NEHA BHANDARKAR

 

Voltaire's Philosophy

 

You have a habit of reading words

I'm habituated to reading feelings

 

The language

We speak to express

Is just too different

Yours is solid, like words

And mine is placid and fluid

Like emotions

 

Even if we were to translate

To understand each other

Then, too, there will be

Literal or autonomous mandates

Then should we not

ever express ourselves?

Or should we learn

A new universal language?

Then again, who should

And whose?...

 

Oh dear!

this is the era of "imitation"

Even to express oneself

Original words are borrowed

from the predecessors

From beginners to followers

Like the olden barter system

 

Hasn't this been taught

by Voltaire once?

When he was revealing

his literary awakenings.

 

Dear

 

Looking into my eyes

You don’t think that

I have lost with life

 

Just waiting for good days

I have got a little tired

meanwhile

 

Dear!

Seeing the beauty diminish

of my black curly hair

Don't be sad

They have just now

Started to shine

As they are weaving

Dreams worthwhile

 

You already know

Dreams are never jet black

That's why my hair has gotten

a little golden and glittery

As they are weaving

beautiful dreams for delivery

 

Dear!

What is at the destination

When the beauty is in the journey

 

My feet have become

Tired only from walking

But don't you ever think

That the world is over yet

Because it is said,

"Ahead of the stars is a universe

Far more beautiful than this"

 

Dear!

You will understand

seeing my graceful gait

That I still possess

The strength in me

To stand with self-respect

 

I haven't changed a bit

It's your perspective

That has changed

Now do you understand, O' dear?

 

The Torch Of Revolt

 

When the course of life gets lost

fill your eyes with sunshine

to make life brighter

and avoid the gloom... Oh, friend!

 

When dreams scatter

and we are left on our own

then too, you hold onto

the strings of relationships

Please don't pull it

Keep it from breaking... Oh, friend!

 

When the starry night

is filled with the heat of the sun

then convert your thirst

into warmth

Keep shining... Oh, friend!

 

When the mind frets and fumes

throw off the cloak of tolerance

and don't forget to light

the torch of rebellion

keep forwarding... Oh, friend!

 

 NEHA BHANDARKAR

 

NEHA BHANDARKAR is widely published Iconic Marathi Poet, embellished with numerous national and international awards for her consummate literary skill mused about in her writings. She is published author of 15 books in various languages. She is trilingual authour writing in Marathi, Hindi and English and also a genuine translator. Many of her poems and stories are being published in many international anthologies, magazines and E Zines.  Some of her poems, stories have been translated in French, Albanian, Phillipines, Nepali, Greece, Odia, Bengali, Assamese etc. and Brail script too.  She is winner of Hindi state Sahithya Academy Award twice. Her poems have been broadcast on QUICHOTTE RADIO FRANCE and Hindi RADIO CHICAGO (USA).