Promises

On the 69th Indian independence day, here's a humble dedication to the men who leave everything behind to fight for our land. . .

Ask for something, won’t you Son?

I promise, I’ll try to get it for you, though I know

It’ll end up as a yet another unfulfilled promise

Promises that I always make and break

I now have stacks of promises to fulfill

Promises made in times of Joy

Promises made in utter confusion

Promises made while leaving you alone

The promise to get you a new toy

Promise of getting you books

Promise of being there with you

The promise of returning soon

As I write a yet another list of false promises

With a vacant smile, strangely, expecting

Your smiling face to appear on the page

To tell me that I broke a promise yet again

I know full well that this will end up

As a yet another letter in your neatly taped stack

From a father who carries with him just a bunch
Of unfulfilled promises made to his son

Ode to a Friend

This friendship day, my pen writes of my sister who also happens to be one of my best friends and of Priya (my besty) and of course of all of my lovely friends. .  . Here's wishing everyone a very Happy Friendship Day!

O my pen that writes of thee!

Though not mighty enough.

At this hour of the night

Under the soft glow of a full moon.

Writing a line, I pause

Take a full breath and wait

For my pen to work again.

O your image brighter than the moon!

I curse my inability to write more

O I concede! I can’t write more

For your image is far stronger 

Than my blue ink on a blank white page.  .  .