Possessions


These tables around which we would once gather,
To share boisterous chatter and solemn silence...
These windows that liberated the sound of our laughter,
Filled with gaiety you only find in the company of friends.

These walls which were once witness to us living,
Within which toiled and rested, did and dreamt...
These corridors that once echoed our thinking,
As we faltered, fell yet made another attempt.

These roads upon which we once strolled,
Together, step-by-step, hand-in-hand...
These streets which we once explored,
Making our own paths – random and unplanned.

These are symbols of a time gone-by
Reminders of what shaped my being
Though others may now those tables occupy
And through those windows, new eyes are seeing
Within the walls may blossom new lives
And the corridors may carry a different sound
On those same roads, another march arrives
And more unseen streets await to be found...
Though, to my successors these symbols I resign
These memories will forever be mine.

Cyclone


I’m standing at the end of a golden beach
Just waiting in agony for the cyclone to hit
Answers just out of reach
As uncertainty increases bit by bit
These agitated waters that once were calm
Strikingly bear a resemblance to my life
I once held the world in my palm
But now my heart is fraught with strife
I have turned blind,
But I’m not without sight
I have no vision
To choose what’s right
I’m have become a vagrant,
But I’m not without a home
Directionless I am
Aimlessly I roam
I’m without life
Though I’m not dead
I have lost all will
To move ahead
But I pray that these devastating winds of change
That wreak havoc and destroy all in range
And as they solemnly ring a deathly toll
Will breathe in me a new life & revive my soul...

P.S. Thank you for giving me the start... Hope the rest of it did justice to the line!

Solitude


I love this time, when in the midst of night
Tomorrow still hasn’t taken flight
Today hasn’t completely died away
Yet, aeons apart seem memories of yesterday

I love this time, when all is bathed in black
My little room dimly lit, the darkness glares back
Bright lights of the day have all but slowly drowned
The sky decorated with stars, with the moon crowned

I love this time, when all is quiet
A contrast to the long routine riot
Alone
Photo Courtesy: Kumar Jhuremalani
Left alone, I do as my heart pleases
Encouraged by the wispy, cool breezes



I love this time, when every eye is rested
And, I’m awake, alone, alive – emancipated
Undisturbed I am, with no one to pry
Yet secure, that they will awaken with my cry

And I love this time, as I sit peacefully,
Gathering my thoughts in a heap
Dreams await me, beckoning me...
Yet, I refuse to give in to sleep

The Story of a Tear


Note: I am not upset, depressed, sad or suicidal, quite the contrary in fact! I'm very much in my can't-stop-smiling mode and intend to stay in that happy place for sometime now... The inspiration for this poem is something as small and insignificant as a speck of dust (literally!) and not some grave personal tragedy... So, enjoy, i guess..!

The tiny seed of doubt
That makes me hesitant, unsure
The inexplicable wave of jealousy
That makes me restless, insecure

The deep rooted, seething anger
That I keep carefully controlled
The hurt, long forgiven but not forgotten
That’s well hidden, but waiting to unfold

The suppressed scream, quiet shout
The little sliver of regret
The questions to which I find no answers
The little worries that make me fret

Tiny bits of feeling, powerful enough to overwhelm
Unseen, but take form in a tiny tear
That slips out from the corner of my eye
And slowly travels down my cheek
It doesn’t stop till all emotions have run dry
As I weep, I sob, I cry...

Contradiction


Note: the following post is purely fictional. Any resemblance to any characters or situations in my life is purely coincidental and highly imaginative!


You keep your distance and drive me completely crazy

Yet even the uncertain knowledge of your return makes me calm
I’m independent, but nothing more than a puppet in your palm

The slightest smile makes my words fumble and fall
Yet the smallest twitch of your lips can inspire rhymes
I’m sensible, but with you I’ve lost my mind countless times

Even the mere fleeting feel of your fingers makes my bones melt
But that same tiny touch can warm my heart and comfort my mind
I’m strong, but with you around to all reason I turn blind

You can make me angry, screaming mad
And, you can make me depressed, achingly sad
You are nothing like “THE ONE” from my dreams
But you’re all I need, it seems
Coz only you can say the right words, worries put to ease
And only you can make me laugh, in carefree release

Are you the answer to my prayers?
Or has reality turned to nightmares?
How can you feel so right, when I know you’re wrong?
This is such a contradiction – do you and I belong?

