And I Thought

I thought you would never eat

for how you fussed as a kid.

Monkeying on your nimble feet,

and from all the food you hid.

I thought you would rarely speak

but with just your cuddly toys.

Who had known this moony streak

would woo and floor all the boys. 

Shy, sweet and sometimes bizarre-

I like just the way you are. 

James Ki Wadi

But for an occasional boozy debate-

silently the men drank in an old hut.

The thirsts of the guzzlers did not abate

with their dreamy eyes and the souls half shut.

Here a pond rippled amidst the tall trees,

and in the cool grass the dogs lazed away.

Here the toads croaked with bellies full of fleas,

and watched these puffy eyed men drool and sway.

This place terrified us when we were kids

though the scary looking men were not mean.

We scrambled away from their stares and hid,

unaware that they were not as they seemed.

Little did we know that with hours to spare-

we would do the same one far day somewhere.

Saturdays

Tele blazes the background,

ticktack go vegetables.

Ice in whiskey swirl around,

old legs sigh on a table.

Their smiles reflect the warm souls,

and gossips spice up the air.

On streets of our past we stroll-

photos, memoirs everywhere.

How old yet fresh are these lanes-

I wish to be here again.

Meena / Appu Clan

Meena watches us from miles

with Appu now by her side.

Through the sunlight streams her smile

to tell - here her soul resides.

And his own back Appu pats,

in the gruff voice joy he hides.

I guess he reads all our chats-

feel his scholarly eyes glide.

Yet we want to hear them more-

so we knock on heaven’s door.

Carpet

Here she lies in woolly laze

with the embroidery spread.

Here we soar in God’s embrace-

hope for wings with magic threads.

And her spell warmth emanates

in the winter nights of blur.

Royal aura nobly states

when honoured to walk on her.

But for joy and slumber deep-

what troubles under not sweep.

Intrinsic

Often I wonder of her-

the silent strength she portrays.

Of the fire that she stirs

like diamonds when on display. 

Then why I look to others,

ask if this beauty is fair?

When deep I hear the mutters

that she is beyond compare.

When virtues the soul unmasks-

your eyes will set the benchmark.

Threshold

We come from different terrains,

and arrive at the threshold.

With less faith in fate’s domain

we stand seeking a new road.

But we fear the time ahead

yet dare not the clock on hand.

And blemish the past instead

for unfit to take a stand. 

And to conceal the errors-

we just alter our mirrors.