Additional 10 Poems For 'A Pinch of Salt'
61. Encaged Sparrow
62. Unaccomplished Wish
63. Lovelorn Lotus
64. Lust for Sovereignty
65. Fluttering Wings
66. Scorched Sand
67. First Ray of Dawn
68. Shadow
69. Crossroads
70. Charioteer
61. Encaged Sparrow
****************
Cage is her only refuge
Till now, she had
Convinced herself
Viewing birds
Enjoying free flight
Why, mind got confused today
The bird in life-long captivation
Pleaded for liberation
Fowler showed mercy
And opened the door of the cage
Stretching wings
The sparrow endeavoured
To fly high in sky
But, could she touch
Heights of the blues
She shuddered
Viewing flying eagle
Made up her mind
To dwell in the cage again.
The style of living
That she had followed
Since so many years
Could not release herself
From its captivation.
When horizon seemed
To unite with the Earth
In the dusky hours
Valley seemed to be under
Spell of scenic beauty
Soothing breeze
Cool, clear, still water
Lotuses blooming in Dal lake
With their pink charm
Furnished treat for eyes
A lonely lotus
Seemed to be waiting
For bumblebee
With soft petals
As if stretching arms
Inviting Bumblebee to embrace
The bumblebee fascinated by her charm
Stayed there overnight
Got enfolded in the petals of Lotus
With dawn, petals unfolded
The Lotus was in full bloom
But, the bumblebee flew away
From captivation
Every dusky evening
The lovelorn lotus
Waits for him
With extended arms
Unaware of lusty nature
Of the bumblebee
But, the flirt never returns
To the same blossom again.
Such is the innate nature
Of that creature.
Wait of the lotus continues persistently
But bumblebee never returns to
Same blossom again.
Lovelorn lotus and flirt bumblebee
Both stick to their nature .
64. Lust for Sovereignty
***************************
Innumerable rivers
Parting with their sweetness
Losing their identity
Have merged in you.
Still you are not content.
Still you are restive
When will this storm stop.
Why are you quenchless
O, Ocean! Still you have
Unfulfilled quench
For sovereignty!
Sparrows encaged in cages
Since ages
Planned salvage
Pleaded to fowler
For release from cages
Vast expanse of sky
Seemingly implored them
To break shackle
But how to overcome
Fear of free flight in vast expanse
Where eagles and vultures
Too fly free with wide wings
Crooked beaks, sharp paws
And vigilant eyes for prey
That might snatch their iife
Fowler tried to caution them
But had to succumb to wish of
Adamant sparrows.
Instead of taking solo flight
They flied in flock
Seeing their tactics
Eagles were now in a shock.
It is never easy to attack
An organized army
With will power
That does not care for adversities
Stands firm like rock.
Now fowlers too have changed their mind
Feeling happy to see cheerful fluttering wings
Prefers to let the birds enjoy free flight.
66. Scorched Sand
************
There is no
Varicolored canopy to
Provide shade
Lies on bed of
Rays of the Sun
There is no
Corner of solace
Sand becomes gold
In scorching heat only.
67. First Ray of Dawn
*****************
I am not a poet
Feel my sentiments
And versify
I an not a lyricist
Hum me
And create a lyric
I am not a sculptor
I am raw clay
Shape me up
I wish to flow like
Murmuring stream
Remove obstacles
On may way
I wish to fly like
Free bird
Stop making cage
For encaging me
On the sky of my life
Studded with twinkling stars
Be my bright moon
I long for
End of dark night
You be for me
First ray of dawn.
68. Shadow
*******
On the deserted road at night
Along with darkness
Appears a long thin shadow
Resembles gloomy long night
Stretching till far
Day appears to be short
Due to absolute involvement in work
Just like small shadow
Appearing in daytime
It is all matter of time.
69. Crossroads
**********
Which way to opt for
Standing on crossroads of confusion
We are not able to take
A firm decision
Some nostalgic memories pf past
Some sour, some sweet experiences
Association with past
Entangled in threads of past
We are not able to enjoy our present
We have reached
That halting -point of age
Where, before moving further
Our moves get restricted
We fail to muster courage
To face challenges
Of future
God know
What secrets
Might be enfolded
In lap of future
Entangled in warp and weft
Of past, present and future
Weaving threads of preoccupation
And getting entrapped in our own cob-web
Like spider
We will have to find out
Path of free movement.
Some glorious moments of past
Some golden moments of present
Some plans for future
Accumulating as provisions
For our upcoming journey
Keep moving further
O, Traveller!
Pathway will itself
Show you path of
Reaching destination.
70. Charioteer
*********
Conflict often
Dominates
Heart and mind
On the crossroads of life.
We take ahead two steps
Mustering some courage
Then, at our own will
Retreat to
Ready-made road.
Why does
Shackle intention of
Performing off-beat
O, My Charioteer !
Pull me out of this tangle
Arouse my credence
In myself.
A tiff has started
Between new and ancient
I want to break shackle
Melting glaciers
Pure -white waterfalls
Murmuring river
Free birds
Free from cages
New expanse is
Inviting me
In this changing epoch
You show me
Purposeful life
O, My Charioteer
I beseech you
Guide me to choose
Right path.
*Charioteer is an epithet of the Hindu deity Krishna used in the epic Mahabharata.
Rajni Chhabra
Multi lingual Poetess and Translator
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