Me & You..

As we sit here once again

together, waiting to talk,

I know if I speak first, I'll lose you,

but if you do, I still will do.

So as mute companions

we read each others' mind,

playing to win this deceptive game,

and end what has never begun.

A playful cricket strikes a note,

as I turn to find you gone.

And I wonder when we'll meet next,

my friend, silence of the night.

~ Ankur.

Unintended Consequences..

A tiny droplet hangs on the rail,

trading spherical beauty for delicate balance.

Clinging to the iron with microscopic,

invisible hands, it exudes a strange nonchalance.

All around there’s great commotion though,

as the sky shoots a continuum of rain-arrows.

In breaching the hull of enemy it fails,

roars with thunder, for its anger grows.

In principle, the droplet completely disagrees

with the mad-rage strategy of rain.

Direct attack on codename Earth is suicidal

it reckons, a definite act in vain.

It believes in the element of surprise instead,

and so in silent stealth it waits.

Perched, as an instinctive predator, it lurks

till the fight in the prey abates.

In the duel of surface tension and gravity,

the brave droplet knows it’s to decide.

So it keeps a watch on the war-scene

through its twinkling, convex eye.

But abruptly the rain stops and the sky waves,

a vibgyor flag of meek surrender.

Anguished, the droplet moves to pounce,

for a death of honour it would prefer.

A shiver just before the final push,

as the wind kisses the brave martyr.

It takes the final leap of faith,

and merges in the lifeless puddle of water.

Then the droplets show true character

as another soldier takes position.

The spectacle is fascinating, inspiring;

inexplicably, for no apparent reason.

~ Ankur.

Private Investigations..

Music: Dire Straits - Private Investigations

You hear a voice say:

It's not helping, is it?

Looking back, what would change?

Keep on with the dance, stupid.

So you glide on the dark stage,

blinded by the spotlight, you stare.

You can't see the audience,

are you sure they're there?

As a figure fades in the black,

a silhouette emerges.

Two sides of a coin, they say,

one finds, eventually loses.

You go in a spin, senses elevate.

Hear people laughing; do you know them?

You can't take it anymore, come crashing down.

Then there's silence, death of the rhythm.

Snap, you notice a shiny white stage,

over there, two thousand feet away.

Pretty actors perform, like puppets,

hiding their shades of grey.

Tired, you breathe heavily,

impatient, nervous you stand.

You look up, and in horror you find

strings flowing to each hand.

And you wonder what have you got

cheering fans, thundering applause?

In the end, what have you got

a sinking feeling, sense of loss.

But you always knew this story, remember?

Flip pages of the diary.

(This is your investigation,

it's not a public inquiry).

~ Ankur.