The Falling Maples- Living Unconditionally- Poetry by S.S

The Enchanting Red  (Glimpse of a Rose) ©Shilpa Sandesh In the jarring winters, And the scorching summers, In the dew drops, And the opaque rains; Ever blooming, A radiant sheen, A fighter, a warrior, The enchanting red, Midst the green piques; Like the path of, Burgeon and thrive, Through the bristled woods, Of melancholy and misery; Regardless of setbacks and grief, A motif of cheer and glee, The Enchanting Red!

(c) Shilpa Sandesh Ardent and devout Loyal and committed, Giver always, Denounced a taker, Doomed she is! Sparkling and bubbly, Frolicsome once, Nostalgic and saccharine, Dewey eyed today, Doomed she is! Virtuous, upright, Scrupulous and chaste, Declared debauched, Vicious and depraved, Doomed she is! "I free you today, From all my bounds, He said, We are no more One!" Cold and broken, Lifeless and sterile, Doomed she is! Departed she would be!

(c) Shilpa Sandesh The rapturous splatter, Of glistening rays, A brilliant sun, And the azure sky; The damp rocks, With saline splash, A briny scent, And vigorous wind; Her hair danced, To the tunes of the breeze, She stood, With arms widespread, Embracing the sea, While her soul swam, In the blue sweep; An urge to be lost In the thelassic bliss, A desire to be blown By the brackish gust, She covets to be a seagull, Measuring the highest skies, Is it She, Yearning to mount, Or is it Me, Longing to fly?

(c) Shilpa Sandesh Born self-ruling, Clear and unimpeded, Her soul Was a crystal's reflection; Perspicuous and lucid, Coherent and pure, Her soul Was unclouded and bright, Transparent to everyone's sight; Time passed, and she grew, Into a tender and genial self, An effervescent and blazing spirit, Strings tethered, Emotions developed, Attachments born, Inclinations so strong; Until she met  the wicked souls, masked in the mankind's face, Appearances so real, Fallaciously humble, Foes disguised as friends, Sham and deception, Concealed in Love, Where all seemed true, But all proved pretense, Ersatz and spurious; Downtrodden is her spirit, Pricked and wounded, Her now sterile self, Wandering solitary, In a sequestered desert, The desert of hurt, With scorpions of memories, And sting of desolation, Which has now become, The irrevocable sting!

(c) Shilpa Sandesh A saunter over spines, A halt over embers, The food of thoughts, And splash of disquiet, And Oh Reese is stubborn! A bond, a dedication, A commitment, An assurance, a vow, No conveyance, nil dialogues, And Oh Reese is stubborn! A soul so poignant and tempestuous, Emotionally drained, Expressions refrained, A heart in pain, And Oh Reese is Stubborn! A faggot of notions, Some spoken, some unspoken, Buried love, Harrowed out and showered, And Oh Reese is stubborn!

(c) Shilpa Sandesh Together we stand, Together we glide, Shoulder to shoulder Cheek by jowl, Soaring up, Towards the highest highs; The phenomenon of enlightenment, A convene, a forgather, Where laughter converge, With showers of infinite love; Eagles we are, Pursuing the goals, Our purpose and grail, With boundless fervor, And spreading the fragrance, Of zest and vigor; The zealous spirits, And eager minds, The earnest hearts, Overriding, For the Mt. Success' climb; Fiery, devout, Fervent we stand, Reigning the spheres, Of opulence and glee; We are the TAFSians, Virtuoso and unique, Winging high, In the victory skies!

(c) Shilpa Sandesh Tides are high, And so are the swells, Darker than the darkest, Is the silent night's sky; Life sails, On the tumultuous waters, Of the sea called Annoyance, And the froth of vexation; Aquatics called furor, torment, unrest and nuisance, Swim, surrounding my solitary ship; As the dawn begins Holding the binoculars  Of faith and hope, I look forth; And there I see, The lush green calmness, And a widespread blue tranquility, Where birds called repose, Harmony and comfort, Flew together in flocks; The vibrant flowers called Goodwill, amity, glee and joviality, Scattering the effervescent, And vivacious colors, Of delight and felicity, Euphoria and rapture; Here I come, To bathe in its aura Of satisfaction, To fill my soul, With a never ending respite, I step ahead, And I am reborn, On this Island of Serenity!

