Nice People

They believe they do no wrong
Hence don't wring hands in exasperation
They believe they follow righteous laws
Though they don't understand them
They think they speak the truth
And count the ways in which they love
They swear by God
And hum and haw the plaintive tunes
They touch every feet
Yet doll up slights and miseries.
They pay the shrinks
To explain away human nature
With complexes,neurosis or hysteria
Because they are too rich.

They follow social orthodoxy
Along with golf club memberships.
They have time to shop,and dine and dance
And cringe when un-nice people
Come knocking on their doors.
They are always suitably dressed
On birthdays,marriages and funerals
And look down at lesser beings
And find fault a dime a dozen.
They have prayer on lips
And condemn
If they deem 'required' !
They say all the right things
All the time.
Yet pounce on the guileless
For a wrong word or
even an hideous crown !

They call sweet nothings- love,
then go on being inconsiderate and cold
Their worth is by their 'good behaviour'
And promptly forget to see
Goodness reflected by others.
They judge themselves by vices
They don't use
And when they sin, they exclaim
'How foolish I am !
And not- 'Lord,I've sinned'
They measure and give as they receive
And sometimes if they see it fit
Don't give at all.
They count the ways in which beloveds hurt them
Yet not stop and listen
Whenever their beloveds groan at them.
They think they are good
from toe to wobbly brains
I think- In this age of thinning hair
Their Halos are on too tight !
If at all Almighty decides
To sprinkle some magic dust on me
I pray, let me remain- awful
And true to myself
With all impunity !

A Table for Two

I had written a poem with this title in Dec 2001,however like all good things i lost that poem to hard disk crash along with a lot of stuff. A month ago, while arranging my cupboard I came across the prints i had taken of the lost poems - I don't even remember when i took the prints ! :-)
The prints i found had only the first 2 lines of the poem.
So, I decided to complete it. This poem is nothing like the previous one- however it literally nagged me to be rewritten !

A Table for Two

A table for two,
A smile ,a nod.
Casual spread of coffee and cake
Accessories for conversation !

Two people at the table,
Making benign introductions
Coupled with giggle and laughter
Talking about niceties
Sprinkled with charming concoctions,
Gaiety and generous understanding
Typical of the first date.

Two people at the table
Struggling to make a good impression.
Shy,coquettish brown girl
With a smile to die for
Charming,brown boy
With stars in his eyes
and impish smile.
Almost able to convey
Earnestness and love.

Two people at the table
Big eyed girl
Trying not to look scared
Her eyes confirmed
Veracity of her tongue
Dressed to be liked
and known for herself
Her mind keen to know
The boy with her

A table for two,
Corner most at every hotel
Closeted yet open
To watchful hordes around
Two people at the table
Unaware of opinionated stares
Trying to know each other's truth
to break the cycle
Of knowing,realizing and leaving
Or of being left.

Let’s Become Strangers!

Let’s become strangers- that’s how we started!
So, once again- let’s be strangers!
You said-’we aren’t meant to be!
I knew-you didn’t want to be with me!
So, you go ahead and ignore
My beseeching face and dead eyes!
The puzzled coldness in my smile.
And I will walk away but if required,
Greet you, most humbly
Like a cordial long –lost acquaintance
Who I don’t deign to miss!

Now, don’t think me rude,
When I choose to ignore you.
You have done that to me.
A thousand times over.
I will dismiss your approval, longing and strife
Lurking beneath your cold charm.
I won’t chide-even in jest,
When you dismiss me
Shrinking under your gaze
Shrinking under your accidental touch.
Several years in the past,
I know how foolish I’ve been.
Trusted, when I knew – You didn’t have courage
To keep promises.
Now that I wish to have different dreams,
I will ignore your eyes
As you try to avoid mine!
You said- ‘We are different!’
See, I’m agreeing with you now
We are not same!

Let’s be strangers then
Strangeness will hide your cracked Mirror
And my broken Pane!
It’s better to live and then, die
Unknown to other
For your love for me is cruelty masked!
My love for you? -Why!
You named it-Cheap, childish farce.

So, God forbid!
If our paths ever cross
I will turn away first
Lest my eyes betray the past.
And if I can’t, I hope you do
And not fake friendliness for me
Which I know you have in scarce!