Flawed Self Belief

Self belief and Arrogance
Is separated by a hazy line
But with my contorted lens
I felt I was doing just fine

I was proud of my humility
My ego made perfect sense
But when life taught me a lesson
Mask fell along with the pretense

My true love jolted me verbally
And it hurt my heart
When my soulmate walked out
It tore me completely apart

Not that my love had been sincere
Or my heart had given its very best
But when my spirit was broken
I wanted to play the victim with zest

Justifying being dumped
As an example of my sincerity
Being totally ignored
As an example of my lovability

Now I have found a mask
Which is a much better fit
With a bubble and a sheild
In case I once again get hit

My self belief is currently flawed
Arrogance has won the race
Inability to learn from mistakes
Is why I am stuck in this phase
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Siblings

Short Story for Anu Adi
(Written on occasion of Rakshabandhan
Its a long one, read only if inclined)  :-)

When impossible became possible
On a new moon night
The stars in all it splendour
Were an amazing sight

The queen had given birth
To a pair of twins this night
The king who had given up hope
Couldn't contain his delight

The witch had planned something terrible
She picked the prince from the cradle
The princess did cry to see her brother go
An infant, but there was a bond you know

The King and Queen were distraught
They searched the whole world in and out
But in their sadness they quite forgot
The little princess they also had got

The princess grew in shade of what could have been
She was cared for but many a lonely days she had seen
The K
ing worried for the kingdom after him
The Queen worried for her son's well being

The Princess loved the moon with all her heart
She wished during the day she didn't have to part
She yearned for the night when it was day
It kind of reminded her of her brother far away

Her yearnings took wings and
as destiny would have it so soon
She was the woman who later led
Man's first mission  to moon

There she was surprised to find a house
On the hill top under the earthlight
And guess whom she found
Living in the "down to moon" site

Yes her long lost brother
An identical copy of her
Raised well by the witch
Like a son by a loving mother

The witch welcomed her
And she was taken aback
Sworn enemy of her kingdom
With a hug like that

Witch explained,
how the king had killed her son
and she kidnapped one child
To avoid being the solitary one

The prince shared
He had lived happy and free
And he loved his adopted mother
Whatever history there maybe

Brother and Sister separated at birth
He had always felt a connection to earth
They talked and shared how their lives did go
They had a great life, nothing to really complain you know

King and Queen missed their daughter very much
As moon mission had lasted six months as such
Sometimes it takes distance for one to value their relationship
They were waiting eagerly for her return ship

One went to outer space
But two returned
The King and Queen were happy
with this unexpected turn

Siblings when they gel
It can become heaven in hell
If they look out for each other
Life can be like one magic spell

Did they live happily ever after
Let's hope so
Life is not tragic, unless we
make it so
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Aspiration

Aspiration
----------------
(Short story for Anu Adi)
Rahul always wanted a cycle
But he couldn't afford one
Kids cycled around whole day
It seemed a lot of fun

On the day of his birthday
Dad took him to an old junk yard
All kind of spoilt or rejected goods
Were scattered all over the yard

He spotted a kids cycle
But without pedal and chain
Old windows and metal goods
Collecting rust in the rain

And then his eyes fell on
On old fashioned bicycle
It seemed pretty intact
maybe missing a few parts

Father and son carried it home
Under the hot sweltering sun
But they had a contented smile
As if the world had been won

They tinkered on it next day
And changed tyre and tube
With some grease and paint
They hoped to get it renewed

When Rahul test rode it after a week
He had a smile plastered on his face
But the children in the apartment
Found the cycle a complete disgrace

Rahul cycled up the hill alone
In the early light of every holiday
His father looked on with joy
As Rahul strived higher each day

No magic spell,  no fairy or wizard
But Rahul felt stronger every day
It must be his passion for cycling
His muscles started rippling away

Once thin and frail Rahul
started winning races in school
Children in the apartment
started to find him very cool

Even the old weird cycle
Was now liked by the crowd
It became a symbol of perseverance
A style statement clear and loud
°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(Story 1 of Rahul and Pragya series)

Dedication

Dedication
-----------------
(Short story for Anu Adi)
Pragya loved to watch movies
And she could see three in a row
Until she got into reading
And she could consume much more

She had a broad spectrum of interest
She took part in music and art
She loved mystery and history
But one fine day, it all came apart

She met with an accident
And fractured two ribs and a bone
With six months of bed rest
Was it her destiny to cry and moan?

