SERENITY

 

SERENITY

 

A couple of flowers in one branch,

Shines budding youth, happy,

Brother to only younger sister,

Siblings, dearest to parent, close,

Affection for my sister, observing,

Inspected throughout childhood,

Pick up her sad face, hiding rarely,

Running after her, often caught the cause,

Her smiles, playful, joke my treasure,

Incomparable to a gem, pearl of smiling tears,

Shared our hurt, secret worries, fear,

Confident, she never leaked to our parents,

Mischief she committed behind mom,

Confides to me at a secluded place at home,

She trusts her brother will never disclose,

Visiting cinema with friends secretly,

Her studies, difficulty in subjects,

Helped her, explaining in detail,

I was her teacher, closest friend, solace,

The unfortunate result after the exam, rebuttal,

Inclining to me gives vent to frustrations,

Gets sober after my consolations,

Looking trustfully, embracing closest,

Promises to achieve the best result next time,

She watched closely my college days, study,

Supplies tea in the afternoon, late at night,

Both share tasty mixtures, snacks,

Gossiping endless, her friends, fun, teacher,

Enquires places, people, culture, customs,

Parent laughs at us, happy about our closeness,

She grew up watched, silent, docile,

Less talkative, fun, kept aloof always,

I pulled her, tease, she now says,

Minutely observe my dress, book, papers,

Irons clothing polishes shoes, and gets angry,

Pleads to be well-shaven, polite, decent,

Maintain my table, everything in the notice,

Her silent work, I know, day n night,

Rarely ask me for her necessities, her likes,

I purchase to handover soon, to ability,

Parents never could know our friendship,

A day came; I left home for college,

Devastated, missing my sister, her help,

Get scolding, sad letters in the absence,

Moving life faster season changing,

Fascinating her youth demeanors of her mom,

Refined, educated, preferred family life,

Her day of marriage function milestone,

Moving, parents are busy arranging her dress,

Her belonging, ornament, suitcases,

Mom was arranging meticulously,

Her husband in a top job, known family,

The function ended, the time came,

Left her home to the house of her in-laws,

Mom was crying, dad with tears,

She was silent, hugged me, was crying,

Asked me, you come with me?

I accompanied her to her home,

Decades rolled like the cartwheel,

Life distance between us, our family,

Yearly get a Rakhi, sweets I use to send,

The symbol of trust of the sister to brother,

Unique relationship, divine, nourishing,

Great satisfaction at her sight with saree,

Possessively enquiring about my health, intense,

I bless her married life, praying Lord,

Bemused, hold her closer, smiling,

 And feel the serenity, most precious to me,

Brotherly love seems for eternity.

 

@ Bijayananda Mishra

MAGNANIMOUS

 

MAGNANIMOUS

 

