Poetic genius

I found a priceless treasure today, all thanks to the cleaning up that mom made me do (so I guess I should actually be thankful to her, instead of cribbing about all the 'child labour'...)

This old treasure is a thin little pocket diary sans its cover... the pages have yellowed, and I can't quite place it's date, except that its atleast 15 years old. In a very bad handwriting, it has in it, a poem scrawled in ink... without further preamble, let me just present it to you.

Bewakoof Prajakta

Ek ladki thi Miss Prajakta

Na usse tha kuchh aata jaata

Waise usse marathi ka period tha bhaata

Specially jab teacher hoti Mrs. Nivedita

Uska har ek joke hota tha flop

Phir bhi kehti 'I'm top'

Uski bewakoofi ka na tha ek bhi stop

Intelligence ka na ugta uske brain mein crop

Poets ne usspar poetry banaii

Phir bhi uske brain par bewakoofi thii chhaaii

Woh karti bas apni badhai

Aakhir ek din uski bewakoofi rang laaii

Ek din shuru kiya usne doosron ko kaatna

Shukr hai nahin chaha kisi ko chaatna

Yehi dukh humein hai doosron ko baantna

Log uske liye lage naamon ko chhaatna

Koi kehta woh hai crocodile

Koi kehta woh maarti hai crow ki style

Main kehti hoon uski hai bandar jaisi smile

Usski report banati hoon main file by file

Kabhi na hoga iss poem ka khaatma

Kyunki bewakoofi na chhodegi uski aatma

Yehi hai iss poem ka climax

Jiske liye loongi main sabse tax

I kid you not, people. This is for real. I know this was written sometime back in school, but darned if I can remember who wrote it. I admit with some regret that the handwriting is not mine. I have a sneaking suspicion though, that this might be the work of the over-fertile imaginations of more than one mind, and that the writing merely belongs to the person who put it to paper.

Weren't we just perfectly horrid when we were kids? And very happy being so, if I recall correctly... I remember vividly how we teased and harassed the subject of this poetry, Prajakta, and feel a little hot behind the ears about it, at the moment. I called up Meenal to read this out loud to her, soon as I finished laughing my head off about it (so that I could begin again, of course). We both agreed that we were wicked and horrible and completely hateful to her, the poor thing, but we couldn't really help cracking up over this! This is a very insufficient apology, and one that I'm sure will never reach the intended recepient, and I hope, also unnecessary and that she has forgotten and forgiven all this!

Does anyone remember who wrote this? This is an open appeal to all the other girls to tell me, if they happen to read this and remember anything...

Chasing the Clouds

I have been away from here for too long. I kept telling myself that I was posting, that I was keeping the blog ‘alive’… but when I read through the previous few posts, I knew I was kidding myself. Not one of them is my thought, not one of them, me. And today I was filled with this intense desire to write… write about? I didn’t know then when this feeling hit, and I had to keep it at bay long enough to get through the day’s work and get home where I’d have some privacy, and I don’t know now, when I’m sitting in front of my PC. But write - I want to.

Oh hell, I might as well be truthful. I tried my best to drown this unrest in me. I watched TV, I called up friends, but I could concentrate on neither. I knew then that I had to write today… I have been to so tied up in things for the past few weeks, that I’ve barely acknowledged this side of me, barely remembered the pleasure I get through writing. There’s a goal to achieve and work to be done, and the flowers can wait till next year, and the music must hold on too. Today, I must run, and not pause to ask what I am running for, lest I lose the reason to run. And to stop running is to get run-over and to accept defeat. Right now, anything but defeat….

But maybe today I can pause? To close my eyes and lose myself in the things I enjoy, if not to ask what I’m running for? Surely, that much I can risk… I struggle to find an answer… I wish I knew. I wish I could decide one way, without feeling guilty about abandoning the other. All my life, I’ve wanted to avoid these guilt traps, for I know them for what they are. And in spite of being so aware of their guile, I’ve only rarely been able to avoid them. It’s not easy. And yet, if I am to find pure pleasure in anything – success or leisure, I must rise above them.