You hold the power to completely break me
But only you can piece me together
I know I can’t live without you
If only I can figure out how to tolerate you forever!

Neglect


A lively garden will shrivel and dry
An unloved heart will slowly die
A sturdy house will crumble and fall away
Directionless ideas will never see the light of day
Even savoury food will lose its taste
Unappreciated talent will go to waste
A little child will grow to be unruly
Confidence will diminish if not awarded duly
Gold will lose its glitter and gleam
Ambition without action will remain just a dream
Bright colours will lighten to a paler shade
Inspiring words with no deeds will into oblivion fade
Things we love and cherish, value and care
Will be ruined beyond repair
If we do not nurture, foster and reflect
Such is the devastating power of neglect.

Precarious


I look at the way things stand between us
And I can feel the balance has shifted
It’s so imperceptible that no one else can guess
That a little apart we’ve drifted

I look at the times we’ve shared and the way things are
And I sense a slight new awkwardness
We still talk and laugh and share
But there is that slight shift nonetheless

I know that you’re still a friend I can trust
And I can still feel the love and care
And this balance that has surely shifted seems unjust
I simply hope that it’s not a shift beyond repair

On the other hand...

I look at the way things stand between us
And I can feel the balance has shifted
It’s so imperceptible that no one else can guess
But it’s like the thin veil of doubt has lifted

I look at the times we’ve shared and the way things are
And I sense a slight new closeness
With a lot more ease we now talk and laugh and share
And I’m glad that we’ve made good progress

You’ve become a friend I can trust
And I can now feel the care and love
With you around, life doesn’t seem unjust
I simply hope that I won’t have to say to you the words above 

I Wonder...


I wonder, staring at your picture,
Whatever happened to our grand plans for the future?
But you chose a different life,
And now we’ve grown older.
Should I hold on to those dreams, I wonder...

I wonder, staring at the memory,
Whatever happened to the time when I was young and carefree?
But I chose to be responsible,
And those adventures now seem like a blunder.
Can I atone for my mistakes, I wonder...

I wonder, staring at what I have just written - these lines,
Whatever happened to all my designs?
But I’m still the same person,
And life has made me bolder.
What’s the point of regret, I wonder... 

The Easy Way Out...


Would my life be easier if
I had the courage
to take that smallest step
that could shatter the peaceful mirage?

Would my life be easier if
I had the nerve
to make that difficult decision
that could destroy illusions that others preserve?

Would my life be easier if
I had not one regret
About things said and done
To simply learn and accept, forgive and forget?

Would my life be easier if
I had not one care
About making a wrong move
To simply not let mistakes give me a scare?

Would my life be easier if
I had the strength
to simply breakaway from shackles
that hold me back from going the extra length?

Would my life be easier if
I were a little more selfish
To pave my own path, make my own choices
Live my dreams and do as I wish?

Answers to these I am still looking for
However this I know for sure
Life with all its difficulties isn’t at all bleak
If only the inherent goodness of every moment we seek.

In Pursuit


What is it that we wait for?
Will we ever find that elusive “something more”?
What is it that we so frantically seek?
Will we ever make it up the insurmountable peak?

What is that we’re afraid of?
Will we ever accept that which others scoff?
What is that we long for, yearn?
Will we ever learn to unlearn?

Chasing a future that is uncertain
Today’s small pleasures we shun
Chasing dreams that are evasive
Real moments we’ve forgotten to live

The “life” we always aspired has already begun
Manifesting itself in moments that come by the million
Today is the future that we once dreamed and designed
So, what is it that we’re still hoping to find? 

A Different Crossroads

There will be no tearful farewells
There will be no idealistic promises
To remain friends forever
There will be no wistful sighs and no one will cry
This will be a different goodbye!

There will be no clear directions
Only a million different options
Awaiting and beckoning are difficult paths
There will be no comforting beds, no welcoming abodes
This will be a different crossroads...