Remembering childhood, naughty,

Never could find how mischievous,

Demanding only contact was Ma,

Angry now and then, fight with her,

Dawn breaks, sleeping soundly, alarmed,

Mother was shouting school time,

Angrily from the start, search for breakfast,

Cried often missing the dish I liked,

Forgets water bottle, called back,

Homework, notebooks she watching,

Found unanswered questions, notes,

Shout at me, furious, threat to inform,

Inform dad of punishment waiting,

Life was tearful, crying before her,

Forgive mom this mistake complete today,

On return, soiled dressed, bruised,

Forcibly washed, ointment on a scar,

Sleep out home in cycle with friends,

Pleasure drive to park, bazaar, fields,

Out of town, a forest, hill tracks, tricked,

Friend circle gets picnic, miss homework,

Result day feared a black day, threatening,

Most scrutinizing, mom was sad and silent,

A day so torturous for me, promise her,

Forgive Ma, this time, shall do better,

Demand new dress on puja, pen, notebook,

Pen and notebook were given minus dress,

How many occasions did I fast run to the road,

Mom was sitting at the door without lunch,

I tore her saree and threw toys, costly items,

Angry, my parent willfully left me at home,

Later I used to find out about their visits,

To market, films, relatives’ house,

I made her life so miserable then,

Mom fails to comfort me, knowing her false promises,

Threatened repeatedly to run from home,

Threw dinner to the road, slept hungrily,

Tormented her unending got what I wanted,

For higher education, she sold her ornament,

I left for college, rarely replying to her letter,

Now I understand I was worrisome,

I succeeded in life with bright results, merit,

Lucrative post, high salary, affluence,

Busy day and night, dream career, promo,

Hardly find time to visit home, missing ma,

Luxury, comfort in life I desired earnestly,

Floored before me, I am tired of dreaming,

Best dresses, tasty cushiness, gadgets,

Costly, does not matter, I could spend,

Happy today, satisfied with life in luxury,

Honor for qualification experience,

Discovered today a letter from ma,

She wrote, sick these days, got weaker,

Plundering my childhood in thoughts,

Streaming continuously, my mischief,

Her love, care, immortal, divine, touching,

Shaken innermost fibers and nerves, I was crying,

Ma, forgive me for forgetting you,

My carrier, assets, gadget, luxurious life,

Blinded O’ ma, me for long, I neglected,

Age is telling upon you, nothing else,

How many fasts, torn cloths, selling bangles,

Poverty hunted you mercilessly, ignored,

Ignored your comfort, happiness,

I was your dream, Ma, your prayer to God,

Today you succeed in growing your son,

Fit to face this harsh world, handsome,

Everything of success in life, I owe to you,

Packing for home, recounting you,

Ma, your magnificence, was uttering silently,

Your existence for me is only magnanimous.

 

@ Bijayananda Mishra

DISPASSIONATE

DISPASSIONATE

 

 The Closest friend of my life in school,

The only daughter of the uncle, our neighbor,

Use to a mile to school together,

Reading in the same class, share Tiffin box,

Excelled life both studious, joined college,

Shinning was my girlfriend with results,

Differed subjects of both, I knew her,

Smiling often was teasing she blushes,

Her gentle behavior words soft invite,

Popular in college, leading appeal,

Eloquence her speech on debates,

Chancellor’s prize she got on her talk,

Amazed me from far her analytic mind,

Thoughtful, beautiful mind, expressive,

Her writings in newspapers, magazines,

Appreciated by people, elders, tagged,

Tagged as a talented girl, I felt envy,

Uncle middle-class modest income,

Happy with daughter wished future,

Bright career, position, affluent life,

The happy family was praying for a rosy future,

Crestfallen years after, one day,

Heard news of her life, leading as a teacher,

In a remote village primary school,

She was working as a school teacher, unmarried,

Uncle, her families, were sad, failed,

Failed to convince her, changing her mind,

Stubborn was she, loving simple life,

Passing her life among illiterate kids,

Children in a remote village, poor parents,

Lacking light on modern society, growth,

Undernourished, shabby dress, dirty,

Playing on dusty roads, innocent smiles,

Visited her, my childhood friend, queried,

Protested her decisions, rejecting comfort life,

Her heist education, scholar in college,

Deserving to marry, handsome job, family,

Illogical to waste life here, rustic, poor,

Was listening to her reasons, her decision,

The heartbroken incident happened at home,

Their servant sold his daughter for money,

Inquiries, learned a thousand girls are sold,

So often, for the price, no punishment,

For child labor house servant, unpaid,

Supplying to flash market, ugly reality,

Immune to disasters in life, disregard the rich,

Respected, affluent know, laugh at plight,

Excuses out of the social evil horrible picture,

She decided after her university degree,

Gold medal, published in the news, praised,

She left weeks after to a remote village,

Government teacher, primary school,

Loving village folk immensely, happy in life,

My attire settled career behind past,

Famous established with a wealthy family,

Children reading well, daughter bright,

My friend, in tears, was telling on daughter,

Wished her educated life and established,

I realized she was thinking, never sold,

Realized then I cried, caught her hand,

Thanked, got convinced, returned home,

Knew my friend, enlightened heart,

It was her true education merit, depth,

Forsaken dream of a civilized human,

Accept adoringly her life so dispassionate.  

 

@ Bijayananda Mishra

 

 

FOOTSTEPS

 

FOOTSTEPS

 

