Tag: #dreams

The Thrill Of Writing

January 3rd, 2023
It was many years ago when as a 10 year kid, I secretly dreamed of becoming a writer. At Varandhiappilly, I found interesting books, texts prescribed for college, and devoured then enthusiastically cooped up in a corner some place. That of course, when I was probably playing hide and seek or not being told a story, which were my favourite past times apart from dreaming and loads and loads of sleeping.

I did manage to translate a small part or two of a big Malayalam compendium on great minds into English, which brought some attention to my writing but surely, it was not taken seriously by anyone, neither my parents nor me.

I continued fantasizing about my columns in the newspaper and books that were written by me being read around the world, a la Jane Austen or a Charlotte Brontee or more.

Then I am thrilled when someone tells me, ‘write that will you’, when a certain faith is placed in my writing, and I am in raptures, thrilled that someone could be kind enough to think of me as being capable of writing, yes, putting thoughts into words and words on to pages.

So, I write on my blog, on linkedin and now on instagram and on facebook and quora and more, as someone obsessed with the idea of being called a writer, and when they do, the joy is pure, so great is experienced as to bring tears to my eyes!!!

Small joys, great hopes, dreams and wishes, and the many challenges of being a writer…still worth it, any day, any where.

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Daily prompt#6

December 29th, 2022
You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What’s it like?

A space where there is no rush. Away from the noise of the city. A space of quiet love and sweet murmurs of understanding and companionship….ok, maybe that is too much to ask!

A grand old library where books smell of years of living, and have had many lovers, who have caressed them, mulled over them and perhaps hugged them to sleep.

But mostly a quiet space like my house in Varandhirapilly surrounded by trees, chirping of birds, that which allows reflection with sparse yet, carefully chosen furniture.

A space where a quick coffee is easy to make, a walk is always a possibility. Perhaps even a pond, like the one I dream of having in the compound of my ancestral village home.

In such space with no pretense whatsoever, tales could be heard from heavens above, the conduit would furnish points to ponder and the verses would flow…

Aah! if such is life, then it is heaven!!!
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Star gazing @ litfest

December 6th, 2022
I am at the Blrlitfest, Bangalore at Hotel Lalit Ashok and looking around I see the deserving being celebrated, the writers, I mean. A huge crowd throngs and sighs, laughs and chuckles along with Sudha Murthy at her sprightly take on Manu.S. Pillai’s questions.

I am amazed to see the young writer, Manu.S.Pillai stand in some shade and interact with his fans, students, grownups, a host of Keralites, and many others, I am a bit shy that I have not managed to read his books, despite reading about him after my daughter’s introduction to him.

I run into the famous Sara Joseph and am star stuck! Goodness! Writers in real flesh are something, while I am still star gazing, another admirer joins, ‘Can you take a pic?’ ‘Why not?’ , the favour is returned and a host of men and women are waiting eagerly at an entrance.

‘What’s happening there?’ It’s Sudha Murthy, she is signing the books. ‘Wow’!!!

I walk into the book shop and pick up the Ivory Throne and The Last Mughal and rush back to see if the writer is still around, it must be a miracle, I think to myself.

But there he stands in his resplendent yellow kurta surrounded by admirers. I extend my copy for his signature, which he duly signs. I share my research topic, and he listens with interest and informs me that his PhD defense is scheduled soon.

I think of how life is, how a dream to walk and be among writers and be called one, enshrined in my heart a good 40 years ago and how I would tremble and shiver at the thought of meeting a writer, my trepidations arising out of my emotional attachment to this deep deep desire of mine!

Ah! life! I give a copy of my second book to my friend and colleague, and she displays it proudly, in the pics that we click with the famous Tamil writer, Jeyamohan, my friend Dr. Malarvalli holds my book in her hands, ah! what a sight to behold!

When life teases me of the joys that seem to elude me, I cannot but think of the joys that surround me, and in a state of humble gratitude, I acknowledge the magnanimity of the universe, her guidance, her love that keeps me going!

Find joy in what you do, and keep at it, let other joys, if they be, walk to you, in good time! Amen!
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Satyam!

November 26th, 2022
Soar dear dreams

scale the horizon

with your span of wings

carrying a traveler soul

that seeks, asks and never stops trying

against walls of indifference

against the tide of time

crushing self doubt

fear of judgements ill

smile being its only weapon

desire being its only fuel

and a faith springing from within

‘we are time-travelers’, she said

I looked at her deep eyes

raging with fire

yes, I said, we must be so

sailors of the self

seeking new goals

finding love in letters

and hoping fervently for more

the universe being a constant

nods his head

and his broad back reflect

a nonchalant faith in our audacity

that is all there is

that is all there ever will be

Satyam!

