Dreams Haven't Changed

the evenings don't age,

the dark doesn't turn me restless,

the breeze isn't friendly,

like it felt then,

the stars don't bounce a twinkle

from my eyes anymore.

the autumn's here,

but they don't shed their foliage,

everything's changed, 

everything feels so cold, so lonely,

but dreams 

haven't changed!

the flowers blush

they don't make me smile,

the way they would then

many moons back,

the train blares and gallops away,

as the sun sinks,

and the crimson dusk

bathes my balcony with sleepy rays

but the smell of smoke

is missing,

hope doesn't light up the flickering lamps,

but dreams 

don't just listen!

the fading sunlight

doesn't get me goosebumps,

the warm sleepy breeze

merges with the dark, quietly

the river doesn't echo the majhi song

my steps are in no hurry,

the birds don't sing,

the way they would, 

with you around,

time's chipped away memories,

the lines on your face have faded

or, was it my blurred sight,

maybe wrinkled, i wondered,

and then,

my eyes refused to open,

my dreams

hadn't let me down!

© sashikant mohanty

Winds Of Change

the morning smells fresh,

like it's been a long night,

it ushers in jubilation,

and rekindles hope

with the triumph of good,

the belief in character,

the hope for a brighter tomorrow,

it's rung in the smell of liberty,

and the faith in freedom,

how free the breath,

as the world rejoices 

the winds of change,

how clear the path

with the storms passed

as the world soaks

in unfettered sunlight,

and dreams, again 

of living in unshackled thoughts.

may hope strike roots,

wish the dreams nurture

in every soul

may the faith be infectious,

to inspire and grow,

may the sunlight reach every home and heart,

light up all souls, all over again,

and to a fresh morning,

may my countrymen awake!

© sashikant mohanty

Golden Plumes

 

the green velvet,

the dense shrubs,

the dry skeletons,

of what once swayed and danced,

all faded before the golden petals,

decked on a bed of lush green leaves,

and, all i remember

they were sheer magic.

as i drew closer, 

and my eyes met hers

everything else seemed to fade away,

all else turned into a sheet of gray,

and then my heart melted,

how royal the golden plumes,

and how fragile, my heart!

© sashikant mohanty