The Ocean's Waves

The waves of the ocean come tumbling,
neither grumbling, nor mumbling, but roaring.
Yet, the ocean's roar is more soothing,
than the soft voice of a friend consoling.

Some prefer the warmth of sun-kissed sands,
some the shade of palm tree fronds,
yet some prefer the cloak of darkness,
and some the facade of happiness.

These quiet companions may bring some peace,
yet the ocean's roar puts me at ease.
Compassion and sympathy it cannot pretend,
no matter what you do, it remains your friend.

Your silence it understands,
much more than words.
Relieved of its burden,
your soul can join the birds.

With the receding waves,
retreat your turbulent thoughts.
I hope the ocean brings smiles,
to many more distressed hearts.

The Lonely Girl's Charm

As I skipped down the country road,
I met a young girl, her head bowed.
Neither out of silent respect,
nor giving in to the breeze,
But as if a huge weight weighed,
putting her out of ease.
So stunned me this sight, my bundle of flowers dropped.
Shaken out of her reverie, the pretty girl too stopped.

To recover my flowers, she immediately bent,
as I watched the colours nature had lent.
Her skin fair and her hair black,
And her eyes, I felt, would never sparkle lack.
When she stood up and I through words began to stumble,
I noticed that though her eyes were bright, they lacked sparkle.

When hesitantly, the reason for trouble, I enquired,
I saw that she shivered, though it was sunny quite.
When I began to apologise, out of alarm,
she whispered "loneliness has me in her charm"
continued her words, "like a lowly fiend,"
said she, "have I been deserted by a friend"
"Neither do I sleep, nor see pleasant dreams,
nor does gaiety and laughter bubble, like yonder stream."
Elaborate she would not, nor anything more would she tell
yet I glimpsed in her silent but expressive face, her hell.

Patting her shoulder, like an actress in a mime,
silently my eyes expressed "Give it some time."
Her gratitude she expressed in a manner silent
She proceeded her way and I mine, no longer jubilant.

Now at home, in front of me, her head still bowed
In the looking glass, is the young pretty girl of yonder country road.

Why do I try to please everyone?

Before a very long time,
she was the queen supreme.
There were no rivals to her claim
no obstacles in her path to her aim.
Her every wish was always fulfilled
every unspoken want an urgent command.
Never did a frown mar the emperor's face
she was the victor of every race.

Suddenly the smiles began to fade,
she was unable to understand the cause
Confused, she worked harder and harder
to bring back the smiles but
though the years have passed away
she was not able to bring them back.

Every single thing she did was wrong,
every small mistake equal to a crime.
One mark less was like a shame
she became the black sheep in their fame.

Confused, she worked even more harder
the efforts she made even higher
She agreed to do each and every job,
thinking that would make it better
tried hard to do everything well
thinking it would bring back the lost smiles.

But nothing worked out her way,
refusing jobs became a nightmare.
Agreeing to do them even a big one
yet she never said "no" to anyone.
Be it a friend or a foe
her answer was never a "NO"!

On and on went this habit,
she never realised what went wrong
never refusing a job either
even if she knew she couldn't do it.
Till the day the question was popped
"Why do you try to please everyone?"

The query came as a big blow
it did hurt her a bit, but
it was the truth, she knew.
Yet, she stood rooted to the spot.
The path behind her was quite clear
yet fog and mist obscured the way ahead!

Now that she was here
which way should she go?
Whom should she ask and
what should she do now?

You, my friend, asked the question
now you must provide the answer
Tell me what to do and how
and give me the courage to do it too!

Loneliness and Happiness

Loneliness may be best friend to sadness,
but he is no enemy to happiness.
He may sometimes hurt the heart,
but sometimes he is like a lip-smacking tart.
When to protect our feelings, we build a fort,
the thought of loneliness is a great comfort.

Like some, he does not falsely console,
he is there, even where you are deserted by every soul.
neither does he tease, nor offer needless advice,
neither glorifies your virtues, nor points out vice.

When you are sad and upset, he is visibly there
even when you are happy, he is still there.
The only difference is that, filled with happy gratitude,
you call him not loneliness, but blissful Solitude.