"You cannot love everyone; it is ridiculous to think you can. If you love everyone and everything you lose your natural powers of selection and wind up being a pretty poor judge of character and quality. If anything is used too freely it loses its true meaning. Therefore, the Satanist believes you should love strongly and completely those who deserve your love, but never turn the other cheek to your enemy!" -- Anton LaVey, Church of Satan.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
THE FIREFLY EFFECT
Lampyridae is a family in the beetle order Coleoptera, members of which are commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs or (ambiguously) "glow worms" due to their conspicuous nocturnal (or, more accurately, crepuscular) use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies are capable of producing a "cold light" containing no ultraviolet or infrared rays, with a wavelength from 510 to 670 nanometers, pale reddish, yellowish or green in colour, with a lighting efficiency of up to 96%.(Source: WIKI)
And why, so must you be thinking, that I am writing about something as wayward as a Firefly!! It's because yesterday as I was savouring the surreal sights of the night sky hand-in-hand with my partner and professing my profound love to her, I swallowed one. Actually it flew right in and now my heart is aglow.
COME BACK TO ME
Turn me inside out
and without a doubt.
You will hear a tweet
of my heart beat.
It sings to your tune.
Come back to me soon.
Monday, May 19, 2008
VILLAGE LIFE
A four part memoirs of my week long official trip to Kudthini Village, Bellary.
1. 'COPTER IN THE SKY
Thorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Flies the helicopter away.
The toothless elders gape in wonder.
The men waste no time & point fingers.
"Helicopter! Helicopter!!"
Proud of something they know.
The naked children run about.
"Ayeayeayeayeayeayaaaaaaa!!!"
The village head calls out.
"Hide! Hide!!
If somebody pisses in there,
Will rain on your heads."
The children scatter away.
"Ayeayeayeayeayeayaaaaaaa!!!"
The pandit sounds the bell.
"This is a bad bad omen."
The children run on its trail.
Trying to scare it away.
"Ayeayeayeayeayeayaaaaaaa!!!"
The women look with dreams
In their eyes. Of a suitable
suitor who will whisk them away.
Thorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
The helicopter finally disappears
Into the forbidden horizon.
The men go back to
Chewing gutka & smoking beedies.
Women back to pumping their chulla.
Children back to play with their chippies.
The village head comes out
Scratching his balls.
Proud of an effort which has
Nothing to do with him.
He has got stories to tell.
Talk & banter. Music & play.
"Ayeayeayeayeayeayaaaaaaa!!!"
Back to their chores.
The village folk.
But today is a special day.
A helicopter came in their lives.
2. THE VILLAGE BUS
A wooden shed 12 by 12
And open space around.
It's the village bus stop.
Hundreds of people
Hustle-bustle waiting
for the bus to arrive.
I am the only one
Wearing shoes.
Original Adidas, is it?
Men with unkempt hair, beard, moustaches.
Women as black as the new moon.
Children, too many
with nose goo dripping from their faces.
Sheltered at the bus stop
From the soarching sun.
I find some place to breathe.
Sleep Squat Shit Smoke Scream.
Everything's allowed in here.
As the bus comes, the people
Attack like scavengers.
Through windows, back doors, on the top!
They hang for their lives.
The bus too feels the brunt.
A tin box on four wheels.
Entering is an ardous task.
Mumbai local trains are easier to handle.
I push and shove, finally!!
The seats are empty, relief!!
But!!
Filled with handkercheifs, empty bottles, bags.
And what do I see here,
A child's underwear too.
The seats are already booked.
Talk about reservations!!
I find some space again to breathe.
There always is, space!!
More space, impossible space for everyone.
The bus rattles away and so do my bones.
I give Kamasutra poses,
To keep from stepping on someone's toes.
I pray for my life,
As more more people push in.
3. LAUGHTER CLUB
I am stared at.
"Sir, Big man, Sahab."
Its the Bisleri which attracts.
Big thing here, the fact:
I drink bottled water!!
----------------X-------------------
WIth pain stained teeth he chews.
And with his palms makes
Another ball of rice and throws in
His mouth with unerring accuracy.
"Dal??" I ask.
And he roars his head back & laughs.
