Perspective

(This is dedicated to all those who suffer from various mind-related ailments)

Have you ever seen peacocks dancing in the rain
Yet you call me mad, when I do the same
Have you ever heard birds singing in the park
If I sing along, you call it "mad's bark"
Have you ever watched monkeys jumping like clowns
When I jump like them, out comes the big frown
Have you ever noticed varied shades of daisies
When I display mine, why do you call me crazy
I live like a nomad, I follow my own rules
You think I am useless, crazy, mad and fool
So what if I am strange who often fart, burp and drool
Does calling me names, make you look more cool
I too am human, I too have a soul
But you ignore me as if I don't fit into your goals
I too need love, compassion and care
Treat me like an equal and not as an unwanted spare.

Copyright: Shukla Banik

Remember

Remember that day when we were stuck inside the lift,
Confined to our seperate corners we remained silent,
Even though I saw you throwing the recently-lit cigarette in the bin
To childishly follow me inside the lift.

Remember that day when you stopped me at the street
Pretending to be lost, asking for direction to your friend's place
Even though I saw you multiple times before
Visiting that same friend just a couple of blocks away

Remember that day when you knocked on my door
With a feigned request for a bowl of sugar
Even though I saw you shopping in the mart
For a month's worth of sugar just the other day

Remember that day when you asked me out for the first time
You took me straight to the scariest ride of my life
Even though you sensed my utter panick
The moment I realised that we are going to an amusement park

Remember that day when you invited me for dinner
You kept waiting patiently for me to show-up
Even though you saw me hiding behind the tea stall
At the other side of the kerb, to effect a delayed entrance.

Remember that day when you broke through my defences
By holding me tight and refusing to let go
Even though you were aware of my need to be left alone
To quietly deal with the loss of a loved one.

Remember that day when you said I am a girl with a golden heart
Who deserved to be swept off her feet by Prince Charming
Even though you were aware that all I ever desired
Was the heat of your love instead of the coolness of our friendship

I remember that day when our common friend called
To gently break the news of your union with our best pal
Even though you were aware that I will be forever floundering
To collect the ashes of my burnt heart for the blessed oblivion.

Each second, each minute, each hour, each day from that moment
I regret not having the courage to jump off that moving car
Even though, deep in my heart, I know you are not coming back ever
I still wait for you to return once to say, "Move on... It's over."

I don't want to remember but I still do.
Somehow.

Copyright: Shukla Banik

Reality Bytes

Once I had a dream

Not as noble as ‘King’s

Yet it filled me with joy and

Gave my hopes - ‘Wings’

I dreamt of a gleaming castle 

tucked in a picturesque village

With a flowing adjascent river

to compliment the royal image

A garden full of flowers

blooming away in glory

Love-seat next to the rose bush

hiding many love stories

Champagne-flowing fountain 

and a crystal chandelier

Prince Charming's entry 

with much pomp and regal air

I dreamt of a heavenly ball

where I was ‘the chief ballerina’

That magical dance with the prince

transformed me into Cinderella

The midnight clock struck

just when we tried to kiss

Background score screeched

a maddening slimy ‘hiss’

When the reality came crashing

found no garden, palace, or ball

Was holding an ordinary broom-stick

in a bid to clean my hall

Oh Baby, what a dampner!!!

Copyright: Shukla Banik

Bhranti / Bhrahm / Hallucination

Bengali Version

সারা জীবন শুধু এই ভাবলাম যে আমি এক বড়ো মাপের মানুষ
অবশেষে চিতার আগুন সেই ভ্রান্তিটা দূর করলো।

Hindi Version

सारी ज़िन्दगी सोचती रही की मैं एक उच्च कोटि का इंसान हूँ
अंत में चिता की अग्नि ने उस भ्रम को तोड़ा।

English Version

Spent the entire life assuming myself to be someone superior
Burning pyre of the crematorium cured me of this hallucination

Copyright: Shukla Banik

You

Early morning it was, when
you came into my dreams
Those smiling lips of yours, with
the promise of a kiss
I felt so alive then, scorched
by your hot gaze
Enchanted, mesmerised, and
ofcourse a little dazed
We talked, we strolled and we
clung to each others hand
We loved, we laughed and we
turned a little mad
Then the dream vanished and
I was lying alone on my bed
Even in my dream, it seems
you left me at the end.
Some ironies of life, I guess!!

Copyright: Shukla Banik

I Wonder- 9

Bengali Version

যাঁর হদিস পাওয়ার জন্যে আমি হন্যে হয়ে ঘুরি 
সে যে আমার মনের কোণে সদা খেলছে লুকোচুরি  
যুগ যুগ ধরে চলছে তাঁর অপেক্ষার এই খেলা 
যেদিন আমি জাগবো হবে পরম মিলন বেলা 
সবেই যদি সে আর সবই যখন তার 
কীসের এতো বিবিধতা, বিষাদ, অন্ধকার। 

ভাবছি?