(c) Shilpa Sandesh In moments, that are jumbled, Like random pebbles  On the river banks, Like a puzzle of droplets, In smoggy rain; The dreams are woven, Arbitrarily pleached, Like tendrils of the grape vine, Spiraling a solitary branch; Dreams delectable, Elated to the highest heights, Fluttering their vibrant wings, Like butterflies; Guzzling the nectar, Of the blossoms called, happiness and contentment; Her dreams were dreams, Midst darkest shadows, And laughing hearts; The walk was tough, On the thorny paths, A dream but achieved, With endeavor and travail; A reverie, a bubble of fancy And a new dream  becomes a fragment of her woven dreams!

(c) Shilpa Sandesh Her gaze is set, At the wide spread ahead, Lights glimmer, Racing motors on the road, And noises undefined, From far away; But no landscape can collate, With the bruised patches, in her heart; No motors are at par, With the speed of her hastening thoughts, And no clangor as loud, As the shrieks of her caged soul; Blaming is like, Plucking the petals,  of a blossoming flower, To take the blames, Is like being pushed, To walk bare foot on thorns; It's a puzzle, it's a jumble, Her inner self is, Disarrayed, cluttered,  It's a muddle; Those moments are no more, When she was, Besotting to his eyes; When her tears made his eyes wet, When seeing her in pain, His heart ached; She is a reflection, Of the fate's rebound, In the broken mirror; She walks, On the scattered glasses, And Oh! My feet are in blood!

(c) Shilpa Sandesh Your smiles have meant the world to me, Wherein I have lived, whatever the situations be; To see you sad, Crestfallen and doleful, Is like dying while alive; My definition of life, begins with your grin, And ends  On the note of togetherness; I saw tears, In those joyous eyes, And my heart ached, and breathes restrained; Let's pull ourselves, Out of this dungeon, let's be for each other, Let's fall in love again !

(c) Shilpa Sandesh Monotonous at heart, And with a soulless self, She stepped forth, On the city grounds; Days elapsed Like any other day, Moments were lost, in the winds and waves; And one fine day, A leaf broke away, And rapped at her door; Least did she know, It wasn't the leaf, But the gates opening, To the esplanade of love; Oh Senobar! He said, My breathes are entwined with yours, My heart embraces your spirit, You are my reason to smile, Together we shall walk, A thousand miles; Reluctant but wishful, Stepping back, But stepping forth, Senobar held Gresham's hands, And shed the tears, Those shimmering drops, Filled with hope and fear; Oh Senobar! You've won my soul, With you I am whole, In the mystic lands, We shall escape, And over the seas of love, And happiness covered capes, Four fruits of love, We both would raise! And so the winds, Changed their course, Their destinies met, It was a moment of metamorphose, Blis...

(c) Shilpa Sandesh  He is the wind,  Dried leaf I am,  He blows with a thrill,  And a passion uncontrolled,  And I wonder  Where I stood and,  Where I am! 

(c) Shilpa Sandesh Born a free soul, With wings to fly, Bound she stands, Entwined in compromises Tethered are her hands with the strings of liabilities, Muddled are her steps, in the lashes of limits and boundaries; She loved once , with all her heart, The tenderness and fondness, that's doomed today; She smiles when she's sad, And cries when happy; The tiny wonder, Is her sole sustenance, All that she has won, as the fruit of love; An emotional fool, And destiny's blunder, She calls herself, The hell's wonder; She craves for that warmth, that unconditional love, A whim for those vows, a desire for that embrace, And, In the hands of time, A puppet she is, In the fate's haze!

© Shilpa Sandesh, And she is here, At last, Ruffling waters, Waves after waves Frilling and flouncing, The white froth, Washing and splashing her feet; Her flowery attire, Dancing to the tunes, Of the humid breeze; Setting sun, The orange and the pink, Partly adorned, In patches of clouds, Some grey and some white; She steps forth, The saline bliss, Caressing her tender silhouette, Reaching towards her waist, Like the Goddess of sensuality, Wondrous and breathtaking, She looked; But, Her eyes sought, for his footprints On the sand; And her body, yearned, to be in his embrace!

