Part time, Religious

-----------------
There are some days
when I can do without God,
Most of the time
I like to have him around.

There are times
when I desperately need
 God to be there
 when my shattered pieces
 are scattered all over the floor

But the day my loved one
had such a need,
 my need and belief for God
did multiply ten fold

(There is somebody somewhere
 who needs your prayer)
------By Jibrael Jos

The lonely bench

Down by the lake I sit everyday
Admiring the beauty on display
With birds and bees busy working
Though it seems like fun and play
But the city is busy
and does not have time to sit around and idle all day

The wind leaves ripples in its wake
The trees do dance and sway
The lake is calm and serene
But the aggressive traffic around
Didn't calm down
Anytime of the day

Weekdays love birds do come
But the gardener hastily shoos them away
In movies we don't mind
But as a nation we abhor
affection on public display

On weekends I am happy
When children come and play
Young men and women go running Old ladies sit with me and pray

Frankly I must admit
In the ten years I have been here
Most of the people who come and sit
Have a hundred worries and fears
For some it is money,
ill health or daily bread
But for most
it's an emptiness
eating into their head

I am a lonely bench
And do understand
Your yearning and need for rain
In case you need inspiration
Try sitting with me by the lake
In winter,  summer or when  in pain

-------By Jibrael Jos

Do you see what I hear

--------------------
Eyes think ears can't see
Ears think eyes can't hear
Tongue finds both of them weird
Because in the last team meeting
He never heard them say a word!

Thinking is what we do
but we at times think
others are fools
--We wish they will open
--their eyes and see
But to another we may seem
equally blind to be

Some seem slow
to add two and two
--And we start to assume
--that we are smarter than them
--in every way
But intelligence is a spectrum
with maths just one of the million colors on display

So open your ears and hear
open your eyes and see
open your mind and think
But realise that no human
can possibly percieve
the universe in another soul

--------By Jibrael Jos

Sarcastic Tree

-----------------
You have a problem with me
Falling down in the rain
And disrupting traffic?
Am I for you
Just another statistics!

You eat into my space
With your footpath and roads
You dig around my roots
For your cables and pipes

You "prune" of my branches
For your power lines
My year long effort to balance
You randomly chop of

You pollute the very air
I breathe
You guzzle all the water
What do I drink?

So now I am
brittle and frail
I am sorry
About my tripping
Over your precious car

And yes don't blame the rain,
For my fall
Because he is
my only friend, after all
Next time I will be careful,
I will die
without disturbing you

-----------By Jibrael Jos

Parting

Dear Rashmi,

Parting can be painful
Parting can be tearful
But the measure of the pain
Is proportional to the treasures
You will retain

Memories are made of
 moments well lived
 laughs that were shared
 people who did care
 hard work one did
 fruits that did bear

So cry your hearts out
Unload buckets of tears
Because your memories are sweet
And u hv plenty to cheer

The seeds you did sow
Have become flowers
trees and much more
Its a garden you leave here
But world needs much more

Sometimes only when we part
Do we realise what part
We did play
Sometimes only when we bid farewell
Do we realise how well
Did we play

And you played well my friend
You really did :-)

       With lots of love from
                The Actor's Collective

-------written by Jibrael Jos

Geology

# geology based quotes

1. Every mountain peak
took a long time
to reach that height
and you want
to do it in a month

2. For every Mt.  Everest which rises
 a whole range is inspired
to reach new heights
the world has never seen

3. Its only when
tectonic plates clash
that mountains rise
If they go their own ways,
molten lava and ashes
will be their only legacy

----By Jibrael Jos
(Lines inspired by Geology and the Himalayas it formed over millions of years)

Marriage? Too Risky

--------------------
Arranged marriage is a risk
With a very high chance of regret
Rollback is not an option
Nor is a Reset

Shattering
and picking up the pieces
will be a pain
How can I love and trust
But still show some refrain

What if he is a freak?
What if he is a wierd geek?
What if he is a cynic?
What if he is unhygienic?

What if he is abusive?
What if he is too possessive?
What if he is a liability?
What if he is low in loyalty?

Should I conduct a written
Before 7 rounds of interviews
Should I follow him for a week
To ascertain his views

Should I analyse his fb post
For the last three years
Should I check his photos
To cross check my fears

Background checks
Reference checks
Is that mandatory?
Ex girlfriend reviews
and analyse her sob story!

Am I being paranoid here?
Can I possibly ever live life
If I am beseeched with such fears
How can I avoid these risks?
How can I mitigate them?

