Alka Dwivedi

I am reposting one of my old poems. The idea of reposting this poem germinated yesterday, the Valentine’s Day. But I resisted posting it on that grand day.
Music floating in the air,
Whispering voices
enveloping me,
Fizz of dainty wine,
Playing on my tongue,
Transporting me
to a different planet,
Not at the happening restaurant
Of town.
They promised a slice of […]

Newspapers showing
Expectant faces,
Fearful faces,
Peeping out of windows.
As if asking,
Office hours had JUST begun
But how could life be over?
Suddenly, definitely, precisely
And clinically for everyone?
Expectant faces,
Fearful faces,
As if asking
We were just balancing
The morning coffee in one hand,
And files in another,
But how could life be over?
A man made lightening struck,
From the sky
To plunge everything
And everyone in the eternal […]

This poem is not written by me. But its for me.
The stars in your eyes
The blooms in your smile
Vindicate why I was born
They make life worthwhile
The purest of the pure
The strongest of the strong
Your love is for me
A bliss lifelong
You give form to reality
You define beauty in your ways
You bring me back to […]

When I had seen this image in my newspaper, I was deeply distrubed. Even till this date, whenever I remember the incident, everything just stop within me.
=================
Newspapers showing
Expectant faces,
Fearful faces,
Peeping out of windows.
As if asking,
Office hours had JUST begun
But how could life be over?
Suddenly, definitely, precisely
And clinically for everyone?
Expectant faces,
Fearful faces,
As if asking
We were just […]

“My friend, tell me what’s the matter?
What is the secret of your non-stop chatter?”
“Can’t you detect a thing?
I will be wearing a wedding ring.
Today ladke wale are coming to see me
And soon I will be flying free.
Come on, let’s go to the beauty parlor
Soon I will be having my own harbor.”
Barely concealing my disgust,
I asked, […]

I was cribbing and cursing
Everything.
The weather, the concrete jungle
The lack of flora and fauna.
I was silently grieving for
My loss of
space, people and self-respect,
patch of greenery,
my pond, my trees, my sky!
I never acquainted a place,
Where sky was visible in
Ugly patches.
You have to travel extra mile
For your share of sunlight.
I always thought
These were gifts of nature
Available to […]

His arms encircle me,
I feel like a pearl enclosed in a shell.
It seems the ship,
Has finally reached its destination.
I put my face against his chest,
Loving the feel of
His heartbeats,
Seemingly firm, steady & dependable.
I lift my face to receive,
His kiss.
A voice whispers,
Have you forgotten,
Ships never stay at one place?
Journey is their destination.
You fool,
Thinking of a transient […]

My (old) poem is a day late.
=============================================
Expectant faces,
Fearful faces,
Peeping out of windows.
Office hours had JUST begun
But how could life be over?
Suddenly, definitely, precisely
And clinically for everyone.
We were just balancing
The morning coffee in one hand,
And files in another?
A lightening struck,
To plunge everything
And everyone in darkness.
Would we melt together
With concrete and mortar?
Was it our destiny
To be one […]

I see this plant,
Made up of non natural fibers,
When I switch on the light,
It starts spreading its beauty.
People call it a fancy lamp,
But it�s my nylon tree.
I plant it in an electric socket,
Instead of soil.
When the connection is exact,
It sparkles and circulates
Romantic dim lights,
Lulling me into a sedative slumber.
Last night,
I had trouble sleeping.
I looked up […]

Showering his transitory love
On anyone,
Who catches his fancy,
For a while.
Methodical enough,
To divide a whole into
A pair of Lips,
Whose touch captivates him.
Another whole into
A pair of Eyes,
Which enchants him.
Another whole into
Brains,
Whose intellect baffles him.
Another whole into
36-24-36,
He cannot get enough of IT!
Another whole into
A pair of globes,
Those tempting lumps
Drive him wild!
Very innocently
He says,
My body belongs
To anyone,
Who has […]