 © Shilpa Sandesh, Beads of her thoughts, vigorous and profound; Entwined in the string, Of her poetry; Sometimes uncanny and bizarre, At times prudent and mature; This is her, Or is this me?

 © Shilpa Sandesh, Oh Brother I say, My pen would one day, Would splatter its ink, On paper, Into beauteous words, A poem on you! My dear little sister, he says, I am not among those thieves that you can know and write, I am among those cats, That you ought to envision, and scrawl; Imaginations run, And I envisage, My brother you are, My teacher, My preacher, My guardian angel, The bearer of courage, My comfort, my solace, A support that liberates me, From every stumble; You are humble, You are meek, Your heart is gentle, Encrusted in, A tougher shield; Oh little one he says, You reduce me to puddles, I wish rains change, to a downpour, So you do not see my tears, Breaking banks like the Ganges! My dearest brother, those tears are precious, Priceless as pearls, Let them not break The perimeters, Or I would get shattered, I would be washed away; You have been through enough, You have observed a lot, It's time to rest, It's time ...

 © Shilpa Sandesh, Tramping through the woods that be, The path I stride on, Diverges ahead of me; A loud voice I hear, The first lane proclaimed, 'Come, saunter forth, I am the trail, Of happiness you dream' Louder promulgates the other byway, 'Come, tread onto me, I am the course of struggles, that He has set, in your destiny' I stood aghast, In a dilemma that be, Whether to relinquish And quit, Or to traipse on, And take my chances! My heart yelled, For a facile gaiety, Mind howled, 'Exultation lacking struggle, without any scrambles or stumbles, is ephemeral, it's cursory and fugitive' And so there was, no more predicament, No more muddling, And I chose to walk, On the path of struggles!

 © Shilpa Sandesh, My eyes rested on a little child, A rustic self, and a bundle of delight, Exuberant and euphoric; Curious, agog, inquisitive, the tiny tot bent down on his knees, Seeking and striving to envisage, what the billy was doing! Oh sweet child! That is but a reflection, An image  Of your mother and you; She, who has nurtured you, with her milk, with her blood, with her sweat, leaving aside, her sleeps and her rest; Oh sweet child! Let your innocence be forever, Let that novelty be forever, Let those glittering eyes Be filled with demure forever, Let not the world outside, Bury the purity of your heart, Of your beauty inside; And I pray for that One Spirit, God, personified in mother, Be always with you, Be at your side forever!

Playing solo in this unpretendable game, I have forgotten what it is to win ; but I am no exception, I grin, I blink and begin ; stakes are high,  so is the rising fate's mist ; this game of Life,  is sometimes about taking the risks.

 © Shilpa Sandesh, Because I love you, I don't mind being patient, Because I love you, I don't mind taking naivety, Because I love you, You are all that I ever think, Because I love you, I have begun dreaming again, Because I love you, I have learnt to live with the pain, Because I love you, I have become compassionate, Because I love you, I am who I am !

 © Shilpa Sandesh, Those dungeons of sorrow, And the darkness of ill fate, The fowl whiff of burning hopes, And those blazing hollow lands; Exhausted and stressed, Trying arduously to strut, Her destiny drags her back. What are those glittering somethings? She espied some glimmers, How happy must she be! Running breathlessly, Hastening wheezily, To get hold of, those glistening objects. She perceived them to be, the stars of happiness, Least did she know, Those were the memories, the remnants of which lay scattered; The impressions so beguiling, So beauteous, So gleaming, That even the pieces, lay twinkling all over! 'Oh! Where are you?' Says she, 'Hold my hand' She pleaded, 'Pull me out of this fury' She cried, But her voice was unheard. Repressed and downtrodden, by her destiny, She laughed hysterically, 'I am no princess, and there is no Savior, No prince of the distant lands, Would come to rescue me This fiery...

 © Shilpa Sandesh, Life is a dawning, A track, an esplanade, The orbit of which, Is bizarre and inscrutable; We are but, a billion planets, revolving around the kernel, Called fate; When the radiance and blaze, dwindles and evanesce, It is the echo, of twilight; Of the arrow, of nemesis, of dole; But ache and agony, are just other words; As promptly we hear, the jingle, the melody, Of the approaching dawn; The glimmer of merriment, Making its way, through the doom, Illuminating the promenade, And remits a beauteous note, That, Life is not perverse forever Life is not always thorns Life is but, Patience!