Should I stand on my feet first
Before I search for my mate
Should I make my own living
Before knotting my uncertain fate

----------By Jibrael Jos
(NB. This applies to love marriage more but sadly romantic love is too blinded for serious risk analysis )

Masala Dosa and You

-----------------------
It is clichéd
But its true
The best ingredient
Inside a masala dosa
Is you

Served in over
a thousand stores
With 99 variety of fillings
Potatoes, Paneer or
Mushrooms in its core

But the one you make at home
Will be more sumptuous
You will keep asking yourself
"One more, its delicious "

You like a dash of ghee
Or a chunk of butter
You like it brown or crisp
Or with thicker layer of batter
You are the chef, dole it out
It will be healthier
Than what you eat out

It may take time
To master the skill
But if you could negotiate maths
Then this is just an ant hill

Sambhar and chutney
make a day before
And leave the morning
To cook,  create and explore
.—--------By Jibrael Jos

Actor: The Light Seeker

----------------
Who says only plants feed on light
Even actors do
The way an audience comes alive
It may seem that actors
breathe out oxygen too

For an actor, the stage
The best place to be
Where emotions are true
And his feelings are free

Suspended in time
In that small space
Until the curtain
falls back in its place

He is the king,
he can be the beggar too
As long he has done his lines
And he knows his cue

Playing his part humbly
or even with a spout
He can melt your heart
Or even rip it out

Once the bell goes
And until the lights are out
There stands an actor
Confident without an iota of doubt

Applaud if you like his act
Bring the roof down if you can
What keeps him going
Could be you, his solitary fan
-----------By Jibrael Jos

Stray Kiss

-----------
Dancing in the moonlight
O what sweet joy it is
My two left feet became right
All it took was that kiss

Meeting of the lips
What the world calls a kiss
Unaware,  Unchartered
Territory was this

In bliss you found me
To ecstacy you did take
But you left me in misery
O why O why did you forsake

In ignorance I was happy
No romantic aspirations to undertake
After falling in love with you
Each day without you,  it's heartache

For you that stray kiss
May not matter that much
My life has gone haywire
I have no idea now
when to shift the gear
and when to press the clutch

I keep staring at the phone
Waiting for it to ring
Dreaming you are mine
And I will be your King

O what foolishness is this
I should awaken from my slumber
You never asked for mine
And I like an idiot didn't
take your number
----------By Jibrael Jos
(for a romantic play in progress)

Kung Fu

----------
(Inspired by a conversation with Nithya J Rao and Interaction with the group Murmurs of the Metropolis )

Are stand up comedians
The happiest of the lot
Are divorce lawyers
The saddest or not

We live in a world
Where people's mind are full
But they are not mindful anymore
99% do not give a 100%
On the task at hand

The lady who cleans my house
Is an exception to the rule
She works with such concentration
And such pristine perfection
That somehow I feel
She is the happiest person I know

I get excited
when I get new work
But why cannot I do the old jobs
With the same excitement

I love it when I get
 wonderful feedback
But will I work so well,
if it is only me
who will ever applaud

Some chefs say they love to cook
But don't want to dice onions,
Grind roasted spices,
Grate coconut,
Cook on slow fire,
Clean dishes
and segregate waste

But now imagine a cook
Who does all the above with love
Also experiments in free time
Read up recipes
and gastronomical experiences
on the Internet
Chats up food lovers
And even talks to your grandma
The culinary magician!!

Imagine if this cook
Shops for fresh produce himself
Loves to spend hours
Browsing through spice racks
Concocting masalas in his head

Can you see him
dancing with his utensils
Can you see him
detect salt thru the aroma
Can you see him
tasting and relishing his creation

That my friend is true love
That my friend is Kung Fu

I may not have
the Midas touch
and turn to Gold
whatever I undertake

But is there something
Maybe just one thing
For which I give a 100%,
My mindful self,
My will,  my sweat
My heart,  my soul
That and that
Over time
Will become my Kung Fu!!

What is your Kung Fu,  my friend?
-------By Jibrael Jos

I wish all this was taught

I wish all this was taught
                                    by Jibrael Jos
To Write an ode, To the One You Love
    To Pen a Thought for those who have naught
To raise your voice, Without Asking for a price
     I wish all this was taught

To Sing a song, When Things go wrong
    To Laugh a lot, when in a tight spot
To See the gain, When we are in pain
     I wish all this was taught

To Laugh aloud, When jeered by a crowd
      To Dream a lot, When all is lost
To Praise the Lord, When put to a sword
      I wish all this was taught

Envy:, Triple constraint

(From a young girl's point of view)

Beauty they say is skin deep
But on Facebook it doesn't seem so
She gets 200 likes, 50 comments
And my profile pic is collecting digital dust as far as I know

She takes part in a hundred things
And damn not once in the same clothes
How can life be so unfair
I have such a limited collection for wearing outdoors

No pimple or acne I can see
She has a pretty perfect nose
All the boys seem to queue up
Offering her a rose after rose

She must be avoiding oily food
And not eating any mangoes
Her life must be pretty miserable
Or at least that's what I hope :-(

Beauty, Brains and Happiness
Don't they come under the triple constraint
O Lord of social media, please
put on her some restraint
I can live with my inequities
But against her
I have a serious serious complaint

