PADMAJA IYENGAR-PADDY

PADMAJA IYENGAR-PADDY

LET ME BE …

God in his heaven watches the world confused,

To see his name often misused and much abused

By the guardians of religions in different garbs,

Addressing the world around them with barbs.

God from his heaven sees the world and wonders,

“What am I doing in this violent land of blunders?

Why am I confined to temples, mosques,

Churches, gurudwaras and synagogues?”

“People seem to have forgotten my essence;

They often overlook my divine omnipresence.

In my name, they indulge in so much violence,

And have forgotten compassion and tolerance.”

“I am GOD – Generator, Operator and Destroyer,

Nothing misses the radar of my roving reconnoitre.

My appeal to you all is, stop “worshipping” me

And leave me alone in my heaven and let me be …”

I AM …

I am…

the falling leaf

the gripping grief

the fading sunlight

the bird in low flight

the overcast sky

the eye with a sty

the receding hairline

the onset of a whine

the overflowing pothole

the empty heart and soul

the withering flower

the mind bereft of power

the dismantled home

the gaping-teeth comb

the much-dog-eared book

the one with a caged bird look

the tell-tale signs of age

the burden of heavy baggage

the crack in my aging bones

the voice in hushed tones

the epitome of confusion

the definition of conclusion

I’M A POET…

I’m a poet

Whatever I write is always heartfelt

A soliloquy, a group song or a duet

I’m a poet.

I write on whatever catches my eyes

Sometimes on truth, at times on lies

I’m a poet

Truth or lie, I write it like it is

As words guide me with ease

I’m a poet

My words are my tools

To write on the wise and the fools

I’m a poet

I am here to stay and to keep on writing

On something sad and some glad tidings

I’m a poet

The flora or fauna, nature or mother earth

All have something for my words’ worth

I’m a poet

I’m most fascinated by human nature,

By people of high and lowliest stature

I’m a poet

Nothing misses my alert, darting eyes

World’s goings-on, its lows and highs

PADMAJA IYENGAR-PADDY

PADMAJA IYENGAR-PADDY, a senior ex-banker and a former urban governance consultant, is currently the Hon. Literary Advisor of The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada & Amaravati, and is on the Advisory Panel of International Society for Intercultural Studies and Research, Kolkata. She has curated and edited 5 International Multilingual Poetry Anthologies, one of them ‘WWW – Women, Wit & Wisdom’ of women poets across the globe. The latest Amaravati Poetic Prism 2018 has 1111 poems in 107 languages by 630 poets from 76 countries. The 2016, 2017 and 2018 editions of this unique international multilingual poetry anthology, have been recognized by the prestigious Limca Book of Records.  She has just completed the curating and editing of a ‘Peace and Poetry’ anthology for ISSAR to be launched later this year. Paddy’s maiden poetry collection ‘P-En-Chants’ has been recognized as a Unique Record of Excellence by the India Book of Records for its never-before-attempted movie reviews and management topics in rhyming poetry genre. She is an official Member of the World Nation Writers’ Union in Kazakhstan. Paddy is the recipient of the SETU-2018 Award for Excellence (Special Mention-Individual) instituted by SETU the Pittsburgh-based bilingual e-zine, “Ambassador De Literature” Medal from Motivational Strips and the title of “Distinguished Literary Personality” from Vishwabharati Research Centre / Sahitya Anand, India, for her contributions and service to literature. She was the Guest Editor of ‘Women, Power & Creativity’ edition of SETU-March, 2019 issue, in which she has presented 312 poems by 110 women poets from 25 countries.