Saturday, April 26, 2025

खोज में मैं

मैं अगर कभी मैं ही ना रह पाऊँ 
अपनी परछाईयों में अगर मैं ही खो जाऊँ 
क्या ढूँढ लेगी मेरी रोशनी यूँही मुझको मुझ में 
या उसके लिए सपनो का एक रोशनदान बनाऊँ 

पर मैं कागज का बेमतलब सा कोई फूल नहीं 
के बिन कहानी बिन खुशबू के मैं यूँही खो जाऊँ 
मैं हूँ भिनी सी वो अनोखी अनसुनी गमक 
के हवा के मुस्काती साँसो में मैं यूँ सज जाऊँ 

बारिश की बूंदो में मैं सौंधी सी महक छुपाऊँ 
आसमान से रंग लेके मैं दरिया में मिल जाऊँ 
उस तेज दरिया के किस्सों में भी मैं बस जाऊँ 
उन कहानीयों के हिस्सों में भी मैं रो-हस पाऊँ 

पर उन में शामिल होके भी मुझको मुझ में ही पाऊँ 
इस कथानक की कथा बादलों की स्याही में लिख जाऊँ 
मैं हूँ अब भी जब है रोशनी और वह परछाई भी 
रोशनी की परछाई और परछाई की रोशनी में मैं खुद को पाऊँ 

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Friday, April 25, 2025

What Once Was And Will Never Be?

"What once was and will never be?"
"The waves in that turquoise sea", said she.

There still are waves
And perhaps there still will be
But they are not the ones that once were
For they are different :
The kiss between the breeze and the sea.

"What once was and will never be?"
"The fragrance of that first cosmos", said he.

There still are flowers of cosmos
And the perfumed air still lingers
But the one that bloomed first, that day of all
Would never ever be, even if time would stall.

One more time, 
"What once was and will never be?"
They agreed to answer that together 
When both were ready, at the count of three. 

The letters* still are, and so are the words in it
Once they were mine, but not anymore, even a single bit
For they are now yours, my words and my thoughts
Though still mine, it has You, in days of warm winds
And even of frost. 

The night wind still whistles in the cold 
But that bleak mood, there's none of it to behold
My every breath that once was mine, is now yours
Though still mine, it has You, in days of warm winds
And even of frost. 

/ 27
: 207

*P.S. "letters" in line 18 mean letters that have a sender and a receiver (sometimes), like postal letters.
Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, April 24, 2025

The Kid in Me

I was supposed to belong and conform to a "clan" 
The kid in me let me "be" with a different plan

They told me innocence is dreadful and magic a hoax
The kid in me let me feel the enchantment the cosmos evokes

They told me logic is the only way
And emotion to be a weapon
The kid in me let me fall for the smile of flowers
And told me curiosity is a force to reckon

They told me knowledge is property
And mind a closed chamber
The kid in me let me fly in the openness of timeless wisdom
And told me imagination is a glorious saber

They told me creativity is a mechanical pawn
And dreams to be a fool's journal
The kid in me let me shine in the resplendence of thoughts 
And told me dreams are divine and eternal 

I was supposed to adhere to the dictated "normal"
The kid in me let me carve my own and be exceptional 

/ 18
: 165
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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ନୁହେଁ ମୋ'ର

ଦେଖିଛି ତା' ଖୁସି ଜହ୍ନ ଭିଜା ନିଶାରେ 
କଲ୍ଲୋଳିତ ତା' ହସ ମଧୁରୀମା ପ୍ରାତଃରେ
କିନ୍ତୁ କହେନା ସେ ମନ ଖୋଲି ମନ କଥା ମୋତେ 
ଅଜଣା କି ମୁଁ ଏବେ ବି, ଥାଇ ସର୍ବଦା ତା' ପାଖରେ ?

ଦିନ ଆସେ ଦିନ ଯାଏ, ନିରନ୍ତର ସେ ବହି ଥାଏ
କୁଟା କାଠି ଝଡା ପତ୍ର, ସ୍ରୋତେ ତା'ର ବାହି ନିଏ

ବାହି ନିଏ ସେ ଅଝଟ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା, ପୁଣି ପଥିକର କ୍ଳାନ୍ତ ସ୍ମୃତି
ଅଲୋଡ଼ା କବିର କବିତାରେ କେବେକେବେ ପ୍ରେମର ଆବୃତ୍ତି 
ମନେ ପଡି ଯାଏ ମୁଁ ଅକସ୍ମାତ ବୋଧେ... ମୋ ବକ୍ଷେ ଛାଡ଼ି ଯାଏ
କେବେ କିଛି ବସ୍ତୁ, କେବେ କିଛି ଅଖୋଜା କାହାଣୀର ଇତି ବୃତ୍ତି 

(ତଥାପି କହେନା ସେ ମନ ଖୋଲି ମନ କଥା ତା'ର
ବେଳେବେଳେ ବାହି ନିଏ ସେ ସ୍ମୃତି ମଧ୍ୟୁ ସ୍ମୃତି ମଧ୍ୟ କିଛି)

