Nice

Cranes squeak with laughter early morning in Nice-

hover around my balcony that overlooks the beach.

Shop-keepers clank open the shutters,

and coffee lingers longer in the air.

Come alive those small streets and lanes

as sunlight announces a long bright day.

Beige rocks on white pebbles shore-

along run long stretches of broad promenade.

Few miles down is Monte Carlo.

Sleek yachts sway to rocking parties.

Life here shifts to top gear,

and spurs you on with a new set of feet.

I bow, my sensors tuned for optimum reach

lest, I miss this subtle charm of Nice.

Switzerland

Red Swiss train spirals the country-side.

Looking out of the big window I see nature passing by.

Milk and wool graze on vast open fields.

Snow braces clouds over the deep green valleys.

Wooden cottages with their smoking chimneys.

Bed of lilies form a ring around them.

A river runs along the fields, rails, bridges.

Long stretched piers to sit and fish.

I feel I'm living in a post card-

painted and framed on God's canvas.

The locomotive hisses past the alpine trees,

through dark tunnels at a gentle speed.

In the big glass I reflect of amaze and wonder.

To this land of Swiss I surrender.

Fall (Haiku)

Red earth calls to wind

and a withered tree sparkles

shawls crisp sepia

The Quake - 10/03/11 (Tanka)

Earth rumbled deep down

the sea unleashed fury

homes and souls submerge

but wail not my rising sun

this dark night soon we shall pass

Return (Senryu)

Rum not deep enough
a dry sigh wandered around
then I found myself

The Number Game

It's that time of the year when TVs are switched off, malls and restaurant are neglected, temples become crowded, and the atmosphere turns grim. It's exam-time. Parents exchange notes with teachers and other parents to check if their son/daughter is well-prepared. Nerves go a notch higher. The student, actually is pretty cool until he/she is dragged onto this panic train. And suddenly this cool dude feels the pressure which otherwise would have handled it quite well in his/her own style. The number game begins. Every other person becomes your competitor, ready to pounce on that vacant, precious seat with an extra mark. Because of this funny system, rather than nourishing and nurturing the knowledge the education is dumped on your brain. You are not what you would love to be but become what others prefer you to be. With time, cirumstances change, but the game continues.

Stranger-Eyes

Here I stand

on these tiny feet at the bus-stop.

My first time aboard,

a ride with unknown.

Faces unfamiliar, but look similar.

Stranger-eyes stare

in the haze that surrounds.

Here I stand

on these big feet at the bus-stop.

I'm just someone

who tussles with the clock,

caught up like everyone

in the everlasting maze.

Still unaware what lies ahead.