 © Shilpa Sandesh, In the unsinkable stillness, Of the winter night, When there is nothing but, Silence to be heard; When solitude becomes the sole consort, When heart is in forage, for conversation, a colloquy, But mind seeks quietude, The dilemma deepens; The perplexion intensifies, as to which one to embrace and which one to release; Suddenly the tranquillity breaks, Unconsciousness of the self shatters, By a grievous cry, The shrill of a young boy, Perhaps, A sufferer of dexterity, Of fate's wrath, Of destitution, Of inadequacy and dearth, An unparented, lone child; Oh! what pain has the destiny showered upon that innocent heart, Her innerself cries, Shrieks and bellows, She fathoms her heart's desire, Runs and embraces  the tiny bundle of innocence, And so she becomes His nurturer, His protector, His mother, She is his Messiah!

© Shilpa Sandesh, Everything and everyone, Have turned their faces away; Everything and everyone, Seems desolate and miserable; Melancholic or euphoric, Every milestone covered, On this rough and bouncy ride Of Life, Is becoming a sequence  and a progression; Hopes are fading, Fascination and charm  are vanishing; The direction in which, the boat of her life sails, Is now tough for her  to reason or comprehend. And an escape, a rebirth, a salvation, Is all that she needs!

© Shilpa Sandesh, Senses are not in unison with her At this very minute, As if her heart is yearning Every moment for him! Whims are such, At this very minute, As if her administering heart, Is plotting to steal him! She is here, But she is not here, Just the bodies are apart, But their souls are one! As she divinates his sadness, Her eyes are wet with tears; She is smiling  for no apparent reason , But thinks, May be her smiles, Force his lips to smile too! She conceals her gloom, Behind the veil of fake grins; And bury her tears  In those sham twinkling beams; All but  For his smiles!

 © Shilpa Sandesh Why has mere understanding, Become a task  Taken tough to be accomplished? So much that the promises once done All seem hollow! Something is amiss Something seems to be slipping away From her tender grip; Slithering away like sand, As much she tightens her clutch, She loses even what she has! No one has ruled It, No one can question Its plan, It is the Time, Time is but just the sand!

 © Shilpa Sandesh Dangling between the truth, And what seemed to be the truth, She wonders where she stands today! Confused with the love, And what seemed to be the love, She wonders where she stands today! Adoring the life in illusion, And disowning the reality, She wonders where she stands today! Looking at the fading verity And the gleaming lies, She wonders where she stands today! Soon her dilemma would clear, And a bright light she would see, And no more demented, Would her wondering self be!

 © Shilpa Sandesh, This soul never lacked the quiescence, But nothing can compare, the storm inside it today, Please don't perceive, That I have lost my stability, It is but, A tempest ushered by You! Why does one turn a blind eye, Towards keeping the promises, Why does one forget, to render the vows! It is but too late now, Emotions are sterile in this heart, What was once love, Has now become a duty, A liability to walk along, To wherever this road takes; Who knows what turn, Morrow my life might take. Please do not repent, When you loose me forever, Since Oh my love, That prospect, You have lost! I am sorry, But I cannot assure you, The lost love and fondness, Even if I want; For a stone too cracks, If hit repeatedly, I am just a heart that loved! Never did you care once, Whenever your saw of mean words, Cut through this soul of mine! Those are not just the scratches, But wounds that never woul...

 © Shilpa Sandesh, In the deepest depths  Of this subconscious self of mine, Where this heart Curls up and cries, Where this cuddled up soul is Petrified and frightened I think of you! When every tear questions me 'Why did you call me again?' Sliding down my cheeks When those nameless drops  vanish with the sobs, I think of you! When I fall short of words, And no time is enough, And just when I regain balance, I stumble again and fall, That hurt self retained, And I think of you, I think of you!

 © Shilpa Sandesh, It was a day, like everyday, It was an hour, like every hour, A moment, like any moment; And then came a flash, The dart of fate, Filled with the poison, Of animosity and hatred, Covered in the venom of inhumanity; And in the blink of an eye, All was ruined, Hearts were shattered, Lives were wrecked. He who sees it all, Has his ways, To make the cruel ones repay! May the living hearts, have the strength to bear the pain, For if our sadness prevails, The smiles of the gone, would fade! Rest in peace those loving souls, Who left for heavenly abode that day, They look upon us from up there, So let us wipe our tears, And pray for that day, When the cruelty would bow down, For mercy from Humanity ! Amen!