There will be no looking back
Decisions weighed in white or black
Choosing your own destiny, leading life
There will be no regrets, only living in the moment
This will be a different present.

Surprised...


She’d always dreamt of feeling this way
Yet she never imagined it would be so strong
How could she be afraid of this emotion
She’d been waiting for so long?

She was surprised at the jealousy
That consumed her, hit her hard
Sharp and painful, it cut through her
Like a broken and serrated glass shard

She was surprised at the impatience
Counting down seconds for one call
She hated how time crawled by
As minute by minute her calm facade began to fall

She was surprised at her weakness
At becoming a victim of many a cliché
Neither being able to reign in her emotions
Nor her feelings convey

She was surprised at how her confidence broke
How she couldn’t muster up the courage to simply speak
She was not one to blabber and sputter
She hated how she suddenly felt meek

She was surprised at how easily tears came
When memories tormented her
And the intense yearning she felt
Only surprised her further

She’d always dreamt of feeling this way
Yet she never imagined she would lose all sanity
Lost in the emotion so powerful that it made her weak
How could she be surprised when she’d waited for this an eternity?

Awakening of Peace


A balmy evening has set upon the city
I am surrounded by a sea of humanity
And the rhythm of a million hearts in a steady beat
As I play with the soft sand beneath my feet

The place is aglow with blinding lights
Brighter, more electric than other sleepless nights
A million marching legs unsettle the sands
As the air is filled with the choir’s musical strands

Then, the bright lights flicker and die
As the stars gently radiate in the shadowy sky
The constellations twinkle in tranquillity
Till an insolent star breaks away from its community

In a flash of white, it falls to earth
And I can hardly contain my mirth
Witnessing a wondrous moment
As a star gracefully shone in descent

The blackness above takes on softer hues
In the pale moonlight colours come alive – grays and inky blues
And down around me, candles light the way
Soft yellows and shades of orange drive the darkness away

We have gathered as a community in soulful prayer
In a solemn vigil, for coming celebrations we prepare
In religion we are one, we revel in togetherness
As drops of holy water gently fall on us to bless

Standing there beneath nature’s glorious beauty
I send up a gratuitous prayer as I’m engulfed in serenity
Feeling a part of an extended family
Has awakened a spirit of peace even in a sceptic like me

What Women (don't) Want!


It’s 2 days after International Women’s Day and the feminist in me is still hyper-active... What a time look back on the eventful happenings of 3 weeks ago... Valentine’s Day... And while it’s the same old romantic comedy for couples – dates, gifts, flowers and all that jazz – for us, unattached, footloose and fancy free individuals, it’s nothing less than a suspense thriller!

So, flashback:
My gal pals and me toasted to singledom - some revelling in their new-found status (read: freedom), others like me, enjoying the perks of a lifetime membership! My male friends on the other hand seemed to have had quite a disastrous time. I mean, they did try to put their best foot forward, but for most part the only place that landed is in their mouths! They seemed to be chasing clichés... Tripping over their own feet would have been less clumsy than their efforts to woo girls! Which got me thinking: Is it merely a coincidence that ‘male’ is an anagram of ‘lame’?? Going by the number of times they have no leg to stand on... I think not!

And this brings me back to the present... Chuckling at all the not-so-happy-ending episodes of my guy friends, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity at their poor efforts. So, maybe a little advice could help, not that I claim to be an expert ... But, I am a finicky girl... and that should work for now!
Besides, 2 days after International Women’s Day and 3 weeks after Valentine’s Day seems to be appropriate in a very karmic way to deal with the issue of what women don’t want!

So here goes:

1. The “Open Door” Policy:In today’s world of equal opportunity, we feminists don’t expect you to always open the door for us nor are we incapable of pulling out chairs. Just make sure that the door you pushed open doesn’t swing back at our heads and please, don’t pull out the chair from under us. Chivalry is always attractive. But if you can’t handle it, a little basic courtesy would work just fine too, thank you!