My mind is running amok, like a calf released from its pen after being tied down for a long long time. Very like the calf, it’s chasing the clouds, never concentrating on one… a thought comes, and the mind follows it for a while, till it sees another more interesting one, and it abandons the first… and the second is soon deserted for a third and then a fourth and a fifth… till I don’t even remember where I began and what I started out to say. There’s so much that has been waiting to be said, it’s quite a revelation! Maybe there’s still hope for this blog… maybe I haven’t run out of things to say!

And some more...

There are two essential rules to management. One, the customer is always right; and two, they must be punished for their arrogance.

"All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher."--Ambrose Bierce

Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.

More smartass status messages

Status messages series contd...

"Humanity is just a cracked egg. And the omelet stinks"

Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure

Life's Little Instructions - Part II

Begin each day with some of your favorite music.

Once in a while, take the scenic route.

Send a lot of Valentine cards.

Sign them, 'Someone who thinks you're terrific.'

Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice.

Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.

Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.

Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later.

Make someone's day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you.

Become someone's hero.

Marry only for love.

Count your blessings.

Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home.

Wave at the children on a school bus.

Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.

Don't expect life to be fair.

Awesome status messages

People frequently come up with some cool, kick-ass status messages on Gtalk... and they deserve to be documented.

Here's what Aditi has to say today:

Men are living proof that women can take a joke.

And according to Shreerang:

Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must live...

Life's Little Instructions - Part I

I received this in my email today. Its reminded me of a lot of things that I had pushed to the back of my mind, in the rush and hum-drum of daily routine... and instead of forwarding it, I'm posting it here, for all to read and enjoy, and to gently remind our lost minds of the little things that make a difference...

Life's Little Instruction Manual:

Have a firm handshake.

Look people in the eye.

Sing in the shower.

Own a great stereo system.

If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.

Keep secrets.

Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday .

Always accept an outstretched hand.

Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.

Whistle.

Avoid sarcastic remarks.

Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 per cent of all your happiness or misery.

Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.

Lend only those books you never care to see again.

Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have.

When playing games with children, let them win .

Give people a second chance, but not a third .

Be romantic.

Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.

Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.

Be a good loser.

Be a good winner.

Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.

When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.

Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.

Keep it simple.

Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.

Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.

Live your life so that your epitaph could read, No Regrets

Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did.

Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.

Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.

Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes.

Wait for Part II of Life's Little Instruction Manual.

Share any tips for living a full life, that you might have discovered.

I'm Ranting

Its official. After months of deciding to focus on only the good, I'm ranting.

Counting your blessings is good. And venting steam makes it easier... Nothing like a good old bitchy rant, to get the load off your chest, I say. Clears the way for the good things in life.

So do go read my rant at Rant Factory. It's Soumitra's blog, and he's been uncharacteristically kind by adding me as a member of his blog. Of course, after I informed him that I'd posted my first rant, he said he'd go check if it's good enough to be allowed to remain. I hastily did a Ctrl+ A and a Ctrl+C, while throwing back some not so nice remarks at him. My post has remained, but whether that's because it's 'good enough', or because my threats worked, is anyone's guess...

Maybe you could tell? Go check out Rant Factory...

Kiss

On Manjiri's request



Kissing earth,
...Sun beyond my reach...
I've fallen...




I'll try to do better next time..

Loyalty Bonus?

This is an actual conversation that happened between me and a sales rep who called me up, trying to sell a credit card.

Me: Hello

Sales Rep: Is this Miss Rashmi?

Me: Yes.

SR: Hello Ma'm. I'm calling from Standard Chartered Bank. Can take a few minutes of your
time?

Me: Is this about some credit card?

SR: Yes Ma'm. Actually, we're offering you a...

Me: (cutting in) I had a Stan C card earlier, but I returned it because I got some really bad service. I don't want another Standard Chartered card.

