Not A Poet

All we have are regrets The life I could live The life I did not live Maybe I should have smiled at him Maybe I should have said yes I should not have eaten that burger One cheese slice would have made no difference I should have hugged her one last time I should not have said that to him I could have graduated in literature I should not have left the job Why the hell did I take the right turn? Maybe the left turn has a dead end I should not have taken a u-turn Maybe I should not regret I should try the other way or Maybe I shall still regret -Shamitha Heramb

The year 1947 Shaken words poured in the book Story of antonyms Sorrow-Happiness Love-Hate War-Peace Lose-Win Captive-Free The hand that wrote this story was unable to finish it -Shamitha Heramb

She gracefully moves around perfecting every step Her loved ones in awe of how she is feeding her child, cooking the dal kadi and taking the office call When she is just about to drop the spoon, her better-half rushes to her rescue And they both wink, spicing up their daily dance duet -Shamitha Heramb

Red, Blue or Green? Which colour do you see? The 3 year old responds with great excitement. 'Papa, 7 colours I can see.' A color-blind father is mesmerised seeing the rainbow through his daughter's eyes. -Shamitha Heramb

Here's my poetry film for The 8th Ó Bhéal International Poetry-Film Competition. Hope you like it.   Morning Eyes Open Blank Breakfast at a quiet table Blank Pushing myself to get ready Off to work Blank Click click click Back home  Bag on the table Blank Dinner with family Pictures moving on television Blank Finally pulling the blanket close Dumping my thoughts on social media Next day 10k likes 100 comments Repeat - Shamitha Heramb

Constantly pressing the laptop keys Answering the calls one after another She dreams of becoming an author Adding a last touch up to her make-up And rehearsing her lines one last time She dreams of becoming an actress Making some last minute changes to the presentation She looks at herself in a perfect business attire And dreams of becoming an entrepreneur Kissing her kids and holding them tight She looks at the hospital monitor glued to her body And dreams of being free from the pain Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock -Shamitha Heramb

मिले हैं आज बरसो के बाद ऑकवर्डसी हँसी दिए कोई चला जाता हैं तो कोई बाहें फैलाये गले लग जाता हैं कितनी सारी यादें इन दोस्तो के साथ कुछ साथ रह गए तो कुछ छूट गए सबके अतरंगी किस्सो में एक बात समझ आती हैं कॉलेज के कैंपस में बैठे सभी ने प्लान्स बनाये कुछ कैटरिंग बिज़नेस कुछ ऑनलाइन सेलिंग तो कुछ और फिर आखिर सपने पूरे क्यों नही हुए? उस कैंपस में किये हुए वादे क्यों वही छूट गए? क्यों सबने अपना अलग रास्ता पकड़ लिया? शायद इसे बड़ा या मैच्योर्ड होना कहते हैं बचपने में किये हुए वादों के लिए कमिटमेंट, पैसा और समय चाहिए फिर अपना करियर कब बनाते? नौकरी, गाड़ी, घर, शादी, बच्चे ये सब समय मे होजाये तो बेहतर हैं सोचा हुआ बिज़नेस अगर ना चलता तो? हम सबसे पीछे रह जाते आखिर जो होता हैं अच्छे के लिए होता हैं इन्हीं सब बातों से अपने आप को कन्विंस कर हम दूसरे किस्सो में खो जातें हैं पर आँखों मे वही सवाल लिए एक दूसरे की ओर देखते हैं रिस्क तो सबमे होता हैं क्या हमने गलती कर दी? शायद वो सपना आज हमारी खूबसूरत हकीकत होता -Shamitha Heramb

Heavy eyes closed Deep in the sleep I travel to some world To see known unknown faces. Living, dying, and laying Laughing, crying, and staring Watching a blockbuster movie Created by me. Traveled to the places Within a blink of eye Yet frozen When a ghost chases me. Laughing out loud To the same old joke Sorrow-filled Reliving the harsh memories. Night after night I decide to run my dream But somehow Dreams have their own life. Woken by the alarm I see a new world Trying to figure out Which world is my dream. - Shamitha Heramb Do share the poem if you like it. Let me know your idea of dreams in comments below.