---------By Jibrael Jos

Sister's Birthday Wish

My sister is dillusional
To say the least
She thinks the world is a place
To live in love and peace

Over and above that
She thinks there is a God
Who has a plan for her
To live a life of purpose and all

She helps others out
Who really need a lesson or two!
But she will care for them
As if that is the best thing to do

Happy like a child
Positive in her approach
A work horse,  A little wild
But actions always above reproach

Balanced in the head
But heart is very skewed
Happy birthday Litty
May God Bless you
May this year, be the one,
Where you
---- Play a new tune
------- Sing a new song
----Lead us to Papa's hill :-)
And move mountains with your will

-------Love Manoj( your bro)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas ....(2013)
 All those who are lonely or think they are
All those who are sad or think they are
All those who are victims or think are
God is sending a cool breeze to warm your heart , spirit and soul
Keep all eyes doors windows and mind open :-) Merry Christmas

Enjoy what you do

So enjoy what you do or do what you enjoy(2012)

Enjoy the tempest in life
       like the first monsoon rain
Enjoy another's laughter but also
       shed a tear for another's pain
           
Take time to smell the flowers
      and to enjoy the gentle showers
Take time to see the clouds
      and to observe the crowds

How long will you stare at the monitor
          Solve Something
How long will you stare at the mirror
          Reflect on Something

How long will you run
          Compile Something
How long will you cry
      Debug Something

Imagine Something
    Build Something
        Share Something
and not to forget be a part of Something

So enjoy what you do or do what you enjoy

the full article is here .....
http://zinginurwings.blogspot.in/

Variable and Constant

Change is the only constant
You are the only variable
Keep Coding Keep Compiling

Kids Puzzle - 2

I am tall dark and handsome
I like to stay sharp
When I am in a flow
Artist, poets and writers
Put up a great show

Her fragrance
has a wisp of jasmine
Flexible to the core
Ready to erase my follies and
help me start once more

Together we are a team
Inseparable every child knows
Can you take a guess
As to who we are? 

Family

Some families are loving
Some a bit too much
Some are not in talking terms
Some talk too much

Some feel the hugs
And some feel the squeeze
Some feel suffocated
And some feel the breeze

Some families are scattered
In quest for bread
It maybe based on distance
Or based on their work shift instead

Some families are nuclear
In more ways than one
They have a blast!
From outside it seems fun

For some it is perfect
For some a compromise
For some love is like warm fire
For some it's cold as ice

Sharing and caring
Isn't that the whole point
But some families are together
with an ache in the joint!

Some who live alone
Have broadened their scope
They share their love with the needy
And with those without hope

Some are blessed with a kid
Some are blessed with two
But for those who are waiting
And waiting and waiting
Home seems to bite back at you

Some kids study out of town
Some kids study abroad
But when they come back
Home seems blessed by God

Families serve  a purpose
Families serve a cause
If yours is not functional
When do you plan to play
Or do you prefer
to leave it on a pause?
---------By Jibrael Jos

A dead leaf

A dead leaf
A fallen flower
A broken branch
May have a deeper purpose
 I do not see

A dead hope
A fallen dream
A broken heart
May have a higher purpose
  I do not see

When it's dark
God grant me insight
When I am down,  Teach me
 to appreciate others plight

When the dark clouds loom
Instill in me a good attitude
When the flowers finally bloom
Teach me to live with gratitude
------------By Jibrael Jos

Oasis of Change

-----------------------
Wind planted the seed
In a cloud of hope
Nourished by belief
It decided to cope

Without any soil
How to grow roots
How to sprout
How to bear fruits

Sun was relentless
Barren rocks below
He dreamt of rich soil
And river flowing slow

One fine day
Some rain came down
He was carried to a crevice
where he found some ground

He worked hard
And finally roots did spread
Breaking the rocks
He returned from the dead

Slowly and steadily
He felt more grounded
and more free
Slowly and steadily
He spread his arms
and became a tree

His fallen leaves
Enriched the soil below
Under his shade
Other plants started to grow

Slowly he became
a hub of life
His fruits nourished
Birds and insects alike

In time the place
became an Oasis of sorts
Supporter of life
even in times of drought

You too are a seed
Don't you ever forget
Work hard with faith
Never having to regret

Step by step,  day by day
Nothing is out of your range
You can be a catalyst
For an oasis of change
----------By Jibrael Jos

What God Wants

I met God
And she asked me to tell you
"There is nothing to worry
Its your fear cooking a stew"

She does not follow any religion
And no religion follows her
But she is following you everyday
Hoping you will one day find her

She does not need your prayer
She made that very clear
But she would like you be at peace
With inner strength to steer

She wants you to feel loved
and grabs opportunities
she has placed on your way
In spite of what happens
she wants you to believe
in yourself and others today

She wants you to be happy
and laugh like she does
Shed tears of joy
If you really must