Her initial days were depressing
With days full of medical test
Then sitting on the bed whole day
Sucked out all her happiness

What started as a diary
Became a full fledged plot
What started as short stories
Became a saga of sorts

A bad stroke of luck
Paved her journey to success
Six months of introspection led to
lot of applause and happiness

No genetic or family advantage
was the magic behind her name
Her dedicated incremental effort
was the secret of her fame
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(Story 2 of Rahul and Pragya series)

Equality

Injustice is everywhere
Only if we are ready to see
The one who has an upper hand
wants to suppress the other being

If the status quo helps us
We are not keen to rock the boat
We would further strengthen
With a biased wall and a moat

Every generation creates a few
Who question what is accepted as right
They inspire great multitude
To take up causes for the just fight

But there are few out there
Who have been scarred by an unjust tide
Who keep picking up illogical fight
Understand and help heal their pride

If a few can  make huge profits
by fleecing the masses
If a few can hog the limelight
by grabbing all the passes

A revolution will happen and spew
 even more scathing venom
A war will happen and millions die
 as a result of the selfish demon

There will come a time on salvation road
When oppressor will be at the receiving end
Billionaires on the path of self actualization
repenting and making serious amends

Equality for all living souls
without pre-fixing roles at birth
No one is born to satisfy our need
gratify our desires here on earth
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Rakshabandhan

Brothers and Sisters of the world unite
There is a conspiracy to compartmentalise
Feminism and Masculinism is all right
But without each other it would be a sorry plight

If families teach love and how not to fight
global inequality will dissappear overnight
If as siblings we can get each others back
the world with time will find the right track

Happy Rakshabandhan siblings
We are the children of the light
Let's express our gratitude
to each other this night
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Crushed

I kept stealing glances at her
I was undoubtedly crushed
Her smile, her flick of her hair
Were getting me all flushed

No idea from where and who she is
But what heart warming magic is this
Not sure about her type and inclinations
But mesmerised by this smiling apparition

At that moment her mask slipped
and I saw her in tears
I was moved like I never was
I could even feel her fears

I wanted to rush forward and give her a hug
But my body was paralysed with this love bug
I realised I was stuck in a romantic quick sand
The only way out, if she but lends me her hand

Our eyes for a second did make contact
My heart stopped beating, it's a fact
Her taste seemed perfect, without a pretense
Her tattoo, her trinkets, her dressing sense

In that moment when I was trapped in her vibe
Her unspoken words I would have loved to subscribe
You can keep practicality,  reality and all common sense
Please let me drift in the bliss of her enchanting presence
°°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(Does this poem need a few more verses?)

A Friend Indeed

---------------------
I shared my own story
You shared yours too
We trusted each other
Through and through

You scolded me and put me in place
when my ego went on a trip
You refused to give me a helping hand
when I was abandoning a ship

When I put out my vulnerable me
your warmth showed that you did perceive
When I expressed my dreams
your eyes showed that you did believe

I don't care if you never spent on me a penny
I don't count our trips,  the parties so many
You are the mirror every lost soul needs
You are the soothing balm when a heart bleeds

Thanks a ton my dear friend
Hope I can be of service to you,
right through till the very end
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Greater Beyond

Dear Friend,
Celebrate a life well lived
Don’t worry for the Greater Beyond
Your Dad is in a place of love
to align your universe from above

How many years a man must live?
How many years is enough?
What values and strength you possess
is a measure of your fathers love.

