Month: Feb 2020

Posted in Nature

Guest Post: Skyline Figures by Dara Lafayette

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

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Alone at dusk I connect the dots,
stars and memories in my mind.

Because I cannot see the future, only feel,
I might as well imagine

and dip my head into the dark sky, awake.

-by Dara Lafayette

Dara Lafayette is a fellow writer from Ireland, a musician and a budding artist. He is a dear friend and my favorite critic who has helped me articulate my thoughts in words.

This is why he writes: “My creative energy draws me to write with passion; to create a scene full of tone and story, and mystery and mastery of words. Writing is breathing to me. It helps me accept the simple and intricate bittersweet beauty of life as I breathe in the woods, forests and beaches. I’m a member of a non-fiction writers group and have done several public readings. Currently, I’m editing the first draft of my debut book of poetry.”

You can find his other pieces of poetry on his writer’s group: https://corknonfictionwriters.blogspot.com/search?q=dara

Photo by Ivan Mani on Unsplash

Posted in Nature

Guest Post: Sound by Dara Lafayette

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

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How can one man be so happy,
with so little,

All you have is,
books and friends and food,

The sun only guides your footsteps
during daylight

Fire of night
is made of simple wood

And even now your lifelong heart
is only just beginning to forgive

Your sights
are only strands and streams,
though fitting

Seats that do not creak
are dry and solid sitting

Toast of thin honey,
and butter slender spread

Distilled life
into only

One body
One heart
One head.

-by Dara Lafayette

Dara Lafayette is a fellow writer from Ireland, a musician and a budding artist. He is a dear friend and my favorite critic who has helped me articulate my thoughts in words.

This is why he writes: “My creative energy draws me to write with passion; to create a scene full of tone and story, and mystery and mastery of words. Writing is breathing to me. It helps me accept the simple and intricate bittersweet beauty of life as I breathe in the woods, forests and beaches. I’m a member of a non-fiction writers group and have done several public readings. Currently, I’m editing the first draft of my debut book of poetry.”

You can find his other pieces of poetry on his writer’s group: https://corknonfictionwriters.blogspot.com/search?q=dara

Photo by Cameron Vaughan on Unsplash

Posted in Life and After

The Penthouse

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

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So far, he had avoided sitting on the pristine bed, as if it carried a disease.

Earlier, when she had flirted with him during the meeting in her penthouse, he had gone along with it. She was a tough client, and the deal was too important. When, she asked him to spend the night—an opportunity to please her—he didn’t think twice.

Now, he wondered why it made him uneasy. They were both consenting adults and none in a relationship. He’d had casual relations before for fun.

But he was interested in those women.

This time, she was just…a cheque.

Pleasure for money—does this make him a prostitute? Why hadn’t he accompanied her in the bath like he usually did with women? Why was he already planning to leave before dawn to avoid the ‘walk of shame’? Why was he still hoping she’d change her mind?

The faint sound of the bathroom doorknob made him choose quickly.

Hastily, he gathered his most charming smile, ready to serve his master…in every way.

Photo by Febrian Zakaria on Unsplash

Posted in Love

All in My Head

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Before I met you,

I always wondered

If you had meant

More than your words.

 

When you took my name

On the call,

I dreamt of the sparks

You’ll send with your first touch.

 

I longed to meet you

So that

You’d look at me

With eyes full of love.

 

I trusted when

You found me alone

That you would care

If I get hurt.

 

But now that I’m hurt,

I know

It was all in my head.

It was all in my head.

Posted in My life, Random Thoughts

A Tough Assignment

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Lately, my nearly-3-year daughter has taken to creating ‘bouquet’ of animals.

Ever so often, she asks me what animals I want. I give her a random list. Then she asks me which color I want them in. After half an hour of hard labor, the bouquet is ready and it looks something like this.

Or this.

Now the daunting task is to label each animal accurately without hurting her feelings. But by now, I have already forgotten the list and color code, not that she follows it anyway.

Since I am a small-town woman and her paintings are on more of the experimental side, I am at a loss most of the time. So, I try to get the information from my only source without showing my confusion. I admit, I rely heavily on flattery and treats.

“Oh! What a pretty animal! Such pretty wings!”

(Flattered and pleased) “Not wings, they are feet.”

This is my first clue that it is not a bird.

“Oh yes, it has a nice long tail. Very beautiful.”

(Even more flattered and pleased) “That’s the trunk.”

Mystery solved. “Such a cute elephant!”

I write its name next to it.

But being a small-town woman, I am bound by the old-fashioned thoughts and, at times, make monumental mistakes. “Let’s add his ears.”

(A little annoyed now) “But it already has ears.”

“Of course! How silly of me! Here, take a Chocolate chip.”

Placated, we begin with the next animal. After a week of labeling these mysterious animals, you would think I’d get the hang of it. But I’m a simple woman from a small town. Modern art eludes me.

Posted in Life and After, Love

Prayers Late at Night

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

We call him

Over and over again,

Sitting next to the phone,

Waiting

And praying,

And crying,

And praying again;

That he had reached home safe

And fallen deep asleep;

Or switched off his phone

After our fight last night;

Or run away

With the guy

His father is so against.

