Flowers

Every day I wear the same garland

Of fathomless pain around my neck

Made of flowers you once gave me

One, two or a handful at a time

They were really flowers back then

Fragrant, colorful, delicate in my palms

That gave vivid pleasure to my senses

And a blissful, lulling peace to my mind

Now they are like hard, heavy stones

A burden that I can just barely carry

Lighter in the distractions of the day

But heavier in the loneliness of night

I know it may be too much to expect

For you to give me fresh flowers again

But could you just, if only once, gift me

Some withered leaves and dried flowers?

Joyfully I will carry them around all day

And use as a pillow while resting at night

When it’s time to take my final leave

They can rest with me, ever and after

Suresh Nair
6/3/2016

Quatrains

Winds humming,

Through the grass,

I sit and listen,

As moments pass

*** 

Life is a brook

Let it run free

To join some river

And a far off sea

 ***  

A message in a bottle

He finds ashore

It tells a half story

He waits for more

***

Silence speaks

If only you listen

Even broken mirrors

Show reflection

***

You are strong

I acknowledge

My smartness though

Has an edge

*** 

Events Occur

Moment Fly

Memories Linger

Until we die

Conscience

The Air I breathe, is the same as you

The scents I smell, you smell too

We feel the same, touch on us

Then why is there, such a fuss

That You and I are not one

We're not same, but different

For when my thoughts, go in vain

You're the one, who feels the pain

And when of truth, I lose sight

You're the one, who finds me right

I think I know now, who you are

It seems I need not, look too far

You're part of me, but not the whole

You're my conscience, you're my soul.

Suresh Nair

(Apr 07)

Farewell, Friends

It’s the saddest day of all,

Farewell oh, all my friends

We came along so far

Around life's curves and bends

We played as kids on streets

And grew up wise old men

Each one his share of pleasure

Each one his share of pain

We shared some great good laughs

And shed some tears together

And whether drunk or in death

Gave each other our shoulder

We had our share of fights

Didn't see each eye to eye

But every time, we came along

As time went by and by

Each moment spent together

Our bonds just grew stronger

We were all friends forever

We will be friends forever

Suresh Nair

(Feb 07)

Strangers

Let's pretend to be strangers

Without a history,

What happens between us,

Remain a mystery.

Because the past will haunt us

And future's uncertain,

Let's enjoy the moment

Neither of us interned

Suresh Nair

Feb 2007

Live On

Why is it that life goes on

Though the desire to live ceases

The softness of the skin long lost,

All there's left are creases

Legs too weak to hold upright,

The mind plays tricks on you,

The sight is just a blurry face

Those ears deceive you too

Maybe there are some in your life

Who care and love you much

Who share their memories with you

Who longed once for your touch

So God says, 'Live on for a while,

It may not mean much to you,

But every moment that you live,

Brings countless joy to those few"

Suresh Nair

(Feb 07)

Twilight

Slowly the sun is hiding

Behind the mountain peaks

The twilight light is resting

Over the tops of trees

The doves and the sparrows

Are returning to their nest

The rabbits in their burrows

In peace, are taking rest

The flowers fall silent

Below the trees they lie

Their sweet, mild fragrance

Is filling the air with joy

Soon the night will join

With darkness in the woods

Alone the moon will shine

In sky clear of clouds

Suresh Nair

1987