What all he did for you,
You will always cherish
Each laugh and memories are etched
Never to ever perish

He did not exist for me
 before I met you
But knowing your work I realise
he surely works and will work through you

The spirit of your loving father
is definitely alive amongst us
Keep believing and smiling
His love is transcending to us

Take Care
Jibrael
(Context:Written for a friend who lost her father recently)

Dancing

Dancing after a long time
And then I wondered why
If I have lost touch with music
Am I letting my soul die

Head rolling with the music
Both hands moving to the beat
My body can feel the rythm
as I am grooving on my feet

My steps are all over the place
My kids are having a laugh
Their dad seems to have lost it
But I still have not had enough

Running I have loved doing
But dancing I need to do more
My living room has come alive
this space is my dance floor
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(Dancing picture coming soon)

Shrinking Circle

Our circle is getting smaller
Our focus is reaching a point
One by one the abberations
We are eliminating from our joint

Some dots are lost due to distance
Some slowly just fade away
Some erupt due to differences
From some we prefer to stay away

Some claim we have a disorder
Some claim we are getting old
All because we made it clear,
They don't belong in our fold

When these points become spots
and refuse to align to our curve
We realise that we are perfect
In this otherwise imperfect world
°°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Human Species

Humans with their tiny minds and bloated dreams
Feel they can own mountains and flowing streams
Its like two roosters fighting over the morning sun
Each laying claim that he is the anointed one

Millions of species living without fences in peace
But each human's ambition is to own his own piece
Then greed takes over and he wants to accumulate
more houses, farms and even the neighbouring state

Two world wars shook their lives to the core
But they keep hoarding weapons to fight more
They war over land they have never been
Because an ancestor had once overseen

Bees have their hive and birds their nest
But Earth is not enough for this human pest
No satisfaction,  no joy,  no moment of rest
They are now planning a space quest
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
What about you are you any different?

Working Mother

(Perspective of a working mother)
(monologue for a play)
My days are sometimes,
one long tiring struggle
Work, customers,  kids,  spouse
It can become quite a juggle

Over and above that when
my in-laws show their attitude
I feel like sending the world
for a long course on gratitude

I did not sign up for this
I sometimes do regret
But when my family is happy
All the struggles I forget

Raising a toddler
Is a full time job
Whoever claims otherwise
Must be a part time slob

How to get my increment?
How am I looking today?
Any advise! I don't really care
But how to raise my child well?
and how to complete the project?
If any suggestions, please do share

I will make most of my time
And like pure gold
emerge thru the fire test
I am learning and growing
And under immense pressure
A shining diamond I'll crest
°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Acceptable buddy

Provoke me and I will smile back at you
Laugh at me and I will laugh with you
Insult me and I will still find it funny
Coming from you, it all acceptable buddy

Love, Hope and Trust

Love is not always wonderful
if it aches and feels all wrong
Hope is not always a good thing
sometimes you have to move on
Trust is not always advisable
if you've been cheated for so long

Don't leave you heart, spasming
for them to trample upon
Don't shed your tears, crying
couldn't you see this all along
Love,  Hope and Trust only when
you start singing a new song
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Balancing Act

If you act like children, don't expect to be treated like adults
If you complain like children, don't expect to get great results

If you get stuck like adults, don't expect to groove with kids
If you think like adults, don't expect to connect with kids

If you can balance your act
Keeping your mind flexible
You will lead a satisfying life
Creatively happy and truly lovable
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Why give free will?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God in all its splendour made the heaven and earth
But where did he dissappear after giving man birth
Men have played havoc on God's amazing creation
Why not pull man's free will and stop all destruction

I remember having a room in the home my dad built
I kept it messed up without an iota of guilt
I remember having a girlfriend my mom didn't approve
But she didn't say a word in spite of my foolish move

