A PHRASY-TALE

Once upon a time, lived two beautiful dames,
Truth and Falsity were their names.
They shared everything, from a cake to a dream,
Vowing to be forever, friends supreme.

Alas! Promises are mostly made to be broken,
Falsity befriended unscrupulous men.
Under their tutelage very soon degraded,
Her love for Truth turning into hatred.

She became jealous of Truth, hating her pulchritude,
Her attire of compassion and graceful attitude.
Her scheming mind hatched a dishonest plot,
She’d abandon Truth in a lonesome island to rot.

‘Let’s go for a picnic on the yonder island,
just the two of us, it’d be lovely and grand.’
On the island, shedding their clothes and inhibition,
They swam naked in the ocean, shrieking in fun.

Challenging Truth to race her under water,
Falsity returned, collecting all she could gather.
Not sparing a thread, she left on the boat,
Ignoring Truth’s cry, pleading to take her aboard.

Bereft of clothing, naked Truth roams alone,
Waiting in eternity for her friend to come along.
Since then, men are wary of ‘naked truth’,
Avoiding it like an oozing fester uncouth.

Now, Falsity was abashed, struck by humility,
She could no longer face the world with dignity.
She draped a long hood and hid her face,
‘Naked Truth’ and ‘Falsehood’ never again met I guess!

(inspired by poet Kedar Bhaduri)

INFLATION

Try to get taller sonny
By hanging from the railing,
‘Complan’ has gotten dearer
Inflation has touched the ceiling.

Dust and clean the car dear
Appreciating it from afar,
Won’t be able to drive anymore
‘Cause the cost of petrol is a bar.

Clean and scrub the stove dear
Please don’t ignite the flame,
Bread and butter in every meal
Fifty rupees hike is to blame.

Let’s buy us a couple o cycles dear
And visit relatives in mass,
It’ll be a blessing in disguise
Slimming without a gym class.

I’m collecting all coins dear
To keep us through the end,
Notes are bound to disappear
Before we cross the bend.

Assemblage of treasure

I am a conscientious collector
Hunting for treasure bright,
From dawn to eventide
Forever searching with fervor.

Softness of a baby pink dawn,
Fluffy cotton candies floating in leisure,
Coy sunrise blushing in pleasure,
Calisthenics of birds airborne.

Dewdrops forming a semblance
Pearl necklace on a solitary leaf,
Perfume of Jasmine, a sudden whiff,
Squirrels waltzing in perfect balance.

First raindrop on earth’s parched lip,
Storm showcasing psychedelic lightening
With thunder’s staccato drumming,
Graceful rain twirling on toe tip.

Sensuous kiss of a honeysuckle,
Kaleidoscopic flirtation of a butterfly,
Precise discipline the marching ants comply,
Sting of an angry bee on my poor knuckle.

Purple folds of velvet sunset,
Arena bathed in full moon floodlight,
Dark sky etched with diamonds bright,
Headlights peeping from an owl’s nest.

I store them all in a box of ivory tone
Combination carved in my heart for reference.
When there is no memory or coherence,
Inseparable shadows of the twilight zone

I'll dive into my precious booty,
Chuckling like a toothless child.

elixir of life

A slender ray of light
desparately struggling,
trying to permeate
the dark dense ominous clouds.

It slashed and it tore--
perseverence paid.

A gate of hope
A cottage of happiness
A hearth of love

stands illuminated!


This elixir of life,
hold on to it tight.

A BONGLISH NONSENSE

A whisper ran from ear to ear
Gyan sir his wife, very much fear.

Month end he went to market
Find Padma- hilsa very cheap rate.

Greed not control, he buy fish
Come home swinging big fat Ilish.

Low voice say, wife! fish very grand!
Not elebele but Padma river brand.

Wife very angry spitting out paan
Shout, you know how family I run?

Month end wasting money on fish
Not small puNTi but costly Ilish!

Do you think paisa hang from tree?
Or have Mint, whose you have key?

Go , return Hilsa immediately,
Gyan sir head down, from there flee.

HAIKU IKEBANA

The red horizon
beckoning a long dark night,
abused and alone.


A soft pink sunrise
glows on the mother's tired eyes,
as the new born cries.


A catterpillar sleeps,
bathing in 'vibgyor' hues,
a butterfly peeps.

VIBGYOR LIFE

Tiny Violet lay curled
Mother's womb her world,
Careless and secure
Growing life so pure.

Little Indigo was born
One early summer morn,
A lovely little dame
As precious as a gem.

Blue, a fair maiden
Wooed by men in dozen,
Loved a poor scholar
And married amidst jeer.

Green, a loving home-maker
Poverty, not a bother,
Laughter echoed in her cottage
No meanness, no outrage.

Yellow, struck by fate
Tragically lost her mate,
Young, pretty and hapless
Object of lust and disgrace.

Orange, a determined fighter
Her strength proving mightier,
She worked, fed, survived
With dignity, couldn’t be bribed.

Red flames licked the pyre
Struggle smoothed by fire,
Beauty and strength of a woman
Depicted by rainbow bedizen.