MOON AND ROSE - TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

In moonlight 

The river is sighing 

a torrid love affair. 

2.

Dew 

on rose petals 

Beauty is delicately fragile. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

THREE HAIKU POEMS

 1.

Flowers-

fragile beauty 

Lover's delight. 

2.

Late November afternoon 

The sky wears

a sad look. 

3.

Last rain

in the summer 

Lover's goodbye kiss. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

BEAUTY IN A WAR

 

Tanks roll on without hesitation 

Shelling goes unabated 

Air becoming thick with human blood 

Flowers are groaning 

Birds dashing to the other side

of the border

Fruits are rotten in orchards

Bridges breaking suddenly

Communication is the casualty

Children taking joyride in their toys 

completely unaware of the sirens blaring out imminent destruction 

War is immortal. 

There are other ways to protest a war 

than mass rallies in Berlin. 

A band playing Mozart 

in a dilapidated church. 

An anonymous artist making murals in the rubbles of what was once a thriving city. 

How naive it is to create beauty out of destruction !

Each piece of ruins is a helpless testimony to our collective failures. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

 Rocks-

 dry bones 

 of Civilization. 

2.

 Snow falling steadily 

 Leaves bathed in whiteness 

 Warm memories of love. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

Tulips bloom in 

the cruellest month of April 

Memory of lost love. 

2.

Every bud wrenching 

to become flower soon

Lovers waiting for the Spring.

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

Stormy weather 

Birds dashing to their nests 

A child adjusting his kite. 

2.

An artist drawing an image 

entangled lines and twisted shapes 

Spring brings symmetry. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

THREE HAIKU POEMS

 1.

White marble dome 

awash in cool moonlight 

Lovers in fire of passion. 

2.

Rain is over 

Paperboats sailing in village ponds

Eyes can't capture all beauties. 

3.

Cherry blossoms in countryside

Raindrops on the sidewalks 

Love tastes like autumn air. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

MOON, CLOUDS & BIRDS : - TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

The moon peeping 

through scattered dark clouds 

A child dreams of rainbow. 

2.

Harsh winter approaching 

Birds leaving for warmer climes

Human heart is still cold. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

Rain has just stopped 

Birds repairing their nests 

Love tastes like autumn air. 

2.

Bloomed lotus petals 

in still water of a pond 

Even a pebble can break peace. 

(C). -MRITYUNJAY JHA

LOVE, WAR AND PEACE : TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

Fierce wind 

Tumultuous sea 

A lover finds peace. 

2.

Soft wind 

whispering a melody to grass 

Air raid sirens blare in a city.

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

TWO HAIKUS

 1.

Hazy moon

Squirrels searching nuts 

Lovers squeezing memories. 

2.

Winter morning 

Flowers still asleep

Birds leaving their nests. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

REFLECTION OF RIVER (POEM)

Thinking of river 

makes me sick of 

Love that doesn't last 

Cigarettes that melt in smoke

Boats that carry human bondage 

Longings that turn into loss

And, Water that becomes memory. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA

MEMORY OF WATER (POEM)

 The night gathers momentum 

 The oil-lamp flickers in dark 

 After the supper a monk

 prepares to say the last prayer of the day

 that will dwell on forgiveness and peace.

 What matters in the end is -

 Whether we have forgiven ourselves and   made peace. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

LIFE AND LOSS

 Human life is precious. It offers a kaleidoscopic view of myriad experiences. Love and loss are two most compelling defining traits. We become happy when someone we love reciprocates. We become sad when our love is not favoured. In essence we are always conscious of ourselves and little concerned with selfless approach in life. Our desires are what we are made of. And, desires are mostly selfish longings. We become utterly disturbed when we don’t get what we want.

We are bound to lose people and things from the list we love and like. Losing a person is traumatic. We can’t afford otherwise as loss is inevitable and suffering thereof remains etched in our consciousness.

There is a story about a woman named Kisa Gotami and Lord Buddha set in more than 2000 years ago. Kisa Gotami’s only son died when he was merely a child. The lady became grief-stricken and cried for help from door to door carrying her dead son. Nobody was able to help her as she wanted back her son’s life. People around her were surprised at her desire but they didn’t mock at her. They were moved by her emotional condition and innocent longing. They suggested the woman to go and meet Lord Buddha as he was heard of having mystical powers that might bring her son back to life. Kisa Gotami met Buddha pleading for her dead son. Lord Buddha understood her mental condition and instead of preaching he assured her he would make her son alive with one thing if she could bring. The lady became happy and said she would bring anything for her son. Lord Buddha asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds. The lady became joyous telling she would be back in no time after getting the seeds from the nearby village. Lord Buddha said- wait. He continued the seeds must be brought from the house where nobody had ever died. The innocent lady was still happy and went to the nearby village. She was happy with the idea that she would get the seeds in any house. She went door to door and asked for a handful of mustard seeds. Nobody came with the seeds when they heard about the condition. Kisa Gotami got herself exhausted without getting the seeds as no household was without a death of someone or the other. She returned to Buddha. The lord made her understand the inevitability of suffering and death. The lady got the knowledge of the ways of the world.

One must not grieve. Loss is common to all. We must be kind to one another as kindness remains even after one’s demise. Love people. Love life. Happiness is in selflessness and not in selfishness.

(C). – MRITYUNJAY JHA