Tag: answers

Posted in Experience, Poem

The Curse Of Empathy

Posted on by Ruchi Bhardwaj

Slightly grazing my hair- oh it was sunny
That day it felt a tidbit funny
Something didn’t come across as right
What was it- I couldn’t put a finger on quite.
May be those were my shoes that felt itchy
To solve the riddle, an unsettling puzzle-
I moved ahead and took a walk
I was meeting with answers but wasn’t sure of veracity
In a quest to seek affirmation
I made a decision, may be with a tinge of bizarre-
I walked further to try on shoes that belonged to others.

The first shoe was warm from misery of a lost lover
The second seeped agony from unexplainable deeds
The third harboured chaos from qualms of kin,
I could feel the sadness for one and for all
But- with an ick ’cause of my own thoughts
Thoughts- afflicted by experiences of past.
What do I do?

I stepped back in my own shoes
Alas! Now were they drenched with ideas
Ideas that might have not been mine
Reeking of stories I never lived, only attempted to empathize.
Alas! Now it’s all blurry
And my head running haywire with no decision to make-
Without considering a bit too much.
What could I do?
I was living the curse of empathy.

Posted in Experience, People, Poem

A Man Sleeping On The Road

Posted on by Ruchi Bhardwaj

Wasn’t a morning, neither a night
It was just a noon- a time nobody cares to write with pride
That is when I met him
Rather a glance while he was at rest.
A beggar, a thief or just another vagrant-
Simply I do not know.
I saw a man that just ‘another afternoon’-
A man sleeping on the road,
The penchant for pain was obvious
Hence, I stood there in awe and wonder
No alcohol, just a dirty pillow beneath his dreams
An ugly torn quilt atoning the crimes of that winter wind.
I looked and looked; It was more than a while
Tucked in during the day time
A tiny wound let his head hurt
Did anyone sing him a lullaby?
Did anyone, anyone kiss him good night?
When ire of his destiny started knocking at the door of my empathy-
That is when I decide to get past

I saw the man
Now a chilly night
He still was tucked in, sleeping sound
I stepped towards him
That is when derision mocked life
He still was at rest, but now in peace .

-Ruchi Bhardwaj

Posted in Artwork, Poem

Can I?

Posted on by Ruchi Bhardwaj

Can I tell you a secret,
Even if my lips promised the head to keep mum?
Can I narrate you a story,
Even though I don’t want you to recognise the fiction reeking with reality?
Can I sing you a song,
Even if the music can’t hide the shenanigan beneath the happy lyrics?
Can I look into your eyes,
Even when mine would let you glance through the tears I have been holding back?
Can I say all the promises I make are mere words,
Even if I stay wide awake making the ends meet?
Can I walk you across that one dreaded street,
Even if it ends amidst the unkempt memory lane?
Can I show you all my fears,
Even if I won’t be able to mend you for eternity; followed by those beautiful years?
Can I paint you a picture,
Even if I wish to mask the vision blurry?
Can I write you a letter,
Even when the words fain to lead towards the true expression?
Can I leave a mark,
Even if you wish to flaunt you’ll embrace it hidden?
Can I say the rose on my cheek is newly bought,
Even when your presence does that to me?
Can- I – Can – I – Can; but-
Alas! I better keep that secret.