2. The “You don’t have a Back-Up??!!” Syndrome:My computer has just crashed taking with it my prized projects, much-loved music, memories in photographs and high scores in games. And I’m upset...
My phone just refuses to switch on and in an instant I’ve lost precious messages and beloved contact numbers...
In my depression I turn to you and what do you say?? “YOU DIDN’T HAVE A BACK-UP??” Aaargh!
Well, here’s a tip: When we come to you with a problem (which is usually technology related coz we have our gal pals for the emotional stuff), please don’t berate us about what we could have done. Tell us what we should do now...

3. “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Tum Nahi Samjhogi ”
Men maybe from Mars but there are certain other things that seem far more alien to us... Usually those involve internal, never-knew-they-existed parts of cars and computers. (And, it never ceases to amaze me how each time a problem emerges, it always concerns a component we’ve never heard of before.)
You just have to accept that “Motherboard” is to girls what “Mauve” is to guys. We may claim to know it but one can never be a 100% sure!
But that doesn’t mean we are incapable of grasping the nuances of circuit boards and carburetors ... All we need is a little patient explaining. Don’t use the “tum nahi samjhogi” line. (It didn’t even work out well in the movie; she almost married the wrong guy.)

4. You’re too Predictable
At a given point in time men can think of only one of three things: Chicks, Cars (or anything else that runs on batteries/engines) and Cricket (or any other “sport”, for some that may include movie marathons and sleeping sprees). Women on the other hand have minds ticking as quickly and dangerously constant as a time bomb: “What will I wear today?”; “Does he think I look good in pink?”; “Will Rick boldly have yet another affair with the beautiful Brooke?”; “What’s India’s score?”; “I still haven’t told my best friend about my neighbour’s affair?”; “Does God really exist?”; “Oh! Great idea for the presentation!”; “World Peace”! No wonder, we may sometimes EXPLODE!
So, it would do you good before you label us as being predictable...

5. To Assume makes an ASS of U and MEIt’s surprising the amount of truth held in that corny line and especially so while keeping in mind point 4, you have to agree with the following lines from one of my favourite movies:
“When you assume something about me and it is correct, you get lucky... Just because you know what my answer will be doesn’t mean you don’t ask...”
May seem confusing the first time you read, take your time, read it again... and REFLECT! Basically, don’t assume what we might want/think/do/like/hate; we’re too complicated and unpredictable for that!
(For those of you wondering which movie that was, that would be National Treasure: Book of Secrets)

6. The Insincere Proposal
The “proposal” is THE moment every girl has fantasized about... It’s a moment where you profess everlasting love and claim that the girl in question is your reason for being, as precious as the air you breathe, that she’s the last thing on your mind when you fall asleep and the first thing on your mind when you wake up... You get the picture! So you may not be a master planner but at least don’t ruin it by doing it over the phone and, worse, ONLINE! “If you say yes, then I was being serious; if you say No, then I was just joking!” If that’s the implication your proposal is going to reflect then you’ve made the wise choice in not making it in person...

7. Other Random No-No'sAnd of course, there are other often repeated things: incessant swearing, referring to the waiter as “Shshsh”, kicking stray dogs, nose digging, pants that need constant hitching, checking out other girls while you're on a date, things like that...

8. And finally...
If all this fails and the girl still turns around and tells you “Let’s take it slow. How about being just good friends,” RESPECT her wishes. Taking it slow doesn’t mean making 6 calls in a day instead of 12 in a day... Taking it slow means making ONE call in SIX days... (approximately so!).

So, All the Best, I guess!

The Little Things in Life...


We try so hard to live by the ideal of “Plan like you were to live forever; but live like you were to die tomorrow”. But it isn’t always that simple, is it? Being optimistic, yet not losing touch of reality; Being enthusiastic, yet remaining practical. The cliché of living in the moment is easier said than done... Because circumstances change and people do not remain the same; friendships fade away and new opportunities seldom come without newer challenges...

Sometimes, LIFE, this moment to moment existence in the face of such cynicism, just bogs you down so much that it is very easy to simply forget your spirit, your reason for being... And, lately I’ve been a frequent flyer to that not-so-cheerful place I hate so much. But, it is in times like these that the numerous little things come together to be my anchor that holds me above water, stops me from sinking into the abyss of depression...

The little things that bring me great joy...