କେବେ ପୁଣି ଆସେ ଆଷାଢ଼ର ସେ ଘନ ମେଘମାଳ, 
ଝୁମି ଝୁମି ନାଚି ଉଠେ ଶୁଣି ଆକାଶର ମୃଦୁ ତାଳ
ଶ୍ରାବଣର ଧାରେ ପୁଣି କେବେ ହୁଏ ଭାବବିହ୍ବଳ
ଅଣାୟତ୍ତ ହୋଇ ଲଙ୍ଘିଯାଏ ମୋତେ, ଭସାଏ ସେ ସ୍ଥଳ

ରୋକିବାକୁ ଚାହିଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୁଁ କେବେ ବା ରୋକି ପାରିଛି
ଅପେକ୍ଷାରତ ଥାଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ମୋ ଅପେକ୍ଷା ବା କେବେ ବୁଝି ପାରିଛି
ତା' ଭାବରେ ଅସ୍ତିତ୍ୱରୁ କିଛି ତା' ଜଳେ ଜଳମଗ୍ନ କରିଛି
ଅବିରତ ତା' ଝଲକ ପାଇଁ ସମୁଦ୍ର ପାଖେ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୁଁ ବସା ବାନ୍ଧିଛି

(ତା' କୂଳ ମୁଁ, ସର୍ବଦା ନଦୀ ପାଇଁ ଚିହ୍ନିତ
ମୋ ନାଁ ରେ କ'ଣ କେବେ ନଦୀ ଚିହ୍ନା ପାଇଛି?)

ମନ କଥା ତା'କୁ କେବେ କେବେ କହିଛି
କିଛି କଥା ଏବେ ବି ଅକୁହା ରହି ଯାଇଛି
ତା' ଖୁସିରେ ଖୁସି ହୋଇ ଆପଣେଇଛି ମୋହ କୁ
ତା' ଦୁଃଖ ଦେଖି ରୋକିବି କେତେ ଅବା କୋହ କୁ
ମୋ ଖୁସି, ଦୁଃଖ, କୋହ, ମୋହ ତା' ପାଇଁ ଓ ତା'ର
ନିମିତ୍ତ ମୁଁ, ତା' ନାମେ ନାମିତ, ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ନୁହେଁ ମୋ'ର 

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Monday, April 21, 2025

When the Book Speaks

With the words that were destined
To fill every corner and every nook
But these words really never belonged
How much ever you look

Frazzled and dusty, I lay
In the corner that every eye can reach
But no hands ever extend to turn the pages
Or glance at the words that enlivened them each

There are stories in me
That you may never understand 
Even if you read them
For a thousand nights
For they are from the between-the-lines land
Where every plot offers never-seen-before sights

Still forgiving, I will always hold tales
That would make you whole
Even when termites of being jilted
Has left holes in my soul

Until my pages are tattered 
And the warming words in me
Have faded into nonbeing
I will always be there
As an empathic listener
That would cater to your well-being. 


/ 24
: 141 (145)
Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Monday, April 14, 2025

ଟିକିଏ କାନିକା ପରି

ପଚାରିଲେ ଜନନୀ ମୋ'ର, "କ'ଣ ଖାଇଛୁ ଆଜି ମା?"
ମୁଁ କହିଲି, "କିଛି ନାହିଁ।"
ସେ କହିଲେ (ବ୍ଯଙ୍ଗରେ),"ଖାଲି ପବନ ଖାଇଛୁ ତା'ହେଲେ।"
ମୁଁ କି ଏ ସୁଯୋଗ ଛାଡିବା ଲୋକ। ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ କହିଲି,

"ଖାଲି ପବନ ନୁହେଁ ...
ଟିକିଏ ପବନ, ସେଥିରେ (ଗଛ ପତ୍ରର) ବର୍ଷା ପାଣି କଲି ମିଶ୍ରଣ ।
ଛିଡେଇ ଆଣି ଭସା ବାଦଲ ରୁ ଖଣ୍ଡେ,
ସଜେଇ ରଖିଲି ସେଥିରେ, ପୁଣି କହୁଛି ଶୁଣ...
ସଜ ଫୁଟା ଫୁଲର ମହକ ଟିକିଏ ଆଣି,
ତା' ଉପରେ ଛିଞ୍ଚି ଦେଲି ହାଲକା ହାଲକା ପୁଣି।"

ଏହା ଶୁଣି କହିଲେ ସେ, "ଆରେ ବାଃ ! ବଢିଆ କବିତା। "

"କବିତା ? ଏ କି କବିତା ? ଇଏ କ'ଣ କବିତା !?," ବୋଲି କହିଲି ମୁଁ।

ଆପଣ ମାନେ କୁହନ୍ତୁ ତ...


ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଖାଦ୍ୟରେ ଭାତ ର ମହତ୍ତ୍ୱର ସରି,
ଜନନୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୋ'ର ଠିକ ସେମିତି
ଟିକିଏ କାନିକା ପରି...

