IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
 I'd relax, I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
 I would take fewer things seriously.
   I would take more chances.
  
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
 I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
 I would perhaps have more actual troubles,
   but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.
  
You see, I'm one of those people who live
 sensibly and sanely hour after hour,
   day after day.
   
Oh, I've had my moments,
 And if I had it to do over again,
   I'd have more of them.
 In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.
   Just moments, one after another,
 instead of living so many years ahead of each day.
 
I've been one of those people who never goes anywhere
 without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat
   and a parachute.
If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over,
 I would start barefoot earlier in the spring
     and stay that way later in the fall.
 I would go to more dances.
 I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
 I would pick more daisies.

   Nadine Stair,
   85 years old.

[Picked up a wonderful poem ]
Source : http://www.omidia.com/thought/p_nadine.html

prisoner of practicality

the world deserves no mercy

for why would the world deserve mercy
why would it deserve love
leave it to the chemicals that flow in the blood
and the nerves that let you move
the world deserves no rationality
the world deserves no fairness
leave it to the emotions that run in your mind
and the whims that amuse from time to time
for the herd will never listen to fairness
the herd is just a herd of animals

the world deserves no love
slaughter it when you are hungry and eat it
and throw away the bones
the world deserves no love
cut it and make pulp and paper out of it
the world deserves absolute negligence
for the world is not fair
and it is always the survival of the meanest

moments

for all we have is a bunch of moments
and for all we have
is a bunch of moments

for the daily bread

Image courtesy: lijo jose

i never knew that india was shining
that the economy is growing
that FDI is coming
that the stock market is booming

but i knew that the rangers are rude
for the blades of grass i take
that there are thorns and snakes
and wild cats that are awake

but my baby is crying and the
night is cold, the babus are not
coming back with their shiny smiles
and the ballots are gone
and i am left alone
to gather the daily crumbs
of bread

crossing 27

some say it is an inflection point...
i have had many...

anyways
happy birthday to me...

Life is in the mountains
with thin air and sherpas and monks
and bullets with little brake
winding down curvy roads

life is in the hamlets
with momo and noodles and omlette
each passing breath taken with
great pain

life is in those hot and sour
and the turbid waters
and the scary rapids

life is not in this flashy world
with sunglasses and attitudes
trying to make a point when there is none

life is in the mountains
where there is none to impress but you.