SUNIL KAUSHAL

 

Freedom For All

 

Entering life, foetus freed from the womb,

fleeing from life, the dead enter the tomb.

Infant free in the warmth of the mother

adolescents chafe at the bit, chasing another 

each seeks freedom, the double-edged sword 

that fickle mistress, soon gets bored.

The prisoner looking out of bars

strains to glimpse the sky and stars,

the soldier wedded to fiery arms

dreaming of his new bride’s charms.

Patriots fight for the country’s freedom,

refugees seek freedom in any fiefdom.

How the caged canary, flutters to fly

when orphans seek a patch of the earth to lie.

The child to just be himself

the adult thrilled at freedom with coming of pelf; 

each thinks freedom will bring total joy

that soon becomes just another old toy.

The artist yearns a sky to paint upon

wield the wind carving chiffon mists at dawn. 

Books to gain freedom from ignorance 

students seek respite from a life rigorous.

The jobless hunt work of any kind

workers craving rest, body and mind.

Deliverance from the brothel? Wonders the whore 

wishes to live, a single dream at core.

Privileged feminist, the freedom she grabs

deprives many covered in rags.

Freedom- a servant loyal? Will anyone pledge

each moment balancing on a razor’s edge?

One who’s lived through every form

emerged victorious through every storm

the soul ascended free of rebirth, 

having done with living all on earth.

Copyright@Dr Sunil Kaushal

 

Freedom Raga

 

What is the way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

Hedged by barbed wire fences

political social religious nationalist, 

age color caste gender-biased?

I’d rather draw my own parameters

create a box my own, 

fit a square into a round hole 

severe shackles binding my soul.

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

I’d rather spurn ideologies obsolete 

transcend values that no longer stood

for mankind’s collective highest good

Listen to that voice burning my innards 

screaming to be heard

rebalance and heal my world,

my narrative and power reclaim

disseminate freedom to those

unable to do the same?

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

The heart missing beats 

lungs wheezing 

in the throes of a dying democracy

strangulating freedom?

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

I want to moult my skin 

recoiling in revulsion, 

rebel against jumping 

through hoops, a circus monkey,

running rat races buying and selling.

Own moments not money stagnating in banks

let my acquisitions be the joys I collect in a day

not accounts reflecting how my balance sways

meet my own standards of approval 

live life nurturing joy, not laws primeval.

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

I want my intelligence seen in ways other than 

a few words certified by an ignoramus chancellor

have a job that flows my cup over the brim

than one with an assured pension.

Open arms wide, 

seek and embrace all of life

sing the bulbul’s song dance in abandon

free to just be

break out of the cage a bird of the skies

love like a child learning joyously

flourish and thrive.

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

As the axis in life’s wheel can I lead?

Divorce all that kills my spirit

with endless do’s don’ts ifs and buts.

Bear a child if and when I want to 

not because my age 

or my diminishing ova dictate.

For crumbs off the patriarchal table 

not have to beg or crawl

be a woman 

still have it all?

Copyright@Dr. Sunil Kaushal 

 

A Brave New World

 

A brave new world

I keep resolving to make

within myself

where I seek not

myself through others

not judged

black or brown

young or old

where caste 

trips not my steps

hurrying to catch up with life

fleeing from my grasp

through gnarled fingers of time

where time and space 

are no constraint

to flights in freedom.

 

Ah! to have been born free

to live freely

to love freely 

to pierce the skies

with free expressions

hearing echoes of my song mingle 

with the music of the universe

-wave upon wave

-ringing in the cosmos

-free of all emotions

-no stormy passions 

free of bondage

born free!

Copyright@Dr. Sunil Kaushal

 

SUNIL KAUSHAL

 

Awarded author Dr. SUNIL KAUSHAL, studied in schools all over India, her father having been an army officer. Her nomadic life, visiting and living in new towns every 2 years, has been very interestingly chronicled in her debut book of memoirs, Gypsy Wanderings & Random Reflections, which was awarded the Nissim Award by the prestigious International poetry group, The Significant League, in the non-fiction category for ‘exquisite prose’. She attended college at one of the most prestigious colleges, Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, India. Later she went on to doing her medical studies at Govt. Medical College, Amritsar, India, followed by 40 years of practice in Obstetrics-Gynaecology at Jalandhar, Punjab. Although she has been writing sporadically since her childhood, her writings were carefully tucked away from the public eye. At age 70 she learnt to use a computer and started writing full time, sharing her poetry and prose online. She is pleasantly surprised to discover the poet and writer in her being recognized, every time she wins an award. This trilingual writer writes in English, Hindi and her mother tongue Punjabi, which she has never studied but is self-taught. Published in a number of National and International anthologies and magazines, some of her poems have been translated into French, German, Greek, and Chinese. Her writing is mostly woman-centric, romantic, sensuous, poems about marginalized people. She also writes philosophical, spiritual, besides humorous poetry. Her love for life keeps her vibrant and active which reflects in her writings.