Poems – Madhu Sriwastav

Free Voice

Crying out loud
We announce our arrival into this world
We lisp, mutter, make sounds
learn to speak our mother’s tongue
We learn syntax and grammar
go on learn to new languages, spoken, unspoken
We learn to weave tales with these
voice our rights, argue, fight
Fill our worlds with noise
but we do not learn to listen
nor do we speak our hearts
We keep shifting the tune of our words
to make our lives liveable
It’s only when we are covered in the funeral garbs
wrapped in silence of the dead
that our voices become free
Free to speak the language of the heart
unmasked, unrefined, free flowing as the wind
With the rage of the fire that burns, purifies and sets us free
once and for all!

Boughs

Boughs bend
Elongated leaves kiss
Sun bathed green
Waters bathe
The clear blue sky
Fluffy cumulous clouds
Water in all forms
Coalesce in this
Shimmery canvas!