City Birds..

Behold the city birds

They wear fancy pink,

Pleats unkempt, blots of ink.

You give them hope, I dare you there--

They suck your red, vile and bare.

Joe strums the Memphis blues ’neath the parapet;

They look at him, kiss him soft; and turn him wisdom-red.

The city birds scrape him out and throw at him a gun

The gun weeps loud, yearns for a path; the path that sinks the sun.

…..And  tidy natives chide her off,

For she sketches baby rhymes....

A Priest's Pride..

I remember I was 7 then. I got two of my favorite dolls married with each other. I called them Bobby and Chameli. Bobby was a huge chimpanzee and Chameli was a Barbie doll whom I always used to dress like a village girl. I named her Chameli since that was the only folk name I could think of at 7. I had invited my friends on the day of the wedding. There were no rituals. I got 'rosogollah’ (the most popular Bengali sweet) for everybody.

I did not know how two people get married. 

I made them hug each other and that’s it; they got married. They shared the bed; shared the same food at school  I made them-- raisins and cashew.. . they danced together on weekends after finishing their homework.

….I still do not know how two people get married………

Bobby used to wrap his brown furry tail around her kinky village girl and make faces if she didn’t go round and round.

I remember the day Bobby and Chameli got married, my friends were laughing at me since I was marrying an ape to a girl.

Now when I look back, I see it as the most forward marriage of all!

Beware of  Art..
It loots you ..

The Shadow & the Sham..

The winkles on the teasing stream

Glow darker on a summer’s eve

When shadows are tired and sip a breath

To catch with you, watch and scream.

You muddle with bread, butter and life

The anxious waves await her sigh

The plywood chairs strive to hold

The glint of your copper- knife..

What do you do when you walk passed her

And she forgives you but never gives

You call her a demon but does she lie?

Amidst her Sufi-sham  beneath the fur ..

Cry Loud

Cry loud when you hear him say

“Thanks my friend, that’s how life is”

The picnic basket shines o’yes

Sour apple eyes gape at the bay..

Don’t draw the line when you are to choke

Shimmery teeth of the demon soak;

Plug your nerves, look high above..

Dazzles the door of the dove.

Look at him, cry loud you would

When the bird of truth flies high nude..

Feed your silent screech today,

….Cry loud when you hear him say….

Honey says..

My honey kids, “you write a book!”

You think a lot, a lot you do

Why don’t you write a book?

Write oh yes, how they boss!

How lonely minds turn and toss..

‘How her father din’ buy her d’ toy

Deep within, he wept like a boy..

There is so much you can write about

I’ll read to the world, read out loud.

Said honey, “dare you howl n’ roar;

Truth is what they abhor—

Look at those hazel eyes,

Cherish the few that weren’t lies..

Just a New life..

What do you see when you pen thoughts down

How do you blink when a tear drop rolls your world round n’ round

Do you stay strong and face the odd

Do you bend, or brave the gush?

May be it’s a new life—You your Lord

Do you speak or spit the truth

About the ones who lie and loot..

Do you cover the rail-road boy

Who gets high on poisoned joy?

Do you stand and brave the odd

Perhaps it’s a new life—you your Lord.

Lord can party, lord can sigh

Lord sulks deep, lord gets high..

You your Lord, your guide your wife

Perhaps it’s just a new life.