She Taught Me
A
heart heavy with tales of horror
I
sat by the river, to lighten my sorrow.
Unperturbed
she flowed by me
stopping
not for a moment, nor changing pace
teaching,
that my sorrow was mine to face.
She
churned and turned and flowed along
clothed
in the sun's rays , singing her song
to
my wonder how cool she could be,
his
element she said, was to pour fire,
her
inherent coolness held no ire .
As
her colour changed, wave after wave
from
stagnation I learned to save
my
monotonous life if I took care
the
mind to refresh and find new reasons
for
joy in change and adapt to seasons.
Answers
to vital questions from her I got
she
waited for man or time, certainly not,
her
destiny she lived, to merge into the sea
giving
back to the source from where she birthed
she
nourished, quenching the thirst of Mother Earth.
From
the sea went back to the mountain top
became
a raging river again, from a raindrop.
What
is to be, wither we go or where will we be
I
stopped dreading death or prizing life
for
she taught me, rebirth is end to all strife.
Copyright@Dr. Sunil
Kaushal
A River’s Refrain
A
maiden pure, pristine, gushing forth, I took birth
under
the crown of majestic snow capped mountains
drinking
from her bosom, hugging Mother Earth.
To
merge into the mighty ocean my voyage commenced
wandering
with me everywhere was the sky immense.
Prancing,
dancing in abandon, skipping and swirling,
over
boulders and stones, jumping and whirling
cheering
my nubile childhood giggles
sprightly
springs murmured, creeks and brooks gurgled
as
breezes joined in the refrain.
Drifting
clouds doffed hats hiding sun, stars and the moon
playing
hide and seek in placid lakes and lagoons.
Trees,
birds, wild life, playmates wherever I went
tripping
down hillsides, or skirting forest bends,
where
the earth fell as a cliff tall
I
came crashing down, a mighty roaring waterfall.
Frolicking
fish, tired tortoises and cunning cranes
meandered
through meadows,
with
me, singing my refrain.
The
wave and ripple, my splashing sprinkle
washed
feet of foliage with a musical tinkle
water
blooms in my hair,
verdant
carpets everywhere,
held
hearts captive, causing empires to rise and fall,
your
temples and mosques abounded on my silvery shores
as
trade and travel flourished through me, in days of yore
I
mirrored your times, the good the bad, happy or sad,
waves
gyrating at festivals, hugging secrets to the bosom
as
you crooned love songs or grieved in pain
loving
and crying with you, singing my refrain
Alas,
passing through great proud cities of culture
demonic
forces pounced on me like so many vultures
with
greed, hunger, lustful thirst, and
brutal torture.
To
my cooling, cleansing waters millions were drawn
into
my innards they dipped, cleansing filth and sins
immersed
and submerged, ravished and raped,
till
every drop turned toxic, into my belly poured their waste.
My
youth died, charm lost, I became a stinking smelting pot
for
dying sick marine and corpses left to rot ,
I
no longer had the heart to sing a refrain.
Life
slowly ebbing out, I gasped and gagged
under
the shade of skeleton trees, my strength now sagged.
My
sisters worldwide, went through a similar bane
when
winds whispered to the ocean, it couldn’t bear the pain.
Tsunamis,
cyclones, frequent floods whipped he everywhere
to
save his haven, he tries hard to make man aware.
while
I can no longer sing a refrain, in this polluted air.
In
the thirsty autumn of life, our veins old and dry,
some
of us died on earth’s arid bed of dust
some
merged into the ocean and soared into the sky,
falling
as a diamond drop on a rosy dawn
or
in an open oyster, a pearl brilliantly shone.
while
I wait to again sing this refrain.
Copyright@Dr. Sunil
Kaushal
Can Spring Be Far
Behind-- ?
My
deciduous bones heave a sigh of relief, joints turn on rusted hinges
summer
is over, the smell of the past fades with withered flowers
though
I miss the flowers and blossoms on trees
and
let go of scentless fragrances of the past
the
humming of birds and buzzing of bees
distances
deaden droning chant of birds now flown south
my
soul gets ready to yield forgotten dreams, that ached in silence.
The
heat of youth’s summer over and the cool of autumn here
fleeting
seasons brush green tendrils of spring, turning
mellow
yellow orange golden, like burnished gold
autumn
leaves fall to the ground, leaves out of life’s book.
I
lie on the grass gazing at the waning and tired moon,
to
spangle the skies, time plucked the stars from my eyes,
the dewfall of my tears drop the curtain, as
they lay me down.
Tender
shoots parting the earth below me,
whisper
words of hopeful resurgence
the
engulfing winter dark of the grave becomes
just
another passing phase, call it the fifth season
from
whence rebirth will bring back spring, the flowers, the stars
that
twinkle in the amazed eyes of the cherubic infant
I
shall come back as, chortling and gurgling in delight !
Copyright @Dr. Sunil
Kaushal
Sunil Kaushal
Dr. Sunil
Kaushal is a gynaecologist turned writer with a passion for writing short
stories and poetry as well as essays. A trilingual writer writing in English,
Hindi and her mother tongue Punjabi. She also writes haiku, micro-poetry and
limericks. Published in a number of National, International anthologies and
magazines, has won many awards and competitions. Her poems have been translated
into French, German and Greek. Read her in Crumpled Voices 2, Feathers, Nature
Poems, Forever a Lie, Bloodshot Eyes, Learning and Creativity, Love – A Divine
Madness Vol.1&2, Episteme, Kafiyaa, On Fire Cultural Movement, Muffled
Moans, her blog sunilkaushal44.blogspot.in. She was honoured at the Indian
World Poetree Festival with The Enchanting Muse Award(International) and Fellow
of the Regal World of Scribes(FRWS), by The Pentasi B Poetree Group. Currently
her memoirs “Gypsy Wanderings”, her book of poems and translation of her
brother P.S.Gill’s book, “Where is The Second World?”, German to English, keep
her busy. An accomplished actor, she has done a number of stage plays, TV and
radio programs. Having been on the Advisory Committees of National TV and All
India Radio, she brought about a number of changes for Women and Children’s
Welfare. In 1982, she was awarded ‘Best Lioness President’ Asia. She has also been chairperson of a number of
socially committed organizations for many years and is associated with Mother
Teresa’s Home. She is blessed with a daughter and two sons and is an indulgent
grandmother to two lovely grand- daughters and a handsome grandson. She lives
in Pune City, India.This 74 year old listens to Indian Classical and Sufi
music, when not writing, blogging, or sketching. A session of Yoga first thing
in the morning charges the batteries of this 74 year old keeping her in love
with all things in life.