Meet my abstract thoughts

Celebrating us

2011-12-31T12:41:00.001+05:30

Together, we decided to embark on this beautiful journey
and life suddenly seemed to be as sweet as honey
Our souls danced to a joyous melody
Our hearts started beating in perfect harmony
Unlike the movies, it was not always hunky dory
But we made sure we'll live to tell a beautiful love story
We still wonder how our fingers fit perfectly in each other
It makes us excited to know what more love has to offer
They say that it is hard to find your soul mate
Not knowing how easily we met
These wonderful years passed away in a jiffy
It only grows stronger and makes us thank our destiny
Now, when God asks me what else do you wish for in life
I only pray to be in your arms for eternity, as your doting wife

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Liberated to nothingness

2011-10-28T13:18:00.001+05:30

25 years of endless tears
just vanished away one fine day
when a tough decision I made
to cut the bond that tarnished my soul
How it had spread its venom on my innocent self
And made my life a living hell
Now, away from the tormentor
My confidence finds a new lease of life
that had lost its way along this arduous journey
A sense of dignity greets me
to wipe out the skeletons of my past
and welcome my new being
with happiness I had never experienced so far
A vacuum it has surely left
For I feel it might strike again
But, faith creates wonders
and lets me move on with no remorse
Because the one who has wronged
is banging on Hell's door
while I patiently take baby steps
to create my heaven in this wonderful life.

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

The Missing God

2011-04-22T23:24:00.008+05:30

Embarking on life's journey
There were days that were meant to be lonely

From cradle to grave

I was told HE will be the only constant I will have

Yet faith is a real mystery

that faltered in my life's story

I chose the untrodden path

which was supposed to be a great start

But the scars that were etched in my heart

stubbornly refused to part

A normal childhood I was denied

and seeking solace in trauma, I tried

But, slowly everything started crumbling

as I turned a blind eye to the whole thing

I believed this is how it would be

And the truth I could not see

HE was still lurking around the corner

waiting to be embraced with honour

But I denied him that special place

because I thought HE was a hurdle in this race

Years passed and the pain only grew

Life became hell as I split into two

A woman who made her own life's views

And another who was so submissive that she had no clue

I secretly tried to poison the ONE

But that was the moment destiny decided to take a U-Turn

In my soul that was resting on a striking dagger

Faith resurfaced but without a stagger

This time I grabbed it with all I could

and nurtured it like only a mother would

I finally found my missing God

And today he has a palace in my humble abode

Beyond Life

2011-03-29T11:15:00.001+05:30

With dashed hopes

I begin my day

without the usual prayer

which is replaced by a sense of fervour

because my tiny dreams

are dwarfed by his uncertain realm

I am now forced to wonder

caught in a situation between lightning and thunder

What is it that works beneath the surface of Life?

Why is it that what my heart desires is now a strife?

Is there a life beyond the life that meets the eye?

which has it own will and does not comply?

What has it planned for my mortal self?

That makes me a gong in its hellish knell?

An ocean of doom awaits

As hard as I try to keep negativity away

Life is tough, they used to say

But it was always for another day

And I was naive enough to think

This too shall pass in another blink

Turning into a new leaf

2011-01-28T11:04:00.004+05:30

Rosy memories of my first blush
that made the world go hush
return with a passionate rush
Leaving a sudden feeling of mush
The years of witnessing autumn and springs
Into my heart; a tiredness it brings
Until the memories of my first blush
return with a passionate rush
Those were the days when
God & I were always on a chase
Innocence was in the air
engulfing my flirtatious hair
Carefree and careless
my heart felt blessed nonetheless
The sun rose for me
The moon shone for me
It was the new love that I found
that made the world go round
Oh! Memories of yesterday
Do enter my life again today
Because the spirit has strayed
in a hundred different ways
I need to hang on to you
I promise to be your slave
Only if you vow to
make my every day a rave

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Mother Divine

2010-11-08T13:24:00.005+05:30

I sat at the bosom of river Ganges
watching her bathe the Sun everyday
My feet dipped in her purity
I got engulfed in the saffron fray
Dawn and dusk celebrated her glory aplomb
when she witnessed the beginning and end of many lives
and the lamps of 100 centuries burned in her serene womb
In her being, fortunate souls
were freed from seeing
She nurtured like a new-born mother
yet unleashed her fury in the golden pyres
Countless tales got etched in her pure flow,
of a newly-wed bride and widows of Kashi, alike
In worshiping her form
I was relieved of my sins
In the medley of her city's narrow lanes
I forgave my kin
Of paan stains and rude mannerism
she bore such sons and more
Where holy cows were revered
more than humans
Was the twisted reality
of her homeland's unruly folk
When it was time for me
to leave behind my footprint
among the thousands she attracted,
I filled my heart with a cup
of her sacred memories
so that in this life and the next
I will need just a drop to survive
the ebb and flow of each day's dredge

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Irony of Life

2010-10-03T15:41:00.003+05:30

I left my home 3 years back

In a quest for pushing my past behind and more

A lone girl-woman on her way to find a start

Life was cruel no matter where you go, this was new to my exploring heart

On my way, I met many a foe

Some paths became a clear no go

I pretended it was fine and played with carefree abandon

Until the time I was dealt with another blow

It felt like the heavens were blind

To my ordeal, this painful night

Tears drained down my reflecting eyes

As I was stuck at the crossroads of life

But turning back and rotting in the same hell was not an option

So I chose another hell and moved on with more confidence

I fed my soul with a will to rise above the situation

And nurtured it till it became intimidating for everyone

Now I guess I feel peace for the first time in my life

But the feeling is unknown, so I detest it all the more

Little did I then know

That life is after all a zephyr

And I will be gently blown to my origin once more

What I left behind 3 years ago

Is now the only place where I am planning to go

Uncommon Love

2010-08-31T11:23:00.004+05:30

Having seen the ugliest of this world,
you still maintain your inner beauty
With the change in the swinging tides
You abide by your promised duty
The clasp of the universe tugs at you
But, you manage to stand steady
You strength is a matter of
joyous pride for many
In the shamed faces around you
You look unflinchingly
at every view
When the crowd rushes one way
You know there's another path for your day
People sing the same tune
But your melody stays immune
Were you born in an oyster, dear?
cause your might exudes no fear
Your story creates waves of lasting bliss
etched in the shining tales of mist