I met God
And she asked me to tell you
 "This poem is not from her"
But I guess you already knew
-----------By Jibrael Jos
(Inspired by her grace,  I hope)

Papa

My dad is very special
But I didn't see it back then
It took me some years
To appreciate the ways of men

When  I reached my teens
I was sure I wouldn't be this bad
I'll be a different kind of dad

But by the time
I became a parent of two
I realised I hardly fit his shoe

The stories he made and shared
I used to listen with all my heart
My kids also listen to mine
But sleep off as soon as I start

I have sat on his shoulders
Till I was in class three
My kids also I carried
on walks and treks
But am not as strong as he

His honesty and integrity
His confidence and love for art
Moral values he taught me
Will I be able to impart

I love you kids
Its been a joy being your papa
If I am not upto the mark
Please learn from grandpa

Thank you Papa,
       You are the best
   Your joy and passion for life
             Is my source of zest
                   Love Manoj

 P C Jos
A blog I wrote on my dad some time back

Book Review :: Guns Germs and Steel

I read a book by Jared Diamond
Now a precious book to me
A lot of history interpreted
Using paleobotany and geography

 How can the contintent's
orientation across latitude,
determine how crops spread?
How did climate change
determine the paths
people would tread?

Why was it that Europeans
who attacked with
Guns,  Germs and Steel?
Why Inca and Aztecs didnt
"discover" Europe,
plunder it and steal?

Why African tribes didnt
have legions of zebra ridding warriors?
Why do we still not raise deers?

Why the hippos and rhinos
in battles not have a say?
Simple reasons but I never thought
about if before today!!

If you want the answers
You can Google it too
But to get the bigger picture
I will recommend this book to you
------Book Review by Jibrael Jos

Travelling Light

"He will repent and come back,
you just wait and see.
He will accept his mistake
And remain forever loyal to me "

Well that's as ignorant
As it can get
Chances are he blames her
And lives without regret

The prisons are filled with those
Who think they are an innocent lot
Even  a murderer thinks
It not his fault

If you feel like breaking
A bone or two
Take deep breaths,
And feel the feeling leave you

Karma will teach
Those who have hurt you so
You forgive and forget
Take the path you're meant to go

At some level
We are all sinners my friend
The heavy load in our heart
Is not God sent

We all carry burdens
We are supposed to let go
In life amazing journey
"Travelling Light"
should be our motto
------------By Jibrael Jos

Wanderlust

-----------------
I'll travel to ends of the earth
Or Circumnavigate the globe
Whether this earth is flat or round
I refuse to sit here and grow old

Wanderlust is in my genes
My ancestors explored far and wide
I cannot be chained to a desk
I need to take my life on a ride

Challenges are bound to be there
Twists and turns cannot throttle my flow,
Where the road ends and trails begin
Thats where my heart wants to go

I want to climb the mountains
And swim in the deep blue sea
Multiple road trips and train journeys
It will all happen to me

---------By Jibrael Jos

A Teacher's Take

We pass them
when they should fail
We fail them
when we just let them pass

They remember volumes
Every year for a month or two
But they forget what they read
Even before summer hols are thru

We set alight a flame
with a positive stroke
We extinguish a spark
when we call them a joke

We push them up
when we believe in them
We pull them down
when we try to live thru them

We can mould them
As they are like wet clay
But we break them
And in a shell they tend to stay

Will I be the teacher
Who breaks from this mould
Will I help my students
Go thru fire to become pure Gold
----------By Jibrael Jos

The mouse and the owl

(A story rhyme for kids)

Moonlight on the pool
The water glistens
The night air cool
The owl keenly listens

The mouse rummaged
in the garbage
For some left over food
Owl waited patiently, After all
this was his neighbourhood

He ruled the night
From his vantage perch
Keen vision, silent flight
Prey's life surely in a lurch

The mouse made a move
Deft and nimble
But the owl caught on
Got ready to rumble

A deadly trajectory
he launched upon
The  mouse oblivious
Was nibbling at some corn

Owl's shadow on the pool
Caused a light flash
The mouse saw his peril
He quickly made a dash

The owl cried foul
to his God above
He cursed the moon
He cursed his fate
He cursed the pool
He cursed his state

Where am I ruler!
Of this moonlit night
Jazzy claws,  binocular vision
But the mouse is out of sight

Mouse saw the world very differently
My prayer before my meal
paid of pretty well
I being hungry ensured
my reflexes were swell

Life is so wonderful
now I have a story to tell
How I escaped
from the claws of hell
----------By Jibrael Jos 

Time to Accelerate

Life is awesome
 when we act upon our thoughts
Life is satisfying
 when we loosen the mental knots

Life is plentiful
  when  we choose to give
Life is eventful
  when we choose to live

Life is beautiful
 when we see thru the heart
Life is purposeful
 when we do our part

Do you see what I see
Life can be so much more
I have been scoring ones n twos
Time to accelerate
  and hit a six or a four
(Written by Jibrael Jos) 

What are you waiting for!