When I feel so lost that I’m a stranger in my own home,
I listen to the peals of the wind chime
And it fills my heart with melodies.
I gaze at the pictures on the walls,
Moments captured for an eternal time,
And it fills my head with memories.

When I feel so lonely that I’m alone in a crowd,
I see the nameless, unfamiliar faces,
And exchange knowing glances, few words, shared smiles
I look at life as it moves on around me, thrives...
Till the beauty returns to empty spaces;
As does the spring in my steps that can carry me for miles.

When I feel like I’ve lost the reason to laugh,
I remember thoughtful messages and long conversations,
A telepathic connection and the unexpected call,
The sweet words of support & stern words of rebuke
Bring to mind the many friends and relations,
All a reminder of bonds that will never fall.


When I feel like I cannot go on
I head out for a walk, letting my feet chart their directions
Under a refreshing breeze, collecting my thoughts
When it seems like there is no purpose to life,
I pull out my bucket list and rediscover my ambitions,
Rediscovering the passion that once seemed lost.

In life things seldom are the way they seem...
Sometimes happy moments may seem far and few.
But when life seems like nothing but a lie,
And reality appears to be an illusion...
Look at the little things to remind you,
That life is as beautiful as the rainbow in the sky.

Lost in the Unknown.


My laugh is lost as I lament,
And all my smiles dissolve into a sigh,
I seem to have lost the cheerful moment,
And I don’t know the reason why...

Doubts and fears flood my mind,
Reality seems like a miserable lie,
Joy seems afar and hard to find,
And I wish I knew why...

My thoughts turn dark and depressed,
Tears are beyond my control as my eyes silently cry,
Hope is ruthlessly repressed,
And I have no idea why...

I don’t find cheer even in a soulful song,
Mirth, here only an instant ago, has bid goodbye,
For that merry moment my heart does long,
It’s gone, lost, as is the reason why...

I can’t stop smiling, and I am incredibly happy,
That time now seems like a dream gone by,
I can’t find my reason to be,
And I can’t find the reason why...

I’m laughing, my eyes twinkling,
And inexplicably, I feel a void, lonely, torn,
Some may call it nothing more than a mood swing,
But I know that I am lost in the unknown.

Apple of my I !!


I truly think that one of life’s best moments is when a song that you’ve been thinking of suddenly starts playing on the radio or the TV. And what’s even better is when my I-pod recognizes my mood and seems to play all the right songs at the right time. Usually left on the shuffle mode, to fend for itself, my I-pod seems to be tuned into my moods pretty well. When I’m feeling low it will play a peppy number to lift my spirits, and when I’m happy, catchy dance numbers set the pace. Maybe all the time it spends wired to my head has paid off! Don’t believe me? Consider this:

Flashback...
I have had a fight last night and I have woken up in a pathetic, super-depressed mood... It’s one of those days where you wish the sun hadn’t come out and that you could just curl up under your blanket and disappear... But, life must go on... and I’m forced to get out of my cosy, comfortable bed and get into my day. A day which seems nothing more than a monotonous routine today... I go through the motions rather mechanically; my happy mood and cheer seem to be locked up in an impenetrable corner of my mind...


I step out with i-pod firmly in my ear to transport me to another world at least for a while. I hit on “Shuffle Songs” and Ace of Base’s popular track “Beautiful Morning” begins playing...

“What a mystery, though the world's on fire.
Yesterday's hard words is still in my head.
I feel no despair, no regrets or sorrows,
'Cause this new day makes me dance on air.
(What a golden day.)
What a beautiful morning in my life.
The best in life is free.
I give it all away and I wonder what more is to come.
And this beautiful morning changed my mind.
Believe me when I say the shadows fading out.
As the day grows bright, we are turning pages,
And we write new chapters of our life.
Some are strong and long.
Others weak with sorrows.
Keep the focus on the rising sun.”

It’s like my I-pod sensed my mood and was trying to send out a message to me! It worked because I was happy and cheerful from that moment on...

And, if you still don’t believe that my I-pod is psychic then consider this:
A friend posted a note on Facebook, that described a little game... There were about 20 questions listed and the answer to each question is held in your music library...

