• If I Became the Mask for a Day

    Sometimes I imagine
    what would happen
    if I found the green mask
    and wore it

    Would I turn into someone
    like The Mask
    jolly, careless, untamed?

    If that were true,
    I’d walk into my office
    sit cross-legged on the table
    and send the files flying
    like startled birds

    “I’m leaving,” I’d say,
    “no regrets
    you can keep your money.”

    Maybe I’d grab the manager,
    toss them out the window
    only to catch them
    just before fear turns real

    No…
    that would be too much

    Poor souls

    My mischief would confuse my parents
    make them revisit my childhood
    wonder if I was always like this
    or if I was ever really theirs

    Friends would keep their distance
    though they already do

    Still, I’d steal a moment with them
    shake a little dust off their sadness

    One moment here,
    another there
    a body like rubber,
    distance collapsing at will

    No cars, no roads
    just flight

    And maybe
    I’d haunt the corrupt
    turn their nights into questions
    they can’t answer

    They would search for me everywhere
    with all their power

    and still
    never find me

    I don’t know
    if I’ll ever see that day

    If I do
    forget I wrote this

  • The Man Who Stayed Happy

    Happy was his name,

    never sad,

    never hopeless.

    Sun rays kissed his cheeks,

    raindrops caressed his smiling lips.

    His hands felt like angels,

    always loving,

    always giving,

    always kind.

    His friend looted him,

    he stood with empty pockets,

    still happy.

    They bullied him,

    treated him worse than a donkey,

    a heavy burden on his shoulders,

    still happy.

    He remained

    unchained,

    unbound,

    unaffected

    by worldly suffering.

    His heart was light,

    full of a quiet joy.

    He had attained something spiritual

    most never glimpse

    even in their final breath.

    He was disintegrating,

    yet his heart burned bright.

    He had no foes,

    no real friends.

    He surrendered himself

    to the divine,

    and surpassed every test of life.

    Through pain,

    through suffering,

    through joy,

    he moved with the cycle of life,

    a wheel that turns

    without needing a push.

    It doesn’t ask,

    it simply moves,

    bringing people,

    circumstances,

    moments.

    And he knew

    everything here is temporary,

    and all will answer

    for their karma.

    Happy man,

    always happy.

  • Thread and Thunder

    you can pull threads

    to catch your kite

    or let it go

    to take a flight

    soaring along birds

    sending messages to clouds

    when it is lightning

    and thunder sounds loud

    rain falls a lot

    breaking the ego of the mighty proud

    and

    today my room light flickered

    yet it was bright

    reminding me

    that darkness

    lurks in absence of light

    i was like okay

    i will have a disco dance

    have to find pop or trance

    a message popped up on my mobile

    i am breaking up with you

    suddenly

    something banged on my window

    it was the kite

    in its last breath

    with thread

    broken

    like my heart

  • Blooming in Silence

    I can be a flower…

    unreached.

    unplucked.

    untouched…

    choosing…

    not to bloom.

    Let us not assume

    that my petals will open for you,

    that my fragrance

    will fill your room…

    that bees…

    and butterflies…

    will come

    just to belong.

    Maybe

    I only exist

    to touch the sea.

    To rest my reflection

    on a trembling surface…

    to beautify a pond

    that never asked for me.

    The sea—

    it watches.

    It says nothing…

    but it knows.

    In my blooming days…

    and in my barren ones…

    it witnesses everything.

    It speaks to me in tides…

    loves me in waves…

    and when I am heavy

    it holds me

    with its depth.

    So here I stand…

    tall.

    Not loud…

    not needing to be seen

    just…

    seen kindly.

    With fragrance

    I am filled with gratitude…

    to the sea…

    to the sun…

    to the moon….

    to the stars…..

    to the birds…

    to the bees…

    to the wind…

    and to every pair of eyes…

    that looked at me

    like I was already enough.

    Am I…?

  • We Will Sail

    I will take you away…

    in my boat.

    So

    be ready…

    with your glad rags.

    We’ll travel…

    shore… by shore…

    Stop somewhere

    have a pint…

    some food…

    And then

    we’ll laugh…

    Run through streets

    we don’t even know the names of…

    You’ll chase me…

    And I—

    I will run like a child…

    just freed…

    from elementary school…

    No rules…

    no weight…

    just breath…

    and sky…

    You’ll frown at me…

    And I’ll come running back…

    Straight into you…

    Where no worldly rule…

    has ever reached.