Hindi Version

जिन्हें हमने ढूंढा हर मोहल्ला और गली 
वो सदा से मेरे मन में खेले आँख मिचौली 
युगों युगों का हैं यह इंतज़ार का खेल 
जो जागूँ तो सम्पन्न हो आत्मा से परमात्मा का मेल 
जब वो ही सब और उन्ही का हैं सब संसार 
कैसी ये बिबिधता, बिषाद, अंधकार 
सोच रही हूँ?


English Version

I was searching everywhere
He was hiding within
I was praying for his blessings
He was playing hide-n-seek
Through many centuries
The waiting game goes on
For my final awakening and
acceptance of our eternal bond
But if He is within all and
All are within Him
Then why disparity, despair,
and darkness still exists.
I wonder?

Copyright: Shukla Banik

Biswas/Trust

Bengali version

আজকাল আমার রাগের একমাত্র কারণ হলো - বিশ্বাস 
প্রতিদিন একবার করে ভেঙ্গিয়ে বলে 
"এবারে কি শিখলে কিছু ?"

Hindi version

आजकल मेरी नाराज़गी का मुख्य कारण हैं - विस्वास 
हर रोज़ चुटकी लेके पूछता हैं 
"सीखा कुछ इसबार?"

English version

Nowadays, am miffed with - Trust
Everyday, he questions tauntingly,
"Learned anything yet?"


Copyright: Shukla Banik

Sapno/Swapn/Dream

Bengali Version

স্বপ্ন .. তুমি আর এসোনা এখানে 
তুমি চাও উড়তে খোলা আকাশে 
এই জীর্ণ-মনের সেই সাহস আর নেই 
ডানা মেলে উড়তে পারবে না কখনই 
মন যে বড্ডো ক্লান্ত 
সদা তার ঘুম ভাঙার আতঙ্ক 
সে আর স্বপ্ন দেখতে চায়না 
তার আর স্বপ্ন দেখা সয় না 
এসো না, আর এসো না

Hindi Version

स्वप्न .. न आया करो यूँ रोज़ मिलने 
तुम चाहते हो उड़ना खुले आसमान में
पर इस जीर्ण मन में वो हिम्मत कहां  
पंख फैलाके उड़ सके ऐसी ताकत कहां 
यह मन हैं बहुत क्लान्त 
उसे नींद टूटने का हैं आतंक 
नहीं देखना उसे स्वप्न और 
नहीं जंचता उसे स्वप्न और 
मत आना, तुम और मत आना 

English Version

Dreams.. don't come again!!
You wish to fly in the open sky
but the worn-out mind goes insane
trying to spread its wings and fly
It's tired of loosing dreams,
waking-up amidst screams
Dreams .. it chooses to avoid
Feelings ... wiped clean, devoid
Don't.  Please don't come again.

Copyright: Shukla Banik

Smile

Bengali Version

অনেকদিন পর মন খুলে খুব হাসছিলাম 
চোখে লুকিয়ে থাকা অশ্রুগুলো কেমন হিংশুটে হয়ে উঠলো 
বলে  ... হেঁসে নাও, কাল আবার আমার পালা । 


Hindi Version

काफी समय बाद दिल खोलके थोड़ा हँस क्या लिए  
अश्कों को जलन होने लगी 
बोले .. हँस लो, कल से फिर मेरी बारी । 


English Version

Laughed so much after a long time
That the tears started feeling jealous 
Said.... Laugh! tomorrow is mine.

Copyright: Shukla Banik

On a Vanity Trip

Bengali Version

কখনো ছিল বাক্স বোঝাই ব্রাণ্ডেড পোশাক 
সাথে তার ম্যাচিং জুতো, ঘড়ি আর পার্স 
লেটেস্ট স্টাইলে কাটা থাকতো ঘাড় অব্দি চুল 
গায়ে থাকতো খাঁটি সোনার নেকলেস আর দুল 
আমি তখন উড়ছি হাওয়ায়, থাকছি স্বপ্নলোকে 
সবাই দেখে বলতো আমায়, "বাহ্! বেশ মানাচ্ছে তো তোকে"
আজকে আমার আর সেই আগের বৈভব নেই 
আয়নায় দেখা মানুষটাকে চিনতে পাড়িনা নিজেই 
পরণে সুতির কাপড় আর উস্ক খুশকো চুল 
কিছু পুরোনো স্মৃতি আর কিছু জীবনের ভুল 
আর নয় আকাশ এখন মাটিতে নেমেছে পা 
গয়না বলতে শুধু ওই হাসি টুকুই যা
বলতো - এখন কেমন লাগছে আমায়?

English Version

Wardrobe full of designer clothes
Matching purse, watch and shoes
Hair fashioned in latest style
Gold jewellery to enrich profile
Was flying high once in a make-believe world
"Stunning" they used to say or so I thought
Not as wealthy now as I used to be
Mirror often wonders if it's really me
Plain cotton clothes, unkempt hair
Few memories, many mistakes to spare
Clipped wings, feet firmly on the ground
No trinkets either,  wearing just a smile on rebound
Priceless - wottsay??

Copyright: Shukla Banik