Sangeetha Kamath

                          OMEGA  And we knew this would come to an end Every day, every moment, every uphill road and every bend Set in gold, a whisper of a dream embroidered on organza, regally  Letting go of everything, feeling free and light finally  A journey in multiple frames of chronicling and leaving  There are seasons of happy endings Cozy fireplaces to reminisce summer laughter lilting Autumn in her carnival clothes breathtaking  Walking miles in the arid deserts, I had a thousand reasons to go A million to stay  In search of warmer kingdoms to escape November freeze Migrating are a convoy of starlings and geese Timeless! No beginning, no end Pieces of me are everywhere, I never went away  Watching a thousand sunsets, horizons streaked in ribbons of blazing glitter  With promises of a prussian canvas and diamond dust splatter Stars sizzle to a vapor at dawn, retreating and...

                       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...

                     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...

                      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...

                           MEA CULPA  A breathtaking blue-green jewel in the crown Like a bride in her finery, lacy clouds frilling her gown She's a beauty, she's a wonder with a shield of ozone She's Mother Gaia, our third rock from the sun For a million years, a home to sky- reaching rainforests Flora and fauna, pristine oceans and vast deserts The Savannah, the Prairie and the Steppe The Grand Canyon and an array of rainbow hued scree The Sahara, Kalahari and our very own Thar The marvel of the Poles, now the icecaps are melting, oh dear…! The treasures of our haven we're out to destroy Oh human, you've unleashed a Pandora's box, it wasn't a toy! We'd read about extinct, mammoth dinosaurs and the great evolution Painstaking bygone eras were a paradise, now we've brought on ourselves the hell of pollution  We're merciless, we couldn't care less Hacking nature and slaughtering wildlife,  How low we've ...

                          DIVERGENT  You are the WHITE moon burning on my BLACK night You're the LEFT to my RIGHT The PASTEL to my BRIGHT You RISE, I DROWN I SMILE, you FROWN  I want CLASSIC, you want JAZZ In the end, to our own roaring music we stomp and waltz I'm a TALKER, You're a LISTENER You're my CALM in a TURBULENCE, whom I run to for cover I'm the raging INFERNO and you're my dousing TIDAL WAVE Why do they say opposites attract and can be together? When meeting you has reduced me to nothing but a dying ember… Pic Courtesy: Pixabay ©️ 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 ...

                                          WISHING WELL In a quaint countryside fringed with   trees willows and alder Stood a wishing well study prim and proper Filled halfway with crystal clear water At the bottom lay sparkling coins of silver and copper Peering over the rim she spotted her reflection Bright blue eyes and a dazzling smile put together The belle threw in a penny with a lot of hope and a tiny prayer  Rippling as it hit the bottom one too many all a-glitter Bouncing away on the path her heart did whisper Why didn't you ask riches for yourself, may I muster? Diamonds and rubies I've no use for neither sapphire  The world needs peace, joy and compassion and that is my desire The wishing well heard her song pure and merry If it could, it would have granted her fame and glory The well stood solemnly, stunned and amazed And hoped that one fine day God would g...