WIth rice-balls in his mouth, it chokes.
But still more laughter.
"See", he says, "This is sambhar
And this is rasam here. Different things.
You mix, make ball, throw in mouth. Simple things.
You want Dal? Hahahahahaha!
You will get Doll, if you insist.
Brightly painted earthern doll.
If you have heart-break,
If your girlfriend run away,
You can break it to pieces.
Hahahahahahaahahaha!"
I have learnt my lesson.
I eat quietly whatever is offered.
------------------X---------------------
"Hahahahahaahahahaha"
They all point fingers & laugh.
"Don't know Kannada?
Illa?, illa??
Poor thing, Dunce fool.
By the way, watch your pants!!"
Its like, if I don't know the language,
Am not fit for anything in the world.
Their part of the world, that is.
4. LOVE'S THE REASON
I work for 14 hours a day
In this sweltering heat.
Travelling itself takes 4 hours.
And yet I am up each day,
WIth a smile, raring to go.
"But why?" People ask.
"Push yourself so much."
"Challenge??" Too cliched a reply.
"Money??" My friends know thats not what I live for.
"Then why? why??" people question.
"I want to see", I say,
"How much I can sustain.
Face torture and still be calm.
There was a time when
I was in love, or was I?
See, I am still confused!!
When frustration ate into
My brains like live maggots.
And I am still alive and
This is not one percent
of what I endured before.
So here I am with a song on my lips.
Love's the reason,
Which keeps me alive."
1. 'COPTER IN THE SKY
Thorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Flies the helicopter away.
The toothless elders gape in wonder.
The men waste no time & point fingers.
"Helicopter! Helicopter!!"
Proud of something they know.
The naked children run about.
"Ayeayeayeayeayeayaaaaaaa!!!"
The village head calls out.
"Hide! Hide!!
If somebody pisses in there,
Will rain on your heads."
The children scatter away.
"Ayeayeayeayeayeayaaaaaaa!!!"
The pandit sounds the bell.
"This is a bad bad omen."
The children run on its trail.
Trying to scare it away.
"Ayeayeayeayeayeayaaaaaaa!!!"
The women look with dreams
In their eyes. Of a suitable
suitor who will whisk them away.
Thorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
The helicopter finally disappears
Into the forbidden horizon.
The men go back to
Chewing gutka & smoking beedies.
Women back to pumping their chulla.
Children back to play with their chippies.
The village head comes out
Scratching his balls.
Proud of an effort which has
Nothing to do with him.
He has got stories to tell.
Talk & banter. Music & play.
"Ayeayeayeayeayeayaaaaaaa!!!"
Back to their chores.
The village folk.
But today is a special day.
A helicopter came in their lives.
2. THE VILLAGE BUS
A wooden shed 12 by 12
And open space around.
It's the village bus stop.
Hundreds of people
Hustle-bustle waiting
for the bus to arrive.
I am the only one
Wearing shoes.
Original Adidas, is it?
Men with unkempt hair, beard, moustaches.
Women as black as the new moon.
Children, too many
with nose goo dripping from their faces.
Sheltered at the bus stop
From the soarching sun.
I find some place to breathe.
Sleep Squat Shit Smoke Scream.
Everything's allowed in here.
As the bus comes, the people
Attack like scavengers.
Through windows, back doors, on the top!
They hang for their lives.
The bus too feels the brunt.
A tin box on four wheels.
Entering is an ardous task.
Mumbai local trains are easier to handle.
I push and shove, finally!!
The seats are empty, relief!!
But!!
Filled with handkercheifs, empty bottles, bags.
And what do I see here,
A child's underwear too.
The seats are already booked.
Talk about reservations!!
I find some space again to breathe.
There always is, space!!
More space, impossible space for everyone.
The bus rattles away and so do my bones.
I give Kamasutra poses,
To keep from stepping on someone's toes.
I pray for my life,
As more more people push in.
3. LAUGHTER CLUB
I am stared at.
"Sir, Big man, Sahab."
Its the Bisleri which attracts.
Big thing here, the fact:
I drink bottled water!!
----------------X-------------------
WIth pain stained teeth he chews.