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

The sin that bursts

2010-07-10T13:13:00.003+05:30

A balloon string left the tiny palm
flying higher up with the soothing balm
It had the love of the wind
and the caress of the unending skies
Finding solace in the breezy heights,
it placed its faith in the blanket of clouds
Life was a slice of heaven
and the rainbow was its playmate in bliss
Who would've thought that the gullible balloon
was nearing its brutal end?
The very clouds it trusted gave rise to pain
They gathered close to the balloon
sapping all sunshine from its terrain
Scared, the balloon still held on to its faith
and bounced forward to embrace the clouds
Unknowing and in all innocence
it fell into the softly vicious clutches of death
Lightning struck and thunder rumbled
but the trusting string didn't let go
of the cloud's sickening hug
All it could feel was pure love
"I have been faithful and have served my master
Now I lay my soul in your vengeful lap
Deliver me from mortality," it said
The clouds gazed blankly at the open skies
as the broken string fell back
towards the earth's womb of fire.

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Incoherent profoundness

2010-06-03T16:58:00.010+05:30

The streets lined with dewy thoughts
Hazy people lost in the winding paths
Lamps burn dimly to accommodate turns
The day moves ahead with the dreamy-eyed lot
A song, I keep in my heart always
A smile to please my mind
Will it spill to the twilight?
Will it end in a nightmare?
The sign turns from red to green
I am asked to hurry ahead of my will
Confounding me with a question
Does life pursue you or you pursue life?
I leave myself behind, my alter ego leaps ahead
things had to go on, after all
Time & Tide wait for no man, they say
A Race against time gets stuck in my mind
I convince myself against my convictions
Smartness pays, I was told by a li'l birdie once
Definitions of the world rule
Leaving no space for freedom and creativity
When will the shackles break?
Who will be the saviour?
Kalyug, some call it
Whom to trust and when will it dawn?
I find solace in the soothing shadows of pretense for a while
Until it betrays me too
I decide to paint the skies red today
People start calling me insane
A doctrine is established
Fools reign over the trodden paths
Nostalgia strikes
Childhood divine
The trees, the breeze, the careless evenings
start caressing my sleepy eyes
I hold on to my soul mate's touch
and start delving in the dreams of never-ending thoughts

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Raging veils

2010-04-21T11:29:00.005+05:30

The kiln burned fiercely

In the shadow of her secrets

The earthy tones of the shady bricks

Set the perfect tone for a clandestine meet

As her soul flew and rested on a 3-clover leaf

He was waiting for her with a humble wish

Her eyes concealed what he had revealed

She had draped them in the shield of honour

He escaped the vulnerable moment

With a fumble or two

They decided to break all the rules

In the land of their kith

The sun rose to salute their conviction

And set the wind to fulfill their mission

Now the wandering eyes wait

For their timely return

But they have taken the

Never ending turn

Far away when you hear the bird cry

You’ll remember the tale of their haunting lives

Withering Tides

2010-04-05T13:15:00.012+05:30

How does a seed that's bred in the urban chaos
melt into the flower in the mirage out of nowhere?
In the karmic nonsense
why does the rose bloom in the desert of gloom?
Why is it granted a life full of thorns
when the others are arranged
in a bouquet of ferns?
When does the right time arrive
to decorate the sheet under a pillow of wreath?
Who is the only One
who will decide its fate?
What did it live for
if its dreams were meant to be a waste?

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Unforgettable

2010-03-13T11:44:00.008+05:30

I saw her waiting for someone at the doorstep every evening. Although she looked like an orphan, she strutted around with a dignified air. Once, I tried going close to her. The only thing that I noticed then, was the profound, distant look in her eyes. She saw me, yet she did not. It was one of those moments when I knew that retracing my steps would do me good. I felt those unspoken words in her cold, yet pleading glare, "Stay away from me."
I pondered over it. Did she really need me but was putting up a shroud of strength? Or was she too self-obsessed to allow people to get too close for comfort? I decided to wait.
I took refuge in secretly observing her every evening. I admired her from the glimpses that she allowed me to take.
Once, I caught her getting drenched in the downpour of the vengeant skies. She started shivering and looked so vulnerable. But, as the water melted her body and my heart, it started having a dramatic effect on her eyes. Those eyes that spoke without looking...the ones that hurt without meaning.... Those eyes...They were dead frozen.
I shuddered and thought of the worse. I moved towards her in a passionate haste. In the agony of the moment, I slipped and fell head-first on the rocky ground. My head started spinning and I found it difficult to get up. After a few minutes had passed, I managed to open my eyes only to check whether she was all right. But, the moment had arrived, the end was near.
The wheels of destiny hit me hard as the truck ran over my struggling body.
As I held on to my few last breaths, I saw her get up and start walking close to me. She licked my bleeding face profusely, apologising for the times she didn't acknowledge me... for the times that could have been.
In the final act, her enigmatic eyes finally melted as they met my dying sight.

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

In your arms... again

2010-02-08T16:37:00.008+05:30

She'd given me one last, accusing glance
For betraying her after so many years
But, I pretended not to see
and left with no tears
It was denial
I took shelter
in a southern nest
But at the bottom
of my heart
Her memories remained
She had told me a 23 year old story
in her final, piercing stare
Of how she was there with me always
& had witnessed those growing fears
Of how she'd healed my hurt thoughts
when I sat heartbroken in her loving lap
And on the tracks we'd shared
The laughter of the moonless nights
How she'd seen me through those ups & downs
Everyday she'd gifted me a whole new life
And now as I try hard to settle
The feathers still ruffle
A question troubles my mind
Why did I leave her?
She gave me all that she could
I don't belong here
Her heart is where I really do
The tears finally pour
as I realize how much she means to me
Every passing moment
All I can think about is her
My sweet memories... my first love
This I promise to you
That I'll come back once again
and find solace in your welcoming arms

