From Nariman Point

Nestled in the arms of a man-made rock,

As are the hundred others piled around;

Cast in common moulds, bereft of stories,

Quite unlike those nature carved from the ground.

Bridging the gap between the road above

And the waves below, disturbingly calm;

They crawl their way crisscross along the coast,

Like forming crease lines in an infant's palm.

From the footpath leading to where I sit,

The drive curves evenly across the sea

To where the captive waters of the bay,

Escape their walls and on the beach spill free.

With street lamps on guard, hazy lines of light

From cars, encroach beyond the embankment,

Catch the silver ripples as they creep back

Into the shadows the towers have sent.

Though the stars, spread out, refuse to take sides,

Over the high-rises the moon hangs low,

A halo where we expect tiaras,

Bathing all I see with it's warm white glow.

On Your Presence

Staring out, my eyes on an unknown land,

I travel dreary days on a train,

Hearing not the sounds that come from that place,

My ears numbed by a rattling refrain.

As I pull the drapes and prepare to withdraw,

My mind turns for I hear something new,

When amidst the overwhelming grey,

With a dash of colour you sweep into view.

Wearing a refreshing pink between black,

Adorned with green your pretty little feet,

I look up as you walk jauntily past,

Like an oasis in the desert heat.

A glint of gold, your hands dance while you speak,

Like welcome sunrays in a prison cell,

Your voice bubbling forth like a youthful spring,

Carrying your laughter like a trinkling bell.

Another day replaces the night,

The hours rush on, for once when I'd love to wait;

Now that I'm held in your shining image,

Lost to time, I wouldn't care if I was late.

Afterwards

As the dust settles on a setting sun,

And sheathed swords bring the carnage to a close,

I stand, waiting for the moment to dawn,

Unmoved, as Death amongst the dying rows.

Days spent alone with my bloodlust bottled,

I believed that once I set myself free,

I'd walk back from where others saw their ends,

And it would only be a start for me.

But once unleashed, where it once raged, my lust

Like battle blood seeping into the sand,

Now drains away leaving back the last dregs,

And a guilty stain where it used to stand.

An uneasy peace comes on afterwards,

Unconvinced, it suffers to convince me,

That my old craving, now disowned, ignored,

Will never hence blind this truth I can see.

But I'll know I've changed when I face myself

With guards down and that feeling at a swell;

For afterwards, we let our regret speak,

Afterwards it's always easy to tell.