Chant of the Rain

A collaboration by Golam Wahedur Rahman and Bindu Babu. 

It started off with me commenting about the rain in Hyd, India and Golam wanting that rain in Bangladesh as well. Looking at Golam's dialogue, I wondered if we could collaborate on a poem. I asked him to begin first and he came out with this beautiful poem titled ‘He:’. It was quiet challenging to come up another to match his and I ended up with various versions. Finally I decided on this one, titled, 'She:'. 

He:

When the humid wind turned soothing cold
and the sweltering sun buried below
the dark grey clouds,

my wait to greet the rain - I could feel, 

would be over soon.
As Gods played Diwali in the sky,

Thunders, blue and white

appeared to my eyes.
I thought I could hear your song

and your sigh!

Yesterday you said, it was raining there,
and when I asked you for some,

You replied, 'But that I cannot share'!

Deep down I knew,

your love was too sublime
to deny me anything from your heart.
So when the raindrops smelled like you
I wasn't surprised at all, I was,

rather soaking wet

from the rain

and glowing from your love.

She:

I stand in the balcony

watching the downpour, watching for you.

As the rain dances down my skin

I wonder if you hide behind

these dark clouds,

playing with my tresses

while I shiver under your

lingering gaze.

My thoughts are like

paper boats sailing here and there...

and the wet chant takes me

to a buried moment.

Of incense and crushed rose petals.

Of candle light and soft kisses.

Of slow strokes and silken sighs.

Of thunder and faraway lightning.

I am drenched in those memories

and time grows heavy with longing.

I wonder if the caress of the breeze

carries my unspoken song!

For the wind blew strong

and the raindrops smelled like you,

I knew I had found my sanctuary!

I found you!

Photo Courtesy:

http://www.boostinspiration.com/photography/35-really-beautiful-examples-of-rain-photography/

http://www.boostinspiration.com/

An Insurance Call

Did you know that Heidi Klum's legs are insured for $2.2 million and Aquafresh has insured America Ferrera's teeth for $10 million (The Ugly Betty Star)? You dont believe me? Then will you believe me when I tell you that Tom Jones insured his chest hair for $7 million? Sigh, I see you do not. Then do click on the link below for details,

http://www.businessinsider.com/10-of-the-worlds-craziest-insurance-policies-2010-3

You will probably go through the same feelings of disbelief that I went through.

Insurance calls are common aren't they? They want to provide insurance for various diseases and against accidents. So, they all provide insurance for our lives and health, why, because the body is a "tangible" asset? But what about about our hearts and minds? What about heartbreak, disappointments and failure? Don't we all get hurt and more?

They will provide insurance for JLo's butt, but your heartbreak and mine aren't worth a paise...pathetic aren't we?

“We insure everything madam”,

said the voice on the phone.

“Will you insure my heart?” I asked,

breathless in anticipation,

“against heartbreak and pain?”

“And what about love and lust?”

“What?”gasped the voice,

 “Can you insure me against

foolish hopes?”

“Perhaps against never-ending optimism?”

“Excuse me?”sputtered the voice,

while I ran away with my propositions.

 “Do you have a policy against disappointments?”

“Or one for spill-over tears?”

“Wait, wait” wailed the voice...

“Is your premium high for

failures and setbacks

frustrations and regrets?” I continued.

“Hold on” cried the voice, “we don’t

deal with nutcases,” and slammed

the phone.

“Neither do I” I replied to dead phone,

“but I am only human.”

Standing in line....

I am standing in a line,
waiting for alms from you,
with my arms spread out.
But when you reach me,
you have nothing to give,
for you have already spent your love
on someone else.
Yet I am here day after day,
wearing out my patience and
wearing my heart on my sleeve.
While you profess
you feel nothing for me,
even in your handouts.
I may be a beggar today
for your affection,
but I am seeing cracks in my heart.
One of these days you will
come to me with an armful of gifts.
But I will be no more in the line,
for then there will
be a big gaping hole in my hand.
And my heart would have turned
to stone.