Unaware of the time, I got aware,

Discovered a strange world, fascinating,

Fragrant blossoms, aromas, wet earth,

The immersive chirping of birds, vibrant sky,

Awaken heart, throbbing wished then,

To plunder gems of pearl, bridal nature,

Youth now discovered pulsating vibe,

A curious mind learned nature pure,

Pure air, water, beauty, sight,

Bare, beautiful, enchanting elixir,

Once drunk, addicted to the purity of heart,

Loving blue sky, sea, waves surging,

Proud crashing on the shore returns,

 The Human spirit amazing rises to height,

From the breast of the ocean of life, haughty,

Pompous, white foams crowning glory,

Human ingenuity, cunningness, wit,

Projects to aristocracy attract attention,

Bemused, bewitched, spectators owe,

Dissipate gigantic waves, crashing touches,

In my youth saw, water kissed feet, humble,

Nonexistent by now, merge with the sea,

Vanishing the height of name, fame, glory,

Forgets the sea, the wave raising its head,

Rises another, repeats the roll, heart bewilder,

Incessant noise, immersive essay of life,

Creature, animals, birds, insects born,

Destines to vanish from the ocean of life, in time,

A crescendo of noise world noisy everywhere,

Silence spread on the sea, quiet and calm,

Resembling cremation ground graveyard,

Ethereal feeling, the silence, impermanent,

Rising human civilizations, silent pyramids,

Silent Mayan monuments, castles, fort city,

Ghost habitation wall, road, pottery, houses,

Once giant waves surged, the pinnacle of intellect,

I silently understood waves merging with water,

The water of time eternity creation spontaneous,

Sudden were all vanishing human habitat,

Learning mind deceiving purity I was losing,

Intense desire, acute lust, demanding time,

Diverted my perception, polluted by now,

Lust, gender attraction strongest the pull,

Devastated purity, truth, deception gaining,

Achieve wealth, name, fame, power, exploit,

Force, steal happiness, seek physical pleasure,

No barer, discovered I was covered,

Covered with sin, not ashamed at all,

I shall live, enjoy, my ego foaming white,

Tall among humans, laughing at them,

Different, totally different from ordinary,

Tempts to swallow treasure troves offer the world,

My footsteps, imprinted on the sand beach of life,

Looking back, stretching behind me, timely,

Wave wildly moving to devastating shore,

Found twilight years, mortal frame searches,

Searches the soil, form which once raised,

I was smiling with a tear, a play of divine,

Faithfully erasing my footsteps for good,

Footprints little visible, wave retraced back…

It was evening returning back home,

I was shivering in a salty cold wind was time.

 

 @ Bijayananda Mishra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLEETING GLANCE

 FLEETING GLANCE

Leaving the airport; the airplane shuddered,
Lift sooner, vanishing ground very soon,
Watershed moment in my life departing,
Leaving my city, dearest land, to the future,
Happening now dreams of young heart,
Successful, for an alluring job on a foreign shore,
Winking thousands of questions, doubts,
Desire sprouts budding hope endless,
Insatiable, dreamland to quench thirsts,
Higher study, career, house, luxury links,
A curious mind, unknown people, culture,
Lifestyle immensity of megapolis traffic,
Waiting, busy, prosperous lifetime moving,
Time move over the clouds, smiling gently,
Miniature houses, hills, rivers, and greens,
Passing under indistinct vanish faster,
Vanishing my yesteryears, childhood,
Turbulent years of youth indiscipline,
Unmindful, thrilling at vibrant youth,
Loved school days, friends, hot gossip,
Rebuttal of teachers, fun behind, jokes,
Cycling, swimming, playing funny games,
The freshness of the forest, tracks on hills, rivers,
Lap of nature so alluring, intoxicated mind,
Picnic visits cities, mix with locals,
Clubs, stadiums, cinemas, restaurants,
Wildest pleasure, nights, lamps burning,
The study, apprehension of exams, fear,
Heart-stopping at the breaking of the result,
Forgetting existence, a world at feet,
Success in exams concluding college life,
How fast gone so quickly, dear time,
How far do friends, and parents, love people?
Relatives, teachers, elders, their love,
Brother and sister waving at the airport,
Parting look smiling, marked glistening tears,
A bond so thick in life, seeming unbreakable,
Found tears trickling, I hide, consoled,
Unknown fear, future was challenging,
Diverted mind again loved my country,
Born on the sacred soil, fertile, ancient,
Incredible culture, festivals, worship,
Temples, big crowd, burning oil lamps,
Incense sticks fragrant, mingling with air,
Devotion to unseen Lord, heart begging,
Seen life through hardship, cried talking to God,
Stone idol covered with flowers, gold,
Never could if listening to owes of crying humans,
Folding hands, protesting on a stone floor,
For a child, career, home, money, cure,
A million wanting Lord listens, I watched,
Fulfilled my land, nurture more than that,
I grownup handsome, young, educated,
Sheltered me in fear, hunger, sickness,
Pleasure never I could imagined got,
Feeling now, leaving my dear country,
Can’t promise to return to life so demanding,
Prove capability, meet challenges, win,
Extract the elixir of life, the nectar of success,
Luxurious life, comfort, prestige, fame,
Prosperous family, dreams built castles,
Castles in the air convinced me, shed emotions,
No more dear country is visible below,
Blue Ocean, its expanse, matching thought,
Endless, mysterious, life was speeding,
Atomic in the vast sky, like a glistening star,
Winks now vanish next moment,
Speechless to idol God, dumb, deaf,
As if whispering, why betray your land,
Going way, waiting anxiously only me,
A fleeting glance down, it fled for my life.

@ Bijayananda Mishra