I have learnt to talk like an American.
I have learnt to laugh like an American.
I have learnt to greet like an American.
I have learnt to listen to American songs.
I have learnt to drink their drinks.
I have learnt to eat American food.
I have learnt to term that bland McDonald’s burger as “cool”.
Totally disregarding opinion of my […]

I am flying high;
The clouds,
Hanging over my roof,
Entice me to a dance.
The summer breeze,
Caresses me to insanity.
The brilliance of sun,
Invites me to compete with its magnitude.
The moon offers,
Tranquility to my turbulent soul.
The grand banyan tree,
Seems impartial in donating shelter.
I have broken my wings;
The clouds,
Hanging over my roof
Make me burst into tears.
The summer breeze,
Takes undue liberties […]

Music floating in the air,
Whispering voices
enveloping me,
Fizz of dainty wine,
Playing on my tongue,
Transporting me
to a different planet,
Not at the happening restaurant
Of town.
They promised a slice of heaven
And kept it too!
At peace with the world and myself
laughing vivaciously,
I came out.
The gateman sprang to action
Saluting us promptly.
But why this salute?
Done nothing
except, having fun
Money can offer.
Searching for answers,
I […]

Love,
To be given and received freely,
But I find no takers and no giver.
Storm,
Gathering momentum,
Threatening to burst out any instant.
Grief,
Screaming to be assuaged.
Impotent anger,
Devoid of courage.
Complaints,
But no one listens to it.
People,
Afraid of caring and sharing,
Refusing to come out of their closets.
My street fighter’s spirit,
declines to go to sleep.

From time immemorial,
Orbiting this planet earth,
Witnessing lovers
Mooning over me,
Making love,
Manufacturing promises,
Weeping over broken promises,
Resurrecting promises.
Perceiving my
Venerated aura,
Tranquil Radiance,
Warm indifference,
Absolute allure,
As sprinklings of joy in their lives.
I am not in a meditative trance,
My infinite loveliness,
Scaring everyone away.
They love me with aloofness,
Insisting,
I bestow incessant tenderness.
Certainly I am not a saint.
Consequently here I am,
Unseen, unloved, unaccompanied,
Terrifying everyone
With my […]

It means,
He respects your principles as his,
And never plays with them.
It means,
He honors your faith,
Without tempering with it.
It means,
He gives his soul to you,
To guard it.
It means,
Not losing your self respect,
But giving your self respect to him,
And He will never abuse it.
It means,
Handling his secrets,
Knowing you will never whisper them again,
Even to yourself.
Love,
It means,
You are […]

A river of cherished memories
Flowing gently in your heart.
I Tried,
Inundating it with poison of jealousy
Hope, the river was not
Desecrated.
Memories, still dancing
As waves, when
Wind kisses the river.
I Tried,
Throwing stones of insults,
Raising a storm.
Hope, gentle ripples of the past
Still lifting you to
Greater heights.
I Tried,
Emptying all the gems, hidden
Deep in the heart of the river.
Hope, they are still […]

Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me,
Lurking on the horizon,
My unchallengeable destination.
There is music
Still left in me.
Romancing the impending darkness,
Seemingly an unpalatable indulgence!
What about promises made
To eyes -
Learning hope?
To parched fields -
Waiting since eternity for rivers
To change course?
To invincible mountains -
Challenging to match their greatness?
To hydra headed monsters -
Raising their heads in every […]

A face devoid of love and grace,
A hateful, hard and successful face,
Ah! A successful face!
Shooing away, all the
Demonic societal insecurities.
At a lowly price of
Shrugging off the liability, called
Self-esteem, opening
A stairway to elusive dream – flapping my wings
Amongst the Cream de la cream!
Hatefulness, hardness and inelegance, oh! The package
Compel the river of my creativity
To tumble incessantly.
Itching […]

He is a soothsayer of repute,
Whose utterings are taken in without dispute.
People throng around him,
As stars to the moon.
He listens to their hearts’ whispers,
And soothes their soul…
They return home feeling,
Better equipped to deal with the future.
But, I?
No I don’t need his divine predictions
I know what lies ahead for me
in the womb of the future.
Sometimes I […]