Gratification

I see within me, a desire,

To see, to know, to do,

That stimulates action

From this inert body,

And from a subtler mind -

A prompt that comes from a formless entity,

That moves this physique about,

While I stop to marvel at this daily miracle,

I cannot hep but wonder,

What happens within my soul,

When I receive the thing I seek,

I wished to learn and I later did too,

But what changed within I craved to see,

And when I did, I sat, dejected,

For I saw no tangible change,

Neither in the body nor in my mind,

But was it indeed so?

Yes, I am but the same man,

That I'd been before this -

But if I were to ask of me,

As to what I've truly gained,

I see there's space in me now,

A space to freely breathe -

A block that'd stashed my chest,

A desire that pushed me forth,

Is now cleared from the space that'd been,

Now giving me space to swim,

No formula, nor physical law,

Captures the essence that's changed,

Oh be it seeing, or learning,

Or a desire for anything,

It's the quench that matters,

Not fulfillment,

It's just the cleanup of desire,

Oh how I wish there's another way,

To clean my heart of this?

I'd be free from pain,

And even the vain pleasure of gain,

A truly free man indeed.

Written at 8:42pm 29.12.2016 at room. Changes at 3:40pm on 30.12.2016

Cities

It's all land - some fertile, some barren,

Some with civilisation, some without,

Some meadows and lawns,

Others cluttered with buildings.

And then there are facilities,

Some with more, some with less.

What could vary is the tongue spoken, clothes worn,

And the litter and glitter that meet the eye,

But beneath all, what lie are roads and shops and houses,

With people living and breathing the same air,

Their hearts beating as one-

Yet, they draw these boundaries, naming land,

Buying and selling earth like property-

Does man own land or is it otherwise?

Knowing all this, though, they separate soil, even waging wars,

Arguing on whose city is better,

Oh it is all meaningless,

For, upon looking at streets,

Can one even identify,

Which city one stands on?

Written on 12.8,2016 at 12:15am, aero structures lab

The Pupa

Now, for growth, I crawl into my cocoon,
Lying down snugly,
As the portals close,
I must stay here,
Albeit hot,
For the world out there is unbearably cold,
None is my friend and none truly cares,

I must lie here, locked with my fears,
So that when it opens, to reveal a new me,
I have wings that spread,
Letting me fly.

Senses sharpened,
Alert and strong,
I flex my wings that grew,
Behind the darkness that seemed naught,
Unblinking and clear,
I take off into the air,
Never to return to this miserable ground.

7:53pm same building 14.11.2016

Poems Written on Supermoon Day

Perched atop a building yet not,
Shimmering from a pond beneath too,
Pouring forth endless, tranquil light,
Showering me upon me indescribable bliss,
He smiles, shining in all glory,
Giving me peace that none could,
Ridding me of the miseries of life,

Oh who said the moon merely reflects light?
Does he not purify that which is hostile and hot,
Transforming it into a pleasant coolness,
An embrace dear even to the stone-hearted,
And a light known even to the ones born blind,

He's a friend to the lonely,
Giving comfort to the oppressed,
Loved and adored by all,
Not just a celestial orb, but a deity,

Seated upon a heavenly throne.

At 7:28pm solo at lakeside 14.11.2016

A nameless feeling engulfs me,
Stilling my mind, my thoughts,
As I stand, arms open,
Bathing in its splendor,
Its pale light cleanses the soul,
Painlessly ridding me,

Of the nails that pierce my spirit,
My heart slurps as it feasts

On the sumptuous meal of bliss

That it so selflessly serves,

Its carvings add to its lustre,
Proving again and for eternity,
That in imperfection lies beauty,
While retaining its beauty, it defines perfect,
As being thoughtless and silent,
Not sharp or curved,

It hovers in mid space, a celestial sphere,
Imperfectly round, yet contenting,
An orb that foretells not future,
But a one that spreads peace.

On the terrace of the residential building adjoining Sarovar Udyan (Whitehous apaerments?) 7:48pm on 14.11.2016

Song on the unity of India

(To be sung as a Carnatic Ragamalika)

Pallavi

विलसति मम द्रुमो,

लोकेSस्मिन् बहुदेशावने – भारतमिति

Charanam 1

இதுபோல் ஓர் மரம் கண்டதுண்டோ?

அதில் எண்ணற்ற பூக்கனிகள் பூக்க,

மொழிகளின் பூக்கள் விதவிதமாய் மலர,

இம்மண்ணின் மணம் நாள்தோறும் கூடுதே,

Charanam 2

जैसे धर्मों के फल पक जातें,

वो पुरानें के रस में भीग जातें,

आने वालोंको गले लगाके,

नए संस्कृतियों को जनम देतें

Charanam 3

Men and women from patches of land,

Each having different hues of sand,

They all stand, hands held, hearts beating as one,

Preaching the virtue of coexistence to all.

My entry for a contest held at IIT Bombay (Submitted at IIT Bombay's PRO on 6.11.2016)

Credits to my brother, Vijay Ganesh for his insights and suggestions

वाक्यविचारम्

"विद्या ददाति विनयम्" इति कथ्यते, परन्तु एतद्वाक्यम् सत्यम् अस्ति वा, इति कदाचित् चिन्ता वर्तते मयि. अलम् पठित्वा अपि कतिचनमानवाः विनयेन विना वसन्ति। तेषाम् पाण्डित्ये किमपि दोषम् नास्ति, परन्तु सुज्ञाः सन् अपि ते अहङ्कारं पालयन्ति एते जनाः। मया अस्मिन् विषये किञ्चित् विचारम् कृत्वा निशीदितम्, विद्यया सह विनयम् अपि पठनीयम्, इति।

किन्तु विनयम् कथम् पठ्यते? पुस्तकात् वा? न तु! ईदृशम् सुलभम् भवितुम् न शक्यते।

पुस्तकात् अथवा श्रवणेन लब्धम् विनयम् उपधा इव भवति। विनयम् अधिगन्तुम् उदाहरणानि आवश्यकतानि भवन्ति. तदपि सत्सङ्गे एव प्राप्यते।
अतः सत्सङ्गम् कल्याणाय दुर्धरम् अस्ति।

Resolution

The slate is wiped clean again,
Another festival, a new start,
A resolve-inspiring confrontation,
Resulting in a baptism within,
Absolving me of the guilt of past action (bygone),
Cleansing the conscience, turning a leaf,
Planting a mental seed of positivity,

Sometimes eyes must remain in one's self,
And not floating above, perceiving things objectively,
The pristineness they inspire to be dwelt upon,
Imbibed, relished and reveled in,
And while the soul soaks in it,
One welcomes change, embracing it wholly,
Stepping upon fleeting moments of joy,
To rise towards betterment,

They may laugh at my momentary resolve,
Ridicule my jump into action,
They know not but I do,
That I'll make it work this time.