The Fool's Quest

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Wishes Granted. Amen.

The Djinn of Positive affirmation, granted Scott 3 wish,

The first wish was plain and simple, to be served money in a dish.

As luck would have, he bought 2 stocks, and both rallied up and on,

Writing for 15 times in a day, worked well, so he carried on.

The second wish he made, was to crack an exam called GMAT,

He wished to achieve 94th percentile, but in mocks at 77th he sat.

Despite this setback, he continued to persevere, on his affirmation routine,

When marks came out, his percentile matched, what his dream goal had been.

Emboldened and drunk on success, with experimentation done,

He revealed his deepest wish- to become a cartoonist- a syndicated one!

Rejections followed galore, and then some lucky breaks,

The rest they say is history, and he's now on a roll without brakes.

If you were granted 3 wishes, you'll probably choose money. success and fame,

From today I'll start writing 15 times, that I'll live up to my #ZeroStudentSuicide claim.

Note: This poem is a part of a collection of poems titled Flotsam and Jetsam. You can read them below:

If you are in India you can buy a copy from either Amazon or Flipkart.

If you are outside India, you can order a digital copy here.

Thanks for supporting me and my work!

Owning Full Stack

We'll just sensitize students, or faculty and wardens at max,

Help them identify the signs, and then we can relax.

We've done our job and duty, its now upto them,

If they didn't understand or take action, we're not to blame.

We'll just ascertain the risk, use tech to identify,

Roll out assessments and screen, but not reach out and pacify.

We'll issue an alert, whenever we encounter a problem case,

What happens to the client thereafter, we'll leave to God and fate.

We'll just diffuse the situation, do crisis management and leave,

We'll just cool down the client, regular therapy not up our sleeve.

We'll contact the parents, or ambulance, as per the callers need,

If they don't reach out in the first place, how are we responsible- is what we plead.

Prevention, detection and intervention is OK, no one wants to own full stack,

How will they pass the buck otherwise, how will they avoid the legal trap.

Note: This poem is a part of a collection of poems titled Flotsam and Jetsam. You can read them below:

If you are in India you can buy a copy from either Amazon or Flipkart.

If you are outside India, you can order a digital copy here.

Thanks for supporting me and my work!

Monday, September 4, 2023

The Beauty and The Beast

Smile so vibrant, like a 1000 watt bulb,

I'm momentarily blinded, turn into the monster Hulk.

Green with envy, that she chose hymn over me,

Yet instantly calmed, when I hear the lullaby.

Eyes so sparkling, diamonds lose their sheen,

Piercing through me, what she's seeing I'm keen,

Will she look at the beast, I become when she's gone,

Or will she be the compassionate monk, and see my beauty alone.

Face so vivacious, its like a kaleidoscope,

With her mercurial expressions, I can hardly cope.

She rubs me accidentally, releases the Djinn from the lamp,

Her only wish to be left alone, my eyes become damp.

After years of suppression, today I am again bursting with rage,

Seeing your photo on the web, soothed this beast back into the cage.

Note: This poem is a part of a collection of poems titled Flotsam and Jetsam. You can read them below:

If you are in India you can buy a copy from either Amazon or Flipkart.

If you are outside India, you can order a digital copy here.

Thanks for supporting me and my work!

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Using the S word

Don't ask a young person, if he is planning to die,

He'll ether skip the question, or intentionally lie.

You'll have implanted the seeds, is the oft repeated harp,

Don't you dare use the S word, is the advice sharp.

At worst you'd cause inception, they'll make fun at best,

Lets live in collective denial, lets instead plan a fest.

When children come in hordes, and see how happy others are,

Their S wish will vanish, and this will solve the problem far.

Why ask them this question, have they tried it in past?

It may trigger old memories, and precipitate the outcome fast.

Why ask them if they have someone, they can call at 3 in the night,

It will make them feel lonesome, the phrasing doesn't seem right.

Its ironical how the decision makers, at the S word balk,

If we have to curb the menace of Suicide, lets normalize its talk.

Note: This poem is a part of a collection of poems titled Flotsam and Jetsam. You can read them below:

If you are in India you can buy a copy from either Amazon or Flipkart.

If you are outside India, you can order a digital copy here.

Thanks for supporting me and my work!

The Last Straw

Staying alone, with a history of self harm,

Hiding my diagnostic labels - why keep the rumor mills warm,

I'm a young boy, for whose studies, my father took a loan,

I'm average on all fronts, and my dreams are but vaporized and gone.

Moved to a new city, from being a topper to one amongst many,

The marks shake my confidence, the voice says - you are no good any.

Misunderstandings creep up, with the girl on whom I have a crush,

I feel trapped and hopeless - desire to escape, decide in a rush.

I'm close with my sister, at 3 am I can call her up,

I believe in a higher power, my time's still not up.

I find joy when I study physics, I find meaning in my ordeal,

Only a few months left for the test, living till then no big deal.

Irrespective of the risk factors, triggers or protection that might have I,

If you hadn't been the last straw on which I could lean, that day I would have been forced to die.

Note: This poem is a part of a collection of poems titled Flotsam and Jetsam. You can read them below:

If you are in India you can buy a copy from either Amazon or Flipkart.

If you are outside India, you can order a digital copy here.

Thanks for supporting me and my work!

Friday, September 1, 2023

The Child Unearthed

The child is bright, the father is proud,

The mother is worried, but finally comes around,

If he becomes a doctor, or gets into the prestigious IITs,

They can bask in glory, and tease the son of Sharmajis.

The child relocates, an industry springs up,

All want a piece of him, the pressure builds up,

Get into the best coaching, best hostel, best batch,

If you come out a topper, your fees will be refunded- no catch.

The child performs well, his hopes soar high,

When marks take a dip, the end seems nigh,

Self worth gets linked to, success on a test,

If he doesn't crack the exam, he'll always be second best.

Everyone sees in the child - a source of status, money or self worth,

Who sees the child in the child - and lets his innocence unearth.

Note: This poem is a part of a collection of poems titled Flotsam and Jetsam. You can read them below:

If you are in India you can buy a copy from either Amazon or Flipkart.

If you are outside India, you can order a digital copy here.

Thanks for supporting me and my work!