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Blinding Memories

2009-12-21T15:31:00.006+05:30

I saw her lying lifeless

on the tracks of destiny

As I screamed for help

people passed by me callously

I knelt to hold her precious form

next to my crying heart

She chose not to say a word

even as I started falling apart

I first met her in the crowded train

when I asked her for a seat to share

We bonded instantly in many ways

and we started crossing paths everyday

Over an hour’s journey

she had opened her soul carelessly

Her wounds became mine

and in her smile, I found solace

As she got down at her destination

oblivious to the stares of the ugly world

She used her stick to tread carefully

and her sightless eyes opened a whole new universe

I was her guardian angel,

she had once told my surprised self

Only if she knew then

that she was always my silent strength

I miss her touch, her warmth and care

in the harshness of the inhuman days

I seek her soothing smell always

to erase the scorching thoughts away

Now, I keep her presence alive

as I pick one of the delicate flowers

that bloom in full glory

beside her enlightened grave

Winds of change

2009-11-17T11:09:00.006+05:30

The sun rose in the west
As the dark cloud was lifted
by the touch of a feathered friend
The potion of life was gifted again
I drank it on my last, dying breath

The winds started celebrating
the paths of eternal change
I was left speechless
As nature added words into my being
Now, where did the hurt go?
And where was the pain?

A new wave arose
washing away the sins off the shore
I started hearing the music
it touched my very core

A twist of destiny
A dose of faith
must've turned its magic wand
and I started believing in prayers

The winds of change are here again
And I hope they're going to stay
For the circle will keep moving
over thorns and roses
If only mine
wins the one with most posies

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

The Call of Black

2009-10-25T16:38:00.006+05:30

The deepest depths of every trench
The sharpest end of any dent
Of sinister crows and coal mines
Of witches pouring in dark signs
A night sky in the making
A soul-less fantasy awakening

The allure of black is back again

Axed lives struggling
to sew its ends

The noise of loath filling
inside your very sense
A pleasure it seems
In the guise of Sin
The stars are now clouding
The sky's pure realms again

Of twisted alleys
Running into maladies
Of thumps and beats
Hooking on to deserted streets
At the dusk of death’s stride
The call of BLACK comes alive

Tete-a-Tete

2009-10-05T14:10:00.002+05:30

Against the shadows of the inviting walls
In the depths of the angry calls
In uncertain ways
In hope and in faith
And then I met a stranger again

The crossroads widened
A choice had to be made
The worst beckoned
and everything became a blur
And then I met a stranger again

It pushed and shoved
until destiny cried tears of dirt
A smile looked like a nightmare
And then I met a stranger again

The cuts and bruises
re-ignited the passion to live
In so many ways
the candle was lit
And then I met a stranger again

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

The Elusive

2009-09-20T09:45:00.002+05:30

Found a piece of golden nugget
Ran deep in the trenches
to share it with your fate
But you shrank far away
You thought it was a gullible way
A lamb in the pack of foxy preys
When it got all grey
All I saw was a clear way
Ran deeper than the depths
to search for a glinting bay
In the mirage of truth
You gave in to sliding views

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Songs of dusk

2009-08-13T12:25:00.000+05:30

Of mystics and crackling dins
wandering in the lanes of grim
Amulets of the other world
shed beads moving with wobbly pearls

Of lanterns and shadows
casting a ritual spell
The string of existence
dangling in the mire of shame

Of gypsies and purple robes
charming with street-side magic
The shackles of barbed wires
cut with roses of fire

Of love lost and found
piercing the veil of the soul
The sparkling crystals
set loose with moments of desire

Of colourful noons
painting the landscapes of snow
The bells that ring
echo for ages to come.

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

How much does it cost?

2009-08-06T11:24:00.003+05:30

The world remains the way it wishes to
If you just let it be
The tears will fall
Lives will be lost
Hedonism will devour itself
Injustice will be meted out
And evil will triumph
But the scales can be tilted
with the snap of a finger
And everything can fall into place
By just biting into a li'l piece of peace.

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Floating

2009-08-03T14:36:00.006+05:30

Started with a blank slate
Decided to splash shades of drama
A hue here, a cry there
The emotions lay naked
like the newly-wed frankness

A banal plane
peppered with yes and no
Sliced through life
making it just right

The inconceivable happened
It was waiting just around the corner
just waiting there... to boo me
yet make my very day

It ended up taking charge
of my disoriented life
The world changed the way
it looked at me
While I jauntily sprinted
It followed me cheerfully

I left the reins
and took charge of a bigger game
every season, every reason
now seemed to be only mine.

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Mosaic of vagueness

2009-07-29T12:30:00.002+05:30

Grim lake. Mystical face

Desire to touch. A revolting thought.

Ran backwards. Breezed past the forest.

Fell in the ditch. Got up and flew.

Touched Cloud 9. Dived back to Earth.

Hugged all of them. Swam into the depths.

Blurred faces. Memories ensued.

Hammers of reality. Thud Thud Thud.

Melted hearts. Catapulted moments

Footprints of hope. Mesmerizing thoughts.

Painted dots and lines. Got stuck with greasy palms.

Superseded envy. De-glamourized life.

Black and white. Specks of truth.

Muffled pause. Laughter.

Dark Room

2009-07-13T10:02:00.011+05:30

The cobwebs of last night

linger on threateningly

While the dusty memories

refuse to budge

You wait for

the godforsaken light

The only welcome you get

is the cold, glaring sight

A frozen dew

keeps you company

In the midst of skeletons

you look for a sign of life

It disappoints you, yet again

with sinister delight

A wail, a scream

and you are back to reality

The blood-churling dream

was a far-off realm

Small print

2009-06-24T10:31:00.019+05:30

The page turned
A new chapter had begun
The quill of luck
wrote my tale

A fable, an epic
or sonnets of praise?
It wondered aloud
and let the ink grace

The perfumed words
stirred the raging sheets
Frozen thoughts
engulfed the simmering fire in me

The rose stamped
a lasting impression
on the page
Autumn had now shed
its sordid face