    We’ll rest…

    in a quiet boat…

    Your head…

    on my lap…

    My hands…

    lost in your hair…

    And somewhere above us—

    seabirds…

    singing songs older than us.

    No matter how strong the wind…

    No matter how cruel the storm…

    No matter how wild the waves become…

    We

    will face everything…

    Together.

    Brave.

    I will watch your eyes…

    while you watch the sea…

    And while you row…

    I won’t be here anymore…

    I’ll be…

    diving into you…

    Deeper…

    and deeper…

    And we will sail…

    Not to reach somewhere…

    But to become something…

    Until one day…

    Our last breath…

    …belongs to the ocean.

  • The Art of Unpaid Joy

    What job would you do for free?

    I could do many jobs for free

    like sleeping….

    I mean, testing mattress quality.

    A chance to nap professionally,

    wake with a fresh mind,

    a well-rested body.

    Better than home,

    where people call it laziness.

    Here, I wear a uniform

    and suddenly

    I am hardworking,

    making a living.

    No one knows what I do,

    but it looks important.

    Another job

    breaking evil people’s teeth.

    I’d stand outside a dental hospital,

    offering instant justice.

    My hands would hurt,

    but my service? Pure.

    For society.

    I’m kind too

    They won’t have to travel far

    for the cure.

    I could be a radio singer,

    late-night shift,

    just before midnight.

    I will make people sleep.

    Even mosquitoes will give up

    when I begin.

    I’ll give my 100 percent.

    People will save money on mats,

    maybe even mouse traps

    my voice, so… hallucinogenic.

    Not responsible, though,

    if drivers fall asleep on duty.

    Or I could stand in a mall,

    holding doors open.

    No salary

    just bundles of “thank you,”

    pockets full of smiles.

    I’d take them home

    and feed my soul for eternity.

    And yes,

    I would volunteer for love

    no pause, no condition,

    no hidden interest.

    Just being there,

    in the center of human noise,

    quietly caring.

    I would do any job for free

    that teaches me something new,

    lets me meet beautiful people,

    and gently moves me forward

    in career,

    and in spirit.

  • Hidden Gem

    Someone may blame,

    I will still stand bright,

    unwavering, 

    like a flame.

    I don’t need 

    to be a sports enthusiast

    to understand their game.

    Some chase money,

    some chase fame,

    some hunger for power

    just to echo their name.

    I don’t cling to any of it.

    People moved on,

    things rearranged,

    yet somehow

    I remained the same.

    My heart carries no complaints,

    I let it wander free,

    even when emotions tried

    to put it in chains.

    Still…

    I walk inward,

    searching,

    for that hidden gem

  • Heart Like a Bowl

    Unemployed

    poet

    of a city

    begging

    for a job

    it wasn’t

    his desire

    but desire

    shifted

    hardened

    became

    a compelling

    factor

    his words

    became hope

    and his heart

    became a bowl 

  • The Poet I Silenced

    I asked the poet inside me

    if he could stop writing

    he said yes

    and he did

    for days

    months

    years

    no trace of him

    he forgot who he was

    I had only asked

    he did not argue

    did not defend

    did not resist

    just stopped

    there

    like ink inside a pen

    making a pact

    never to reach the nib

    frozen

    like his thoughts

    years later

    I asked again

    can you revive the pen

    bring back the thoughts

    forgive me

    he did

    with a smile

    no words

    no complaint

    no memory of hurt

    this time

    he filled an ocean into his pen

    and wrote

    in tides

    in waves

    there was always a poet in him

    one I had kept confined

    when I invited him back

    he did not hesitate

    he entered my heart

    and stayed

    as a song

  • Butter

    Some people…

    carry butter on their tongue

    always soft

    always salty

    like they’ve swallowed

    the entire ocean…

    and filtered its salt

    and kept some of it

    right here

    to sprinkle

    into conversations

    that feel… bland

    And me?

    Sometimes…

    I slip

    on the butter

    they spread

    along my way

    But still

    I stand

    I stand back on my feet

    trying to understand

    what do they want from me

    Because I can’t complain

    about the smell

    I can’t speak back

    in my own way

    The spread becomes so thick…

    so strong…

    that even resistance

    starts to melt

    and somehow…

    it softens

    the soul