the wanderer

THE WANDERER

The wanderer keeps wandering,
unwinding, unlearning and unleashing
Exploring the beauty of the earth
In the colorful flowers that rise in the dirt

The wanderer walks to overcome fear
across rivers of tears and gardens of cheer
The path leads to someone waiting
Is it the dreams that set the heart beating?

Every glance from these paths’ maze
find colours melting in the gaze
the soothing winds, the soothing shade
Offer the vision of a destination glade.

The wanderer sees a new horizon, a new dimension
Dreams are realised by backing desire with dedication
Turn every moment into a precious one
following the call of your heart is real fun

The load on your mind will disappear
As the child in you reappears
Life will feel fresh and new
Love and bonding make a fine brew

Victory is when wanderers leave a trail
As an inspiration for others to set sail
A trail across waters and earth, high and low,
That beckon others with an invitation to glow.

Touch to transform

TOUCH TO TRANSFORM

let go of the past… and those moments old…
cast yourself afresh… in a brand new mould!
get set to rise… on newer horizons…
“touch to transform” future generations!

yes! we can do it… “touch to transform”…
first ourselves within… and every person along!
don’t wait for later, who knows if things remain…
”touch to transform” with your love… again and again!

“touch to transform”… sure this is true...
life is an opportunity… with moments few!
don’t let it waste…lest you regret later…
now while you breathe, may your roots go deeper!

the luxury of a palace cannot buy you sleep…
oceans of wealth cannot quench a thirst deep!
greed pulls you down, happiness sets you free…
peace of mind transforms adversity into luxury!

“touch to transform” the differences around…
through sincere sustained efforts, real treasures are found!
it is said so well, that time will not wait…
and that fortune favours feet, that cross failure’s gate !

yes! we can do it… “touch to transform”…
first ourselves within… and every person along!
don’t wait for later, who knows if things remain…
”touch to transform” with your love… again and again!

Stars

STARS

The beauty of every star with its simmering light
Can be seen from afar as they gather in the night,
Each has its own spark, yet they glitter as one
Like the colours of the rainbow born of the sun.

Seven colours bind together for the rainbow to emerge…
Would a rainbow ever form, if they chose to diverge?
When people get together, a nation is raised
Differences bring despair and defeat staring in our face

Every drop makes the sea; otherwise what is a sea?
Every act is crucial that carries the value of empathy
Let go of egocentricity, don’t stay aloof and away...
Let’s join hands together to create a beautiful day!

The farmer ploughs the land to reap a golden grain
The cowherd is not rewarded with milk, without any pain
The blacksmith shapes the iron with tools that shine!
The potter shapes the clay with a picture in his mind

All these are faces of effort… a desire to have a say...
With enmity to none… and a dream to seize the day
Deep down we are alike, no one is a stranger,
That is the real truth, stars are meant to be together!

A NEW SONG...

Cast the sadness away
Together let’s walk the way
Remember that it is our smile that brings
The splendid cheer of the season of spring

Sing a fresh tune; sing a new song.
A new season, a new day shall come along...

Let your song be full of play
Like a boat riding waves' way..
Keep up the spirits when down
Dreams rise with the setting frown

The wind that takes your breath away,
“Dance with me”, it seems to say!
Live your life with passion…
Ride the wind with positive emotion!

It is true that you only live once.
This life is constantly altering its stance;
Embrace every moment with a smile that cheers
the joys are to be found by clearing fears.

Sing a fresh tune; sing a new song...
A new season, a new day shall come along...

Pravin Sabnis
30 April 2007

The Earth Is Ours… the Sky Is Too!

THE EARTH IS OURS... THE SKY IS TOO!
(May 2001)

Every saint says so…
Every sage says so…
If you possess sincerity and daring
Eventually, you'll find yourself winning!

Don't mind the length of the road..
Don't tire out under the load
Listen to the essence of my words..
Don't disappoint these inviting roads

King of this world... that's you...
Believe this fact to be true
Take all troubles head-on....
Never sing a loser's song
Why does fear overpower you?
This earth is ours, the sky is too!

The thoughts in your mind...
Are mine too, you'll find
Your dreams are akin to my life mission…
Lamps of hope lit up our vision.
May these lamps never wane…
Come storm, thunder or rain!

The skies will sing, fun will gather...
Only if you and I call out together
The season of flowers shall bloom..
Bringing happiness and chasing the gloom
Together we can create a colourful way...
Why do you keep alone and away?

Why does fear overpower you?
This earth is ours, the sky is too!

and no mask on any face!

AND NO MASK ON ANY FACE!
A poem about hurt and hope(April 2002)

Where hearts once mingled
Lay the ruins of a nest…
The weak are being singled
By mobs, crazy and possessed

Our earth lies shattered
Soaked in bloodshed…
Our hope seems fractured
As humanity plays dead!

Passions are being rocked
The turbulence is on a high…
Reasons are being mocked
Some by a sneer, others by a sigh!

We have to stretch ourselves
Look within… and look without…
Sift the grain from the chaff
And throw those ugly masks out!

We have to start at home
We have to set it right…
Cleanse our minds of hatred,
And stop this ugly fight!

We have to make a move
Before the past buries our future…
We need to come together
For a cause that’s getting dearer!

We need to come together
By each let this be heard
Call it “saving ourselves”
Or find a better word…

Put away those excuses
Throw away those reasons…
Let’s all work together
And usher in a new season!

A new season for all of us
Never mind our ethnic race
A season of compassion and kindness
And no ugly mask on any face!

Ram on our side

RAM ON OUR SIDE
(May’1992)

My name it means nothing, all said and done
For the country I am born in is called Hindustan
I was taught and brought up the “dharma” to abide
And that the land that I live in has Ram on its side!

The history books tell it, they tell it so well
The Aryans charged and the Indians fell
The Aryans charged and the Indians died,
Hindustan was born with Ram on its side!

The sons of the soil were then shown their way…
As second class citizens on their own soil to stay
The names of the heroes, I was made to memorize
With blood on their hands, and Ram on their side!

The status of a human no longer remained so
The reasons for discrimination were different from before
But, I learnt to accept it, and accept it with pride
For you don’t think of the damned when Ram’s on your side!

Then came “Shilanyas” and the Ayodhya war…
Could some one tell me what was the fighting for
So many Indians died… so many Indians cried…
I think, I know why… we had Ram on our side!

I am told to hate all Muslims all through my life…
And that for the sake of my country, it is them I am to fight
And to kill them and fear them and to run and to hide
And to accept it all proudly with Ram on my side

Our hatred is swelling day after day…
As we wipe out all “bastards” who stand in our way
Kill them and drown them in the Hindu tide
And don’t you ask questions… you have Ram on your side!

But through many dark hours, I have been thinking about this
That at Jallianwala Bagh, the killers were British…
I can’t think for you… you’ll have to decide…
Whether General Dyer, too, had a Ram on his side?

My head goes reeling as I think about life
Are Ram and his tribe worth all this strife?
After all this bloody killing under misplaced religious pride,
I wouldn’t wish an enemy to have a Ram on his side!

Now that I am thinking, it makes me weary as hell…
The confusion I am feeling is beyond me to tell…
The words fill my head and fall to the floor
I am reaching out for my gun… ‘cause Ram’s knocking at my door!

(Inspired and influenced by B Dylan’s “God on our side”)