hay Were collected with every ounce of STRENGTH, painstakingly all morning and by the end of the day A basket of comfort padded with leaves; readied for their nestlings to chirp,flutter and play A sense of HOPE bloomed in the tiny hearts of the feathered couple, a striking Blue Jay Twittering merrily, the PROUD parents-to-be would dote and pray Little did they know a storm was brewing out of nowhere… The tree swayed and fell with a crash to their dismay Heartbroken at the sight, they could only screech loudly, their lament to display! Fury had ravaged the canaries and hawks  Scattered in its wake lay a trail of cadavers of sparrows and larks…! Squawking in agony for their crushed chicks and brood  Flocks of birds hovered or solemnly stood--- Mourning in agony for the helplessness and the torment  Around the nests which lay as kindling... th...

                         MONARCHY OF REVERIE In a garden of bowers, fountains and wisteria arbors  A hopeless dreamer I was under an onyx sky of a million tiny twinkling stars Like a nymph under a melon moon glow, wearing an orchid wreath in my hair  Pirouetting in tulle gowns sequinned with hydrangea  My love songs were the rock and the jazz Twirling with you under jasper skies in a fluid waltz Amid rustling leaves and songs of nightingales and wrens Petals of Sakura danced in the fragrant glens Like the birds that sing and gently flowing streams  I cruised the wide world and the choppy seven seas Traveling by the starlight, you shone on my path On journeys through mazes and vexing labyrinth vast You're my map, my compass leading to home and hearth... A safehouse and my oasis in deserts scorched  A monarch and majesty of your love was the endless yearning, a distant reunion… As that of the sea and...

              STAR -SPANGLED TIARAS Of Septembers and April summers When the world around me was a jamboree of meteor showers With sparkling eyes and dazzling smiles We're the jigsaw pieces of the same star clusters  There was something so delicate about that time When the woods were bathed in ivory moonshine Brooks babbled in the meadows And birds warbled in the trees Lavenders bloomed fragrant in the purple heath Bluebells cast a spell upon the distant hills Wisteria in the valleys were sweetly perfumed In the glens and dwelling places of elves and pixies  Downstream, the banks of rivers were lustrous with orange rays Snowdrops and daffodils danced under the cypress Dark clouds rolled drenching the deep greens and all the flowers With the drunken dance of the moon and the arias of the intoxicated colours Pearly heavens were scribbled with vibrant tiaras In the wilderness of the moors I followed the end of the rainbow My heart danced an...

                         PAGEANTRY OF CUES  She fashions wreaths from strands of moonbeams  Mirages embroidered on tapestries and exotic reams Dragonflies to her are sprites with diaphanous wings Pebbles and seashells to you, they're charms to her and magical things  !  Stars to you, diamonds to her;  She calls them wands viridescent that which you call a tree The shivery willow trees are ballerinas poised in the moonlight argentine Fireflies are fairies sprinkling pixie dust on damask roses and jessamine The moon to her is a burgeoning opal rose against the canvas of violet The sun, a golden orb tempering at dusk to a crimson and scarlet The summer breeze puffs the sails on her ships of veracity cruising away to glory Her allegory is swathed with gossamer veils, quite extraordinary ! Drenching her dreams in the eventide hues of an elusive wonderland  Her lyrics are a panacea to storm-battered...

                        A MURAL OF VERDURE I swing and sway in my gown of green There are many like me in the season of spring oh so serene. Hi there! I'm a new-born leaf, chartreuse and lush…  The tree is my mother; olive, lime, mint and smaragdine — my color of blush! A merry breeze comes whispering along We swish and rustle, it's our only happy song. Creating our orchestra and music, We proudly call ourselves 'The Zephyr and the Acoustic' Below our tree is a lawn of shamrock carpet Bursting with four-leaf clovers, a velvet carpet! Our green is cooling, our green is a  soothing shade Warbling birds, flitting butterflies and buzzing bees rest under our canopy of jade. How the seasons quickly change and the birds in our tree have all flown! Their nests are empty; the brood long gone… The air is crisper, the wind is frigid Autumn's coming; I'm so still and insipid. A colorful dream has replaced our green Our gowns are ...

                 LOOK INTO MY EYES ! The unruffled shimmer in his amber eyes Spoke a thousand words, sang melodies of distant lands When the sky was a delightful cyan And winter wonderlands were sheathed in crystal and ice Of a colour deeper than champagne  Fireflies danced in them in the argent moonshine  Waltzing away from honey to melting chocolate To sink in them was her hopeless fate Holding specks of golden sunbeams  They fixed her in a trance and enchanting dreams Drawing her in with colors rich and bold Hypnotic, as radiant as gold! Today her frayed tassels of chambray thresh in the wind Burrowing in veils of forsaken glades of muted tint The mists engulf her, a curse upon her naiveté  Drumming crescendos of thunder as her illusions plummet Swept away by churning currents  Foolhardy heart was impaled with honed bayonets The clouds are dizzy humming a ditty Orion bleeds tears for the faithful beauty Flaxen ver...

                                    DEAREST MYSELF Dearest Myself I tell myself As you go along in life, be soft and compassionate  Speak ambrose out of habit, but also be a firebrand assertive and obstinate Spew bursts of volatile flames like a dragon If trod upon, flatten 'em with artillery from your cannon! Be the rose among the bramble bush  Also the bramble that protects the rose.  Sprinkle mists of respite in the tranquility of twilight hush A goblet of honeyed sunshine, my daily dose When life judges you, remember— You are allowed to fail without being tagged a failure! You are entitled to have your fears without being called a coward by any norms It's okay to collapse, crash and crumble but it's not okay to lay down your arms!  Bounce back on your feet! Soldier onward! Draw your courage like a sword,  Envelop your faith like an iron shield  Wear your confi...

                   TURN BACK TIME  Teardrops are like shimmer on a rain washed sky They're the reason for the rainbows of memories sparkling bright A star, is my frozen tear that keeps twinkling and pulsing  Like pearls incandescent and diamonds on a hyaline night On a midwinter night among a chorus of stars serenading the moon A scorch of enchanting ethereal silver  Blazed brilliantly across the indigo in a dash of glitter "Make a wish" my heart did whisper  And so I with my fragile courage, did muster I wished upon that star and asked for a wand so powerful to turn back time  To send you back to me, my heart pleadingly did chime. Or a crystal ball so magical, to find you and seek you…never let you go To cast a spell and make all my dreams come true or stay there forever with you. I wish I could hear you one more time as you say  "Let me tie up your hair, you won't feel hot on a summer day…" You'd say, "Hav...

              STUDDED WITH AMETHYST  She traversed untrodden, endless roads The blazing sun scorching her eyes Mirages dancing until the horizon became   One with the skies Hallucinating, she was on turquoise water, while the world turned topsy-turvy  Palm trees in a distance, on dunes of umber and tawny Upon the rain washed sky of deep ultramarine So oblivious was she to puffy clouds billowing in shades of citrine Sunbeams sparkled off arcs of rainbows on perfect dome azure That once reminded her of songs and melodies quite pristine and pure She now steals silken strands out of the summery cobalt  And weaves a duvet to cocoon her porcelain heart Pastel are the waves of sunshine and puddles of sky cyan Quelling in her heart are untamed oceans and relentless rain From the window of her memories, she now gazes solemnly, every memory an episode In her quest to find a map that plasters the worn out lines on this ode… Yet, her pira...