Keepsake

 

I long to touch,
I am awed to touch-
Those bangles,
Lambent and engraved,
Encrusted in gold and red-rimmed;
Sparkling,
But not like many years ago
When they twirled, clinked and lived
On my mother's luminous wrists;
Now, just staring,
Out of that dark velvet box
Locked away in a locker,
As a precious keepsake
With a piteous keeper.

Solitude

 

Something or someone,
Has yet again maimed the Sun.
Hapless, it falls and glides,
Down the demon's throat
Dark, slippery, unending
Bleeding all the way.
Rays of darkness
Unfurl and burst out.
One viciously shoots
Right into the heart,
From where I am beckoned,
To close up, to recede,
To descend the same old steps;
Into the derelict dungeons;
Where I could get locked up.
Or get unlocked;
I could eke out ghosts of the past,
And draw apparitions of the future;
I could unearth Gods of strength;
I could worship them,
Or bury them back;
I could run hands over the rugged clotted wounds;
I could soothe them;
Or rake them;
I could recall and relive and recreate pain;
I could convulse with it;
Or reconcile with it;
Or quell it.
It is all upon me and also me;
It is between me and me.
Which of me will have my way?
And what way will that be?
I assume to arbitrate but,
Am I the sanest amongst all of me?
Let the doors to the prison stay closed.
Yet again, I am in parley with myself.

(This poem first appeared in Wax Poetry Art)

Burn Along

 

If you had been a pretty doll of wax
Which froze behind a glass wall
With folded hands and a painted smile,
They would have adored you;
Guarded your delicate form and poise;
And kept you right in front of their eyes.
But you chose to be a sombre candle
Warped around a persevering wick;
You chose to be lit to light up their lives.
And burned with hope and grace.
You burned even when they blithely walked away.
Hot tears trickled down your dissolving face.
But there were no hands to wipe them.
Your flame writhed and struggled.
But there were no hands to guard it.

(This poem first appeared in Wax Poetry Art)

Quicksand

 

If I look away for a while
If I don't mollycoddle
You wander away and far.
Then when I need you back
I set out to find you.
I look with hope and alacrity
In the stir of the woods
And in the calm of the meadows;
In the freedom of the skies
And in the scent of the oceans.
But you have not lost yourself in these
For these do not inspire you?
And then I stumble upon the mire.
You are about to step on quick sand.
I call you out to dissuade
But it sucks you and you give in.
I urge you to flounder your way back
But you don't even try.
I hold out my hand for you to grab
But you stare into infinity.
Then when you are neck deep inside
You reach out and hold my hand.
But it is too late now.
With yourself, you drag me down.

(This poem first appeared in The Yellow Chair Review)

Personal Safety System

In this post, a personal safety system is discussed as one that is intended for use in case of severe danger or life threat to anyone and especially, children and women. The system will usually consist of a connected device in contact with the person who needs to be protected. When triggered, such a system can either alert people who can help the victim or the law enforcement authorities. Such safety systems if effective, can enhance the safety of children or women against violence and crime. These systems can also be used to monitor the sick and elderly.

Some of the existing such systems that are available in various markets are discussed below. The common disadvantages of such safety system are also enlisted.