Why do I Love Poetry?

A conversation with the closest friend of mine from my college days recently, made me reflect on this question: why do I love poetry? It led to some surprising discoveries. Nothing could be more surprising than the recollection that not long ago, if you had asked me, ' Hey, Jijnasa, who's poetry you love the most?', I'd have gone blank and said,' Urgh! I do not read any.'

But, then, when did I fell in love with it?
Hard to say. Because I do not remember falling, you know.

Mr.#SaudiDiplomat and Other Little Troubles in Diplomacy

              Last week, when our dear newspapers and twitter folks, Indian and global alike, raged on over the scandal involving a diplomat of Saudi Arabia posted in India, many a naive souls would have thought: ' This is the last straw! All the values of democracy are at stake! Human rights so horribly violated, terrible crime committed, by the very person who was expected to behave as an example of solidarity of nations for the cause of global peace and wellbeing?! No, we are not taking it anymore.This is the end. We are going to see a major revision in Vienna Convention or such stupid treaties on 'Diplomatic Immunity' very soon. We can not just let rapists and murderers go on committing, well, rape,murders and other horrible things....'

Here is Ms. Naive Person, in conversation with Mr.Saudi,Mr.America and Mr.India. Of course, all characters are imaginary. All the usual disclaimers apply.

The Dream

Blue skies and green lands;
  Lush fields and roaring waterfalls;
Fruits, flowers, lawns and palaces;
  All are yours.

Kind smiles and nice talks;
Sweet children and loving embraces,
Respect,rights,friends and admirers;
   All are yours.

Animus

I cannot wait to know this man.

My words, whispers and secrets find way to him.

Ever so near he is, though I see him not.

I worry, he pacifies; I weep, he consoles;

When I try to hold him to me, he exists no more.

Love

Love....
Is that what you call it when
  you have sleepless eyes and restless mind?
When all your thoughts keep falling off the same cliff,
    And somehow your soul seems to be lost?

Each of your sighs take you further away
   Leaving all the paths of your life in tangles.
You sense a mystery, feel it weighing you down
  Yet, dare not push it away, nor to unravel it.

Home

My legs lead me as easily as heart beats;

With each footfall, wind soaks me 

with fragrance of familiarity.

Every murmur heard is in the language of my blood;

Every giggle is in harmony with my own.

Cat and dog, man and woman all know me;

I’m home. I know them too.

Rest

Time-tables none are thrust upon me

                             To race with Time,

Nor do lists of unfinished tasks

                             Haunt my dreams.

Eyelids mine close when they want to,

                             Open not shocked by alarm’s shriek.

Passions, colorful, are  my only visitors

                             During the day; peaceful dreams in sleep.

I am at rest.

Photo of The Week: Shades of an evening

Shades of an evening

Photo of The Week:Sunset through the palace gate of Mysore Palace

Sunset through the palace gate of Mysore Palace

Where was this taken and when? - Mysore,Karnataka; on 23.08.15
Photo Credits?                               - Myself  (Isn't it beautiful? Thank you!)

What is so special about this?     -Taken from the bus, while I was returning home from Mysore,   after appearing for Civil Services Prelims. I am excited to have such a nice souvenir of my detour to Mysore, despite the very short stay.