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

For my Guru

2009-06-15T10:11:00.003+05:30

Words fall short to describe the One
He who stops the wind
with the will of a storm
The One who serves Him
gets a taste of Heaven
In the chaos of life
he makes things right
I wonder how He entered
my mortal frame
He became the balm
to soothe my pain
The thorns were thrown
out of my path
He gently erased
my difficult past
He taught me
the Art of Living
I cherished it
so as to last
Even when I left his abode
I realized he had shared
with me a secret so precious
I sealed it in my
newly blossomed heart
As I carry it each day
with gratitude
a sincere wish arises
A wish to share it
with the rest
But something stalls
It is not meant to be
He has chosen me
for a purpose unknown
Time alone will tell
what I have to do
Till then, I keep basking
in the glow of his Divine Grace

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Li'l more

2009-06-14T18:19:00.002+05:30

For the first time
I heard dew drops speak
I woke up to a misty morning
with a whole new marvel
The unending seas dived
into my open soul
A star arose
from the bottom of the hole
Deepened blushes coloured my heart
A true lie descended
on a rocky path
I payed obeisance
to the binding thread
in its very being
it shroud the vastness of free thoughts.

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Play-pen

2009-06-02T13:00:00.005+05:30

I entered the life-sized gameboard
sitting on the dice of hope and faith
It was rolled into a gamble
moving into spaces and nets
The deal was made
I was cut out for the players
With the wins and losses
sealing my eternal fate

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Flickering spots of intrigue

2009-05-21T11:19:00.010+05:30

Interwoven dreams
enmeshed in many realms
opened the veil
of forgotten days

Injecting a dose of nostalgic spurt
refusing to acknowledge the past that hurt
Psychedelic thoughts
amplify the lot

In a maze that glows
with the halo of crows
A crusader crouches
under the burden of fate
Alchemists pour the
elixir of hate

A kitsch of expressions
A canvas of exceptions
Understating the context
The question gets christened
An answer is sought
to perplex its onslaught.

Excerpt from a soul

2009-05-09T15:13:00.003+05:30

“When the night is awake, I often wonder – what is happiness all about...
...Is it defined by your qualification, wealth, power, health and fame?
Or is the “so-called worthless things” that make life worth living – things like unexpected love, innocent smiles and noble gestures?

I wouldn’t know.

Life happens to us without our will
Coming from nothingness and melting into nothingness.
Then who makes the rules that place us in a certain category in society?
Who decides what is right and what is not?
What’s the correct way to live life?
And what the hell is idealism?

Well, I wouldn’t know.

Do we need to have a purpose in life?
A timetable planned by our limited hands to
keep us going against the tide.
And are we ever satisfied?

I couldn’t care less.”

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

One among many firsts

2009-05-06T12:09:00.002+05:30

My first non-poetic text on the blog.
I mulled a lot over the topic that could be the One, till I decided to do what I can best: write spontaneously about what I feel.

I am sitting in the sprawling campus of the Art of Living Headquarters in Bangalore and am pondering about life: about the many ways of living it. How black and how white is every life! Or is it full of grays?

A beggar who awaits the generous hand at every signal, whose priority in life is to make Rs. 40 a day and sleep peacefully at night, if the cops permit. The one, who smiles more genuinely than any being in the urban jungle and doesn’t have to think twice before doing the full Monty while dancing on the street.

A businesswoman; taking her luxuries for granted, she plans her entire day only to mess up the schedule and take back home a parcel from Pizzeria and a Gucci, bagful of worries.

A student delving in books, the one who believes that all the mugging up is going to help him make a mark in life and deal with the situations thrown at him.

An apprentice, who is picking the ropes of the corporate world, gradually moving from idealism to reality. He, who blows away his smart-earned money, clubbing and making it the truth of his existence.

A mother, whose sole goal is to watch the soaps on TV and add some melodrama to her mundane routine.

A pair of Siamese twins, getting separated without their will.

A Tibetan monk, devoting his entire life to the cause of peace.

A clerk, whose most ambitious dreams include owning a two-wheeler.

A politician in the midst of a controversy… an author who is striving to create a niche… a prostitute living by the nights… a divorcee in need of a spouse… an unemployed man looking for a lead… a chef rolled up in his dishes… a social worker living for the rest… a fanatic giving vent to his faith…

Numerous lives; innumerable outlooks. Who is to say which one is right and wrong? Who cares whether you waste it or spend it wisely?
Is there free-will or just destiny? Is your reality an illusion for someone else? Is the creator just pulling the strings of your puppet-like mortal form?

I left my thoughts dangling in mid-air and continued walking towards the truth of my time.

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Rewinded romance

2009-05-03T16:43:00.007+05:30

Looking in the mirror today
It reflected our memories
Entangled fingers, musical sojourns
A trip to heaven and back to mirth
Mystical wanderings,
a brush with fantasy
Snowy mazes,
pure gazes
The moon lit with passion
The heart beating with imagination
The virgin smile
An angel’s crime
I looked on wistfully
As the conversation with our vivid past
Froze in the prism of this measly glass

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Noose of hope

2009-04-16T09:54:00.004+05:30

Wilted petals shed tears of reddened hues
Glass veils attempt to cover the brittle feelings that ensue
A caricature imitates life
as the clown pretends to lie
In the kitschy ways of truth
let's find a new view
Will it last another moment?
Asks a frightened you
Within minutes of thought
solace is sought
The memories come alive
as the reds merge with
chiseled whites

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Musing

2009-04-01T10:01:00.008+05:30

Felt the little dew drops

brimming the eyes

The secret of the night

stripping in that sight

Ensconced in muddled views

it learned to see anew

As it shed the layered garb

he sins were torn apart

Something stirred

to the point of no return

in the parody of the world

it hung like a pristine canvas

waiting to be used

Opinionated hues brushed

against its crux

The voices of the rest

made a dent on its heart

The dew drops fell once more

and touched the earth's soul

Under the pretext of living

it began the chant of its own funeral

Beyond insignificance

2009-03-18T12:11:00.004+05:30

Limping towards the alluring fantasies

A thread broke to erase all boundaries

In the heart of its mystical form

It embodied a maddeningly melting song

Lurking clumsily at every corner

stood a myopic view of the same, old loner

A warring queen charged ahead

Pushing that scene behind all beings

Flames of ecstasy burnt alive

To embellish the symbol of haunting pride

Flights of fallacy

2009-03-12T11:06:00.003+05:30

Would love to fool you
with every thought
Take you on a ride
to nowhere in particular
Mesmerize you in the
entangling web of lies
Feel your depths
with shallow heights
Entice you
with exotic delight
Show you dreams
in magical disguise
Come with me,
for a trip awaits you
we will be enchanted
in the hour of deceit

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Be...