I have had my freedom and they loved me to the core
I proved to be unworthy but they never showed me the door
They let me walk on unknown paths, fall and even fail
And yet encouraged me to stand up, once more to set sail

I have not met God,  so cannot clearly speculate
But having loving parents, I can closely corelate
If not for free will, why will parents give me birth
They are the living examples of God's love on earth
°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Death in the Circle

Every death in my circle
is a wakeup call
It could happen to me
once and for all

But frankly more serious
If it takes someone close
How will I handle all
that emotional over dose

Its a reminder to check
If I thanked whom I owe
If I made it a point to ask
pardon for tears that did flow

Have I done my duty
towards the one who
may leave and go
Have I shown my love
to the one who
deeply loved me so

As I kneel before you O Lord
I ask you for strength
for the family of the one
you did call
I ask you to give us
insight and courage
to answer our call
°°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Purple Clouds

Purple clouds swept over the land
Acidic rain poured to form a stream
Lightening set the landscape alight
And the thunder made it scream

The dragon king was all flustered
His land was being taken by this storm
In a land of abundance and peace
Catastrophy had become the norm

His dream of building a portal
To the heavens was going wrong
His race's mining and construction work
Had polluted the sky for long

They had cleared dense forest
to set up the nuclear reactor
Idea to change the river's path
had caused an environmental disaster

Water levels had risen
And displaced many a dragon race
Soaring temperatures had changed
how crops were normally raised

He was appalled
at the threat of extinction
Which surprisingly
was known for generations

Now this all may seem like a fantasy
With dragons and purple clouds
But with our current selfish trend
Our children won't be mighty proud
°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

A pair

They were paired for life
Working just a feet apart
Playing, Walking, Running
always ready to take part

Together very productive
Separate they are not
When one of them retires
the other is in a spot

All day almost together
But no chance to hug and talk
Living in the same house
But many times one is lost

If they are separated
Go search with a light
Your cosy pair of socks,
Please help them reunite

Once they become holy
Or are jaded over time
Together they attain paradise
A living example of love sublime
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Good Morning

Good Morning she said,
On a gloomy cloudy day
I felt the sun rising in my heart
Good Bye she said,
On a beautiful sunny day
I felt eclipsed and my joy depart
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
Good Morning :-)

Lost Friends

Friends are forever
But I have lost many down the line
I hold on to worldly things
Which have no value over time

Friends in school
Are all but gone
I still remember the day
When we sang ice-ice baby song

The hockey matches we played
And partners in crime
The conversations and laughs
Are forever etched in time

We are all on whatsapp
But a ghost of the past
Many are well connected
But I failed to make it last

Friends in college
Have all gone different ways
Scattered over the globe
and some in other states

The classes we bunked
to face challenges of youth
The carrom we played
was pretty wacky and smooth

Drinking that first beer
Gathering courage to ask her out
Cramming the last few days
In flying colours we passed out

We are all on whatsapp
Due to connectivity of a few
A faint memory of those days
When we were immature but true

What I will give to go back in time
To live those days again with passion
But throw out my masks this time

I will make better bonds
and closer friends
And then this life
and whatsapp groups
will make more sense
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Moonshine

Take moonshine and bat shadow
And boil it a kettle
A teaspoon of dawn
And half a rainflower petal
This portion will cure you,
of your internet fixation.
O you online freak
why are you reading this
there is exam this week!!