Ps: To Rosewine Joy, for daring to dream
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My Sky Moments

October 25th, 2022
It’s sometime since we sat together

said Sky, brooding over a dark blue cloud

yes, I smiled a little lost in thoughts

it’s been sometime since I have been with myself

a sigh escaped me

we looked at each other, Sky and I

in our individual journeys we have often lost each other

and in moments of quiet reflection, we always found ourselves side by side

a promise loomed large in the background

a mountain stood tall, some hills, some valleys and some plains

like a lost balloon danced a name in the winds

I looked up to see that by which I am called

a voice said, ‘I am there, just hereabouts, a hand’s reach away

Look at goals of the pen and the foot

stay quiet, stay humble and listen with heart

you shall not rest nor rust

focus forward and forge ahead

and I shall bend down to kiss thee

for know that the fallen riseth

the meek shall rule’

A faint breeze blew

a faint fragrance rose

and I am hooked to Sky forevermore

Amen!
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Subira- A Film Review

September 25th, 2022
I watched Subira’s magical bond with water in awe. I remembered how I was told that my spirit animal is a water buffalo and it seemed quite right to me, because often have the waters called me to their depths, inviting me to immerse myself quietly deeply.

Particularly though my visit to a river recently and the quiet one hour I spent in the water immersed and at peace, feeling as if my very being was being cleansed of accumulated dirt of years of misplaced guilt, misunderstood, unappreciated self seemed to be cleansed by the flowing water and her quiet grace, the blue sky looking on and the dancing bamboo listening in .

Subira’s story is the story of every woman who tries to assert herself, and discover and embrace parts of her personality that help her stay is a state of joy.

As simple as it looks, this is probably the most arduous, the most audacious of activities a young married woman could embark upon, yet, when Subira does it and is eventually accepted and even celebrated for her courage, a ray of hope rises in your heart….

We all know how this cannot be the end, the mere act of swimming is a life time achievement for Subira, it is true for so many of women out there and this has to change!

Own your bliss
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Love, said she

August 27th, 2022
Love, find me now

in the throes of living

not when I am in the pyre burning

nor when I am snoring senile

find me now when I am breathing

thirsting too for life and love

asking the universe of goodness

‘where do you hide it, I see it not’

find me singing songs delirious

find me chasing pebbles down

a rainy street among the street dogs

smiling at a random flower blooming

or a hope that is awakening

a dream that will take shape maybe

love, reach me in time

in times when countries and continents are shrinking

when hopes and dreams are struggling to stay alive

love, said she, cheerfully giggling

join me in finding small little joys of living

watching the sky blue and shining

the clouds fluffy and floating

the crickets singing nay chanting

sacred mantras of the night

for lonely hearts to fall asleep in good company

and the twittering birds calling out

weary eyes to a bright happy morning

saying perhaps this is too is love, know it, live it, now and evermore.

PS: To friends, Padma and others!
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Hope against hope

August 19th, 2022
Why does the hope not die

I wonder

Why does the heart not heed

I ask

Why do dreams dance

I don’t know

What paths, what travails, sweet life

What friendships new, what companionship too

Would I be asking for more

If I were to say that eyes still sparkle

Songs still kindle dreams

Smiles still turn into giggles

So, maybe, just maybe!

The southern breeze is still blowing by.

PS: and the universe chuckled!
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Embrace Yourself-V, Chiquitita

August 19th, 2022
Chiquitita, you and I know our roots are where we sprung from, and like everybody else’s they are strong, proud, yes, sometimes tacky but mostly sturdy, well, if not, Chiquitita, it’s your turn to make it grow wings.

The ABBA classic is soulful and meaningful but what I want to stress here is the need to accept where you come from i.e. the family, the village, the city, the class, the caste, the religion, the parents, the siblings, the name, fame, even the infamy, if any.

Once, you learn to accept and agree, ‘ok, so this is where I come from’, it sort of becomes easier for you, to map where you want to go. It helps you to just stand up and say to yourself, ‘I come from this & this, so what! /or cool, now I am going to be this and that and much more!’

Meaning, where you come from alone need not and does not define you, you have all the right in the world to choose to be whoever you want!

And how beautiful is that, really!

The body type, the color, the race, the family background, the gender need not be something to hold you back, instead you could choose to make it your strength.

Agreed that it is not easy as it sounds, but it is not impossible either.

By taking a good look at where you come from in a most dispassionate manner, you will save yourself considerable time from wallowing in self-pity and instead focus on your onward journey. In fact, the earlier you acknowledge your roots for what it really is, the quicker you will move ahead in creating a powerful identify of yourself.

So, Chiquitita, break your chains and go sing a new song!!!

songs that heal
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Night Sky Talks

July 24th, 2022
When the night sky folded up with his stars

the moon and the light that came with him,

I was upset truly, and was vexed at his audacity

to get me to dream and then to hide the stars

show a sky barren of shiny titbits of sparkles

instead filled with fluffy clouds floating by

It was the night sky that talked to me in my dreams

made me step out of my skin and dance till twilight

made me weary with a headiness of an ethereal kind

a certain fuzziness filling my lungs

a certain craze that knew not where it came from

and how it disappeared with the morning sky

so we quarreled, the night sky and I

for dreams that looked too far too unreal

in the bright day light and the fierce clarity it brought

‘its impossible to dream, much less to live, in this sparkling brightness

a little yellow light of the night is what gives me space to be myself

no, its not a case of jekyll and hyde, I explained

noticing his smirk and sly eye movements’

He, however, was not annoyed, wondering perhaps of wasted

sentiments, and fixed emotions, being lousy, charming, unkind

all at once, he simply said, ‘Just be yourself. It’s about time you did’.

Well! that was that.

PS: a little fuzziness is a good thing, sometimes
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Tag: #dreams

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