2009-03-01T21:37:00.004+05:30

The thorns continued pricking
until I found a rosy bed on your shoulders
Everything seemed so true when
my eyes met yours in wonder
Once dusk stole me away from the shiny day
but you came right away,
Oh yes you were always there
Your fingers touched my hair
it made me sway
My heart skipped a beat
when you heard my prayer
In a moment of fire
you made my passions freeze
I looked at the desert
It turned into a breeze
Wished for the horizons
Met only thee
Then I would question
Now I just let it be

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Message in the bottle

2009-02-17T16:15:00.003+05:30

The waves went on a flirting spree with the sand
as we left behind footprints
and started walking closer towards “us”
The reflection smiled back
Giving a face to our deepest feelings
We touched and then we stopped
The language of love made itself heard
They called it paradise
We were on a trip higher than that
Shells carried with them
The profoundness of calm
The silent glances fitted well with
the playfulness of the moment
A passionate message rested coyly
at the bottom of his heart
It made its way to mine
In the shape of a flowery start
The tone was right
The emotions were perfect
I etched it gently
In my memory to last
I knew I owed him my life
For his care and loving thoughts
Our souls were one
In that instant of bliss
Words failed, glimpses swayed
Emotions ebbed and flowed
What remained alone was our
rendezvous in silence

Fiery eyes

2009-02-04T09:55:00.006+05:30

Passionate desires forge
a lease to ride
on the flying carpet and higher
A licence to feel
gives the freedom to
melt the trials on the pyre
A stinging world
glares at the purity
denying it an identity
In a funnel of paradoxes
intuition filters out the non-existent
making a pathway
for a journey towards nothingness
A cipher is here to stay
Starting from zilch
and ending with nil
taking with it the depths
of lifetimes and many more to come

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Whiff of intimacy

2009-01-25T20:24:00.002+05:30

When the lock closed all hope
The light decided to reveal itself through the keyhole
Cupid entered at the most unearthly hour
I played along, secretly wishing it dead
It charmed its way into a cosy corner
I was struck by the arrow
Before I could wander
The damage was done,
There was no exit
When the script was written by an eternal Director
I guess I just had to surrender and play my silly part
So, a lover was christened
And destiny served itself on a silver platter
A stone was transformed against its will
Into petals of smooth romance
The nectar was finally poured
Into a vase meant for poison

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Withering bloom

2009-01-19T09:50:00.005+05:30

When autumn arrives
before its pretty time
A tryst with fate
decides that the light won't glow
The voice is no longer there
The touch has gone
The power that created
has cruelly burnt it all
The earth has borne testimony
to its last breath of mortality
The heart that once beat
has ceased to be loved
But, from the depths
of the engulfing fire
the soul awakens
like the phoenix that rises
from the ashes in the urn
It sings the song of life
for the ones who truly cared
Instilling new hope
and answering their prayers
A constellation appears
out of nowhere in the dark
Bidding them goodbye
but with a silent cry
Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Stapled planes

2009-01-18T11:49:00.006+05:30

A thoughtless feeling
Heartfelt thoughts
pasted by the glue
of mind-numbing lots

The brittle lives
fly slowly away
The rugged mind
stays put in its place

A check here
A cross there
stamps upon
all the future ways

Melancholy seals
the fate of the innate
Racing ahead
It immolates its hell

Mud-slinging trysts
cripple time
Timelessness heals
but with a prick
from the past

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

The Inner Chase

2009-01-04T20:49:00.006+05:30

Their eyes zeroed in on me

burning my insides with ferocity

I winced and whimpered

as the thoughtful sphere boiled in a

cauldron of wrath

The pieces of the puzzle

started falling apart

The grey cloud clawed

at the flicker of silver lining

A zig-zagged end was sure to

the seemingly smooth beginning

But my Guru was born

in the midst of it all

like the striking light

in the womb of a storm

The unyielding power

was gifted by foresight

Metamorphosis happened

with a breath of evidence

The ambiguity was now clear

The Master stayed hidden until I steered

the wheels of craze and

pushed the confusing maze

The inherent was always ready

to be met with a garland of grace

Barcoded identity

2008-12-27T11:51:00.009+05:30

Imprisoned thoughts

Cobwebs of blots

The curse of monotony

The labyrinth of fast money

Insecurity in peace

and love in menace

The irony lives

The paradox believes

The new world is in

The real is a sin

Glory to the darkness

Hail the path of mess

Twisting the mundane

The corrupt is let to reign

Squashing freedom as

a device of disdain

The individual is a parasite

living on others' might

Where is the one?

Where is the I?

We are all lost

in the convincing shadow of a lie

Karmic Grooving

2008-12-15T11:21:00.010+05:30

The rock and roll of life and death,
the snazzy tones of manipulative heads
The nasty bites, the loving fights
The stars than shine, the night that whines
The remixed world of material and the spiritual
The unchanging entity of our inner being
The disco lights of a higher feeling
The skies that break into a knowing smile
The touch of dawn and caress of dusk
The wilderness of the confusion and musk
The pretty flower felicitating the earth
The fire that engulfs the coal in its mirth
Circling the ghosts of past lives in here
Crystal globes stick to the air of tears
The universal DJ is mixing the vibes
The stage is yours, the stage is mine
Wear on your celestial attire
For the spirit will endure
and the heart will abide
We are puppets jiving to
the immortal's whims
The world is an asylum
where the insane will win
Let the hair down and the soul free
Revelation will come when purity leads

Reminiscence

2008-12-13T19:49:00.007+05:30

Broken chains

Molten brains
Mortal depths
Mystical haste
A pinch of salt
and a dash of pepper
Extremes lose their shades
Infinity wins over the faded haze
Creation surpasses destruction
The river continues to flow
Logs follow it to the shore
The countdown has begun
An inconspicuous revolution awaits
The lamp post announces
"Work in Progress"
A light descends slowly
breaking the ground softly
The half is getting wholesome
The diverse is nearly united
Mist and fog embrace
the clarity of dawn
It's the time to move on
As he rightly said once
to my pristine mind
Life is all about "Moving on...
moving on... moving on."