All the best!!  Study Well Christites :-)
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Three Wise Men

Long time ago there lived three wise men
Good friends they would have been
But in far corners of the earth they arose
And sadly they were not even close

Rooted in their soul,
unique perceptions did they hold
A message of love,
and path of righteousness
 did they uphold

They didn't plan to start a religion
But followers made it into one
They didn't lay down long winded rules
But with time a book emerged
with every rule under the sun

If they came down now
they will be shocked to see,
what goes under their name
They will be horrified
to see their words twisted
into a sadistic game

We three are friends
Like they three would have been
Our ideals and values are similar
Our reds are same, so is our green

I love both your mom's food
Like you love my home cooked dishes
I love both your festival sweets
And when I receive your seasons wishes

So let's give the wise men of old
A strong reasons to cheer
Let us three buddies meet
And guzzle down a keg of beer
°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

A smile

A smile can move stubborn  mountains
A smile can melt a cold heart
A smile can make the world happy
Have you done your part?

Its an infection you'll like to catch
Its perfection you'll like to match
Its triggered in corner of the mind
But results the world can see

It may seem to stem from that joke
It may occur due to a humorous poke
It may appear due to a friend's gaze
But it requires a warm heart in place

A happy infant smiles every hour
A wise old man smiles every day
But those of us in between
Have lost the cheer along the way

Keep Smiling!  Have a great day.
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

You are the one

-------------------
I am ugly you are pretty
I am boring you are witty
I am poor you are rich
Life can be such a bitch!

O my! You look so pretty
I find you so very witty
I am proud of your success
I feel happy nonetheless :-)

Both verses say the same
But perspective is the game
We are perfect,  second to none
Believe and then, you are the one
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Misplaced Revenge

Once upon a time
there lived a valiant king
Who challenged crime
and made justice bell ring

Dacoits wanted him killed
Criminals wanted him gone
But he got more arrested
His rule was firm and strong

Kingdom was doing well
Farmers were a happy lot
Business was thriving
Taxes were almost naught

But one sad day
An injustice was done
A father was killed by an arrow
From the King's misdirected shot

Repentant King adopted the son
And raised the toddler well
But with time the rumour
in the child's ear somebody did tell

That the father who raised him
Was the one who killed his real dad
The teenage son was distraught
The news drove him half mad

Yuvraj/son vowed to take revenge
On the King and his men
And went to get trained
In a dacoits den

After three years, to avenge
he returned to the land
Only to find the palace abandoned
And covered in two feet of sand

He asked an old man
what evil conspired this day
An old man replied,  "King mourned,
when crown prince went away

Once his adopted son left him
He searched for him in the seven seas
But when grieving queen died
His will to live also did cease

Dacoits rampaged the villages
Criminals attacked on the highway
Heavenly kingdom went to hell
And was in complete disarray

All the hate in his mind
Was misplaced and misconstrued
His adopted parents love
he had not really understood

Yuvraj he was named
and was raised as heir apparent
But he was so easily provoked
and he dreamt of being a tyrant

Martial art training he undertook in hate
He needed to channelize his energy, to improve the state
He needed to sow seeds of gratitude
And with time create a more positive attitude

He had lost his father
and his adopted parents too
But with time he hoped to become
A good king and fit in their shoe
°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(Story for Anu &  Adi)

Returns

Distance taught me love
Ill health brought my family close
An accident sorted my dear friends
Failure gave me a humility dose
You too have been a revelation
Along the lines of irony in this verse :-)
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos 

Final Wish

A Final Cry
----------------
I wish that you be happy
and live your after life well
We traversed this planet
it seemed like a magic spell

You move on from this life
as I sit all alone on your grave
But without your embrace
it will be hell everywhere

Why good things don't last
Rainbows tend to fade away
Without you, it's all gloomy,
World is just shades of grey

A bereaved lovebird has no clue
What loneliness await
A spluttering heart,
Chained wings is its fate

Each day I will relive
Our love songs and tunes
Finally I too will fade away
to the world beyond

Whenever I drop a tear
My heart will remember thee
Whenever you feel a tingle
Know that it's me

Magical and Romantic it was
Why did you leave me?
Together and Forever
O why couldn't it be!
°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(for a play in progress)

A Final Wish
----------------
I wish that you be happy
and live your life well
We traversed this planet
it seemed like a magic spell

