Asian Literary Society

  I was sitting amidst verdure solemnity, brooding over my quondam days, Circumambient mist at dawn mystified my presence and atmospheric state. I still ruminate that flagrant moment that had nesciently passed When my somnolent eyes of morn observed the haze perched on window glass. Unsullied droplets were trickling down the panes and blending with my somber mood, I saw your love message etched on the misty surface, but your contiguity was mute.   I still dread the grey illusive shroud that has fumigated my fate, And has devoured you in its abyss, where sunbeams flinch to penetrate. I am still in the delirium of that blurry dawn to be silhouetted by the ardent sun When the pearly gilded rays shall infiltrate through the dense imprecision Stealthily unfurling the mystery in its monochromatic dull sheath Revealing the muffled blues and silvery lavender And like the enamoring lights of fantasy tales, I shall find you in its shelter.   But instead, some stupefying display of ...

  A veil obscure  between stark reality and fragile illusionary  nest Envelopes in its chest tales of mystery  and human quest   Sometimes  it embodies in its enormous  bosom Many a storm, tempests and hurricane- man's emotional  prism   Sometimes it meanders through fear  and fright Waiting eagerly  for sunshine to bath in its gossamer  delight   Sometimes suspended on trees in angelic robes - a sweet swan Hues of purity and possibilities  heralding  a new dawn   Mist is play of Light and shadow splashed on canvas of life Oscillating  between  them we all dwell and  strife   The Morning  Mist  teaches not to be afraid of storms or hail In times of uncertainty sail the ship facing bravely without  fail   Connect with the inner self, explore the  hidden light there stored Magical divinity of secrets of the universe lies in the soul's fold. ...

With the footsteps of the winter approaching on tip-toe My passionate heart finds resonance, now going fast now slow Ever since my childhood, I have always felt a pull Towards cool misty mornings, so enchanting and beautiful Everything all around seems to wear an opaque garment What lies behind this hazy veil fills you with such wonderment The trees, the houses, the roads, the lamp posts all touched with a magic stick Play hide and seek, now visible,  now doing the vanishing trick As a kid, I used to love the steam coming out of my mouth When I let out my breath and saw it drift to the south Cycling my way to college on the misty winter morning With the hazy pathways, and dark mysteries its all corners adorning The progressing years in no way have diminished my crazy fancy The inscrutable misty charisma is as deep as in my infancy Now when I go for a relaxing walk on a morning wrapped in mist Those precious memories of yesteryears as a song-dance on my lip Oftentimes I  ask my...

Long before science could unravel the mysterious rhythms Of inscrutable nature and its diverse realms Human imagination has tried to capture its essence In its own ways in an attempt to make some sense Sun Rain Fire and grain all came to be worshipped Man for his survival tried to keep them pleased An old woman spinning a wheel we saw in the moon A shooting star in the sky made us seek some boon Today's knowledge these figments of fancy might belie But the ages old romance woven around them never seems to die Even though  a shooting star is a speck of dust I know On seeing one a wish from my heart still  does rise and flow If prayers and wishes can indeed cause some miracles How I wish sorrows and miseries should leave this earth forever! Only a single wish emanates from my tormented heart Purged of hatred and all wars, this world should become like heaven A garden of Eden where love and harmony flow like river water Murmuring and cascading ballads of peace sung now and hereaf...

For thousands of years, I have held within my bounds The flowing waters of the river and its secrets profound I have witnessed their varied mood swings for centuries Now merrily meandering now ravaging roaring breaking all boundaries Settlements coming up around me, civilizations blossoming and decaying, The saga of human growth and downfall, I have seen it all Under the whispering trees and their rustling leaves I have seen love bloom and blossom in the moonlit breeze There was a time when people came up to me for a leisurely stroll Or to go riding in a boat away from life's rigmarole I extended to all my warm and cordial hospitality Till the time  there came up the ugly face of man's  travesty My bosom littered with empty cans, poly bags and waste hurts me I am a mute sufferer, nature watching my pain silently The pandemic raging in recent history rendered my water clear My own self unpolluted and devoid of any litter Partially restored  my pristine glory of yesteryears...

कुछ मुस्कुराते फूल और  कुछ चुभते हुए कांटे हैं जो ज़िन्दगी की बगिया ने हम सब को बांटे हैं  आंसू न हों तो मुस्कान का कोई मोल ही न जाने  दोनों से ही बनते हैं जीवन के ताने बाने  दुःखों के बीच जब भी खुशियां नसीब होती हैं सूरज की रौशनी सी मुस्कान चमक उठती है ! मुस्कुराने की वजह सबकी होती  है अलग अलग कोई चाहे गाडी बंगला कोई सूखी रोटी में मस्त  किसान की मेहनत से  जब फसल लहलहाए मीठी सी मुस्कान उसके चेहरे पे छा जाए  भक्त अपने इष्ट से कोई मुराद जब पाए मनवा उसका ख़ुशी से तब झूम झूम जाए  कोई दिल जब प्रेम की बरखा में भीग जाए मुस्करा कर  ख़ुशी के वो गीत गुनगुनाए  नए जन्मे शिशु के कोमल स्पर्श को पाकर खिल उठे इक माँ का मुखड़ा पीड़ा सब भुला कर दौलत के बाजार में ये शै नहीं है बिकती भोले भाले चेहरों का श्रृंगार ये है करती  हर  किसी की चाह बस इक मुस्कुराता गुलशन  कॉंटों संग फूलों को पाना यही तो है जीवन !

  The velvety night wraps itself in the starry blanket bidding adieu Paving the way for the cold morning, bright Soaking in the universe in the mist of passion deep Morning mists silvery, shiny and graceful from welkin to the earth. Kisses the hills n' verdant green meadows on the countryside Romancing with the virgin buds and the flowers quenching their thirst. When the city is shrouded in the languid slumber, The sprayed water droplets from Paradise Basks the conscious in peace  Away from the constrained and stressful, monotonous routine. I lazily peep out of my window, venting away a deep breath. Holding on to the precious moments of heavenly love. Gazing in awe, admiring the morning mist in its cosmic play. These mists shall play hide and seek on windows sills  Until the sun rouses, overflowing with desires  To wrap them in its sunny armor.