Birds chirping Sun light bleaming through the window curtain Noise of vehicles on their route Melodious music playing at a nearby temple Sound of Mom pouring dosa batter onto the hot pan Someone sweeping the building floor adding music to the morning chore Arms stretched I get myself up adding my yawn raga and ending this song -Shamitha Heramb

Mr. and Mrs. Mazhakiya are invited to their society's new year get together. Mr. Mazhakiya is a very romantic man and as usual he is dumbstruck by his wife's beautiful attire. He gives her a compliment and they head for the party.  He notices how well the society has managed the funds and done the decoration. When Mrs. Mazhakiya gets involved with the society gossip group, he heads straight to the bar. In an hour or so he gets completely drunk. He glances at the crowd and notices a beautiful women. He keeps following her and eventually falls in love with her or so he believes. 'I should propose her,' he decides. Mr Mazhakiya has completely forgotten about his marital status and the presence of his wife in the party. Conspiring with the party manager he arranges for some crackers. The manager gives him a thumbs up post all the arrangement. Mr. Mazhakiya takes over the stage and announces, 'Hey beautiful woman in red'. The woman looks at him with a wide smile. Whe...

स्कूल के खेल कुद में  कही किसी के पेन के झटकने से मेरी कमीज सियाही मे डूब गई| घबराए मैने कमीज की ओर देखा फिर मुस्कुराकर मैने दोस्तों से कहाँ दाग अच्छे होते हैं। टीवी पे दिखाए उस विज्ञापन पर मेरा पूरा भरोसा था| माँ को उसपर मुस्कुराते हुए भी देखा था| बेखौफ मैं अपने खेल में लग पडा क्योकि, दाग अच्छे होते हैं| घर लौटते वक्त एक दोस्तने मेरे बाजूपर हाथ रखकर दया भरी आखों से मुझे देखा | मैने हाथ झटक कर कहाँ दाग अच्छे होते हैं| माँ आंगन में कुछ खोज रही थी मैं पीछे से झपटकर जोर से चिल्लाया दाग अच्छे होते हैं ना माँ। माँ ने पलटकर गुस्से से देखा दाग को देख फिर उड़ता हुआ उनका हाथ मेरे गाल पर पड़ा। मुरगा बने अपने गालो की लाली छुपाए मैं पापा की ओर देख रहा था| मन ही मन इस सवाल को टटोल रहा था। दाग तो अच्छे होते हैं ना? -Shamitha Heramb

A long time back, when the only way of communicating were the letters sent through post, carrying my school bag I made my way to the post office to collect stamps that my mother asked for. This was my monthy trip so that she could express her day to day to her long-distance husband. While I was making my way out of the busy office, someone tapped on my shoulder. An old lady looked at me with a broad smile, 'Could you please help me write these addresses?', she asked. I gave a little nod and took the paper. Since I was least interested, I did not pay attention and just copied it onto the paper. While returning it back, I saw a 1000 rupee note in her hand and glanced at the address again- Kaidi no XXX(Prisoner no XXX). She read my eyes and interrupted my thoughts, 'It is for my son'. Supressing my pity, I nodded back at her. With a broad smile, she said, 'God bless you my child'. -Shamitha Heramb

वो भी क्या दिन थे। बिना रोकटोक के रास्तों पर निकल जाना, वक्तबेवक्त हल्ला मचाना। घिसेपिटे काम मे लगे रहना, न चाहते हुए भी रोज ऑफिस जाना। हर दिन, हफ्ते, महीने पार्टी करने का बहाना ढूंढना। किसीसे दिल जुड़े तो उसे कॉफी शॉप में ले जाना। बिना रोकटोक के रास्तों पर निकल जाना, वक्तबेवक्त हल्ला मचाना। आज खिड़की में बैठे दोस्तों की हँसी कानो में गूंज रही हैं। आंखें दूर दूर तक किसी इंसान को ढूंढ रही हैं। याद आते वो दिन, बिना रोकटोक के रास्तों पर निकल जाना, वक्तबेवक्त हल्ला मचाना। संकट आज सर पे हैं, कुछ दिनों का कर्फ्यू हैं। इस बार हमने साथ नही दिया, तो एक इंसान भी न रहेगा। बचे हुए कुछ इन यादों के साथ जियेंगे। वो भी क्या दिन थे... -Shamitha Heramb

I know you are watching So, I put on a face and pretend like Nothing is wrong I need to look stronger for all My eyes are swollen From the nights that I have cried But I pretend to be sleep deprieved I need to look stronger for all My words have deep sorrow But I pretend to not mean it at all I need to look stronger for all When you see me lost I pretend to be thinking I need to look stronger for all No matter how hard you try You might not catch me pretending at all I look stronger for all -Shamitha Heramb

Gloomy, Starry or full of thorns All these paths seems unknown Laughter, joy or tears of sorrow Makes me bother no more No bird, animal or vulture A human form that I have taken Routine is what I follow With no purpose of my own Survival is what we seek And death is what we are worried What makes us so different When we all are trapped in the wheel - Shamitha Heramb