The Game’s only rule: Play the songs on Shuffle Mode and hit next to get the answers to the question...

Here are my results for 17 of these 20 questions... It made perfect sense and 85% isn’t a bad hit rate!

1) What would best describe your personality?
Chopsuey by System of a Down
For the ignorant, Chopsuey in Chinese means “Mixed Pieces”... Go Figure!

2) What do you like in a boy?

Say it Right by Timbaland
Well, honestly, it is one of my most important “criteria”... There’s nothing more attractive than a well-spoken guy with intelligent points of view and witty repartee...

3) How do you feel today?
Dekho Nashe Mein from Race
High on Life! :)

4) What is your life's purpose?
Say (All i Need) by One Republic
What can I “say” to this now? Putting across my point of view may well be the purpose of my life. And the fact that this song has another name it goes by may not be a mere coincidence... Maybe the “All I Need” signifies my “Things To Do Before I Die” List! Hmmmm!

5) What is your motto?
Smile by Lily Allen
I can’t stop smiling, can I? *wink* *wink* Most of you are familiar with that mood... and a chosen few are familiar with the (sometimes silly) reasons for it!

6) What do you think about very often?
Pardesi from Dev D
*Some more winks* and a *wicked smile* followed by a *sigh*!

7) What do you think of your best friend?
The Reason by Hoobastank
Well, in a way, she is the voice of reason in my life!

8) What do you think of the person you like?
Aye Bachchu... from Ghajini
Heheheheheeheh.... AK... This one is for you!

9) What is your life story?
Hot and Cold by Katy Perry
Isn’t this true...? Ups and Downs; Can’t-stop-smiling to can’t-find-my-smile to can’t-stop-winking... From exciting to tedious... Life, surely does seem to come a full circle!

10) What do you want to be when you grow up?
Sound of Freedom by Bob Sinclair
Freedom! Yes! Oh YES! Independence and self sufficiency are 2 ideals I try to live by...

11) What do you think when you see the person you like?
Angels by Robbie Williams
I’ll just leave it as *loooooooooooooong sigh*

12) What do your parents think of you?
Losing My Religion by R.E.M.
Ask them if you don’t believe my I-pod!

13) What will you dance to at your wedding?
Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park
Well, I wouldn’t want to dance to this song at my wedding... I’d rather prefer Everything by Michael Buble followed by Sway (Yes, the same one that’s been my caller tune for 3 years now!) But, hey, I’m sure that “Somewhere I Belong” is definitely the feeling that will be washing over me!!!

14)What will they play at your funeral?
Khuda Jaane from Bachna Ae Haseeno
LOL! Need I say anything at all!

15) What is your hobby/interest?
Yeh Tumhari Meri Baatein from Rock On!!
At the risk of repeating myself, LOL! Need I say anything at all! I Talk!

16)What is your biggest secret?
Dancing Queen by ABBA
Yes, I confess, when everyone at home has gone to sleep, I play my music and dance alone!

17) What do you think of your friends?
Distance... by Karsh Kale
Well....... I sure as hell hope this is not true... But sometimes it is inevitable, isn’t it!

Fascinating, isn’t it? Does my I-pod know me or does my I-pod know me??!! Well, I am a staunch believer in signs, this only reinforces it... But irrespective of whether you have your own friendly i-pod or believe in signs, do try the game... It is a lot of fun...! Maybe you could share with me some of your answers, I would love to discuss the "Signs"!


So, THIS is what a "Writer's Block" feels like?!


The little clock in the corner of my screen reads 00:37. Slowly yet steadily it keeps counting down the minutes as they pass by... A subtle reminder of the amount of time by which I missed my deadline for the week’s post... 38 minutes have now passed and it is tomorrow and here I am... With no weekly post but loads of ideas are just swimming languidly in my mind, but none seem to be making their way through to the tips of my fingers where I can shake them off and make them (big) words... But I am determined... Anyway, for me tomorrow begins only after I’ve had my goodnight’s sleep, and as droopy as my eyes maybe and as sluggish as my fingers maybe, I just refuse to let tomorrow dawn until I have written my post for the week...

