Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Call Me Oh My Love by Khurshid Alam
Call Me Oh My Love by Khurshid Alam
Call me when you’re free
When you come close to rot
When you feel down
When you go awry
Call me when you dry up
When you hang up
When you cry at the foul
When you lament a mistake
I’ll be along with you for no good reason
Whenever you call me I’ll be by you.
In all situations, I will be yours!
Note: Published with Daily Love, 5/25/2012.
A Walk to the Moon with You by Khurshid Alam
A Walk to the Moon with You by Khurshid Alam
Come, oh my darling on a walk
to the moon where we’ll live for life
and will never return from.
Away from jealousies, away from competition
We will live there carefree
We won’t fell trees for a house
We won’t breathe toxin there
We will have a sliver of moon daily
In breakfast and swing in the air
You will pass the days in shining back
To the people on earth below
And then people will tell the stories
The moon now has been shining brighter than before.
Note: Published with Daily Love, 6/14/2011.
Assert the Truth by Khurshid Alam
Assert the Truth by Khurshid Alam
Should you come to meet me
And ask: how I am?
I’m fine. But to tell it
In answer is sweeter than sweet.
Should you come to greet me
And welcome: how sure I am?
I am full of confidence
But to assert it in answer.
Is to be more confident.
Should you but come to me
And propose: if I love you?
I do, should you but ask!
For, to accept is more
Beautiful than I do love you.
---
For Shez
---
Note: Published with Daily Love, 5/20/2010.
Should you come to meet me
And ask: how I am?
I’m fine. But to tell it
In answer is sweeter than sweet.
Should you come to greet me
And welcome: how sure I am?
I am full of confidence
But to assert it in answer.
Is to be more confident.
Should you but come to me
And propose: if I love you?
I do, should you but ask!
For, to accept is more
Beautiful than I do love you.
---
For Shez
---
Note: Published with Daily Love, 5/20/2010.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Corruption by Khurshid Alam
Corruption by Khurshid Alam
The sprawling CWG’s stadium unfolded
A large spectrum of corruption running into megabucks
The CWG stadium—
The doom of festivity, the doom of fidelity
2G spectrum stood towering even higher
That echoed clangour of corruption even louder.
Heaps of corruption—
Corruption after corruption.
United people to roar against corruption
All seem to support the campaigns that
some Gandhians initiated.
I too added my voice against.
I was given the responsibility to enlist some corruptions
And thus I began:
At the corner of a village I saw
Flames leaping from a hearth in front of
A dim-lit hut, tilted towards a side
A crumbling roof atop, ready to fall anytime
Some ladies from neighbouring area came
Singing to the hut, to the fire and
Lit their own cow-dung cakes from the hearth
And they saved many a matchstick.
Many people in the country, in the slums of the cities
Wake up early and relieve themselves in the open
With their mouth hanging down, eyes to the earth
Once free they cover their dirt under the soil mysteriously
They create an unhygienic environment and then cry
The government is not doing anything for their health
People rush to the public buses and trains
As soon as they reach to the stops
To loot the seats and bunk tickets
The ticket-checkers wish the larger number of people
Bunk tickets the better. They earn wealth in the run.
Police run after the law breakers—
Some bikes, cars, and vehicles
Have no PUC, no helmets, no license
The police threaten to make challan and thereby
Fix a deal at a less price than the fine.
The bribe has saved many a law breaker.
Players of more age are declared underage
By the cricket team, by college teachers
And they bring a cup for their correct age
The test for age was fixed for a price.
Parents help their wards in copying at exams
To ensure high marks. If yet not met, they
Manage a caste certificate to help them pass
Through high cut-offs in the college selection processes
The parents are happy their children are studying
Philosophy, history, science, engineering, medicine
Who will one day become great philosophers
Historians, scientists, engineers and doctors.
Police have to pay to seek posting at their chosen
Places where they can earn name, fame, and money
They implement laws to ensure security to the people
Soon I found my list was full but the counting yet incomplete
I was tired and began to yawn. Suddenly I planned
I can create fake names and cases of corruption
Who is coming to look whether I did my job
Honestly!
I was lamenting why I took the headache to make the listing
To be tabled the next day. If I was the only fool left
To think for the country.
I took away the glasses from my nose, and folded the list
And crawled into the cosy duvets.
Why should I disturb my sleep
All goes to hell, I said to myself
And switched off the night bulb.
Note: First published with Mainstream September 3, 2011.
The sprawling CWG’s stadium unfolded
A large spectrum of corruption running into megabucks
The CWG stadium—
The doom of festivity, the doom of fidelity
2G spectrum stood towering even higher
That echoed clangour of corruption even louder.
Heaps of corruption—
Corruption after corruption.
United people to roar against corruption
All seem to support the campaigns that
some Gandhians initiated.
I too added my voice against.
I was given the responsibility to enlist some corruptions
And thus I began:
At the corner of a village I saw
Flames leaping from a hearth in front of
A dim-lit hut, tilted towards a side
A crumbling roof atop, ready to fall anytime
Some ladies from neighbouring area came
Singing to the hut, to the fire and
Lit their own cow-dung cakes from the hearth
And they saved many a matchstick.
