How Many?

(Day 14: Thirty day poetry challenge )

How many layers in an onion
How many pearls in the sea
If the world was predictable
How boring it would be

How many pebbles on the beach
How many stars out of sight
If the universe was finite
Would our dreams have taken flight

How many friends in a lifetime
How many laughs in a day
If happiness was pre defined
Would we have enjoyed earths stay

How many tragedies will strike us
How many failures on our way
If life had no downs
Would we have the inner strength
we have today
(Written by Jibrael Jos ) 

Emotional Safari

Some days I am like a hungry lion
Some days like a well fed spider
Satisfaction and Ambition
I balance like a water strider

Some days I sing like a nightingale
Some days I wallow like a whale
The joy and happiness
Can be detected on the music scale

Some days I follow you like a dog
Some days I ignore you like a cat
But don't rate my Love and Loyalty
based on that

Some days I laugh like a hyena
Some days I cry like a crocodile
Emotions are under a mask
But you can read it
if you walk with me a mile

Animal's have emotions
But I come with a whole range
My mood swings are a bit crazy
And for many it may seem strange

I am not that pretty
      I am not that shy
But if you join me on this journey
      It will be an amazing safari
Just You and I

(Written by Jibrael Jos )
( For a play in progress ) 

Onam Sadya

(Day 12: Thirty day poetry challenge )
(As I love cooking my daughter asked me to write one poem on food)

A meal so sumptuous
that the nostalgic memories
Are etched in your parietal lobe
As soon as you sit down to eat
And place your hands
on the banana leaf
A trip down memory lane is in store
To Kerala's streams and rice fields
To the boat race and the sea shore
Your family, your home and much more

Aviyal with its diced vegetables
Blended with grated coconut
With an aroma of coconut oil
Pervading your olfactory senses

Sambhar dances on your taste buds
The bharathnatyam by the spices
With the tangy tamarind juices
Garnished with mustard seeds
Red chilies and and curry leaves

Pappadums and pickles
Leave your taste buds tickled
Pachadi and the Upperis
Lead to a mouth watering trickle
Pradhaman and the Payasam
Leaves you happy
with a chuckle and a giggle

Kalan and Eriserry
Olan and the puliserry
Crispness of the banana chips
Tango of Inji-puli on your lips
Textures of the dishes on your finger tips
If this is not a gastronomic heaven
From God's own kitchen. What is ?

If cooking is your passion
This is your final test
If eating is your passion
This is your final quest
(Written by Jibrael Jos ) 

True Love ! Seriously!

(Day 11: Thirty day poetry challenge )
(Facebook creeps love proposal, part of play in progress)

We both are made for each other
You are the broom, I am the dust
You are the bolt, I am the rust
You are the bread, I am the crust
You may have doubt, but I am your trust

Opposites attracts is what they say
You are the fire, I am the hay
You are the sun, I am the day
You are so young, I have a few grey
You want to leave, but I want you to stay

If this is not true love, What is ?
       Sit with me, chat with me
         Enlighten me, I pray
( Written by Jibrael Jos )

Knife to the Heart

(Day 10:Thirty day poetry challenge )
A knife pushed into my heart
Twisted and turned
To tear me apart
Done by somebody so close to me
This is one tragedy
I so didn't want to be
Details of this story
You don't want to hear from me

We shared a home
Dammit also the bed
We were so close
Like butter and bread
But now he so heartless
He does not care if I am dead

Men can be so selfish
Oh! Why didn't I see
Make him his special dish
And serve his morning tea
It is always about him
His work His day
Never asking what I have to say

I should bounce back
And get a life
Do something creative
I am not just his wife
My father raised me well
To face any strife
This night will pass
Even if I have to pull out
this bloody knife

What if my mom realises
What her daughter is going thru
There is a deep wound
Where a throbbing heart
Used to groove

Wait a second
I am a mother too
I have handled labour pain
And raised two kids too
I will get my lips to smile
Though it's been a while

I will live this coming year
Without wasting a tear
I will love selflessly without a fear
Life is so much more
The controls are in my hands
And from today this ship
I will steer

(Written by Jibrael Jos )
(Part of a play in progress )

Selective Fretting

(Day 9 : Thirty day poetry challenge )
It's funny
What all we fret over
Most of which
Don't need our attention

Whether it's
Dhoni batting in the last over
Or Messi converting the pass
Chances are they will manage
without us
Unlike the dripping tap
Or noisy fan in our house

It's funny
What we fret over
There are things
We cannot control

Whether it's
The rising fuel prices
Or slow moving traffic jam
Chances are they will not move
inspite our curses
Unlike our increasing weight
And fast emptying purses

Mind you
There are things
Which are not at all funny
And need all our collective attention

Global warming,
cutting of trees,
recently the rhino's extinction
Our education system
addictive consumerism
and the ever increasing corruption

So fret selectively
and bring about change
To avoid man's extinction
So act immediately
to avoid future stress
and live a life of satisfaction
(Written by Jibrael Jos )

Life is a Journey

(Day 8: Thirty day poetry challenge )
Sometimes journies are for miles at end
Some journey stretch for days
But the journey to reach another's heart
Is etched in your mind and it stays

If s/he accepts
The road will be pleasant
Birds will sing love songs
Miles will just fly by
World will seem more right than wrong

Scenery is almost same
Roadblocks may slightly vary
But the joy of the trip
Depends on the perspective you carry

You may hold your hands and walk
You may look into each others eyes as  you talk
But together how you face your struggles
Will make the relationship truly rock

Sometimes you wait for the train
Sometimes you wait for your station
But the ones who live without waiting
Are journeying thru life in perfection

Incase you are running solo
And get bitter looking at a pair
Stop whining and feeling hollow
There is a whole world out there

Incase you see a terminal illness
Staring back at you
Realise that you are the lucky few
Who can see the runway rushing towards you

Others will not know what hit them
Their journey will come to an end
Loose ends that they planned to tie up
Will be dangling in the wind

So enjoy this leg of your journey
And cherish each moment and view
Share and laugh with your fellow travellers
Because days are numbered
for both me and you
(Written by Jibrael Jos )
( Verse two on hindsight is not true
    But don't let the pessimist in me
        get to you :-) )