You have dreamt it
When you were awake
You have lived it
When you were asleep
What are you waiting for!
Take that leap

There maybe few
who don't believe in you
But there are hundreds
who will follow your lead
What are you waiting for!
This is the hour of need

You are not doing it
for money or fame
But you will get it
All the same
What are you waiting for!
Destiny is calling out your name

You would love doing it
Your passion would set you aflame
You have done the math
So why not proceed?
What are you waiting for!
You will succeed
----------By Jibrael Jos

Life ain't fair

Pest should get equal share
Pigeons allowed to poop anywhere
Pass mosquitoes Food Right bill
Ban Antibiotics, millions they kill

Then and even then
Life won't be fair

So stop crying
Go get a grip
You're the master
Of your own ship

Prepare for the worst
You came into the world
kicking,  head first

Now use that head, dear
and keep kicking till
you get out of here
  - - - - - -  By Jibrael Jos

Seem Happier

People on Facebook
seem happier than in real life

Vacations seem near perfect
Marriages without any defect
Families so understanding
Friends so many and so loving

Social life pretty cool
Nobody thinks you are a fool
Work and assignments pretty fun
Awards and promotion easily won

Well friends
Whether true or not
Let's keep it that way
Put out happy posts everyday

I'm Okay Ur Okay
I'm happy Ur happy
You like me,  I'll like you
Otherwise I will
unfollow, unfriend or block you
(Written by Jibrael Jos)
(Inspired by a comment by Deepti R)

Success

Success is
When an ant takes a break
to watch you work
When the sun comes early
to watch you rise
When a butterfly follows you
to feel your joy
When an eagle looks at you
and yearns to fly high
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Am I getting better

We find babies cute
Toddlers so lovable
But when they grow older
They seem not that adorable

Does that trend continue
And today am I unbearable!

I would like to believe
That is not the case
Wouldn't I have become a better person
With experience and God's grace

Would my old friends in school
Notice a change in my heart
Would I be more loving
Than I was in the start

Would my college class mates
Find me less rude
More caring and giving
And not a stuck up dude

I tend to teach and train
My body and brain
Do I take time to nurture
My heart and soul

Do I find myself seeking
to be a better person every night
Or did I stagnate
and drop the quest for the light
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

A Lonely Grandpa's Lament

--------------------
We walked hand in hand
In the rose garden
The thorns were there
But we didn't see

We commuted mostly standing
in the local bus
The crowd was there
But we didn't make a fuss

We talked while we waited
in those long movie queues
We saw the movie
Even if it had bad reviews

But
Once God took you away
The way I see,
  is no longer the same
Problems Problems everywhere
Everybody I want to blame
Awkward door, creaking floor
Dripping tap,  intermittent nap
Morning alarm, traffic swarm
Long queues, irritating news

O why didn't you take me
along with you my dear
Please request God
To get me out of here
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

An answered prayer

Developer's Prayer
---------------
Grant me the raise
Grant me the praise
Grant me a 3 bhk flat
Grant me a fast WiFi with that
Grant me that vacation
Grant me that promotion
---
And God said "let it be done"
But there was a catch
Developer got promotion
Credit card based vacation
A flat on loan
A Facebook account to moan
---
Developer turned PM's Prayer
----------------------
Grant me peace of mind
So that these barking deadlines
In my head will just shut up

Grant me strength of will
To restrain me from killing
All those who hound me
To pay my credit card bills

Grant me the wisdom
To accept my fb post's
 likes and adulations
To ignore customers
complaints and escalations

Grant me the patience
To inch thru
mile long traffic clogs
And customer issue logs

Grant me the grace
To accept this stupid rat race
Delivery struggle, Resource trouble
And this endless UAT phase

And please God
no catch this time
Implementation such
I don't need to pray next time
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Stay in Love

If he walked in
She would walked out
Both could not be
together at all

She could not stand him
He would never stand for her
Both could not sit
together at all

Sarcasm was a given
Spite was venomously clear
Both could not talk
together at all

Not long back
They were a loving pair
Lost in each others eyes
Oblivious to world's stare

To-get-her, To-get-her
O he did really strive
Roses,  Cards,
Birthday Surprise.

Together, Together
O she was in bliss
Coffees,  movies
That starry night kiss.

What changed all that
Is a sad silly tale
We don't need to go
down that memory trail

All we need to realise
That things may change
Hot to Cold
A Couple to Estrange

So don't take for granted
What you share
There are a million ways
to show you care

So forget these petty squables
and rise above
There are a million reasons
to stay crazy in love
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

I miss you, silly

Of course I miss you silly
Life without you is like sambhar without green chilli

.. Too subtle?...
Ok here's one more

Life without you is like ice cream
without green chilli
(Green Chilli no offence!!)
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Memories' Cue

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The cue was deft
A whiff of perfume
A crystal clear reminder
Of that girl in class

The Girl
way over my league
Short and Sweet
down to earth
but clearly upper class

With eyes that could melt
A hermits resolve
She was like the moon,  for her
my earthly heart could revolve

Her dainty fingers
Even today I can clearly see
perfect in every way
Her charming smile
the respite at the end
Of a tiring day

Three years flew by
A few conversation
we did share
She seemed to
like my humour
but I never did dare

It was the last day
I didn't have a clue
Without her
what will I do?

