Evening Walks

I remember those evening walks,

like they were yesterday.

You talked about

anything and everything.

My words were quiet,

my anxiety louder.

And after dealing with

that bullied and lonely girl.

The day, like a drab and dull canvas

devoid of the colors of joy.

But under the setting sun,

the tropical breeze,

and the sound of the evening Azan

As the sky lost its color

My life, came to life.

So I would put away the knife

farther away from my wrist

and ask myself to last a little longer

for this,

this smell of freedom

and the happiness that we cooked

out of your oblivious words

and my life’s miserybook.

and we would weave a pretty tale,

out of the fragments of your imagination

and my need to escape.

And you would set me free

with irony of your jokes

and your airy laughter,

I would dissolve in the moment

Impervious of what came after.

And as we walked on,

one step after the other,

I would listen to your voice

and brave on further.

 

Because in that blend

of evening air and “almost there”

Happiness was free,

And so were you and me.

 

 

 

AAI

[This poem is dedicated to my aai(mother) for holding on to me even when all I did was push her away. I had a hard time growing up and I am glad you were by my side. I may not say it so often but sorry and thank you for being there for me. love you.]

I have too many faults, aai.

My qualities seem less and bare.

I swear to you I try hard, aai.

But my good deeds are often rare.

 

I want to make you proud, aai.

But sometimes it just doesn’t work.

I may be naïve and careless, aai.

But I have my cons and perks.

 

I know I make you upset, aai.

Do you ever cry because of me?

Maybe I am just not enough, aai.

But I will be as good as I can be.

 

I know I have been delinquent, aai.

I am holding on to a short rope.

But spare me just this once, aai.

For I am just trying to cope.

By: Vaishnavi A. Bendre

Fleeting Moments of Happiness

I wish we had more time

And these fleeting  moments of happiness

that seemed to last an eternity

Proved to be too short for this heart of mine.

Your memories do not haunt me.

They grace my dreams

Like the first ray of sunshine

That glistens upon the streams.

I do not see your face in the clouds

But your laughter still echoes in the mountains

And though, I do not say it aloud

Your love pains me in the most beautiful way

I told you I would cross a thousand oceans for you

but some promises are just too hard to keep.

So there is no one else to blame but me

When  I hear “Leave a message after the beep”.

BY: Vaishnavi A. Bendre

 

Sweater

You are the sweater

that gets me through the day.

Keeps the warmth in,

and locks the cold away.

 

You are the only thing

that reminds me of home.

Protects me from this harsh world

and holds me when i am alone.

 

But you see, this sweater

sometimes gives me an itch.

But I’ve been with it for what seems like a lifetime

so it is the last thing i will ever ditch.

By Vaishnavi Bendre

Reach

Reach up high,

Make this world your canvas.

Try to let go of your weaknesses,

To make your dreams last.

By and by time will go

I hope you strengthen, flourish and grow.

There will be ups and downs in your path.

You will have to face life’s wrath.

But have the courage to reach for the peak

And you will achieve the goals that you seek.

By: Vaishnavi A. Bendre

(AN: I dedicate this poem to Alfian as I wrote for him on his birthday. Wish you all the best!)

Way beyond the red riding hoods

Lost somewhere in these woods,

Way beyond the red riding hoods.

Lays  a wolf, crying.

Crying for his home that is vanishing.

Thinking of the waters

that once were pure.

Thinking about the trees

That once provided shelter.

Trees being cut down

Prey being shot out.

With no food

With no forest

With no home

With no hope

Lost somewhere in these woods

Way beyond the red riding hoods

Lays a wolf, dying.

By: Vaishnavi Bendre

CHANGE

We used to have so much to speak.

We used to have so much to say.

Now we sit in vacant silence

And stare in dismay.

Whose fault was it?

Yours or mine?

But let’s just forget about it

And move on with our lives.

You changed,

I did too.

You found new people to hang out with

And I didn’t really need you.

We chatted,

We talked.

But our minds and hearts

Were miles apart.

Nowadays, every time you look at me

I see betrayal and spite.

Makes me wonder

Makes me worry.

Do I not treat you right?

Because I thought you found someone

Way better than me.

I thought you were happy with her

Or is it not what I  see?

I am sick of your meaningless façades

Have they served you right so far?

Do they make you happy?

Do they make you feel like a star?

But don’t you see?

That isn’t you.

They are all lies

Without an ounce of truth.

Makes me wonder,

Makes me think.

But no matter how hard I try

I strive to find a link.

Can you think it over?

Do you think your ways can change?

Or are you already past that border?

Way beyond the range.

Don’t you ever think you took a wrong step?

Don’t you ever feel regret?

Or are you happy with what you became?

Are you satisfied with what you get?

You talk in codes these days

Wondering if I get a hint.

And then your tone alters

Before I can even blink.

I can always advice you

But I can never force.

I can only urge you

To change your current course.

Change is necessary,

Change is needed.

But a step in the wrong direction.

Must always be heeded.

By: Vaishnavi Bendre.

(Author’s Note: We often have those friends in live who once were very dear to us. Though, our life often drags us apart. We grow up in different surroundings and that has a huge impact on our lives. We often drift apart and don’t know each other the way we used to but I think that is just how life works. Strangers become friend and friends become strangers. Everyone changes, some for good and the others for bad but you can’t always blame them for that because it is influenced by the events that happen around them. I make mistakes and I am sorry for them.

Therefore, this poem is dedicated to those friends that drifted apart from me due to certain consequences we had to face. I am sorry, but I cannot keep fighting for something that does not exist anymore. I can pretend but not restore what is long lost.)

Survivor

There is a mast to my dreams

My heart is filled to the brim

Eyes are burning

With determined fire

My body feels rigid

My arms feel tired

But my feet urge me on

Towards every next step

My soul is strengthened

With every battle scar

For they are marks that I survived

For they are signs that I revived

Adrenaline is rushing through my veins

My mind is flooding with possibilities

The hope inside me still burns bright

As l try to breathe out

Any hint of fright

There have been nights

When I have cried to sleep

There have been times

When I have let my wounds bleed

But there is nothing in this world

That cannot be mended

There may be cracks

There may be gaps

But it marks a lesson learned

It marks a page turned

A new chapter beginning

A purpose to life

A reason to thrive

By : Vaishnavi Bendre

In Your Eyes

In your eyes

I see much more than light.

There is happiness and hope.

There is an urge to fight.

In your eyes

I see the reflection of your soul

There is a tale of your destiny.

There us a recognition of your role.

In your eyes

I see passion and pride

There is a faint touch of stubbornness.

There are secrets that you hide.

In your eyes

I see the emotions of your heart

There is love for family

There is an urge to work your part.

By: Vaishnavi Bendre