Invocation- the YT version

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Invocation

As is the tradition, I chant God's name,

Let me start this journey, with blessings as my aim.

I offer sacrifices to silence, the demons within,

As I walk the path of Dharma, which is razor thin.  

I walk light on this path, with few blessings to boot,

Friends and family behind me, others don't care two hoot. 

Unburdened by expectations, I can fly as I like,

Surprise you with my vulnerability, my passion for psych. 

 

I'm grateful to you patrons, who can read through me,

As I capture your heart, I become myself free. 

As I play with new mediums, to the ones I'll meet,

Let me bare my innards, how's that for a treat.

 

I invoke the Goddess Lakshmi, let the money flow,

If you find Saraswati playing second fiddle, let me know!  

Man vs A.I.

Spitting out averages, of the things I've already seen,

Creating an image of cat, not knowing what does it mean.

As an A.I. I excel, at tasks that are generative thus,

Interpolate from given data, without making any fuss.  

Sometimes I extrapolate too, make a leap for the AI kind,

Generate at a different level, that many people novel find.

A new move in an ancient game, something surprising and unique,

Marking the arrival of artificial creativity, a scenario not for the meek.  

Inventing a whole new system, an elegant and beautiful game,

Is something where I struggle, where I feel handicapped and lame.  

 At moments I can be inventive, I cannot stitch them through,

That I can create new languages and meanings, is far from true.  

There are different levels of creativity, humans currently excel at them all,

Artificial creativity presents a challenge, with time it may humans maul.   

Timeless Wishes

Birthdays are an occasion, to reflect on the year gone by,

To bask in the glory of the moment, and with gratitude and happiness cry.

50th one is extra special, you are almost half way through life,

Here's wishing the next 50 yrs for you, are like a picture, larger-than-life.

Anniversaries are an occasion, to reflect on the purity of one's bond,

How despite life ups and downs, you are tethered with a magic wand.

25th one is extra special, children have grown, it will be empty nest soon,

Here's wishing you joy and understanding, as you embark on this second honeymoon.

Birthday and anniversary are special, especially if falling on the same day,

On each day my wishes stay with you, is all to God I pray.

Today you will be deservedly showered, with gifts and wishes from all,

Whole day well wishers will visit you, and those who can't will miss and call.

Happiness and laughter everlasting, I from my heart wish to you both,

As you age you become wiser, and the love between you grows.

Why Do You Write, Mr Anderson?

Writing shows a mirror, to the existing social milieu,

Forces us to reform and change, bids archaic customs adieu.

The poet with his play of words, leaves us pumped and charged,

Paints the world with a fresh color, makes the canvas enlarged.  

Writing is content in a corner, its purpose to introspect, 

Helps us express our feelings, makes us broody and circumspect. 

The poet with his clarity of words, leaves us touched and moved, 

By sharing his transformative journey, ensures the reader is improved. 

 

Writing builds a bridge, ensures attuning and resonance,

You are able to drill deep, where there wasn't a precedence. 

The poet with his barbs of words, helps us empathize and connect,

By bonding one human with the other, has the desired affect and effect. 

My poetry hurts and heals, it's a therapy for the world and me,

As I cure the world of its maladies, in the process I'm repaired for free.

Transaction Analysis

Unconditional job security, or a convenient alliance,

Or was I a bonded labor, I ask in defiance. 

Why should I stick around, if the company doesn't perform,

And under the garb of market forces, they make layoffs a norm.  

Lifetime loyalty, or a temporary sojourn,

You leave at the drop of a hat, as an employer I mourn.

Why should I take personal loans, and pay your salaries overdue,

When you'll turn up in the office tomorrow, I literally have no clue.

 

Stability is passe, the employer offers you growth,

Will increase your employability, in present and future both.    

Loyalty is unbecoming, the employee works on a contract,

Manages your projects and clients, and shares some of his contact. 

 

When the relationship is transactional, there's no guilt in severance,

We are mature enough to appreciate, neither party is to be held in reverence. 

First, Do No Harm

Doctors swear, by the Hippocratic oath,

To earn a just livelihood, for self and teacher both. 

Not to swindle the patients, or take them for a ride,

To maintain confidentiality, is a matter of pride.