 © Shilpa Sandesh, A quest and a hunt, This life is a crusade where every step I take Defines an ardous voyage. A search in pursuit of happiness, trailing for peace, and that, Much awaited quietitude; Imaginations run, And I find myself, In a beauteous illusion. Solitary I sat, At the window of a cabin, Midst the dense whispering woods, The weather so misty and wet; I watch the drops of rain, Fall one after the other, and I wonder, If that descend of every dribble Is a sign of nemesis! But suddenly the heart shouts and states That this downpour is not the degeneration, These are those blest droplets, Whish would annihilate the deepest fears, Some engraved sorrows and frozen tears. And then the mirage resumes, And so begins the dwelling; This mind reading the message Of murky grey clouds above, Of a patiently crawling snail, Of the thickening mist, And of the prevailing silence; And so I find this oblivion, More beseeching than reality !

© Shilpa Sandesh The gleaming faces And hearts so pure, The intellectual brains In her illusionary lore, The sadness that rules, Her heart and words Are received by you all With so much worth. When  In the brightest of the days, and darkest of the nights Her inner self has been, overflowing with thoughts, You read her words, With so much worth. When Ink and paper Were her sole companions, Expressions hid her feelings, and deepest worries, The times when she was, Full of fury, You read her words, With so much worth. She thanks you all, For this companionship of yours Which she treasures, In the deepest depths of her heart.

© Shilpa Sandesh Clouds are roaring....  This tumultuous mind is soaring...  Into limitless thoughts....  Of me and him....  Random grins....  On flashes that spin....  Awaiting to be lost....  Forever in him! 

 © Shilpa Sandesh, 16/08/2014 Treading on the path of, Perilous and sturdy existence, Mimicking beauty, a bundle of joy, A bag full of courage, And lips that always smile, I am every woman! Today I fly, To the highest sky, Bequeathing all the obstacles, Which strive to impede my course; Shunning all the devout, I traverse the hardest territories, I am every woman! Today I rule, Greatest of the nations, Aiming to eliminate The gender bias and the fraternal prejudice, Towering high in this fiery world, I am every woman! I am the maker, I bear, I breed and I nurture; I aspire and carry with audacity, The purpose of my life; Dare not challenge my modest ways, Dare not trespass my humble abode, If I can be servile, so can I be a conqueror. For I am the voice Of every woman, Unpretentious and prepossessing, Fearless and pure, Every woman is me and I am every woman!

© Shilpa Sandesh Life seems like a love song, which I sing to the rhythm of my breaths; Your adoration for me are my notes, And my yearning for you, the chords. Life is like dense woods, Where I am lost, in search of you; I hear your soft whisper, your warm breaths touching my ear, Guiding me to the realms of love, And I feel smitten by you. Life is like a maze, And I am a river, flowing anxiously, riffling through the ups and downs, scrabbling about my sea; And when I'll meet you, that moment would be, The end of my Journey.

© Shilpa Sandesh Every morning, I open my eyes, I see you smile at me; Your eyes so beautiful, Flowing with love, And a heart so generous, Filled with kindness; Oh Mother! You are sweet and fair, I feel your need everywhere; When I am sad, You make me smile, And you never complain, If I wake you up at night; All this to say, I love you Mom, Forever and always!

© Shilpa Sandesh A call for peace or a shriek for help; A need for escape, With an urge to yell. Life surprises sometimes, With the blows of misunderstandings; And we keep trying, Only to be left with some more disbelief. They say time heals even deepest of the wounds, But time is all, we refrain to give. Faith, respect and love, are all but fragments of an illusion; Which we refuse to recognize, And without implementation, they mean nothing. Care for the one we love, is worth while they live; Who knows what lies ahead , for tomorrow, Leaving one with nothing, but repentance for life!