10 Minutes have passed and all that I have accomplished is not dozing off while watching the cursor flicker with a consistent rhythm on my screen... Somehow it seems to be in sync with the music that’s playing... It’s almost like it’s dancing one same steady step to every beat that plays on iTunes... Fascinating...! Oh! Look! There it goes again...

7 Minutes Later
Well, happy realisation to me! If I have to get this written and posted while it’s still today I really must stop imagining the cursor dance (but it was funny!)...
Question: Would it still be day dreaming if I’m doing it in the middle of the night? Oooh! Which reminds me of another doubt I had... will it be 3 in the morning or 3 in the night?? Even Wikipedia’s unsure... “Morning is the part of the day usually reckoned from either midnight or dawn to noon...” Hmpf!

Another 12 Minutes
Ok, so let me try Random Observations Have you ever noticed that infants have some sort of elaborate telepathic, coded communication system which ONLY they understand? How else do you explain why ALL kids within a given area (say a Train Compartment – that’s where I noticed this phenomenon thrice) begin crying at around the same instant...? One usually takes the initiative and the others promptly follow... Ok, I’m done with random observations...

About 7.5 Minutes Forward
Is there a career for writing “Quotes”? I mean what did Oscar Wilde do for a living? Ok, THAT was a JOKE... But, seriously, it would be so cool to invent “Quotable Quotes” and sell them to silly celebrities & politicians who suffer from “Foot in Mouth” disease... I could make a business of it... For example, “There’s SENSE even in NONSENSE”! Hmmm...

Almost Instantaneously
You know what this is? This is a classic case of Writer’s Block... Wikipedia knows the precise definition to this one: Writer's block is a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity. Hey and look! Wiki’s very considerately provided solutions too. Ok, so lets see...

1. Scheduling time to write and work, regardless of the quality of the output.Well, Duh! THIS is exactly what I’m doing...! And I’m sure you would agree that I took the “regardless of quality” part a bit too literally...

2. Engaging in brief periods of "freewriting" or "mindwriting," in which people impulsively write whatever comes to mind.Hah! Again, I’m there, doing that (Present Tense of “Been there, Done that”! Maybe my creativity’s coming back!)

3. Taking a break, meditating, or doing relaxation exercises to relieve any pressure on oneself and on the writing.Good Idea! Maybe I should try slooooow breathe iiiiiinnnnn.... slooooow breathe oooooout... Brb!

Bees (20) Minute Baad
Ok! Random Observation 2: Slow Breathing in the middle of the night makes me sleepy, but chocolates work... So, maybe I should refer back to Wikipedia...

4. Returning to the writing after a lapse of a day or two.NO WAY! Sorry... Can’t do... a deadline is a deadline is a deadline...

5. Going out to get some fresh air.What! Do you know what time it is? My trusty clock says 1:45... Maybe I’ll just open the windows...

6. Set your writing down, go out and do something (something that will keep you busy) and then come back in a few hours with a fresh mind.I DON’T have that kind of time, you moron! What are you trying to do? Sabotage my weekly-posting spree...

7. Listen to music.ALWAYS! And now that the window is open, the wind-chimes are also happily chiming!

Wait! What’s that?! I can just feel the wheels in my head turning...
I wander around many a dreary alley,SENTENCES are beginning to come together...
But in the mournful darkness there’s nothing I can see...And what do you know! IT RHYMES! OK, I’m on a roll here...!

I wander around many a dreary alley,
But in the mournful gloom there’s nothing I can see...
Every turn I take lead me to a dead-end
Blank is my mind...
Into more darkness I descend.

I search for a way out,
But every step is shrouded in doubt.
There must be a road that cuts through this haze...
There was an idea, now it’s lost!
I’m still hopelessly stuck in this maze.

I desperately knock on every door
The unknown I’m ready to explore
They are shut tight, secure behind a resilient lock
In vain I try but no door I can breakdown
So, this is what it feels like to suffer from Writer’s Block!

OK! I wrote a poem on writer’s block! Now, THAT’s ironic...! Anyway, with my self-satisfied smirk in place, I’m off to go catch up on some sweet dreams... Until next week..!