And with his palms makes
Another ball of rice and throws in
His mouth with unerring accuracy.
"Dal??" I ask.
And he roars his head back & laughs.
WIth rice-balls in his mouth, it chokes.
But still more laughter.
"See", he says, "This is sambhar
And this is rasam here. Different things.
You mix, make ball, throw in mouth. Simple things.
You want Dal? Hahahahahaha!
You will get Doll, if you insist.
Brightly painted earthern doll.
If you have heart-break,
If your girlfriend run away,
You can break it to pieces.
Hahahahahahaahahaha!"
I have learnt my lesson.
I eat quietly whatever is offered.
------------------X---------------------
"Hahahahahaahahahaha"
They all point fingers & laugh.
"Don't know Kannada?
Illa?, illa??
Poor thing, Dunce fool.
By the way, watch your pants!!"
Its like, if I don't know the language,
Am not fit for anything in the world.
Their part of the world, that is.
4. LOVE'S THE REASON
I work for 14 hours a day
In this sweltering heat.
Travelling itself takes 4 hours.
And yet I am up each day,
WIth a smile, raring to go.
"But why?" People ask.
"Push yourself so much."
"Challenge??" Too cliched a reply.
"Money??" My friends know thats not what I live for.
"Then why? why??" people question.
"I want to see", I say,
"How much I can sustain.
Face torture and still be calm.
There was a time when
I was in love, or was I?
See, I am still confused!!
When frustration ate into
My brains like live maggots.
And I am still alive and
This is not one percent
of what I endured before.
So here I am with a song on my lips.
Love's the reason,
Which keeps me alive."
ROCKET SCIENCE
A couple making out: Come on. Can't you even undo the hook. It's not rocket science.
Doctors at the opt room: Come on. You just cut open with a scapel, remove the appendix out and just sew it back. Its not rocket science.
Stockbrokers: Come on. If it falls you buy and when it rises you sell. Simple! Its not rocket science.
Maintenance Engineers: Come on. If its not working, first check out if it has been plugged in to the power supply. Its not rocket science.
Sculptors in Byculla: Come on. Just imagine the object in your mind and chisel away the unwanted parts. Its not rocket science.
Scientists at Sriharikota: DUH!!!
Doctors at the opt room: Come on. You just cut open with a scapel, remove the appendix out and just sew it back. Its not rocket science.
Stockbrokers: Come on. If it falls you buy and when it rises you sell. Simple! Its not rocket science.
Maintenance Engineers: Come on. If its not working, first check out if it has been plugged in to the power supply. Its not rocket science.
Sculptors in Byculla: Come on. Just imagine the object in your mind and chisel away the unwanted parts. Its not rocket science.
Scientists at Sriharikota: DUH!!!
THE COURTSHIP
Padma farts.
And then says sorry.
I hold my breath.
Padma speaks.
And spittle flys.
I dodge each bit.
Neo bows down to me.
Padma brags.
Master bugger that she is.
Open-eyed I put myself to sleep.
Padma cooks.
What even dogs won't eat.
I swallow each morsel
With a bottle of wine.
If only I would have known,
I would never have courted her.
And then says sorry.
I hold my breath.
Padma speaks.
And spittle flys.
I dodge each bit.
Neo bows down to me.
Padma brags.
Master bugger that she is.
Open-eyed I put myself to sleep.
Padma cooks.
What even dogs won't eat.
I swallow each morsel
With a bottle of wine.
If only I would have known,
I would never have courted her.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
TIRED MORNINGS
Sometimes I am the king of the world.
Sometimes I feel like a loser.
I know it is the Bipolarity nuisance.
How I wish to break free.
I fight battles in my mind,
With my mind, and the others
In my eccentric mind.
Mindless mind games all night.
This irrationality of life
Puts me off, I sleep
And run around finding an escape.
Mornings, as a result are tiring.
Sometimes I feel like a loser.
I know it is the Bipolarity nuisance.
How I wish to break free.
I fight battles in my mind,
With my mind, and the others
In my eccentric mind.
Mindless mind games all night.
This irrationality of life
Puts me off, I sleep
And run around finding an escape.
Mornings, as a result are tiring.
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