I move on from this world
and won't linger in a tiny grave
But without your embrace
it won't be a heaven anywhere

But I promise you this
I carry you in my heart
And with zest I will live
even though we do part

Good things are not forever
Rainbows too fade away
So paint new ones on your sky
Make most of each day

A caterpillar has no clue
What wonders await
Magical colors and hues
Dainty wings is its fate

I too will fly away
to the world beyond
I too will discover
new blossoms and moons

Whenever you feel a tingle
Know that it's me
Whenever you give a giggle
My heart will jump in glee

Magical and Romantic
It still is going to be
Together and Forever
Is still you and me
°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(for a play in progress)

Lost Hope

Hope had lost its way
In a desert far far away
A broken bone would mend
A open wound could heal
But a broken trust cannot reseal
and give the relationship
the same old romantic feel
A shattered heart cannot mend
and take love across
 the artery's emotionally clogged bend
Time and distance is good
if you want to bury  the caustic remains
But to make a forlorn heart beat
Is like breathing the air in desp'air' 

Disconnect

The head longs for a shoulder to rest
The heart yearns for an embrace
But the tongue is all tied up
And is stuck in the Hi-Hello phase
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Heart and Mind

Heart does not choose to stop beating
But the mind can be laid to rest
So keep loving every moment of your life
Why put love through a mental test
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos 

Mirror for the Mind

Eye cannot see itself.
Mind cannot understand itself.
With a mirror,
eye can observe itself partially
Is there a mirror for the mind?
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos 

Job Interview Expectations

-----------------------
Can a rainbow come in formals?
Can the sun work an extra hour overtime?
Can the wind move around with more purpose?
Can the sea stand still just for two minutes?
Can rain be punctual and come daily on time?
Can the moon show a more consistent face?
Can a tree be okay with change of location?

"No! Well sorry then they are all rejected.
The kids now days have such attitude... Next!! "
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos 

Random

Nothing surprises me anymore
I am not even sure,   if it should
All kinds of people exist
Unexpected events happen
The most frail, persist
The strongest breakdown

Unlucky get unluckier
Happy get Happier
When I was expecting chaos
I suddenly find order
When I expect pattern to recur
Out of the blue, it evolves

World is unpredictable
any astrologer will confirm
Are there any rules?
Or does dice only roll
Is there a scheme of things
Or just these random flings

And why O why
am I coming to like this
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(Meeting old friends can do this to you!)  :-) Renuka and Arun cheers

Rules

I obey rules not because I have to but because I choose to,
I respect authority not because I have to but because I don't like chaos,
I like things well managed and organised.

But respect cannot be one sided.
If you don't listen to me,  I won't listen to you

Rules have to be introduced after much deliberations
With the best interest of all involved
Implemented appreciating the bigger picture and with the end in mind
Incase of violation,  people should still be treated with utmost respect.

When I did not agree with the rule,  why will I comply with a "Punishment"
Ok even if I agreed with the rule, still punishment!!  Seriously

If you talk to me with love,  so will I
If I believe you genuinely care for me,  I will follow you and even your rules
This world can be heaven if we both agree and work towards making it one...  Give me a try,  you won't be disappointed
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Our Perfect Marriage!

!!
-------------------------
Our marriage was perfectly one sided
She loved me,  I loved me too
She took time out for me
I also took time out for myself
We both listened to whatever I said
We both did what I wanted to do
Tens years down the line
She wants to do her own thing!
She wants to selfishly go her own way!!
Women I tell you!!!
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

A wise man once said
1.You are not born for another!
2.You are not here to fullfil the ideals of another as to how you should be!
3.They can give you as much love as they want BUT they cannot demand love from you!
.... And vice versa

Well wisher

One lil well wisher
I met online the other day
Her kind words
Sent me floating away

There is a resolve inside
To live up to a praise
To see good in others
As they saw in my ways

