The Carver

Hands bleeding, blood and sweat streaming, he’s done something laudable,
Twenty hours of carving rock in hell, he did the impossible.
The ending siren tore through the ears and cried with a shrill,
“Behold! It’s a living stone swan, but yet it stands still”.
The carver gives out a sigh, his smile knows no bounds,
The audience goes crazy, but his rivals don’t make sounds.
The teary eyed winner is taken to the factory owner, who says:
“Congratulations carver! You’ve done the best one, by God’s grace!
Look at all those feathers, they seem ruffled and yet so clean!
The texture, strength and balance, it looks so pristine!
Its eyes have life in them, as if God carved them Himself,
Its elegance is breath-taking, totally top of the shelf!”
The carver can’t hear them, his dream has come true,
He did something that everyone had told him he couldn’t do.
He reached a place similar to where his idols had been ;
Like Shakespeare did with King Lear, and Ronaldo with his feet.
The owner is still in awe, “How many nights didn’t you sleep?”
“How many days did you train?”
“Astounding! Just lay on this bed here,
And we’ll take out your brain.” Continue reading “The Carver” →

I’m done

“I’m done.

 

I’m done trying to please you, trying to make you look at me.

I’m done trying to change myself into something that I’m not, so that I live up to your expectations, only for you to turn me down again.

 

I’m done looking at his medals and his trophy room.

You know, I had a similar room…in my heart…you were the only trophy there.

Yeah people don’t call me by my name when I walk down the street.

Unlike him I don’t even have a new car;

I can’t boast of you like he does nowadays,

Like you are some kind of a commodity that he won on a science fair.

They said you can’t buy love, but somehow he managed the impossible.

Or did he?

 

If you get the time, ask him what’s the colour of your eyes,

What’s your favourite shade of lipstick,

What’s your favourite kind of fries,

How you get carried away when you listen to old Bollywood songs,

How you became cold hearted when that last guy broke your heart into a million pieces.

I think we both know what his answer will be.

I found warmth in your cold heart by the way,

I mean it’s not fully cold yet…you could have been saved again.

But you chose not to.

 

I know,

 

One day you’ll walk down the aisle,

Your head will be on his chest when you dance.

But you know what,

They will play my songs at your wedding.

People will recognize the artist by my fake name, the name you once suggested I should use to publish anonymously.

Maybe you’ll hide your tears or rub it on his expensive suit.

Knowing you could have been immortal through my words, but you chose to be rich.

I’ll be there you know, to look at you one last time… and let my pain flow through my words…

But till then…

 

I’m done.”

 

-The unsuccessful introvert

 

Continue reading “I’m done” →

Look at me

 

Look at me…

You know I’m standing right here,

Down where the ground touches my feet.

You’re high up on the highest branch,

Picking rotting fruits from a dying tree.

While I stand here with a basket of fresh ones,

Asking the squirrels to replace yours quietly.

 

Look at me…

 

You know when this tree was in its youth,

Was the time I was first able to see

You in that golden dress which they admired,

And you silently cried as the rough edges cut your skin.

But your tears couldn’t hide from me.

I know it was late, I should have come early;

The leaves were not as green as before, I see,

Yet they had colour enough to last eternity,

Before they turned brown.

 

Look at me…

 

I helped you make the dress you like,

As the smooth corners healed your sheen.

I picked the flowers myself but told the birds

To give them to you quietly,

Maybe because I wasn’t deigned enough to face you;

Or maybe because they say less of your beauty,

And more of the dresses you wore even if they hurt you,

But you liked my dress a little more;

Still you didn’t know me.

 

Look at me…

 

You know I’m standing right here,

My feet now on the sand in the scorching heat.

I know you feel my presence now, you can’t deny,

My eyes caress your hand now and then,

As they slowly find less tears in them as you turn empty.

You have learned to live with the fake flowers you receive,

You’ve caught the sneaky squirrels who kept you comfortable;

As you find comfort in the stench of dead dreams,

Which prevents the birds from scaling the skies.

 

Look at me…

 

You know I’m still standing here,

My legs bleed as the ants eat through my skin.

They love that odour, and now you live on it,

They killed the squirrels, they killed the birds,

They kill everything that breathes and yet you sit,

Rotting fruits devour your voice.

You don’t need to cry for help, you need only move your lips;

And you do, but not the way I want you to.

You chant their dirge as one of them,

I hold my flowers in hope they ward off the reek.

As the ground swallows me, my insides hurt,

Before I cry your name full of vowels;

As a last chance, so what I’m unworthy?

It’s the last chance for you to look at me…

And you do,

But not the way I want you to…

 

As I perish in peace,

Knowing the truth.

But at least you looked at me…

I wish he would stand forever,

The one and only dying tree.

 

Continue reading “Look at me” →

The Rainbow and the Storm

Once the Storm met the Rainbow,

As it passed and cried “Oh my!”

“I lasted for four long days,

And you just a few minutes, aren’t you sly?

People waited days for you,

Prayed for me to swiftly pass by,

Here you are, the crowd’s hope,

Ending at the beginning, why do you lie?”

“I never lied” said the Rainbow,

“I never asked the people to cry

For me to arise, I come as I should,

People’s wish don’t make me fly.

I might not be that of a beauty,

But your ravaging winds make me seem high.

Your lashes lay waste upon their dreams,

While my small presence tear up their eye.

Your havoc defines my stature;

It’s a simple thing they don’t realize!

But they must learn the way to live,

As I end with a sad goodbye.

Good things seldom last forever,

And bad things hardly ever die.”