Keeping a friend alive

When he was alive some would refer to him as ‘your friend’
And then mock him for what he said or did against the trend…
Now that he is no more, they say he was ‘their close friend’
As they declare they were with him on issues together to fend!

Some cry more fiercely than the ones who truly grieve
Some lament louder than hearts turned into a sieve…
Some talk about memories that the world always knew
Some stalk on the stage as if they are the heroic few!

But time will show who really were under his spell
Who were the ones that he inspired so well…
For the many fans, their hero will never be felled
They will continue the story that he lived to tell!

The one who has died can live on forever
in minds, in hearts and actions of the lover…
His legacy of empathy would diminish never
If we choose focus over occasional fervour!

The thoughts of his mind, should be ours too
Where actions are more and words are few…
With words to be used for deeds that are new
We can keep him alive, in a legacy that we sew!

We can keep our friend alive if we rededicate
To his commitment to compassion predicate
In the end, our actions over time will indicate
That his worthy living we chose to truly vindicate! 

~ Pravin Sabnis
(Written in the aftermath of the death of a compassionate combatant for human dignity and justice, Satish Sonak… with the intent to trigger a resolve in self and others who want to keep him alive)

The Masks Return

So often with the powerful and the moneybags they mingle
Now they strangely speak of a resolve that is single
Single is the purpose declared of reclaiming freedom of expression
These are the same who have oft sided with forces of suppression.

The culprit will defend devious and deadly development
Sitting with those who he insisted were anti national elements
And these elements who once were vocal will choose to be silent
And insist that solidarity is a must for countering the violent.

They ignore that the baker broke bread with the same one
Whom he identified as the vilest under the secular sun
They ignore that the very persons who claimed that they fight
Were partners of an inconvenient deal born in the night.

They forget that the fight for human rights is not just with rogue foe
We have to beware the fiend posing as a friend waiting at the door
The door is just a frame for documenting the photo opportunity
To build a fake case of being a worker in the fight for human dignity.

The stage has been set, the arc lights have been hoisted high
The act has been rehearsed without any remorseful sigh
The masks have returned and you cannot tell who is which.
The net is cast high and wide to grab the gullible within reach.

The good are easily gullible as the crooks are double faced
They stand next to smiles artificially saccharine laced
It is a human tragedy that repeats and repeats every season
It is time for these damned masks to be exposed for real reason.

The masks keep returning as the players know well
That the people will forget what their other mask sells
But there are some who have seen through the deadly game
And the masks will not hide that the wearers are ideologically lame.

- _Pravin Sabnis_
16 November 2016

Waterfall

Waterfall

the water falls
screams steadily rise
the children overflow with gleeful surprise

into the passing foliage
the waterfall disapears
excitement recedes
but the smile lingers

screams will be back
when turns the train...
the milky waters
are now in a larger frame!

Pravin Sabnis
14 November 2016

क्यों

शहीद कहलाए १७ जवान
पर क्यों मरे ऐसे कोई इंसान
मरना चाहा था देश के नाम
कायरों के कारण गया प्राण

अब बहेंगे आसू क्रोध के
वादे होंगे प्रतिशोध के
पर कृति बिना होगी बात
क्योंकि अपने ही थे साथ

अपने गद्दारों के लंबे हाथ
बडे बडे है उनके साथ
कम होता है जवान का मोल
जब तक झुठ का ही हो बोल

घर के भेदी का हौसला बढ़े
कोई नही उनके पीछे पड़े
जवान ऐसी मौत मरते रहे
जवान ऐसी मौत मरते रहे

प्रविण सबनीस
१९ सप्टेंबर २०१६

RAIN

Here it comes again
Down comes the rain
Knocking on the windowpane
And flowing down the drain...

Go get your raincoat
Let us make a paper boat
And watch how it floats
On the waters of the moat...

Rain is fun, fast or slow
When it stops, sun will glow
See up there... a rainbow
Monsoon is the best show!

Pravin Sabnis
11 June 2001

Play well!

The veteran may score a blank
The senior may walk the plank...
but the score book doesn’t mind
If the debutante turns into a find!

Best is yesterday, be better today
Great past goes easily astray...
The present play is what matters
Previous scores can turn tatters...

So don't put down another on age
Wise often is the younger sage...
For while experience has its worth
Youth can break free of the dearth...

The unburdened mind we oft find
Is sans shackles of the doubt grind..
It may be wayward or off the mark
It may be just a shot in the dark...

But score books don't really care
Whether a honed skill or just a dare...
Those who play well are a treasure
Performance is the only measure!

So ensure the focus and play well
Our true calibre only time will tell...
And when it does, don't turn smug
Around the turn, lies the failure plug!

We must play well all the time
Speaking with the humility chime
Especially when we grow real tall
And comes along a player small...

The veteran may score a blank
The senior may walk the plank...
But the score book will only tell
The tale of the one who played well!

~ Pravin K. Sabnis
9 August 2016

Silence

Heed the silence, it is oft the loudest cry
Notice the quiet of the watchful sky…
There are many who hear but do not tell
But that's better than ones who cruelly fell!

Better than effusive excessive praise
that takes into a world of illusory daze...
Better is the silence of true empathy
Worse is appreciation born of duplicity…

The best words come from ones who use few
The silent applause is genuine and true...
Learn to hear those silent but loud cries
Of hurt underground and hopeful skies...

Silence can be a wonderful thing to turn
When we learn to listen and listen to learn!
Of course, silence can be indifference too
But it can also be a choice to hear you...

Don’t lament the lack of response you receive
loud declarations may flatter to deceive…
We must unravel the layers in the sky
Heed the silence, it is oft the loudest cry!

- Pravin K. Sabnis
4 July 2016