The world is very beautiful
When it is filled with love and warmth
So why O why do some spread hate
And splatter it with blood and taunt

Your positive vibes
echoes in my soul
my mind is energised
to march towards my goal
°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Lying

Lying is more difficult than telling the truth
You need to remember what story you did cook
Sometimes the stories improve in every iteration
But increasingly difficult to keep track of each version

For many it becomes a habit so ingrained
Black and white becomes murky and greyed
Once caught it is a lot of stress
credibility comes under the lens

If confronted with a question and you can't honestly state
Just silently smile and hold back the urge to fabricate
If they still insist on knowing the whole truth
Tell them you are holding it back for their own good
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Void Inside

There is a void inside
Which I just can't seem to fill
It is not that I lack joy
Or don't get my hearts thrill
Its not that I am alone
Or that I don't have free will
But just an emptiness
A numbness A restlessness
A dark tunnel in a cold hill

I did contemplate
Turning to a doctor
A psychiatrist or A priest
Turning to a drink
Drugs or a gastronomic feast
Turning to fitness
Good diet and a good read
Turning to service
Good habits and sowing seed

But I don't feel too good to go that extra mile
So I end up sleeping for that extra while
When I get up there is no change...
 There is a void inside
Which I just can't seem to fill
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Feedback

Behind every success there are people with a smirk
Behind every hero there is someone calling him a jerk
Behind every winner there a loser gone berserk
Accept them and surge ahead with your work
Who knows they may help you to iron out your quirks
°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(Another take :: Rajesh Paddy)

Accepting Criticism

I can gladly accept a hundred pats
My chest with pride does swell
But even a single poke coated in honey
I don't digest very well

I love feedback in all forms
As long as they praise me well
As soon as they point out my short comings
Their immaturity I can easily tell!

How to take criticism?
My friend did recently ask
If I tell him how
Will he actually take me to task

Firstly I should not react
And blurt out my vindictive thoughts
I should take deep breaths
And let my waves of emotions ride out

Then with all humility understand
some good may come out of this jab
Won't I eventually get better
Hopefully without rehab!!

I will listen without pre-judging
And then let muddy water settle
Once it is clear,  I will ascertain
If its worth boiling over my kettle

I will clarify just in case
It was not a praise after all
Due to a few bad signals
No point driving into a wall

After time has done its job
And if I still think it is not true
Then I'll flush the criticism out
and focus on other feedbacks too

But if there is a grain of truth
I will thank him from the bottom of my heart.
Even if his intentions were evil
In my future success he has played a key part

Though easy to spell out
Living it, I may not be able to do
But with God's grace and wisdom
Hopefully I will make it through

°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(Topic : Rajesh Paddy)
(Suggestions/edits: Renuka Marwah)

Ethical!

Is it ethical to use a wooden handle in a tree cutting axe
Is it ethical to light a candle after stealing the bee's wax

Is it ethical to weave sarees from a silk worms thread
Is it ethical to use yeast while baking the bread
°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos 

Multiple Choices

Ghee cannot replace Butter
Butter cannot replace Ghee
Your bread and roti know better

Life is not always binary, brother
You don't need to choose one and reject another

You can decide to go through more than one door
Your lift can stop on more than one floor

Don't sit and anguish over your multiple choices
Filter the noises and listen to your inner voices
°°°°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos

Multi talented

There are friends you meet
along the road
Who inspire you in many ways
If you read between the lines
you will understand
what I am trying to say

How many petals does this rose have?
How many different facets within?
Each with its own unique fragrance
Full of life and colors bubbling within

How many layers does this onion have?
How many talents hidden within?
Each with its own unique flavour
Full of spice and emotions within

Thanks to each one of you
Who inspire me to believe
that there are layers too
inside me somewhere
And if I hone and work on it
Then I can also add a new flair
°°°°°°°Jibrael Jos
(Thanks to all the multi talented  friends I have tagged and frankly there are hundreds more)