SR: Hmmpphh! We're not even going to give you a credit card! Standard Chartered is a good company! Thank you and good bye!

Click.

My jaw literally dropped. I've touched new lows with this conversation...

I only hope, for the poor girl's sake that the call was not recorded. But I wonder - would Stan C offer her a loyalty bonus?

Beemar

Unke dekhe se jo aa jaatee hai muNh par raunaq
Woh samajhte haiN ke beemaar ka haal achcha hai


A sher by Ghalib that I recently read and fell in love with...

Medicine, anyone?

Gloom is an infectious disease, deadlier than cheer.

I need a doctor.

The Candle

I watch the candle flicker. I like looking at the cheerful flame, burning so happily. It is one of those ordinary candles I bought at the supermarket for power failures such as todays. It’s the last one left and I’ve placed it in the middle of the room in the hope that it will give light to the entire room.

It’s a bright flame, but rather small. Come to think of it, it does look like its trying too hard to live up to my expectations. The small centre table is brightly lit up, but everywhere else in the room, murky shadows lurk. As the little flame sways with the breeze, the shadows take on grotesque forms and I watch them fascinated. For a few moments, I managed to forget my little candle and remain transfixed to the eerie dance that is going on, on the wall. One moment, there are monsters in a devilish dance, the next instant, they have been replaced by the sea and its waves.

As the shadows grow longer, I turn back to look at my lonely light. It’s more than half gone now. The wick is much longer and so is the flame. With tiny sputtering noises, it burn brighter than before. It seems to be burning with its entire might, with all it’s got and is fast getting shorter. The shorter it gets, the brighter gets the flame, almost as if the candle is making a last pitch at banishing the shadows from the corners.

How does it feel to be standing up all alone and fighting, I wonder? To be surrounded by monsters that are advancing even as you fight? When the candle glows brighter, the shadows decrease somewhat, but I think it knows the demons are only biding their time. Consumed by its own passion, the brave little thing fights harder, even when it’s fast nearing its end. The demons are secretly amused, I think, by the little candle’s desperate determination and tease it, sometimes advancing, sometimes retreating. The candle just burns on.

There’s less than a quarter left now and I somehow can’t bear the thought of watching the flame die slowly. Leaning forward, I snuff out my own flame and watch the darkness close in...

Happy Birthday...

...to me!

Yes, it's my birthday today. Yes, I've turned another year older. 25, to be precise... So that means, I've already lived more than a quarter of my life! Ouch!

So what is it that makes me want this day to be magical? Its just another day, isn't it? What's the big deal about having lived for one more year? Or is it about having survived one more year? What difference does it make anyway, whether its 14th March, or 15th march or 16th march?

I don't really know. But there's something... something that makes me expect something extraordinary today. For no reason other than that its my birthday today.

Every year, I wonder what is going to happen on my birthday. I wait for it almost like a ten year old does. Will there be any surprises? Will I get any special treats? Will someone send me flowers? Will there be a party? I scarcely admit all of this to myself, but I know I wait for something magical to happen every year. Something that will make me feel like a princess (sic)!

Of course, as the years pass, and I see more and more birthdays, my expectations go lower and lower... but my hopes don't. Only my way of admitting those hopes changes. Earlier, I'd honestly hope for a surprise party, or a gift that I'd waited for a long time, or a home delivered bouquet of flowers... anything - anything out of the ordinary. Now, I tell myself not to. But of course, I still do! And when nothing as big as what I'd want happens, somewhere inside I feel like a complete idiot for having waited so eagerly.

The whole things is quite idiotic, of course. By any standards, I always have a good birthday. I'm usually at home with my parents, or with close friends. There's generally a small party, and of course there are gifts.. and those who are not with me call me up. And like every year, that is how it was today also. It's been a good day.

But I'm still waiting.... maybe next year...?

Drawn..

A white winged beauty
soars, swoops low, drawn in madness
to rippling mirrors





I wish I had a camera when I saw this....