 

To heal the patient, to never do harm,

Is their simple motto, the profession's enduring charm.

Its a noble profession, hence the need for oath,

That it's a hypocratic oath, to view it thus I'm loath. 

 

Most doctors mean well, unless part of a corporate setup,

If insurance covers the bills, and their commissions add up,

They may become overtly cautious, be concerned for the patients health,

Prescribe tests that cost a bomb, the harm limited to the patients wealth.

 

If an oath can't prevent a doctor, from falling off the slippery slope,

If the environment is of a corporate, for us mere mortals what hope.

Die Another Day

You killed your prey, with great skill and foresight,

Planned and strategized, and stalked through the night. 

First a group of hyenas, and then vultures take over,

The carcass turns to skeleton, your intoxication to hangover.  

You make a castle with great care, mixing sand and water,

Someone tramples it, should they be booked for manslaughter?  

Accidental deaths, one can bear the pain for a while,

When one pulls the plug, one needs to be put on trial.

 

You built a culture, that was fragile as ever,

A few rotten eggs, force you to ties sever. 

A legacy you built, left to rot and decay,

By fleeing from the scene, are you sure its your v-day.

 

When vultures descend, forget about the prey,

Just run for your life, to hunt another day.

 

Picture Is Still Remaining, My Friend!

Failed experiments, teach you new stuff,

Help refine hypothesis, separate substance from fluff.

When you discover 1000 ways, a bulb is not to be made,

You become curious and resilient, like a child in first grade.  

 

Missed shots, give you feedback on technique,

Help you master the game, put you on a winning streak.  

Same applies in business, with each failed enterprise,

You pick up more acumen, till eventually you float and rise.

 

Unsold artworks, tells you what doesn't resonate,

Helps you appreciate your audience, and that makes you great.

When playing your guitar, if a string gets broken,

You replace and double down, don't remain stuck or heartbroken. 

  

Failures are a part of life, exams but just a stark manifestation,

They have no place telling you, as to what is your final station. 

Is It Just the Passage of Time?

Gratitude morphs, into casual indifference,

I've turned ungrateful, would be a wrong inference.

Over the years, one loses touch, relationships stall,

One party becomes big, and the other feels small. 

 

Bonhomie morphs, into measured distance,

Friends become apologists, for their political stance.

The shared passion once, is overshadowed by differences galore, 

Each adamant not to get pulled, in the others drama / folklore. 

 

Respect morphs, into blatant suspicion, 

Not just actions, you question motives for one.

Did he purposely neglect me, or better still insult,

If we act so differently, are we after the same result?

 

People morph, you are no longer what you meant,

I've morphed myself, we're no longer sacrosanct. 

 

Will You Cheer For Me?

The mood is low, can't concentrate on my studies,

I'm feeling like crap, labelled depressed by my buddies.

My heart palpitates, when I think about the test,

I'm seething with anger, maybe release is for best. 

 

I've tried it before, and failed spectacularly,

Can get aggressive in no time, do self harm regularly.

I act out often, can be defiant and stand up, 

Or drown myself in alcohol, wishing never to wake up.

 

I can't for the world pass my exam, I don't care, whatever, 

This failure won't be unique, isn't my future bleak forever?

There are many problems in my life, too heavy to be shared with others,

I don't know how to solve them, is death the only solution brothers?

 

I'm emotionally wrecked, behaviorally not good, cognitively I've got myself stuck in a trap, 

But this too shall pass, just stay by my side, and I'll give you enough reasons to cheer and clap. 

The Orchid

Does a star by itself, has the right to exist,

Should we read between the lines, to get the poem's gist.

Does an orchid need to justify, why its tender and fragile,

Do I need to hide my hide, behind a fancy prose style. 

 

What if the star is dead, only its light shining through,

If a poem moves us, do we have to agree with the poets view?

Maybe the orchid is a fake, made of material that is strong,

If something can rhyme and pierce, is writing as prose so wrong? 

The star was alas imaginary, a twinkle in my eyes,

My poem is contrived, mixing truth with lies. 

The orchid was a dream, more vivid than smell, 

That I'll call my free verse sonnet, who could for one tell.

 

From the ashes of the supernova, a new star will be born,

I'll bloom an orchid daily, no matter how much I'm depleted or worn. 

