Frozen wings

  The spirit is heavy, said she
  my arms are cold
  my feet are weary
  I might lie down to rest
  and never awake,
  I feel like Sam McGhee
  promise to cremate me
  I want to not feel cold
  when I meet my maker
  Promise me, my love

  Well, she seemed so low, he thought
  that I couldn't say No
  then she said with a moan
  "It ain't being dead,
  its the awful dread of other's judgments
  that hurts and pains!
  so I want you to swear,
  that foul or fair
  you'll dance with me
  in the rain"

  Like the fallen leaves
  dance in the cold wind?
  like the sky on autumn silvered trees?
  asks him, with a shy grin
  Rustling in their golden coats
  Pink hues swishing
  barely touching the ground
  flying high and gently falling
  slipping the surly bonds of earth
  losing the vitality
  becoming dry and brittle
  left mercilessly to the wind
  losing the anchor of the tree
  why have you let me go, says the leaf
  what have I done?

  Replied the wind, It isn't the tree
  that let you go
  it was I that embraced you
  and took you for myself
  to take you heights
  to free you
  from things that bind
  to show you the clouds
  to flutter around mountains
  are my wings strong? ask I
  Together, we are, said the wind

  Baby, step off the nest
  you will never know
  how strong you are till you let go
  I won't let you fall on the rocks
  I will be the wind beneath your wings
  and the billow in your sail
  your guiding star and set you up
  with dead reckoning
  in your right path
  Trust in me
  and fly free
  your future awaits...


-SF and RD (A collaboration)

Rainbows

Of unicorns and rainbows

or four leaved clovers and horses' shoes

Some are lucky we are taught 

and some are near impossible to find

But what about a friend who is 

invisible but still on your side

Through years and months 

Cities and towns

Countries and coasts

How strange to realize what one considers an outsider 

Is a disguised insider 

If only one had taken the time to see and really see 

One's words and actions

The consistency and kindness over time

Coming through with a silent vote

If such people exist in your life 

Take a moment now

To rejoice 

And count you blessed 

For not only have you found a unicorn

The rainbow is looking for you!

Shobana

Every leaf a painting

Every leaf a painting

   Every leaf a masterpiece

A whisper of a wind

   A tug of a breeze

Come sailing down

   To meet the ground

Cover the pathways

   Color the greens

What a beauty in dying

   What elegance in fading out

With not a touch of remorse

   Or dressed in black or grey

But joyous in grief

   Glorious in color

Shedding love and joy

   To all who behold

In orange, gold and red

   Draped in majesty

Fluttering and swaying

   Shuddering to a stop

Laying still on the cold ground

   Waiting for the frost

Goodbye, dear leaf

   You have done well

Until the spring morn

   Rest in peace…

-Shobana

Cold

Thoroughly beaten
None to hear the screams
The mouth opens silent
As wet tears on cheeks
I run and find
No place to hide
I cower and cringe
But to no avail
Coldness creeps and
Steadily advances
Surrender I must
Surrender I must

-shobana

The color of death

Is brown the color of death?

 or is black the color of lifelessness?

Brown grass withered

 Brown trees bereft of leaves

Leaves still and brown and shaking

 loosely and nonchalantly on a brown tree

Sad scorched land with dried streams

 Barren brown earth streaked with frost

Is this the color of death?

 Is this the color of lifelessness?

When will the clouds break out?

 When will the gentle rains come?

Is there an end?

 Is there a spring?

-Shobana

March 26, 2014