କାନିକାର ମିଠା ମିଠା ସ୍ବାଦ ଭଳି,
ମିଠା କଥା ଥା'ନ୍ତି ସେ କହି ।
ପୁଣି କେବେ ଅଳେଇଚ, ଡାଲଚିନି ମସଲା ଭଳି,
ବ୍ଯଙ୍ଗଭରା କଥାର ଛୁଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ଯ ଥାଏ ତହିଁ ।
ଦେଶି ଘିଅ ଭଳି ଥାଏ ଯତ୍ନ ଓ ପୋଷଣ
ପ୍ରଭୁ ପାଦେ କରିଥାନ୍ତି ସେ ସର୍ବଦା ଜଣାଣ।

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଖାଦ୍ୟରେ ଭାତ ର ମହତ୍ତ୍ୱର ସରି,
ଜନନୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୋ'ର ଠିକ ସେମିତି
ଟିକିଏ କାନିକା ପରି...

/25
: 146
==============================
A Little Something:

The conversation mentioned here happened as it is... exactly as mentioned. So, permission and consent has been taken accordingly.

The last 12 lines may come as a surprise for her.
==============================

Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Love Like Hers

Like the ferocious storm
That could capsize entire oceans
Like the exquisite redolence
Of the pristine flower from heavens

Like the astute philosopher
Perceiving an entire cosmos in thoughts
Like the whimsical butterfly
Gliding by, radiating rapture beyond noughts

Like the refreshing zephyr
Of the summer moon
Like the warm sunshine
Of the winter noon
Like the peachy glimmer
During the birth of dawn
Like the purple shimmer
The silken gloaming has spawn

How could mere words be ever enough?
Even imagining a Love like hers is beyond tough.

For when she loves
She is born
For when she loves
Eternity has her heart adorn
For when she loves
She is earth's profound emotion
For when she loves
She has the sky in motion

She loves like the fiery passion in heart's heart
She loves like the dreamy calmness in ethereal art
She loves like Time has never been born
She loves like Space is still in the cosmic churn

Yet she stands as if she is
Of an inconsequential presence
It would need gems for eyes
To comprehend her divine essence

How could mere words be ever enough?
Even imagining a Love like hers is beyond tough.

/36
: 198
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Saturday, April 12, 2025

A Quiet Note to Her

The clean crisp soft notes
Of the Dressroom scents
And the remnant hints that
The seldom-used peppermint oil presents

Just the kind of unusual harmony
She walks on
That no one else would expect
But I know how she finds it just perfect

She would stare at me
For what could be seconds or hours
The next moment
She would be in those pages
Or humming about
Blue galaxies or flowers

That's just her version
Of quotidian aspects she lives by
That no one else would have to wonder
But I know how frustrating it feels
When she gawks at an invisible sky
And would ponder

All said and done,
As her pillow
I wish I could tell her things
That I would be there
Through the weary winters
And sparkling springs

/ 26
: 132
Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, April 10, 2025

I would not be still

I have seen the rains,
The silver drops speaking with the terrains.
I have basked in the sun too,
The golden shine humming as the bees flew.

The winters too were never that tough,
For spring has always pampered life enough.

Oh! The days I have seen,
And the nights, 
When the moon set the scene.
Sometimes it would be
A tad gloomy and dreary,
But the wheels moved and
The next moment would be hunky-dory.

But there were times
When I was shook to my foundation
I bled too,
As I witnessed the agony in creation
Some parts healed,
But my tips never went further from the scabs
(The tips bled through the scabs,
The frequency ? No one kept tabs.)
For they witnessed desperation the most, 
And the treacherous stabs.

I wished, I hoped, I begged, and even cried,
But the animosity among these creatures...
Never died!
I was a bystander
To their cruel destructions as I grieved,
My bleeding tip witnessed them
Building graves upon heart of the bereaved.

Being stationed as high could be heart-wrenching
With none seeing the worse,
You bear the most, silently, with jaws clenching.

I wish the wheels turn again,
And a hill like me...
Could be at peace then.
Until then, I would try with all my wit and will
Even though I can't move, I would not be still.

/ 36 +2
: 216 +12
==============================
A Little Something:

The prompt was "My bleeding tip". However, to write about the pen didn't quite feel fine. It just didn't click. Additionally, I already have a piece on a similar theme.

So, the next thoughts were considered. Among a couple of ideas, I decided to go with the soliloquy (sort of) of a hill and how its peak (or tip) bleeds observing the spiraling events and incidents happening around. (Wherever 'tip' appears in this piece, it refers to the top of the hill or the peak.) 

Being at an advantageous position (here the height or tallness of the tip/peak, as compared to the rest parts of the hill) is not as beneficial as it seems. Grass is greener on the other side.
==============================
Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

About Me

My photo
As a blogger, one of the things I am often asked is "How/ When did you get started with all this?" For as long as my memory takes me back, I have always found myself pondering about a plethora of things. I have always loved reflecting on the small but wonderful aspects of life. Ipsita Contemplates has been very special and I love to get the opportunity to share my musings, my thoughts, and my perceptions with you. It is also a way to appreciate the essence of Life!