Copyright©RiddhiManiar

Prismatic vision

2008-12-07T14:51:00.003+05:30

The feather settled on my eyes
I sealed it with a flutter
For a moment of sensuousness
Nature’s heart skipped a beat

Wandering through the weary woods,
a prayer stopped me in its breath
Intoxicating my being with amplified chants
It dissolved the hate and fear

Fishing for the minnow of reality
I dived into a river of bliss
Swimming across my thoughts
I drowned my eternal tear

The creeper enticed me seductively
Allowing my intuition to cling on to the source
The trees bowed together
Revering me ever so dear

The odyssey had just started
A mirage awaited in full bloom
Splendour graced the occasion
And the reflection cracked a joke
in the mirror of life’s seers

Herald the Omen and Amen!

2008-11-29T19:22:00.002+05:30

The pendulum struck hell
The inferno blasted from the shell
The forest trapped the tame in a hollow ditch
The wild were set free in the urban kitsch
The reins were loosened
The masked souls had the last laugh
Freedom was up for sale as they conquered the past
The moment was forced to become an auspicious knell
Tick Tock Tick went the tell-tale
The blood was shed
The gore was made
Apathy brewed in the cauldron's depths
The potion got spilled
The voice was sealed
Darkness was here
Black made a nasty move
The pleasure of death
allured more than we let
We fret, we hate, we get
Now, life stops laying its foolish bet

Clouded musings

2008-11-16T08:52:00.002+05:30

A lighthouse in the middle of a stormy sea
A lone tree withstanding the ire of the wind
The passion of the cosmos works with fury
snatching away the essence of its very glory
The grip of the unknown juxtaposed with the familiar
holds in its fingers the enigma of this world
A blessing in the disguise of wrath
The time is here, the time is now
Get smitten by the poisonous kiss of life
The venom is poured like nectar
and the gods have decided to rest
But the peck still enchants
the forbidden fruit has still not rotted
The artificiality is so real
Pleasure triumphs over happiness
The uncertain is sure
to sweep the world off its feet today

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Dew drops, bubbles, waves and more...

2008-11-07T13:36:00.002+05:30

The silent joys of witnessing simplicity,
A smile engulfing humanity
A pup making its way into the heart
with a wag to end your start
A touch of thoughtfulness
that adds to the sway

When the sound of your breath
can heal a soul's death
the tangible gives way to
accommodate love's stay

The walls crumble
with a gentle fall
The river runs
to dissolve fearsome hauls

Fishing for the right feeling
tends to becomes clear
Noise becomes music to the very ears
And harshness hits you like a
feather caressing your tears

The world is as simple as A,B,C
then why do we adults just refuse to see?

An ode to her

2008-10-23T17:16:00.003+05:30

She encouraged me to make an identity

when the others had none
She bore the brunt of my devilish rage

for no apparent reason

She smiled and moved on

Her mission was to make me strong

She gave me the key to this locked world

I threw it in the trunk that lies buried in the wrecked seas

She extended her arms and caressed my limiting self

I pulled apart, for my embarrassment was bigger than her feelings

I took her for granted

Cut the umbilical cord cruelly at my own will

I pretended to be worldly-wise

and discarded her advice

Now I lie hurt, insecure and vulnerable

For she was right all along

I'm afraid to face my reflection every day

Yet I can only see acceptance in those loving eyes

I didn't know the world was so harsh

I refused to acknowledge her wisdom

So, I ready myself to pay the price

But she will not see me suffer

She removes the rocks from my path

and finds a way out of nowhere

She gives me a gentle push

and asks me to look ahead

Today, the world looks at me the way it does

only because you refused to compromise

Mum, to say that I love you

would be degrading you to mere words

which were again taught to me by

your patient heart

I fight back my tears
and the least I can do is
place you on the pedestal

above our all-knowing God

White makes a comeback

2008-10-20T13:25:00.001+05:30

The olive twig was stamped upon
The dove was painted with tar
The streets were filled with splashes of red
until nobody recognized who they were
The void was larger than
what the crystal globe could take
The shallowness of it all
gave voice to a twisted fate
Till the day came and divinity arrived
The light shone at the end of the tunnel
Like the phoenix arising out of the ashes
the world transformed itself again
There was hope, light and love now
Heaven descended its warm arms
The unexpected happened
and took them by a peaceful surprise

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Sweet Love

2008-10-08T14:12:00.002+05:30

He gently knocked upon the door of my thoughts
I opened my rusted mind to be met
by his questioning gaze
The lost canvas of time suddenly whispered in my ears
"Where have you been all this while?"
We embraced each other
Our past,present and future melted in caring arms
His uninvited visit turned out to be
the silver lining of hope I yearned for
I held on to it
like the clouds clinging to the sky
Paradise showed its pretty head
for a moment of bliss and rest
But, the time had come for him to go
The hourglass had started before we could say no
I bid him a cheerful farewell, for I knew
Our souls would cross paths in an illusion once again.