Anything’s better than

What the Police states…

They’ve found a body

In the bottom of the lake.

Posted in Life and After

Old

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

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I’m old.

With more than 50 years behind me, I’ve some fond memories. I remember bringing Eddie and Chris home the day they were born–such wee little things. And when Eddie married, I drove the happy couple to their honeymoon. I held his daughters as babies and even took them camping when they grew up…

It was fun while it lasted.

But nobody can carry on forever. So now that I tire easily and my joints make me groan, I spend my days sitting in the sun in the yard while the new generation does the hard work.

Sigh! Well, I had a good run…

Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash

Posted in Random Thoughts

News: Development Wins – Celebrated All Night!

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

The landslide victory of AAP in Delhi Union Territory (India) serves as the verdict from the soul of secular India:

“We want Progressive politics, not Hatred-politics.

Give us true development–better schools, hospitals, roads, buses, railways.

Stop your men from killing people over meat. Stop them from scaring us in submission.

Give us a corruption-free system. Give us the list of the Swiss Bank accounts you have received and kept quiet. Or give us the reason for doing so.

Then ask for a vote. Period.”

Posted in Life and After

The Lighthouse

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Sigh! I simply love this lighthouse. The view from the top is breathtaking, especially on starry nights. I can sit here and look at it forever. The same stars that light up the sky also shine in the ocean; you, in the middle, feel like you’re floating in the outer space…

But people avoid this place. They call it haunted!

Earlier, I tried to talk to the few people who came here, probably on a dare. I assured them there is nobody here but me. I should know—I’ve lived here for more than a thousand years.

But they ran away! What Ninnies! Well, nobody can say I didn’t try.

 Photo by Introspectivenl on Unsplash

Posted in Life and After, Love

Things I Do for You

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

It’s my personal hell

In my little town–

The wall by the pond

We graffitied together

To scare the passers-by

Snickering all the time–

The one that we openly

Laughed at later…

How well you knew

I was scared too!

 

With you gone under,

I throng that place now

Even though it creeps me,

Knowing you too well,

Hoping you’ll come back,

To scare me.

Photo by Bryan Debin on Unsplash

Posted in Life and After

The Critics

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

“That angel smile is so fake. She threw the basin at me right before the session with the artist!”

“And that dress and hat are so yesterday, though they costed a small fortune!”

“Well, it’s a small price to keep a wife, who’s half your age, happy.”

“I can’t believe she painted her lips mauve. Even the queen couldn’t get away with that! And I wouldn’t even look at that mop of hair. ”

“If I had such unlimited access to makeup, I’d look far better.”

“Did you know she’s having an affair with the artist?”

“No way! Who told you?”

“I saw it while I waited on them everyday at the dinner. The looks they gave each other across the table…” (fanning her face)

“Well, I did wonder why he gave her the rose she’s holding.”

“He’s probably only after her money.”

“Sigh! If only I had that kind of money…”

Photo by Boston Public Library on Unsplash

Loved this post because it is straight from the heart.

A Life Dismantled sifting through the decades of accumulated stuff must haves in the moment diamonds in the rough for those timeless treasures, only bubble wrap will do shake the dust and cobwebs off comfy well worn shoes gently slip the photographs from old broken frames happy memories mingling with faces with no names shedding […]

via A Life Dismantled — like mercury colliding…

A Life Dismantled — like mercury colliding…

Quote• Posted on by Shaily Agrawal
Posted in Life and After

The Ripple Effect

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

I am numb—

Serene sea.

 

One walks in and

Offers condolence—

A drop that sends ripples

Across me.

Then come the tidal waves

Of reality

Crashing against my being.

I attempt to reply

But tears rise and choke me.

I inhale to calm down.

But the stormy sea knows no bounds.

I go under—

Drowning the illusion of restraint,

Once again.

 

I turn to hide

Lest the world may see

What a wreck

You have made of me.

Wait until the numbness returns.

And I’ll, again, be the serene sea.

Photo by Joshua Qualls at Unsplash

Posted in Life and After

The Dinner

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

The dinner was a quiet one as usual.

He never spoke much. That’s why she fell sideways looking for emotional support.

She purposely avoided thinking of it as an ‘affair’. It made her feel guilty.

Anyway, it wasn’t like she was sleeping with him. They just chatted about everyday things–daily struggles at home and office, poetry, paintings, children, dissatisfaction with family life…

Sometimes they spoke of love or lack thereof in their lives. The easy conversations made her wonder how it would have been if she had married him instead…

The thought made her uncomfortable. She was, after all, a respectable woman. She had honored her parent’s choice for 19 years. She won’t go back now. Her husband is a good man, just not who she wanted…

If only he would talk to her…

Ask her about her day…

Tell her about his own…

Remind her in some way she wasn’t just a piece of meat…

Her husband finished his dessert quietly and got up to watch television. Sighing, she cleared the table and went back to chat with him again.

Photo by Dilyara Garifullina on Unsplash