My Lucky Charm

You can bet on chance encounters, better still create own luck,

Vary your routine, meet new people, don't remain holed or stuck.  

The more you increase the variance, the wider your range will be,

You'll not be introduced by people you know,  but the ones who are friends to be.

 

You can bet your life that she's the one, you have to listen to your hunch,

Before your mind approves the date, you have to ask her out for lunch.

The gut is wiser than the brain, it knows which bonds will stay,

Be bold and quickly ask her hand, before someone else may.

 

You can bet that you'll be the lucky one, your proposal she won't resist,

You'll be paired with a beautiful soul, even if it's a frog you kissed.

That belief in luck will ensure, that the prophecy is fulfilled,

The demons may be slayed or not, your bad luck will be killed.

 

You can bet that misunderstanding will happen, Happily Ever After is only in lore,

But once you've embraced your lucky charm, you'll keep loving her more and more.

The One Thing

What's the one thing, that will make the day count?

You'll redo it in a time loop, and with fondness recount.

If you had to relive today, that's exactly what you would do,

Because that's what matters, imbues your day with the right hue.

 

You don't need to climb mountains, nor marathons run,

It's your definition of success, it could be trivial or fun.

But setting it as a goal, first thing in the morn,  

Ensures its achieved, else it sticks like a thorn.

 

It has to be just one thing, but it should matter to you, 

No need to tick off the to-do list, to that thing be true.

It can morph from day to day, just focus on today,

Before the world stifles it, go for it- seize the day.

 

The one thing for me is typically, very predictable and enchanting,

It's to write a sonnet in which your name, I end up religiously chanting.

 

Depressed or Just Sad?

I shouldn't be, but I think I am depressed,

Life runs smooth, but I don't feel blessed.

Job's the usual, money is easy and good,

I feel lost and lonely, in the busy neighborhood.

 

People in my life, like clouds come and go,

Their memories keep replaying, in a motion that is slow

As the day winds down, sadness lingers, doesn't die,

What malaise has befallen me, I don't know, I won't lie.

 

Can depression be endogenous, without reason or rhyme,

By labeling sadness depression, am I committing a crime?

Smile, and catch yourself, or the dementers will come,

You can't allow them safe passage, through sadness some.

 

I'm nurturing it for two more weeks, so that it can earn me my malady,

Don't brush it off as mere sadness- its a result of missing you, Mi Lady!

Buying Off Death

Money can't buy happiness, it can maybe prevent suicide,

Get your monthly dose refilled, and any crisis for the month you can tide.

I'm not talking about antidepressants, though they have an important role to play,

I'm referring to Universal Basic Income, where you get sustenance come what may.

 

Conditions attached to the cash transfer, like you send your child to school,

Ensure the conditions of your life, become progressively better and cool.

Money enables a better lifestyle, physical health leads to mental peace,

When crises are few and far between, death by suicide starts to cease.  

 

More daily wagers die by suicide, than students or working professionals,

Most struggle to make their ends meet, the desire to live - poverty annuls.  

A timely infusion of cash, is like a sanjeevini for them,

If its predictable and assured, they won't die, but live some.  

 

Money can't buy happiness, it surely prevents suicide,

You've tried therapy and medication, have you alleviating poverty tried? 

A State Lunch, alternately titled 101st Transgression

Middle-east has oil, China has rare earths,

India has spirituality, and is a land of rare births.

People are our strength, our demographics an edge,

We may flock to the West, but to the motherland we pledge.

 

Pakistan has a begging bowl, US has a bully and a clown,

India has a largest democracy, and for some time has been around.

Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam is no slogan, but for billions a lived truth,

You can choose from any path or philosophy, if you are an Indian youth.  

 

Israel is an anomaly, Ukraine is a playground,

India is the Vishwaguru, where wisdom and peace are found.

We are technically advanced, we have deterrents in place,

On a shoe string budget we build missiles, and send satellites in space.

 

Don't take our silence for our weakness, we gave Shishupal his 100 small wins,

Once you cross the red line however, you'll be dealt a lethal blow for your total sins.

 

 

Father's Day Regards

Mother snuggles the baby, father provides the bread,

These are the gender stereotypes, or so I have read.

Mom feeds the baby, pop keeps the guard,

On one we shower love and care, on other respect regard.  

 

My mom and dad both used to work, now they are both retired,

To take care of us turn by turn, they never got tired.

My dad oozed warmth and comfort too, I'd feel loved and be seen,

He might be old and aged now, but to care for me he's still keen. 

 

He gave me more than life, and love, the freedom to truly live,

No conditions attached with wealth, or the love that he would give.

He didn't set for me some goals, didn't care if I kept leaving jobs,

We've traveled joyously a lot of miles, and shared more than a few sobs.

 

Our bond is deep, it goes beyond, money, security or care,  

He'll never depend on me for these, that I'll never outgrow, is only fair.   

The New Happy

I thought money would buy me happiness, I was sold a false bill of goods,

I'm now chained to my city apartment, instead of flowing freely by the woods.

Grab more of stuff, or experiences, did I hoard happiness itself?

There is so much I've accumulated, where to put joy on that shelf.

 

I thought being perfect will make me whole, but it's not all it's cracked to be,

Success should walk the trodden path, there would be panic if I'm set free.    

Hog the limelight, seek fame, let happiness disappear in the background,

Become popular with all the ladies, to court happiness wait for the next round.

 

I thought defeating others would make me happy, happiness dealt me a punch,   

When I compete with friends in zero sum games, it doesn't leave us a happy bunch.

Slog more, party harder, happiness works hard to remain out of reach,

Beware you rest or rejuvenate, lest happiness your work ethic breach.  

 

If you want to be really happy, just become more of who you truly are,  

Give yourself freely to others, that bonding alone will take you far.