Aura

2008-09-18T15:00:00.001+05:30

She was the iridescent star of the sky
Dazzling and bewitching was her eternal glow
But one day, she dared to dream
And, dream she did
to meet the royal Sun in
broad daylight
with the light shining ever
so bright
The clouds overshadowed her
for her foolish pursuit
The crescent moon smirked
at her naivety
She winced and flickered
and for a moment,
took the colour of the pale night
In their malicious eyes,
she had accepted defeat
But the desire refused to wane
That night, her soul shone
till the Universe was awakened
She was now unleashed
Lightning and thunder ran to seek refuge
in the void space
The rainbow gushed forward
and poured forth on her the hues of destiny
so that when the twilight resurfaced
She came alive in its very being
Yes, she did
The Sun welcomed her with a ray of hope
and gave her what she finally deserved

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

The Last Rites

2008-08-27T12:35:00.001+05:30

I saw my lifeless form
lying on the couch
My heart tried to beat
but it was stopped with a shout
My feelings were numbed down
with insensitive remarks
Hell, why was I even
trying to breathe?
The world was in the
fast forward mode
They skipped past me
when I cried tears of coal
I was forced to speak
when I preferred no words

I decided to live
and froze a triumphant smile
I deceived them and how
I fixed my soul
with screws and bolts
I drowned my feelings
with a wretched arm
Ah! Now, they noticed me
Finally, I was one of them
I played along
with a professional's charm

I booked myself for murder
I killed the real me
But they celebrated my new form
and let me believe it's to be

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Outburst

2008-08-22T16:58:00.001+05:30

On a cathartic trip,
the monotonous ink
spills out on a virginal sheet of paper
Flaming words pierce its depths
with an archer's deft skill
Underlying cobwebs get dusted
and good riddance to bad rubbish
suddenly starts making sense
But the dark blot of a feeling remains
as hard as it attempts to stray
It fears to be in an open book
with neither a mask nor practiced pretense
to hide its pretty head
The tears are shed
followed by hysterical laughter
The emotions are for all to see
The whiteness of the paper
pales with skeletons in the closet
tumbling down one after the other

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Eloquent chaos

2008-07-23T16:24:00.001+05:30

A question mark started the story
An exclamation ended it
The comma couldn't stop making
a grand entrance and
the full stop transformed itself
into a full-blown ellipse
The bracket decided to
re-invent itself as the parenthesis
The alphabet proclaimed that
the word was over-rated
The sentence refused to end itself
and the paragraph indented pompously
The asterisk cried out loud
as being the most mis-pronounced
whereas the hyphen asked to be
given more space in this claustrophobic medley
The apostrophe groaned under
the weight of accuracy
The plural distanced the singular
as figures of speech made their mark
Conjunctions decided to break away
and adjectives clung to every noun out of fear
The insecurities rose
the z's became zees
The tale ended here
as Oxford went off to sleep
But the alphabets and grammar
have promised to show their
precise heads tomorrow again!

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Vertical Horizons

2008-07-13T16:39:00.001+05:30

The skies opened up
and the soft fingers of the clouds
guided me southwards
I followed this heavenly sign
and got closer to my destination
My heart cried silent tears
as the memories of dear ones
blurred and became distant
They all said they'll miss me
One or two of them really meant it
I didn't say I'll miss them
but I pray for them every night
Fate loves pulling the strings
on our puppet-like mortal forms
But I defied fate this time
and cut the thread-like binding cord
I ran towards a new road
and created my own diversions
Now, the grass definitely looks
greener on my side of the road

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Christening the future

2008-07-01T13:36:00.001+05:30

I look at the lines on my palm,
the fate lines they say
I watch my thoughts give shape to
every curve, every contour

I'll craft my own destiny
I'll chart my own path

Because life does not come with a map
and we aren't provided with a compass

I will create a road
where there is none
I will prove to myself
that I am better than my past

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Irony

2008-06-29T09:37:00.001+05:30

A restless pursuit
A deviant goal
that made me its slave
Only to realize
that my master didn't exist

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Judgement Day

2008-06-25T17:42:00.002+05:30

The stage is set
for the grand jury
Tonight they'll meet;
The lie and the truth
They'll both be tried
before 12 cautious eyes

Now, the truth stands in the witness box
and speaks the truth
The lie shrouded in grey
smirks at the truth
The walls of the court
echo with silent whispers
The judge takes a stand
and strikes down the hammer

The truth meets the lie
in its wretched eyes
and they exchange
a battle of looks
The truth makes a point
and steps down with pride
The lie trundles along
to face the judge's wrath

The lie is questioned
until it is tortured
The truth sits behind
with a relaxed posture

The jury makes a decision
and the judge takes his seat
With hesitant speech
he starts proclaiming

The truth held guilty
will get a lifer
The lie being innocent
will get something lighter

Well, isn't that the story of the whole damn truth?

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

White magic woman

2008-06-22T11:53:00.001+05:30

The mirror is glistening
New-born stars sparkle above it
The lady rises out of the sea
when the Sun decides to pay a warm obeisance
She moves with grace
gliding through the disturbed waves
And as she radiates her heavenly charm
the land of mortals brims with violent calm
She feels like silk
and gushes forward like milk
White magic woman, where did you come from?
Did the clouds mould your form
and the rainbow your heart?
For the world doesn't believe in you anymore
There's no time to feel, none to think
A pebble emanates more life than any human being
Why did you come now?
You don't belong here
The deep blue waters beckon you
Go back, for your abode lies there
Why don't you listen?
Why do you walk towards me?
There's no such thing as magic
and faith lies beneath our feet
But you defy your appearance
with a strong iron will
You decide to stay
and mould our wicked paths
Goddess of the other world,
we are forced to get ready
so that you can touch our lives
and sprinkle it with ethereal balm

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Void

2008-06-05T00:30:00.001+05:30

My thoughts are visual
I'm trying hard to look for words
but they continue to elude me
Symbols, pictures, icons and feelings
Where is the sentence?
Where is the coherence?
Lines deceive my mind
Illusions surround it
The world is going straight
while I'm going around in circles
That brings another vague thought to my mind
Like the chicken and egg
what came first, visuals or words?

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Voluptuous moments

2008-05-22T11:15:00.001+05:30

When you least expect it, providence strikes like lightning
and life takes a 360 degree turn
Every second becomes more significant than the last
The world is no longer moving too fast
What was once an illusion is now a reality
Amongst the chaos, there's newfound clarity
Unpredictability rules
yet you don't feel like a fool
Is this feeling momentary?
Or will it hang on to me till the cemetery?

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Random clarity

2008-05-13T12:11:00.001+05:30

I wonder why do I find solace in a stranger's eyes
when my own look distant and cold?

