Thursday, 22 October 2026

Haiku

This week we are invited to write poems on dreams and memories.

My response in haiku :



morning tea
with every sip
a broken dream

***

parted drapes
the moon lazes
around my dream

***

mother's shawl
wrapping around
childhood winters 

***

reading binge
...a mystery kills
the afternoon heat

***

Christmas night
folding a dream
under the quilt 

***

summer vacation 
playing kho-kho
in the park
mother's call
sharper than the
alarm clock 

***

Kho-kho is a local game where players are divided into two teams to chase each other.




Thursday, 15 October 2026

The Blessing

This week we are invited to write on the following:

"If an angel were to give a message,  what it would be."



One hollow, dreamless night an angel descended from the sky.

She had sparkling blue eyes and gossamer 
wings angel-like.

Without much ado she asked whether I cared for a different kind of life. 

I questioned her , "Why me?". She replied
"You are 'The Chosen One', you see."

I wanted to further ask by what means was this choice finalized.

But then on second thought a little time I sought.

The next night again she arrived and smilingly asked, "All right!! Have you thought it over enough?"

I replied, "I have a few doubts to clarify. Is this a whim, a fancy , a spell for just a night?"

She shrugged, "I have to ask her - my boss. Right? The period she decides." 

I said, "Then do ask her if she could give me an irreversible boon to change my fate as I wish."

She sighed, "You humans always seek permanence. You know that's a myth?"

"You may have to pay a price. For something that's not for you to ask." 

"Aren't we talking of blessings per se...?"  I was nonplussed.

"The rules have changed." Said she. "It's not simply a blessing any more, you see."

"As you very well know," She continued. "For every transaction you agree to, for a single night or a lifetime, caveats and conditions shall apply."

With that parting reply she fluttered her false lashes twice and disappeared into the night.

Leaving a poor soul agape in the cavern of a hollow, dreamless night.



Footnote : This poem is inspired by the numerous spam calls received offering various lucrative deals and profit making investment ventures.











Friday, 2 October 2026

From Confinement To Creativity

This week Magaly invites us to write poetry or prose, which takes a negative concept and turns it into something positive. 

***

Let me tell you how I started blogging. Surviving office politics I was transferred from one of the Divisions  to Corporate Office.  I thought it would bring me some respite. On the contrary, I had new demons to deal with. 

My boss turned out to be a workaholic with massive insecurities who considered ever other of his colleagues, peers and even subordinates as his rivals. At first he condescendingly asked me whether I knew the basics of computer and other such silly questions. A few trials later he was convinced that I had the capacity to replace him (though this was revealed to me much later).

He started using me like a despatch clerk, sometimes an office assistant and then a typist. Having worked 24x7 independently for the most of my work life this treatment was a psychological snub' which almost shattered 'my self esteem. 

Throughout the day he would be away from his desk, arriving during the closing hours, and would hand me a bunch of inconsequential work stating that these were to be done yesterday. 

When I was almost into the throes of something inbetween depression and inferiority complex, one of my young colleagues, who was very much into Face Book, suggested blogging 'to kill time creatively'. 

I had never heard of it before. She explained what it was and created this blog space for me. At first, being a very private person, I was quite hesitant to share anything (read innermost thoughts, turmoil, dissent etc) in public domain. What would people think of me ? If anyone close happened to read my rants, what then? 

But as I got the heck of it, I realised it was quite a good vent to release the pressure. Gradually, 'talking' to strangers became from easy to enjoyable to a kind of high.

A few colleagues, happened to have read my posts, encouraged me to write on. It helped regain my confidence. I was good at something, wasn't I ? So what if boss thought I was unfit to be entrusted with important assignments. His tyrranical reign continued for seven long years. Phew!!

At last when he got transferred, he thanked me for my invaluable assistance to which in my farewell speech I blurted that he should have mercy on his subordinates to thunderous applause from the Department 
(that suffered him equally). On the aside  though, a well wisher pointed out that I was not required to be so suicidal. 

But then the bottled up fizz had to whoosh out somewhere at some point. ЁЯШВ ЁЯШВ ЁЯШВ ЁЯШВ