10 Things To Do Before I Die: Guest Post: Namitha Varma: Sub Editor The Hindu And A Writer

Recently I reviewed a very small (18 pages) poetry book from Namitha Varma titled My Heart is Your Brothel. You can read the review here. She read my post on Indiblogger in the current IndiSpire topic and got inspired to writer her own 10 wishes that she has posted on her blog. I am re-posting it here so that it gets a space in IndiSpire.

@PebbleInWaters @indiblogger Just read it. & got inspired. Have borrowed your poem's title for my own 10 things. http://t.co/pyLfBCMfRD
— Namitha Varma-Rajesh (@namithavr) September 14, 2014

Above is the tweet from her. Below is her post:

10 Things To Do Before I Die

Glean a baby’s smile

steal a cat’s cuteness

gather the raindrops and make a necklace;

touch the whispers of the wind

feel the murmurs of the stream

drink a bowlful of moonlight

breathe in the sunlight and glow from within;

travel on the sound of the chugging train

sleep on the froth of a rising tide

walk a mile in my mother’s shoes.

If I can do these before I die,

why, death would then hardly count. 

Poetry: Smile

A blind painter painting
on the roadside
unaware of appreciations
from passerby

Source: www.theguardian.com

A deaf singer singing
in a local restaurant
for some earning
unaware what people say

A young girl at orphanage
unaware of the cool breeze
that a mother brings in life
a solid stand that a father
could give

Why wait and count
for the smiles given in the past
why not 
pat on the shoulder of blind painter
go and hug the deaf singer
give a gift to the young girl 
and play with her for a while
and keep accumulating smiles

A never ending
recurring account of smiles

Poetry: Dad – Can I Marry Her: Long Conversation – Dad And Son

Hi Dad! I have something to discuss with you

if you have time?

Sure Buddy! Go ahead!

Dad!

I don’t know who she is

And what is her name

Same is with her for me

I don't know what religion

She belongs to, or

What is her Mother tongue

Whether she will be able to understand me

Or not

As we have never talked to each other.

But one thing I am sure of is

The first time I faced her on the road

When she was coming in my direction

And I was walking towards her

The moment we looked into each other’s eyes

I got a message from God

That we are not meant for walking against each other

But together

Forever!

Dad!

I know it might appear quite premature to you

And quite kiddish

But I am serious.

Still it is too early to get a big jerk

So I can move back and close it forever

If you say so.

As if I move ahead

The distance and time will take least

To fill the gap between the two of us

But one thing we need to be clear of

Before I do that

She is just she and I am your son

If I have got the God’s signal right

And if I have grown rightly under your shadow

Then whatever is her religion, language and background

She will be as acceptable to you as me

Nothing less nothing beyond.

Then whatever is the length of time we all are destined

To live together

We will never move back, ever!

Son!

If religion, caste and standards define the life

Then probably God’s message for all would not have been same

All religions talk the same

It is us that we sometimes interpret it in our own way

Depending on the level of selfishness we want to delve into.

I am nobody to decide whether you are right or wrong

I just am meant to guide you, mentor you and love you

You move ahead and take your own call

As neither you nor me know as of now

If you will be successful or fail

But still go ahead

And decide your fate on your own

Where you don’t repent on not taking first step

Towards what you want to do!

And promise not to repent

If you do not succeed!!

कविता: हताश ज़िन्दगी के रेगिस्तान पर सपनों और जुनून की कुछ गीली बूंदें

मैं कहीं खोया नहीं दुनिया में 
ये तेरा मानना है तो अच्छा ही है 
बिना खोये भी लगता है मुझे 
मैंने बहुत कुछ खोया है 
चाहे मैं नहीं खोया दुनिया की भीड़ में 
तुझे पाना चाहा था बस वोही पाया नहीं 

बहुत सालों से ये दिल नहीं रोया है 
चलो कोई बात नहीं क्यूंकि 
रेगिस्तान को कितना भी निचोड़ डालो 
बूँद से तो इसका कोई वास्ता ही नहीं 
तेरे खयालो की पगडण्डी पर 
मेरे लिए कोई रास्ता ही नहीं 
गम इस बात का नहीं की कभी रोया नहीं 
शिका तो ये है ऊपर वाले से 
की तेरे अश्क़ जब जब भी बहे हैं 
मेरा चेहरा क़भी भिगोया नहीं 

आसमान के  बिस्तर पर 
तारों की चादर बिछा के 
चाँद के तकिये पर सर टिका के 
तू तो आराम से सपनों की टोकरी भर रहा है 
इधर ये हाल है की अपना रास्ता भूल कर 
और गवाएं वक़्त के नुकसान के 
गम में मैं बहुत दिनों से बेफिक्र हो कर 
ठीक से सोया भी नहीं 

हताश ज़िन्दगी के रेगिस्तान पर 
सपनों और जुनून की कुछ 
गीली बूंदें गिरी होंगी कभी गए बरसों में 
मगर अब तो उनके निशान भी 
नहीं दिखते रेत पर