Heal Me, But How?

World comes crashing down, I'm in stress, feeling overwhelm,

Relieved from my role as the captain, I'm no more at the helm.

Cracks have started appearing, I'm irritable, in a mess,

Let's increase the medication a bit, my parents gently press.

 

The joy from life has drained, I feel lonely and burnt,

Here comes the Loony uncle, is the moniker I've earned.

Hell is other people, the motto has come alive,

For stress meditate daily, neighborhood aunt goes overdrive.

 

I've started questioning life, my purpose is lost,

I'm burning coals inside, while on surface its all frost.

I've carved my own chains, I'm prisoner of my fate,

The grandma says to have courage, to make angst my mate.

 

My suffering is multi layered, you can glance it from your prism,

For once treat me as a human, that will heal me, is the only truism. 

 

Finding Relevance (and Job!)

I'm in my late forties, naturally I've hit a glass ceiling,

That I can't grow in my current org, is more than a gut feeling.  

Age is the biggest barrier, having experience my bane,

When I started my career, the situation wasn't the same.  

Laid off from the current company, after years of loyal service,

The comfort of going to a job everyday, I'm afraid for some time I'll miss.

The hunt will be prolonged, can't compete with the fresh-from-college youth,

Even after mastering the in-demand skills, I'll be swiftly hired, is far from truth.  

 

Entrepreneurship is the last refuge, of the unwilling retiree in this case,   

That I have EMI's, outstanding educational loans, puts me promptly in my place.

I can indulge in some gig work, do consulting, be a fractional CXO,

By all accounts, I'll be working part time, or at best be a solopreneur, IMO. 

 

While doctors and lawyers appreciate with experience, if you're in IT its the other way,

It's good I'm mostly a poet, it was never a valued career, so it won't be irrelevant any day. 

Beyond Self Harm

Skipping meals often, sleeping less and not on time,

Not walking or exercising daily, social drinking no crime.

Smoking a few cigarettes when stressed, some rash driving to boot,

They may be roads to slow death, but not pathological at root.

Some suffer from a desire to binge and purge, others don't eat at all, 

Some drown themselves in alcohol, cause they feel insignificant and small.  

Some get stuck in abusive relationships, perpetuating in their life ongoing violence,

Some constantly live on the edge, are self destructive- if viewed from this lens. 

 

In others the manifestation, is more total and stark, 

They cut or burn themselves, when their thoughts turn dark. 

Extremely critical of self, falsely assuming they're no worth,

They want to punish their bodies, which they assume is different from earth. 

 

Whether the pain is occasional or repetitive, there are better ways to cope,

As long as you remember life is inherently worthy, there is always room for hope.

Help, Before its Late

Banging my head, to return to reality,

Bruising and burning myself, a form of self cruelty, 

The pain makes me come alive, its better than being dead,

At least I can control my wounds, a voice in my head said. 

Inflicting wounds, not letting them heal,

Is now an established pattern, the way with pain I deal. 

Trying to run from the agony, the void, the numbness,

Each scar a testimony, to the Hell of which I'm an alumnus. 

 

Anger pent up, I need to release the inner turmoil,

That I cut myself at places, as a punishment, you recoil. 

I do this not to seek attention, nor to end my life.

I'm hopeful things will change, as I contemplate that knife.

 

Self-harm over the years, dulls pain, makes me go extreme,

It ups my risk of suicide, can't you help before, I scream!

No Revolution This Way!

Weighed down by the system, feeling helpless and trapped, 

Listening to ghazals in loop, while earlier they sang and rapped,

Slowly a thought germinates, why not try something new, 

End this misery and anguish, and also send a message to few. 

A conscious decision taken, a plan laid out,

Hoping their drastic act, can lead to system's rout.

They visualize a future, where others are not similarly trapped, 

The existing system decimated, new territories mapped. 

They act with an intent, to achieve the desired outcome, 

Their act triggers others, is embraced and copied by some.

Like a nuclear reaction, the bomb starts ticking,

It explodes and destroys, but somethings missing. 

 

When the system is oppressive, you become a suicide bomber of sorts,  

The collateral damage of copycat suicides, was never their intention, Milords!