The girl of twelve told me,
A different but then the same story,
That boy of four told me,
His idea of what life should be.
...
Death is my friend.
We lie together on the ocean blown sand.
He is my gentle guide and saint.
...
Ah green, I love my green.
It's the traffic light's nicest scene.
Green is a traffic dream.
You can always keep driving, driving, driving.
...
Clap your hands for you,
Clap your hands for me.
Clap your hands in synchrony.
...
Salt and pepper shaker,
Talk to me a lot,
Whether the customer,
Advice sought.
...
Does it seem that this field,
Laden with wild thorns and wildflowers,
Mean that thorns would gain power,
Over freshly blooming petals,
...
Bees, birds, bugs and bobcats,
Mice, rats, rabbits and wildcats,
Blossoms, bunnies and bladder pods,
Ducks, bulrushes and butterflies.
...
The Jewelry Box
Among the glittery movement in the jade swaying
I never ever wore lenses
...
I once met you, in the middle of a forest.
I pretended I didn't see you.
Your garb so beautiful, your voice so sweet.
It made your grace so complete.
...
What Happened Today was a Mistake
Those corporate laws just made me mad.
The walls they put up made me sad.
...
My laughter resounded through the trees,
Then bent around the stream.
This laughter had turned to tears,
When disturbed by a bad dream.
...
I ran a race in time,
Though it was hard to run.
The time passed fast,
I couldn't keep up the run.
...
I rode in my mommy's car.
The other cars drove by.
The others cars made a whirring sound.
My mommy's car made me sigh.
...
Cooling water, you quench my thirst.
Of all the drinks, I choose you first.
The global resource, continents wide,
All waters side by side.
...
Palm tree fronds, swaying in the sun.
It was that state, the California one.
I surmised that the beauty came from this state.
I remember from the heat, my thirst did slake.
...
How do you do your work?
With a straight forward style,
Or with cofusion,
With chaos and commotion?
...
He took a whirling,
Spaceship ride swirling,
Into a galaxy there.
He took the spaceship,
...
Chocolate truffles and lollipops.
Chocolate bundt cakes and large cakes.
Chocolate cocoa drinks and Herman drinks.
Chocolate shavings and icing to boot.
...
Why did we end-up this way?
Was it in our stars or the day?
We could've surmised that the anger,
In our eyes,
...
Children On The Streets Of India
The girl of twelve told me,
A different but then the same story,
That boy of four told me,
His idea of what life should be.
But I different from them,
And yet the same.
Couldn't understand that life's game,
Couldn't even spare THEM,
These very newly arrived, happy and eager ones.
Their laughter, giggles and grin,
Their baby souls with hardly a sin,
Would eventually face such challenges,
That even many adults wouldn't.
These were children of another reality.
But these children were just like others,
With conditions laid harshly down on them,
And called to live up to them,
If they could.
The pavement children of India watched,
The world swirl around them.
Yet they were not a part of that motion.
Their own world stood still, every minute and hour.
These children's eyes looked far away,
That was not a child's mode.
These children's eyes looked hungry,
For that food in that beggar's bowl.
I stood next to them,
I sat next to them.
I looked at them.
Then I did not looked at them.
I looked at them.
They looked at me.
Then for that one quantum which seemed an eternity,
My heart's soul shrieked.
Walking away from them,
Never resolving their angst,
Not knowing how to.
I now saw from the
Salty wet curtains of my eyes,
A small boy running to me,
With arms full of garlands and presents.
He with no possessions,
Bestowed gifts on me.
He with no possessions,
Smiled and smiled gleefully.
With the hugs he received at the airport's tarmac,
I turned my back to him to board my plane.
Back to the U.S.,
Never again to be the same.
Then returning a year later with toys,
Candies and smiles for India's children again.
I have read and greatly enjoyed the poetry of Vera Sidhwa. Her poems are simple yet remarkable in their appeal and impact. The poems look awesome when we find truth of life being revealed through them. I would like to thank her for such a high class poetry and wish her all the best.