A thought danced
In the corner of my mind
It slowly gathered speed
It felt an urge
To spark and burst

An idea fell in place
The thought started
slowly moving onward
It slowly took shape
It slowly took form

A curvy glass bottle
Olfactory-ly perfect!!
I gathered courage
And on the very last day
Asked her
the name of her perfume?

Pretty tragic you might say
And what is even more sad
I could not afford
To buy it back then

It was three years later
In a Paris duty free
I could buy one for me

Psssst...
The cue was deft
A whiff of perfume
A crystal clear reminder
Of that girl in class
(Written by Jibrael Jos)
(monologue for a play)

The Closed Door

O my dear friend,
You banged your head
Against that door
Again and again you did

Your mind is in tatters
Your heart is in shreds
The blood and the tears
Is making a sad mess

That door leads to a tunnel
With no light for miles to see
O why O why do you not
let the  closed door be

Your mind is playing tricks
With hazy visions of grace
The depression yearns
For a deft touch of solace

O my dear friend
I cannot see your pain
Its time you laid your troubles
Right on God's feet
He and only he
can grant the strength to thee

The door you are banging
your head against
may take a few years to budge
Let God guide you
At times when you can't see
For him its a matter
of a tiny nudge
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Bleeding Edge of Peace

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(Context :2015 World Military Expenditure is $1563 Billion)

If a war did happen now,
How many countries
will have a say?
Will a few countries
hold the triggers
And others made to
bend and sway

These weapons we all pile up
Will it be used at all
Or will it be gutted
in the first blitz
before the enemies
first foot fall

But if it does go
out of hand.
One possibility
is that men nuke
each others motherland
And bring about
humanities final stand

So imagine
the colossal waste

How many soldiers
in readiness must stay?
How many families
must worry and pray?

How many missiles
sit idle
With huge potential
to wreck havoc on our rival

How many guns
firing blanks in training?
How many bullets
used against dummies?

Do bombs expire?
Do they have a
best before date?

Now by chance
All men turn to peace
And take an oath
Not to choke
the other's throat

Imagine the money
we can put in
education and health
Imagine the man months
we can use to increase
Earth's natural wealth

How many wars we could fight
against hunger and disease
How many roads and bridges
we can build with ease

Well sadly it ain't happening!!
So let's maintain this status quo
I don't kill you
You don't kill me

We hope that
the bombs with us
act as a deterrent
against a possible war

So till men don't evolve
or God does not intervene.
Work hard and pay taxes
to maintain our arsenal
at the cutting edge of peace!
(Written by Jibrael Jos)
(India spends around $50 billion)

Shut Up and Listen!

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He said it, pretty clear
But it bounced of her ear
She heard
what she wanted to hear

In two bubbles
They kept speaking
In two frequencies
They kept talking

He understood
Or rather did not
From his perspective
She understood
Or rather did not
From her perspective

This human skill
Of moving the air in between
To communicate
Is all pretty cool
But we should be trained
To listen right from pre school

This inspiring quote
"SHUT UP and LISTEN"
Is so very true

Listen to the strong and weak
Listen to both friend and foe
To understand do seek
A journey to another's mind
We need to undergo

Assimilate what we have heard
Listen to the beat of their heart
Listen to the ripples in our mind
Let the idea shared
germinate in our soul
Then and then only speak
(Written by Jibrael Jos) 

Comma-nication Divide

-------------------
She put a comma,
He thought it was a full stop.
He moved to the next para
And she exclaimed
"How could you! "
He replied
" O, I thought.... "

A few years later
He put a full stop
She thought it's a comma
He moved to next para
She didn't realise
She sat on her half empty page

A few years later
The ink dried,  she cried
And then he exclaimed
from his next chapter
" What's wrong with you!
Move on "
She replied
" But I thought..... "
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Perfect Decision

Follow my gut
That's what I did
Now the same gut
Wants to undo all of it

I made the decision
After due thought
Now I regret it
As it has cost me a lot

Gut and the brain
Can both get it all wrong
Once random rolls the dice
Life's choices can go ping pong

So data analyse all you want
Machine learn your way
Read the sun signs and stars
To the almighty you may pray

Since no decision is perfect
Until you work towards that end
Fear not and make mistakes
Steer yourself thru the bend

If needed take U-Turns
Life is much more than your pride
Be brave and take decisions
So much better would be your ride
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Geometrically Lovely