© Shilpa Sandesh In the stillness Of the summer noon, A shrill startles these ears. The pain pierces through, Like a sword; The eyes are blurred with tears, Can the cry of a heart, Be so loud, she wonders! Then from nowhere,comes suddenly A faint ray of hope, Crystal clear droplets of happiness, And she opens her arms, To embrace the joy of love. She feels alive and smiles. And then comes a blow, The blow of reality, That scatters everything; She gathers the broken pieces, And puts them together, Only to find, Memories full of cracks, What's lost can never be regained, And pain becomes her new joys.

 © Shilpa Sandesh, 19/06/2014 Immersed in endless thoughts, This mind has become a wanderer; These eyes search for light of peace, In the widespread sea ahead. The fragrance of its waters, That lingers around me, Makes me crave more, To be at the sea. From North to South, And from West to East, To sail across the oceans, Steadily, without any heist. Oh deepest depths, My heart lies with you; I miss that rage of the sea, Its tumultuous waters And the lightening struck sky; And I miss, The islands, one after the other, Losing myself into their unique beauty; And I miss The seagulls flying past, And the tunas swimming On either sides of the ship; At times the school of whales, Far at a distance, Or the pretty dolphins, In their playful self; And I miss Exploring the distant lands, Their varied cultures and people, Interesting languages and ethnicities; And I miss The restlessness to reach some land, Having sailed for days together, And that restl...

© Shilpa Sandesh They say sorrows are temporary, But so is the happiness. I feel touched by divinity, Through your words, Through your expressions, Through your faith and Through your love. As I begin to get immersed, In that sea of delightful warmth; As I begin to lose myself, In that heavenly fragrance; As I begin to drown, Into the depths of blissful love; As I begin to get besotted, With your affection for me; The axe of reality Suddenly falls upon me, And life begins to seem, Like a strenuous duty! Take me out of this dilemma Say that you love me, Take me with you!

© Shilpa Sandesh The moments we spend apart, This love keeps us strong; And it makes me overjoyed, Seeing you after so long. For your heart, My heart has grown so fond; That nothing can compare, With our precious bond. You are the sun, And I am your rays; You are the star, And I am your sky. Without you, every moment Is like years lived in solitude, With you, even a life Would be lesser than a moment. I pray to Him, To grant me, Countless moments of togetherness And innumerable lives with you.

© Shilpa Sandesh Sometimes A moment is all we need, To express ourselves, To show that love, Or to shed that anger. Sometimes Even years seem less, The life seems short, The days seem small, And the nights seem long. Sometimes The heart longs For the unachievable, The soul yearns, For something we ought to fight for. Sometimes It's nothing, But it's everything, It's all that matters, But isn't ours!

© Shilpa Sandesh Our relationship is like A blossoming flower And a newly sown seed. It asks not much But our time, It needs not much But our words, It calls for That priceless devotion, It nourishes by the manure of Love , trust and Faith in each other. These petals Are our moments together But delicate they are Just like a feather. Let's both be the gardeners For this flower of love, For today and forever.

© Shilpa Sandesh This day, today, It would be my reason to rejoice, If you'd be by my side, For it will be the day, When I was born for you. But it wouldn't be special, Without you being with me, For it will be just one more day, Closer to the end. My smiles are with you, You carry my laughs, My soul follows you, Wherever you are. I live with you, I breathe with you, I am your shadow, I am nothing without you!

© Shilpa Sandesh Beholden seem the moments When we were together, In the moon lit nights And cosy weather. We walked so far My hand in yours, Our eyes met And the time froze. It gets tough When you're not here with me, Engrossed I seem In your thoughts that be. So much to tell So much to say, It's the revival of those love filled moments For which I pray!

© Shilpa Sandesh How I wish,  this heart was a mirror;  its pieces would determine, how much it is broken;  How I wish,  these eyes were clouds, it would rain and tell, how much they cried; How I wish I were the sky, so you would count the stars to know, how much love I have for you to show!

© Shilpa Sandesh When trees shed their leaves in autumn This heart withdraws From its happy state When flowers blossom and are vibrant This soul rejuvenates And gathers all the pearls of joy When the chilling breeze blow And the winter's snow is all I see This innerself stiffens with Memories that be When silence rules The summer noon A drop of sweat flows down the forehead Covering the tears welling from My eyes When it's humid and wet With the rain showers The pain and sadness Wash away And I am ready For a new journey Of numerous nights and days!