Many people in the country, in the slums of the cities
Wake up early and relieve themselves in the open
With their mouth hanging down, eyes to the earth
Once free they cover their dirt under the soil mysteriously
They create an unhygienic environment and then cry
The government is not doing anything for their health
People rush to the public buses and trains
As soon as they reach to the stops
To loot the seats and bunk tickets
The ticket-checkers wish the larger number of people
Bunk tickets the better. They earn wealth in the run.
Police run after the law breakers—
Some bikes, cars, and vehicles
Have no PUC, no helmets, no license
The police threaten to make challan and thereby
Fix a deal at a less price than the fine.
The bribe has saved many a law breaker.
Players of more age are declared underage
By the cricket team, by college teachers
And they bring a cup for their correct age
The test for age was fixed for a price.
Parents help their wards in copying at exams
To ensure high marks. If yet not met, they
Manage a caste certificate to help them pass
Through high cut-offs in the college selection processes
The parents are happy their children are studying
Philosophy, history, science, engineering, medicine
Who will one day become great philosophers
Historians, scientists, engineers and doctors.
Police have to pay to seek posting at their chosen
Places where they can earn name, fame, and money
They implement laws to ensure security to the people
Soon I found my list was full but the counting yet incomplete
I was tired and began to yawn. Suddenly I planned
I can create fake names and cases of corruption
Who is coming to look whether I did my job
Honestly!
I was lamenting why I took the headache to make the listing
To be tabled the next day. If I was the only fool left
To think for the country.
I took away the glasses from my nose, and folded the list
And crawled into the cosy duvets.
Why should I disturb my sleep
All goes to hell, I said to myself
And switched off the night bulb.
Note: First published with Mainstream September 3, 2011.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Contemporary Literary Review: India (CLRI) July 2011 Issue is Out Now
Dear Readers!
We are glad to share the news that Contemporary Literary Review: India (CLRI) July 2011 Issue is live now. CLRI July 2011 Issue brings the finest pieces from the writers such as:
April Avon
Christian Ward
Ron Koppelberger
Sonnet Mondal
Tahera Manan
Valentina Cano
Vinita Agrawal
Zachary Kluckman
Please visit, buy, read, and enjoy at:
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Contemporary Literary Review: India (CLRI) Issue 2010
Dear Readers!
We are glad to share the Contemporary Literary Review: India (CLRI) Issue 2010 is live now. Please visit, buy, read, and enjoy at:
We are glad to share the Contemporary Literary Review: India (CLRI) Issue 2010 is live now. Please visit, buy, read, and enjoy at:
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Poems on Nature Theme published with Muse India
Oh Clouds
Oh clouds, gather over my roof
someday and rain as much as you like
I’ll drench to my content
and wear new attires.
Oh sun, pray you shine
on my back and warm me
to the bone. I’ll grow
myself strong and wear a coat.
Oh sparrow, come and sit on
my window and chirp. I’ll listen
to the music in calm ambience
and enjoy unending nature’s echo.
Oh golden flowers, bloom
in my garden in youth
and cool the lawn. I’ll smell
and embrace your faith.
Oh clouds, gather over my roof
someday and rain as much as you like
I’ll drench to my content
and wear new attires.
Oh sun, pray you shine
on my back and warm me
to the bone. I’ll grow
myself strong and wear a coat.
Oh sparrow, come and sit on
my window and chirp. I’ll listen
to the music in calm ambience
and enjoy unending nature’s echo.
Oh golden flowers, bloom
in my garden in youth
and cool the lawn. I’ll smell
and embrace your faith.
Why Drink from the Oasis
Why drink from the oasis?
A great sea is lying beneath–
remove the sheet of sands and peep.
The only tree stands straight
failing with rugged barks
and empty branches
Root a new plant before
you celebrate its death.
A great sea is lying beneath–
remove the sheet of sands and peep.
The only tree stands straight
failing with rugged barks
and empty branches
Root a new plant before
you celebrate its death.
A man in solitude
can speak to himself; poorly
Break the soliloquy and meet
the people. They will listen!
Response makes you meaningful.
can speak to himself; poorly
Break the soliloquy and meet
the people. They will listen!
Response makes you meaningful.
Begin a New Day
At dawn
The sunflower smiles to the sun
Begin a day—
better than yesterday
The breeze is laden with the smell of soil
the bursting of new flowers, and the cool dews.
The silence is filled with the birds’ song
They head to the east for the early breakfast
heeding to the sun’s call and the flowers’ welcome
The white and red rose petals make a hue
in the garden—the beautiful linen brings joys anew.
The sunflower smiles to the sun
Begin a day—
better than yesterday
The breeze is laden with the smell of soil
the bursting of new flowers, and the cool dews.
The silence is filled with the birds’ song
They head to the east for the early breakfast
heeding to the sun’s call and the flowers’ welcome
The white and red rose petals make a hue
in the garden—the beautiful linen brings joys anew.
Mother Nature
She must be motherly
We’re
She must be motherly
We’re
Born
Cradled
And
We breathe
We breathe
Grow
Find repose.
She yields us
She yields us
Food
Shelter
A harmony to cherish.
She must be a temple.
She must be a temple.
Note: These poems are on nature theme brought out by Muse India in issue 32, July-August, 2010.
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