In a world consumed by shape and form,
Beauty standards of today are being reborn.
Gone are the days of natural grace,
Now replaced by a plastic face.
...
The words that lie in books, dormant and still,
Their essence concealed, purpose to fulfill,
Unread and untouched, their meanings unclear,
What good are they, if never brought near?
...
In a quiet corner of the room, stood the wall clock
With a swinging pendulum, but no cuckoo to talk
...
My study table, oh how it's changed
From a place of fairytales, it now ranges
...
This rocking chair has been in our family
Since long before I could even remember,
...
In the heart of the kitchen it stands,
An ordinary steel jug, weathered by time,
...
Amidst the garden where I sat,
A guava tree stood tall and grand,
...
Book of life where language intertwines with grace,
Words emerge as medicine, healing with tender embrace.
They possess power to cure all that ails,
Mending shattered hearts, where pain once prevailed.
...
The journey of life, uncertainties abound,
The only certainties that can truly be found.
For as we traverse this vast earthly domain,
Challenges await, obstacles causing strain.
...
Upon awakening to birdsong's sweet refrain,
In winter's crisp embrace, both soft and kind,
A melody echoes, a newfound strain,
Love and romance entwined, I soon find.
...
In jealousy a person turns blind to light,
Ignoring blessings in their reach and sight,
Their eyes fixed on what others possess,
Their hearts consumed by envy, a distress.
...
I find solace in the depths of my emotions
Should I write to ease my heart, release the weight
...
In the beauty of hijab lies a secret divine,
Not just a cloth, but a soul's pure shrine.
It shields my body, yes, that is true,
Yet its true essence lies in what it imbues.
...
Ghazala Lari was born in one of the most beautiful city in India, Lucknow. It's the capital of the Northern state of India, Uttar Pradesh. She was born on 29th June. Her family is one of the most renowned and affluent family of Lucknow. Presently she is living with her parents in her parental home at Lucknow. She is Post Graduate in Geography, Business administration and Information Technology. She has also attained a bachelor's degree in Education. She is fond of reading, writing, painting, sketching, photography, calligraphy and various art forms. She is a high school teacher, teaching Geography and English. She has also taught undergraduate and post graduate students in various institutes. She is extremely dedicated as an educator and has a vision that keeps her motivated in her journey of teaching and learning. She believes in having a healthy body, mind & soul. In order to attain her physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing she does yoga, meditation, walking, exercising, together with prayers, worship of Almighty Allah (God) she keeps to healthy eating. According to her, the holistic development of a person is pertinent to the overall growth of a person. To achieve her fullest potential she devotes and invests much of her time in doing what is required. As a poet, her journey in writing began in the early twenties. It was then she realised her inner ability to express her views and feelings in the form of poems. Poems gave her wings to fly. She has written on political & social issues, spiritual & environmental poems, nature, family, education etc. Some of her poems reflects her own struggles as a woman in a man's world. She has exquisitely articulated her own emotional and physical strife in many of her poems. She is a strong believer in Allah (God) which can be seen in the resilient faith and trust that has been mystically conveyed in most of her celestial poems. As a person, she is a humble devotee of The Almighty Allah (God) . Her spiritual bent of mind can be seen is her approach and manners. Her religious acceptance of people of different faith and love for humanity are an echo of the teachings of Islam. She is courteous, polite and considers in compassionate treatment with equity for all the creatures of Allah (God) . She is certain that all the blessings are from Allah (God) alone. Hence, she demonstrates gratitude and thankfulness to The Almighty for her achievements and abilities. Synopsis of the poems Ghazala's poems can be broadly categorized into Metaphysical and Physical. In almost all the metaphysical poetries one can sense the divine presence and mystical resonance. She has graciously interwoven her gratitude either in the form of admiration or supplication to Almighty Allah (God) . Her poems are a profound reflection of her Islamic philosophy and oneness of God. Her belief in the Almighty and the unwavering trust can be felt in all her mystical verses. Celestial perception is exquisitely interlaced within the filaments of individual contentment in the mortal world. As far as the poems of physical world are concerned, her observations are similarly accurate and precise. She has enunciated numerous social prejudice, social doctrines and unacceptable treatment of weaker sections of society in a most affable and firm manner. One can only admire her cognizance through her verses and appreciate her thoughts which are packed with awakening and reformation. Ghazala's philosophy of life is unpretentious, she believes in Justice and peace for all. She considers none supreme other than the mighty creator. Her deep rooted philosophy resonates in almost all her poems.)
Beauty Standards Of Today
In a world consumed by shape and form,
Beauty standards of today are being reborn.
Gone are the days of natural grace,
Now replaced by a plastic face.
Frozen expressions, lips swollen and plump,
Eyes pepper sprayed, lost in a cosmetic slump.
Noses tiny, nostrils hard to find,
A world entranced by an elusive design.
At a funeral, a somber affair,
Faces painted white, a ghostly stare.
Glass skin reflecting the gleam of the casket,
Dazzling lights, a spectacle unsurpassed.
Tears welling up, yet smiles remain,
Plastic grins, concealing the pain.
A wedding adorned with flowing attire,
But not a single soul dressed for a crown's desire.
Models on a runway, not brides to be,
Revealing clothes, baring all for all to see.
Longer than carpets, these garments flow,
Covering more than they dare to show.
And men, infected by this twisted game,
Wearing women's bikinis, embracing the same.
Walking on tiptoes, performing femininity,
In a topsy-turvy world, where lines blur with audacity.
Beauty standards have surpassed all bounds,
Creating a world in which chaos resounds.
Where men and women strive for praise,
In a never-ending pursuit of an ideal craze.
But let us remember, true beauty lies within,
Not confined by standards that society spins.
In a medium of self-acceptance, we find solace,
Embracing uniqueness, breaking free from this palace.
Explanation of the above poem
In a world where shape and form reign supreme, it seems that beauty standards have taken a turn for the worst. Gone are the days of natural grace and in its place stands a plastic facade. Women and men alike are consumed by the pursuit of an unattainable ideal, striving for perfection at any cost.
Frozen expressions adorn faces that look more like dolls than human beings. Lips are swollen and plump, eyes peppered with color like a canvas gone awry. Noses are pinched and tiny, almost invisible beneath a layer of makeup. It's as if the very essence of humanity has been stripped away, replaced by a caricature of what it means to be beautiful.
At funerals, faces are painted white, creating a ghostly, unsettling effect. Glass skin reflects the light, making the wearer appear almost ethereal. But this ethereality is only an illusion; beneath the surface, there's an emptiness that can't be filled. It's as if the people who wear it are trying to outrun their own mortality, refusing to accept the inevitability of death.
In weddings, the bride and groom are often lost amidst a sea of plastic smiles and fake beauty. Their love story is reduced to a mere spectacle, with attention focused more on the superficial than on the depth of their feelings. And as for the guests, they too are caught up in the web of falsehoods, donning elaborate garments that reveal more about their own insecurities than their individuality.
The realm of fashion, once a celebration of creativity and self-expression, has become a breeding ground for conformity. Models parade down runways in clothes that are more appropriate for a costume party than a high-fashion show. Their bodies are distorted, their movements stifled, as they attempt to embody an unattainable ideal. And the men who walk alongside them, wearing women's clothing and performing femininity, only serve to further blur the lines between gender and sexuality.
In a world where beauty standards have run amok, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. But amidst the chaos and the confusion, there is hope. For every person who dares to embrace their own uniqueness, there is a spark of rebellion that could ignite a revolution. A revolution that rejects the tyranny of shape and form, and instead celebrates the beauty of the soul.
'My wounds and scars are my trophies that shines glorifying my patience and victory'.