Why can't humans press CTRL Z and get rid of persisting memories
when a man-made machine gets the privilege to?

Where do I belong if it's a democracy
amidst restrictions and social norms?

Do we interpret people the way they are meant to be
or is the world a farcical plot laid by a conspiring God?

What's the whole purpose of living life
when a rock is granted a stoned and peaceful existence too?

Why do I seek answers
when the questions are futile?

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

On your mark... get set...

2008-05-05T11:20:00.001+05:30

I refuse to participate;

Care a damn about unstable ladders of superficial prosperity

The rat race just keeps on growing

And I refuse to be just a number;

Guinea pigs in the wretched laboratory of corporatisation

Helpless puppets dancing to the tune of infernal competition

Well, I refuse to win;

The prize dangling like a serpent offering the apple of eternal fame

I refuse to lose too;

The socially embedded fear lurking behind like a shadow

Let me GO

but at my own pace

because life's nothing

but a me versus myself race

Word-wise

2008-04-30T18:57:00.002+05:30

A word, strewn carelessly
can mess up one's destiny
Be careful; my friend
for words well thought
can change a lot
Frame them well
like a pearl in a shell
For a word has the power
to shake a tower

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Flow

2008-04-29T20:29:00.001+05:30

A 3 clovered leaf left its safe abode on a branch of a tree
to explore the myriad forms of nature
The pristine lake beckoned it
As the leaf answered the call,
it glided through the surface of the lake
making a light impression on its first visit

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

Missing

2008-04-19T22:00:00.000+05:30

I lost my ego today

Did you come across it?

It's dressed in a black hood;

is huge and intimidating

It walks with a stagger

and talks like a dagger

Maybe I should look for it in your reflection

and regain the friction

or better still,

get used to living without it.

Malleable innocence

2008-04-10T21:07:00.001+05:30

Children, like flowers need to be tended with care.
Shower too much of nourishment
and they start to wilt;
Leave them unattended
and add to the sprouting of the weeds

They say that a young branch takes in all the bends one gives to it
They say that a young branch takes in all the bends one gives to it

So, let the sun shine right and the rains spare their might
Let no seed grow into an overpowering height
The bud will bloom when given the right
Then, life will dazzle clear and bright

They say that a young branch takes in all the bends one gives to it

Colour me bright

2008-03-07T20:53:00.001+05:30

Colours that breathe;

Colours that treat

Sparkling hues

to drive away your blues

Tints and shades

to soothen your gaze

The world is radiant... open your eyes

Now, the rainbow looks like a spectrum of lies

Ideas Unlimited

2008-02-10T12:56:00.001+05:30

Wishing upon a li'l star

I want to take my thoughts afar

Aspiring eyes; a childish urge

To paint the world with my mind's brush

The straight path, I refuse to follow

The untrodden, induces me hollow

I dream by day

and live by night

So much so, dreamer's my middle name now

My heart bleeds...

2008-01-04T23:06:00.002+05:30

Give me a blank sheet of paper
I want to splash it with shades of crimson and black;
Drench it with passionate fury
and allow no hue to lack
Let every stroke overlap another
and form a whole new track
of infinite passion and knack.
Oh! My heart bleeds to feel
the texture of endless shreds of whiteness
manifested into a marvel too real!

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

The Only One

2008-01-03T12:03:00.001+05:30

Hi. My name is Uno.

Some call me Number One

Being the head of the number family

I have many connotations

Ek, 1, A, I,

Un, Una,

Indefinite Article,

Individual, Egotist,

Self- Centric, Independent,

Solo, Single

Prime, Odd,

A Loner though I am,

You need me when you begin

and you keep coming back to me

I make my mark by being a class apart

Drops of Joy

2008-01-03T11:52:00.004+05:30

A conch sets the stage
for the symphony of the waves
The ebb and flow of the tide
create a melody in its
swirling contours

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

The Quill

2008-01-03T11:40:00.001+05:30

Night is when the poet in me arises

and spills itself on paper

The sacred act of my pen touching

the sheet of white canvas

is a ceremony

to which the stars and the moon

are witnesses

S.O.S (Selling Our Souls)

2007-12-17T11:25:00.001+05:30

Welcome to the land of "Fake-it-all"

You either play by the rules

or you fall

Where Plastic relationships... flattery... air kissing... shallow laughter are in vogue

A bank balance that speaks volumes and intentions that run skin deep

Where Confused parents pass on a distorted future to Gen-Next

And Teachers guide students with the lamp of politics

Blow the trumpet and lay the red carpet for the Devil

The Gods are stowed away in the confines of the four walls !

Save your soul before the hammer goes down on the auction table!

Imprint

2007-08-03T13:13:00.001+05:30

Would you like to leave a mark on the surface of my life
or etch yourself indelibly deep within?
Maybe, you will pay a visit to my soul like a feather flying by
or if you really care you will make a place for yourself
in the deepest recesses.
Come, touch my life

Pouring love

2007-07-02T12:26:00.001+05:30

The rains are here
drenching me in the endless love of the
infinite sky
The pitter patter of nature's bounty
gushes my emotions
and makes me cry

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

No....Yes

2007-06-04T22:26:00.001+05:30

It's a journey
everyone has to make it
learning to say yes
from the relucant no
as we take on a world of responsibilities.
They all say you can be what you want to
But what they don't say
is that you have to compromise
Yes... oh yes
we all have to travel from
the strong I Don't... to a feeble I Do
till we bow down to the stubborn will of this
wretched world
that engulfs us in its materialistic mania.
Here it is ... Yes

Copyright@RiddhiManiar

GOD

2007-06-04T22:04:00.001+05:30

GOD,
You are an artist
You paint the world with strokes of life and death
Oh, I know you God
You are a sculptor
Moulding forms in the texture of the earth
And, you are an engineer
You have carefully designed the framework of nature
and its many seasons
You are a cobbler
With the many tools you use to mend broken relationships
You are a surgeon
Carefully operating on the depths of mortal limitations
You are a plumber
Fixing the leaks in our wicked hearts
And, you are an accountant
What with the tally of our vices and virtues that you keep
I love you God
You are me and I am you