Gratitude

i'm grateful for god's gifts,

while many were not as lucky,

i'm grateful for the light,

while others waited in vain for their turn,

i'm grateful for the small mercies

while many sweated out, yet missed them,

i'm grateful for being loved and missed,

while the wait was endless elsewhere,

i'm grateful for the sunshine,

as i had made peace with the clouds

i'm  grateful for the moments of happiness,

many were deprived of even a ray of it,

i'm grateful to those who trusted me,

as i got to see myself through others' eyes,

i'm grateful for the warmth of my loved one,

as many settled for long winters, all along,
i'm grateful for everything,
as many had to return with nothing

i'm grateful for the sorrows, as well,

they helped me feel the richness of joy,

i'm grateful also for the pains,

they helped me feel others' better,

i'm grateful for my failure too, 

it helped me stay human,

i'm grateful for those that wronged me, as well,

they strengthened my belief in the right,

i'm grateful for those who didn't trust me,

they helped me value trust over love,

i'm grateful also for the dark,

light wouldn't have felt a luxury until then

for all that you sent my way,

the thoughts, the words, the prayers and

the endless everything,

i'm soaked with gratitude,

as i deserved nothing,

for everything that you sealed with a kiss, 

and sent with a prayer,

life, love, hope and sunshine,

and the limitless mercies

my heart swells with gratitude,

and it still befuddles why i'm the chosen one!

© sashikant mohanty

Who Are You?

you are always around
when my spirits are low,
and my heart feels sorely lost,
weak, fragile and frozen,
you ring in sunshine,

when my sky is overcast,
you keep a watch over me,
with words, thoughts,
endless prayers,
and sleepless nights,
when my feet are tired,
and your feet are tied,
who are you -
god, my soul, or my love?

you always go missing,
after your prayers
deliver miracles to life,
when the clouds clear up,
and the smiles are back.
you're not around for a moment
even for a "thank you",
why don't i find you, life,
after i find my life,
who are you -
god, my soul, or my love?

where the words heal,
where the thoughts soothe,
where the prayers shield,
where the quiet actions rekindle,
where the dreamy eyes inspire,
where the voice intoxicates,
where the touch casts a layer,
that even death can't break,

where blessings arrive before the prayers

where the seeker and the muse merge, 
who are you -
if not
god, my soul, or my love?



© sashikant mohanty

Every Sunset Is A Promise

the dew was unusual,

seeped through to her skin,

the layers giving up this time,

she got chills

every time the breeze played pranks,
with her unkempt hair
and a sloppy pallu,

that december afternoon;

as the slant rays shivered,

lost in the orange and blue skies,

a thought crossed his mind -

if the sunset is around, 

can the dark be far behind?

as the dust settled,

and the noise faded, 

making way for an eerie quiet,

the long shadows spelled out
the end was near,

as god was in a deep sleep,

as the breeze played
hide and seek,

patted the wafts
on their numb cheeks,

and shook his spine of belief,

her palm was eclipsed by his,

but her fingers sank in,
firmly clasped his, 

and her unshaken eyes met his,
as if to say,

every sunset is a promise,

the universe's promise
for a new sunrise, 

for hope and sunshine

© sashikant mohanty 

The Wider The Cut, The Better The View

how else would you have known me,

had the hearts not broken,

the wider the cut, 

the better the view

nothing ever convinced you

my heart beats for you, come rain, come shine;

hadn't it been shattered to pieces,

how else would you've seen,

your name writ on each,

the more the blows, 

the better they shone,

they may be a pool of red,

but each craves a tight hug,

one last time, just from you

how else would i have known you,

how you've changed since then

the shades, and the layers,

until i broke again,

how'd you have believed,

that i die for you, a bit every day, 

until you saw the dying pieces

that lipped out a final prayer for you,

before waving a smile one last time, 

before turning into dust again

how else could i have seen you melt,

until a warm drop bounced on my eye,

merged with mine,

forcing my sleepy eyes to open,

to be greeted by your moist pearls,

and your sweating palm on my chest,

a whisper too soft for my deafening mind,

and a smile that let out - all is well, my sweet!

© sashikant mohanty

कैसा अनोखा अलविदा

हम तो तुमपे जान देने चले थे,
हर रोज़ थोड़ा थोड़ा ज़हर भी पी लेते थे,
थकान कभी दिल की, तो कभी दिमाग की थी,
कभी बे दिशा भागादौड़ी की थी 

हम तो तुमपे जान देने निकले थे
हर शाम ढलते ही, बैठ जाते जाम लेके,
कभी सन्नाटे मे दिल मे दफनाए हुए आरज़ू के संग,
तो कभी बेजुबान आंखों मे दबी नमि के परछाईओं मे।

हम तो तुमपे जान निसार करते थे,
आधी ज़िंदगी ऐसे इंतज़ार मे गुज़र गई,
बस आंधी आने ही वाली थी,
और मिटने की वक्त चौखट पे खड़ी थी,
इतनी जल्दी भी क्या थी, 
जो तुम अपने हाथों को ख़ून से रंग ली।।




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