A Wintry Evening

She didn't pause to wave at me,
Or, so I thought, that misty winter evening,
I snuggled over the thought, all night,
Was she put off my not heeding her?

The smile had deserted her,
Maybe, it was there, yet I couldn't see
The sparkles were missing,
Maybe, they were around, but I was too busy to notice,
The breeze wasn't in a hurry, that evening,
Nor was there a quiver in the leaves,
Maybe, they also missed her,
Before dream gathered,
Without eyes winking even for a moment!

She didn't turn to wave at me,
Or so it seemed, that December evening.
I couldn't be sure if she felt ignored,
Or, didn't want me spoilt.
Would she not cover her face, and blush again
If she runs through these verses,
I had scribbled that wintry evening,
Stretching under the open sky
Enjoying the chill in the breeze,
Missing the warmth of her hands,
As my face turned numb, even freeze,
As a drop of life trickled down
From the corner of my eye.

I can't tell if it was awe,
Of fondness, of pain, or, of loss
As she sailed across the sky,
And the night shone with a billion lamps!



© Sashikant Mohanty

One Life, Many Dreams

Isn't life a roll of countless dreams,
And a night, not long enough,
Or, is it about one long beautiful dream,
And not enough nights to see the end?

How beautiful, those short dreams,
They arrive without a murmur,
Much like your unannounced arrival,
When I had madly waited,
But least expected!!

Come, life can wait,
Let's step out, bask in the chill,
Live this dream together,
Isn’t it a distant past,
When in the dead of the night,
The only sound you'd hear
Was the ticking of our hearts!

All my life’s a dream,
To live your tender touch,
And the unconditional warmth,
To feel your locks all over my face,
And hear the pacing of hearts,
To see the moon through your pallu,
And savour the exuberant smile.
Yes, the dream is just an excuse,
But who knows
When the night might just run out!


© Sashikant Mohanty

Between Dreams And Memories

We're all lone travelers,
Call it a journey what's behind,
And hope - the path untraversed,
Making friends sometimes with
Dreams and memories!

The road ahead forked into two branches,
One led up to your house,
The other housed your memories,
One loaded with uncertainties
The other - smiles, tears and unspoken words!

I stood there for hours
Bracing a war within,
Unsure who to turn to,
Between
Dreams and memories!

As I lay on the grass,
Following the shooting star,
Blaze through the skies, that starry night,
It left a weary thought -
Is life the moment
Between
Dreams and memories! 

© Sashikant Mohanty

A Fleeting Embrace

A dim lamp's glow,
Is quiet and divine,
With its flickering flame,
Barely visible,
On a moonless night,
But it's only through absence,
That it is missed,
Much like you!

The layers of mist,
Kept growing every day,
Not letting me feel the tenderness grow,
Until fall's colors faded into winter's greens,
The same way,
That it hadn't hit me,
When feelings were nurtured and nursed,
Through our chance meetings
Until the day, you didn't make it!

As the wave roared and surfed back,
To return mightier,
And a bit closer to the beach, each time,
Hopes welled up,
That she'd keep her word,
Maybe draw into a weary embrace,
But, they drew nearer,
Only to drift apart further,
To make their bond stronger
Almost to etch a thought -
If life's about setting her free,
Love's all about
A whispering dream,
A warm fleeting embrace,
To let go,
To fade away,
To come back, 
And, to leave yet again!


© Sashikant Mohanty

My Eternal Friend

Sometimes you're ahead, 

Sometimes you follow,

But there isn't a moment you're not around,

Through happiness,

Or, in its absence!

Sometimes, I find you in solitude,

Sometimes, in the crowds,

As the journey takes

Twists and turns,

Through falls and springs, 

Not once have you deserted,

Not once did you let me feel alone!

Sometimes, you hide behind me,

Away from the glare,

Sometimes you offer to be ahead,

Letting me bask in the soft moonlight,

Always lockstepping mine,

Never leaving me alone,

When the breeze kissed me 

Or, when the mist cast a blanket on my eyelids.

You are always around, 

Always about me, 

Even while I don't realize

But will you be around when 

No one else will?

Sometimes, I feel possessed,

The inseparable bond,

The unconditional love,

The unrelenting belief,

But when the light goes out, 

A reluctant thought forces itself through,

My shadow, 

Would you stay by me, 

When I plunge into darkness!

© Sashikant Mohanty