A Diwali Poem

Rows of lamps, shining bright,

Upon this dark and moonless night.

When every person, young and old,

Welcomes Laxmi Mother, to their adobe.

Faith

Faith is what makes you close your eyes and jump into open arms

Faith is what gives you the courage to fight when you are wronged

Faith is what helps you make it through a long day

Faith is what allows you to witness horrors and still believe in god.

Faith is how you know who to trust in your life

Faith is how you feel when you know you have been loved

Faith is how sound when you stand up for you believe

Faith is how you see the darkness and still pray for light.

Faith comes when you understand that life is full of meaning

Faith comes when you’re hand in hand with your family

Faith comes when you hold a wiggling babe in your arms

Faith comes in every life, as long as there is love.

The Wall (final copy)

Here's the final copy of The Wall:

Climbing up clinging ivy

Seems ever so simplistic,

For using that shining green rope,

One can conquer the highest peak.

But when the time comes to begin,

The wall is just too tall, and the feat is overwhelming.

Searching for cracks and chips

Is seemingly easy at first,

For a miniscule defect is all that’s needed

To scale its surface, weather worn

But when the time comes to begin,

The wall is just too smooth, and the deed is impossible

Fingers gripping, though knuckles white

Appears effortless to some,

For when using power and nerve

One can reach the top.

But when the time comes to begin,

The wall is just too slick, and the act is much to bold

But when given proper tools,

Hesitation is evicted.

With the rope of care, and the hook of patience,

Perseverance is the only option.

To these sacred few, scaling the wall is a mission accomplished.

The wall

Climbing up the clinging ivy

Seems easy to many

But when it comes time to start,

The wall is just too high.

Searching for chips and cracks

Seems simple to many

But when it comes time to start,

The wall is just too smooth.

Gripping with fingers and feet

Seems unremarkable to many

But when it comes time to start,

The wall is just to slippery.

But there are some who persevere,

Who try harder than the rest.

To them the wall is not to high, smooth or slippery.

They are the ones who make it to the top.

Draft 1 of one of my multi genre poems.

Lessons of Nature

As a bubbling creek of pure water

Hides the sneaky crab,

The honeyed words of a crook

Shrouds his wicked pincers.

Learn from this lesson of nature.

As the sun's golden rays

Strengthen the delicate flower,

The careful guidance of a teacher

Allows his pupils to grow.

Learn from this lesson of nature.

As the sturdy roots of an oak

Withstands heavy rains,

The bonds of true friendship

Can survive any monsoon.

Learn from this lesson of nature.

As the toughened shell of the tortoise

Protects him from his enemies,

The stronghold of family

Shields one from his problems.

Learn from this lesson of nature.

As the black nighttime

turns into sweet day,

All all that is evil will someday perish,

And all darkness will soon become light.

Learn from this lesson of nature.

-Shivi

Wrote this after reading some panchatantra stories.

:)

Only just a leaf

I once thought I saw an autumn leaf

Become a butterfly,
When captured by the East Wind

Ever playful, ever sly.

It glided over valleys green

And into the sky so blue,

Passing over fields of flowers

Of every possible hue.

It fluttered over massive trees

Of flaming red and gold,

And flitted over passers-by

Strangers young and old.

And as the day drew near an end

And with a sense of grief,

The wind let fall its new toy

And the leaf was just a leaf

-Shivi