We were just two points
On a blank sheet
Somebody drew a line
Perfectly neat

You were my center
Pretty arcs I did
A circle of love
We did build

It was just the two of us
Dancing on the plain sheet
Until the third baby point
Was born,  aww so sweet

A triangle of needs
Stretched us you know
But the circle of love
Helped us grow

Triangle to Rectangle
We did go
But the distance increased
Steadily though slow

It became a trapizeum
Before I realised
But with polygons grace
We all aligned

Balancing the acute
And the obtuse
Till we got the angles
just right

We became the square
In the circle of love
Geometrically lovely
Together forever
Our euclidian family
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Procrastination

A bit behind schedule
But I will catch up pretty soon
I plan to reach for the stars
Hopefully I will reach the moon

Procrastination the word
I learnt very late
But I have been working on it
Deligently since I was eight

I dream to clock ten hours
But it fizzles by noon
I plan in my diary a day
But it collapses too soon

Some have the discipline
Some have the will
But I am pretty lazy
I need somebody to put me
Through the drill

I don't sleep too late
And I wake up in good time
But the net output is so low
The way I waste time
In some countries
Maybe a crime

A miracle will happen
And my thru put will go up
Today I will rest
Tomorrow I will show up

The world will be a better place
Because of me
But its currently under construction
Please bear with me
(Written by Jibrael Jos) 

A Trip to Delhi

(Article/Semi Poetry  on recent Delhi Trip)
A trip to Delhi is full of nostalgia.
Dripping like the woolen sweater taken out of a bucketful of water.
My school to college days
My childhood to teen
Adventures in my youth
The games we played
The streets we stayed

The land of gold gappas
Aloo Tikki,  Bhalle Papadi,
Shahi Paneer, Chole Bhature
Rasmalai, Rabadi Faluda
And much much more

Most importantly it's my home.
 My mom, dad, Bro and Sisters reside in different parts of Delhi.
Summer scorching heat, dust storms or rising pollution
could not deter me in this life

Fond memories just keep popping out like the condensation which collects around a chilled coke.

I am forty plus
But still feel like a child
When I come home
Mom would have a sumptuous meal ready and not a word about me being overweight :-)
Papa with his warm handshake
And his immense inner strength
Makes home home.

Sisters so amazing
you can give your life for
Bro in laws so welcoming
Every home is mine!
Shared moments,  recipes,  happiness secrets,  inspirational nuggets.
Conversation over tea,  coffee,  meal,  card game, metro ride or a drive is etched for eternity in the mind's treasure chest
What more can one ask?

Visiting Elder Bro
and listening to his stories
revitalises my leaves,  my roots
and seems to connects me to mother earth. This time I also visited a quaint tea shop with him and grabbed some gourmet tea leaf cartons.

Cracking jokes with nephews and nieces leaves me in splits. Infact this trip I have laughed so much,  that to an external observer,  I must have come across as clearly insane.

Catching up with old friends
is a trip down memory lane
Divergent paths have led us all over the globe but everytime we meet we are able to start from where we left last time.

Delhi is immersed in history
Every walk you take may have been done by some emperor, a princess,  a commander or a freedom fighter.
But frankly all that is secondary,  like millions before me who have walked these dusty streets and millions with me, Dilli hamari hai aur hum dilli ke
(Written by Jibrael Jos)
(Article on recent Delhi Trip)

Music

Music in my ears
Out goes my worries
And my fears
A song on my lips
Out goes my sadness
And my tears

Uplifted I feel
When the hymn is sung
Alive I feel
When the bell is rung

The sound of the rain falling
Along with the earthly smell
Birds chirping in the morning
Binds me in a spell

Harmony, the melody
and the Rhythm just right
Compositions played perfectly
Is a heavenly delight

God loves music
That has to be true
Just listen to the sound
And the silence too
Together they weave
the music all around you

So remove any clutter
and any noise inside you
Play an instrument
And sing a hymn too

Open your ears
and let his music
flood your senses.
Open your mind
And let his music
fill your soul
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Impossible starts crumbling

When hard work is so much
Accolades come tumbling
When attitude is such
IMPOSSIBLE starts crumbling

(Written by Jibrael Jos for a Gen Y role model)

Impossible!!

