You want me to spread my heart on the bed,
It’s both broke and cold;
I watch my feet as I move ahead,
There are cadavers on the floor.
What is this they won’t let me peel?
A sheet, a grief or a shroud?
Who is this who sleeps so still
Heedless of lifeless crowd?
Lips that see and eyes that kiss
Are leaden and parched for soul,
Gales blow past without a hiss
And rivers can’t fill a hole.
One Grain Amongst the Storm 
Hmm, to the living but about shrouds and grief and lifeless crowds? Nice imagery.
To the living, yes, Zephyr. The subject brought forth itself.
Your heart.
Hold it
and
Spread it,
red
and warm within you,
let the memories overtake
beat by beat;
Yours is not to dwell
on hisses
and gales
and unpeelable
troublesome layers
and doubts..
Its all about
dreaming
and
remembering
with gratitude
the petal by petal
opening
of a fragrant family rose
in the garden of your life
and how
it still is
a part of the Earth
on which you stand…
Surnaga, I am grateful for the beautiful reminder. It still is a part of the Earth on which I stand!
Touching. Lot of pent up emotions, summed up in a poem.
Lalit, how else to put it?
A poignant one !
Poignant but I liked the imaginary. This is a profound phrase…’Rivers can’t fill a hole.’
And I think so.
beautifully written…applause!!!
profound. Same expressions are used to paint both the living and the dead …which are beautifully captured.
Both living and dead can be frighteningly quite.
It conveys the pain of living….
deep.
needs a couple of readings more for me to understand it fully. poetry is like that i guess especially those that are good
liked the simplicity in the words of this poem and though pretty short one – must have very deep thoughts in it.
Sujatha, it has a been a recent misfortune of mine to lose my father. I am trying to come to terms with the eternal truth.
i am sorry. i don’t know what to say.
but now that i read the poem again, with this knowledge of your loss, i am seeing it in a completely different light
Sometimes the hole just gapes at us … nothing can fill it because nothing or no one can ever replace someone we love in our lives. Very deeply touched by your words
So true, Farida. Nothing is replaceable. Even the hole.
Very well written sir.. Appreciations..
The poem says a lot. I guess life means living with holes in our heart…
“लाजिम था की देखो मेरा रस्ता कोई दिन और
तनहा गए क्यों अब रहो तनहा कोई दिन और ”
-ग़ालिब
Wow. Loved this poem.
depicts my struggle with in somehow.
The followers of Christ did not believe him. Judas even betrayed him. He rose on Easter. The apostles believed he was Jesus. But currently many think it is miracle.
No one is lifeless. They want miracles. And the master will rise. Believe in him . . .
What words! I have read them after such a longggggggggg time. Mr. Pandey, how come you are a banker! I am sure its art that satisfies your soul. I have subscribed your posts via email. I enjoyed coming to your blog. Looking forward to dig deep into your past posts and waiting fervently for the new ones.
At times, callings of the heart fail to fetch dough for the stomach. I am indebted for your visits.
short one, but a very strong one!!
Sometimes a poem is able to say many times more than its length.