Woman, thy beauty surpass : A Poem

This Women's Day, I dedicate this poem to all the women who have touched my life or continue to.

Woman, thy beauty surpass

Woman, thy beauty surpass the beauty,
Of nature, whose you are the creation best
Nurture is your nature, eve,

From since when I was a seed at first.

You've borne me within and sustained me
Peace I found as a child in your warm breast,
Holding me as I slept and I learned to dream
You instructed me on respect, values and trust.

A welcome gift of life, from the same womb,
You played with me, fought, and you competed,
Taking both of us higher, as you inspired at times
Growing up, my upbringing you completed

Grappling with rules of life as I learned and schooled, you,
Encouraged me, as you taught; and got taught beside
I discovered weaknesses, built strengths as we
Chatted, frolicked, studied and raced side-by-side.

As I labour to earn my bread, you make it fun,
You lead, help, manage, collaborate, critique
With your thoughts, ideas, efforts and lending hand,
You help achieve the common objectives we seek

Destiny brought us together to nurture

Each other, help us grow and nourish our souls
You teach me ways to love and take care of me
As life partner, you share my hopes, plans and life's goals

As friend, you are always there, beside me
To help me get through travails with unconditional support
You are my partner, my advisor, my companion,

My muse, and at times source of soulful rapport.

Woman, thy beauty surpass the beauty,
Of nature, whose you are the creation best

They say you borrowed man's rib to get your form

But you give back so much more; we attest.

-Gowrish

The darkness of Sunshine

Exploring something new with this poem. Any critique of this vers libre is welcome.

The darkness of Sunshine

Once there was a white rose,

They called her Sunshine,

Reflected the day's glow around,

Said she was a creation fine

She sang, danced, laughed

In the wind; Little did they see,

Inside Sunshine there was darkness,

Which beneath her glow she hid

One day a bee found Sunshine,

She opened up to the bee

He sang, danced and played with her,

Wished he'd set her darkness free

But Sunshine was daunted,

Held on to her darkness tight
Fragile, she felt without it,

Thought darkness gave her might

She drew herself deeper into darkness,

And pushed away the bee

But such was the darkness,

Potent, that it stayed on with the bee

-Gowrish

Ode to a Road

[Inspired by NH17 Goa-Mangalore stretch on the current road trip.
Something was definitely right about this place this time of the year.]

As the mist fades away in reverence to the rising sun,
Shades of green tell on the annual rain-dance that's begun
With the green, not any green but a bright florescent glow,
Dark shades play with shadows of tall trees, in perfect flow

Large trucks rushing past the awakening village & town,
Get mocked by the bullock carts of wet hay light brown
Life begins asimple, on the clockwork of daily routine,
What you saw here yesterday, today's just the same scene

Coastal road this one, teases you with rare cliffs and the sea,
Taking scene away after just a glimpse, like unsure dance of a bee
Meandering road; colorful offshoots,some straight some cower,
Sprinkled among jack-fruit, mango and banyan, lies mayflower

Bedecked elephant cloaked in saffron, green and gold marches,
To the hill where he would bless the crowd by the temple arches
Dew drops fall on the windshield, in a splash, turning to stream,
Reminding me to not lose track of road, not lose my driving steam

As miles roll down under my wheels, each turn alive and fresh,
Brown earth on the shoulder changes color, zephyr becomes windy thresh
As I move down the ghats, gaining speed and swaying on the bends,
I think- this is real, I am here, with nature, there is no pretense

As morning recedes making way to forenoon, waiting crowds behold,
For carriers to take them to their place of work and their life's goals
Sun breaks through the clouds, makes schoolgirls open their shades,
In grey and pink pinafores, mayflowers in hand, such gleeful maids

Envious I become of the offices here, structures overlooking the sea
I work on a sixth floor by a window, but this is where I want work to be
For I have seen sights ante-monsoon; wet fields and blooming trees,
Cruising down this homely route, I have seen even a peacock fly by me

My eyes are fixed on the statue at a distance, rising above the waters,
Temple of the Destroyer, the tall tower, ode to His virtuous powers
As I drive away from the highway, into the little town by Arabian sea,
I wonder whether this coastal road is as beautiful as any road can be.

-MGP

A proud father

A father so proud, of his little boy
He sees himself, only younger, ah what joy
Those baby eyes, show him once more
Innocence he thought was lost in yore

A little outburst, from a nudge here
His toothless smile, from a tickle dear
Lilting laughter, mellifluous like stream
But boy's antics make his mother scream

Tiny yawns beacon the li'l guy to bed
But his curious mind, refuses to be led
His tired body, yearning to turn in
But racy mind, wins over, won't give in

His grit is unnerving, his strength to see
Moving chair, table and things bigger than he
His curiosity brimming, he opens all doors
Scrambling in and out cupboards, on all fours

Doesn't speak a word, yet, says so much
With his eyes, with his cries and his touch
Oh! that puppy face, when he wants his way
Let alone father, the mountains would sway

Everyday father learns a new lesson
Of life, happiness and abandon
Sees each day how the son grows tall
Even as the he feels his own age fall

Father thinks 'wait my son, don't grow, you'
I'm just getting to know now, can't outgrow you
Wait for me, I am growing, at heart, young and blue
Keep playing, and one day I'll be as young as you

-MGP