All destinations
Are  not connected by roads
All islands
Are not connected by boats
But there are men
Who reach the unreachable
And women
Who bridge the divide

All hearts
Are not open to love
All minds
Are not open to share
But there are women
Who can pierce the ice
And men
Who can listen with care

All fate lines
Are not thick and long
All our life
We cannot be fit and strong
But there are men
Who live well while facing certain death
And women
Who redefine correlation
between age and health

Now if by chance
You find a friend like this
Don't try to fit her in a ring
Or tie him by a string
Give him space
Let her run her race

Life is one short trip
The end is pretty dead
So make most
Of what lies ahead

Fall in love,
Or fall out of it
Hit the road
or make it

Full of passion
waiting to explode
Or if needed
Fail and reload

Don't barricade
your mind and heart
Don't shutdown,
You just need a restart
(Written by Jibrael Jos)
(In a flight from Bengaluru to Delhi)

Jokes Offlate

Some jokes offlate
Make fun of men
It would have been fine
If no agenda was behind the pen

Jokes making fun of leaders
Would have been fine
If people did not
Cross the line

So easy to call
someone a fool
So easy to stall
someone changing the rule

You mock the past
but I hope you know
That we too won't last
Many will mock
as soon as we go

There are some
who questioned wrong from right
There are some
who fought our fight

And we who sit in the shade
Only wanting free upgrade
Ridicule such men who dare
Who work hard under media glare

If things are wrong
Let us confront
Face to face
And right upfront

Our country is united
As of today
Let us strive to
keep it that way

Let us praise
Where it is due
Let us embrace
plurality too

We can make
The world a better place
Laughter and humour
Has its place
But we need jokes
with flair and grace

Let us use it fairly
Without an agenda everytime
Not every one is smart like you
To read between the lines
(Written by Jibrael Jos)
(In Bengaluru Airport)

Convocation

Some doubted, some believed
Some faltered, some stood strong
The few who made it,
smile today
The few who march
will soon fly away

They stood tall
In exams and strife
They stand together
Friends for life

I taught you all
For a sem or too
I can vouch
For each one of you

All the best,
----blaze the trail
Steady the boat,
----Get.. Set.. sail
(Written by Jibrael Jos)
(for B.Sc/BCA/M.Sc / Mca /M.Sc(CSA))

Tangible Love

Little by little
She learnt to walk
Little by little
She learnt to talk

My baby to a toddler
A toddler to a teen
She is growing faster
than Jack's bean

Not long ago
I told her tales of fairies
And now today,  my head
Is full of her stories

Art and Craft
Studies and Friends
I am glad
She learnt how to be happy
And laugh so freely

Thoughtful, loving
A bit sensitive too
My daughter is a gem
Am sure yours is too

Her love for dance
Is pretty cool
She knows how to groove
Even in school

Tomorrow the world
Will be her stage
I'll sit back and cheer
Till my old age

Little by little
Her tiny feet
Found a way to my heart
Love is so tangible
Love walks on two feet
She is my angel
So loving So sweet

(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Ancient Wisdom

If loyalty is bought
For silver
If friendship is sold
For gold
The world would be a sad place
Ancients have foretold

If responsibilities are
Shifted to another
If all favours are
Tracked on a ledger
The world would be a sad place
Ancients have foretold

If love between two
Has to be curtailed by laws
If what we choose
Has to be okayed by gods
The world would be a sad place
Ancients "haven't"  foretold

But you and I have
Some sense and logic too
We have brains
To send man on moon
Can't we sense
When love is true
Can't we empathise
When men don't get their due

Can't we make laws
Which are fair
Can't we treat each other
With more care

Can't we weed out
Outdated laws
Can't we prune out
The illogical clause

Ancient wisdom is all fine
But a pinch of salt
Before we dine
Chew and swallow
what seems true
And spit out if it
Doesn't agree with you

Let's make the world
A happy and better place
Let's bank on ancient wisdom
But also on our intelligence
(Written by Jibrael Jos)

New Academic Year

(Written by Jibrael Jos)

Time ebbs and flows
Life speeds and slows
In this vortex
Success is ethereal
Joy intangible
But satisfaction
Can feel very real

The recipe for the feel
is a bit tough
Two cups of sweat
Some challenges met
Many failures reset

Your families grief
Tinge of self belief
Hanging from a rope
With a dash of hope

Seven ounce of pain
For slight muscle gain
Seven hours of drill
For slight improvement of a skill

In a deep pan of resolve
With motivation to evolve
You will arise
You will arise
Ready to solve

Baked in Life's oven
Slow but steady
Rising
Rising
A bit hesitant but ready

Time ebbs and flows
Life speeds and slows
In this vortex
Thought leads
Action follows
Joy almost tangible
Success and satisfaction
Will feel very very real

 All the best future leaders
for the new academic year

Sleep well my friend

Load shedding in the night

Mosquitoes on a buffet delight

Humming in their flight

But still the baby slept tight

Years went by

Ceiling fan slogged all night

Mosquito coil gave a brave fight 

Till the alarm did ring

The boy slept like a king

Years went by

Cooler churned all night

All Out gave mosquitoes a fright

Until the mobile did ping

The youth slept a few winks

Years went by

AC hogged power all night

Not a mosquitoes was in sight

No alarm did the man keep

But worries didn't let him sleep

Sleep is a measure 

Of man's happiness 

Power of his roar

Depends on his snore

So sleep well my friend

Because in the end

The one who dreams well

Will have lived life with passion 

And with tons of stories to tell 

(Written by Jibrael Jos)