Best India Poems
Dreams of India
Her music haunts me
in such a knowing way
it makes me weep
and causes my heart to ache.
I become homesick for her
scents, her sounds, her food,
her enchanting dance
which spawns dreams
of her romance.
I know in my heart
I have lived there,
I know, I have loved there.
Her poetry transcends
my spirit to encompass
a wholeness that is
so familiar to me.
I dream of the Ganges ,
and her gentle cleansing flow,
of reflections on its surface
when the moon is hanging low.
Of crickets singing nightly
to serenade me to sleep.
I dream of colors of the saris,
the beauty that they keep...
Of garlands placed with care,
a gajra in a maiden's hair
and the hues of floral leis.
I hold a reverence for Hindu
Devata and Devi.
I aspire to learn the sacredness
of varmala in the seeds of
past lifetimes I have shared.
A passion grows for those
whose love glows through their
auras to welcome strangers.
I'd love to share a cup of chai
to chat with friends in open air.
I long to return home, though
I have never been there.
1-2-19
*a gajra: flowers which females use as a decoration
for their hair.
*Varmala: is a tradition from ancient times where a beautiful garland of flowers symbolizes a proposal of marriage. In the tradition of Swayamvar. A female would choose her life partner from a group of suitors by placing a flower garland around the neck of her chosen man. Once the girl had made her choice, a marriage ceremony would be held gright away.
~Poem of the Day January 4, 2019~
~1st Place~
A BRIAN STRAND 1092
Brian Strand: Judged 2022 March 20
~9th Place Premiere Contest~
Your Best Free Verse That You Wrote Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Chantelle Anne Cooke
'I Got a Darn NA Again' Contest
Sponsor Luloo
Free Verse Style Only Poetry Contest~N/A~
I hear much joy in the music,
View elation in the dance
Feel happiness in the laughter,
Soulful spirit in poetic romance.
I feel love in the language
Swelling in my heart.
Reverence for God and Goddess
In beloved families far apart.
I love the customs and the people
As they celebrate each day
Living life to the fullest
In their honor I wish to pray
That I may learn to be as humble
As loving and as kind,
To be blessed by elder wisdom
In every senior that I find.
This is a gift to give my children
To open their sleepy little eyes.
To see the value in rejoicing,
To reach for stars up in the skies.
When they learn this knowledge
To listen well to the sages,
They will know of sacred secrets
Handed down through the ages.
© 2014 Connie Marcum Wong
A poem about infanticide of girls...
"Save Our Sisters!"
Many girls lost, many girls missed
Many girls lost, never to be Ms.
Strings of girls, strands of pearls,
Gone, gone, gone. Pretty, pretty, girls.
A mother's hug, a sister’s laugh, a daughter’s kiss
Lost, lost, lost. Missed, missed, missed.
Many girls lost, many girls missed
Many girls lost, never to be Ms.
Young girls grow up, become young ladies.
But for Indian girls, that’s a big maybe
Young girls grow up, become young ladies.
But for Chinese girls, that’s a big maybe,
Many girls lost, many girls missed
Many girls lost, never to be Ms.
Run, Run, Run, hide your daughters,
Run, Run, Run. Run from the slaughter.
Wake up world, we’ve lost too many sisters.
S.O.S. World, Save Our Souls, Save Our Sisters.
NoelsArt
Comments: In some parts of the world, the three deadliest words are “It’s a girl”. Girls are killed for being girls. After watching this movie trailer http://www.itsagirlmovie.com/ , I wrote the poem above. FEEDBACK WELCOME.
I read with greed John Master's books,
to Indian culture introduced.
I grew to love a distant land;
by her allure I was seduced.
To Indian culture introduced,
I felt the urge to go and see
the striking beauty of her face,
the charms bestowed abundantly.
I grew to love a distant land
where the traditions are held high,
religion, races, culture, tongues
are deep-ingrained - will never die.
By her allure I was seduced,
this vibrant country in the east.
I plan to take a closer look
and let my eyes in wonder feast.
----------------------------------
Contest: Shall We Retourne
Sponsor: Debbie Guzzi
a mass of wires criss-crossed the sky
and hung across the road
as car horns - stuck on 'play repeat'
blared out where tourists strode.
there were happy, smiling faces
advertising private care
but beneath those giant hoardings
lay indigence everywhere.
we were watching 'non-stop TV'
through the window of our bus
but we couldn't change the channel
as Old Delhi streamed past us.
then our tour guide switched the picture
to a world of corporate smiles
and our hotel was all marble
and the lobby stretched for miles.
I dream of a beautiful India
Where the roads are neat and clean
Where proper public toilets are built
And the fields are always green
I dream of India free from diseases
Where hygiene is maintained by all
Where people take care about proper sanitation
And realize that clean India is the nation’s call
Till when will the village women strive?
Who will listen to their voices and let them survive?
Yes, we the youth will become the nation’s guide
And we all together will fight for hygiene and sanitary rights
Those who join hands for this noble cause
To them, we all must salute
And for those insouciant people of the nation
I regret calling them as Indians
Gandhiji had said- ‘We are the country’s scavengers’
He himself removed dirt from the streets
I salute Bapu for his thoughts
For a speckless India he had fought
Bapu is our ideal
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is our goal
with Bapu’s blessings and love
All the hurdles, we can easily overcome
Our actions will be dynamic
Nobody can stop us from heading toward the peak
I am sure the rays of hope won’t fade
All problems of hygiene and sanitation will soon become abate
What do you know,
About the rule of British?
It is not a rule
For Indian`s to cherish!
It started decades ago,
They began with trade
And then slowly,
They began to invade.
It started at the borders
That were close to the coasts
It was a rule,
About which Britain boasts.
What then became of the Indians
And their peaceful life?
The British turned it ,
Into more of a bitter strife.
The horrors of British rule
Steadily began to bloom.
Across our country far and wide
Began the days of gloom.
The Indians didn`t back out,
They fought for their rights.
Across the country could be seen
The start of horrendous fights.
Battles were in plenty,
Loss of lives were too.
Those who were caught were jailed
It was like a human zoo!
It didn`t stop the Indians
They wanted to be free.
They were a support to the country
Like strong roots to a tree.
Images of the horrors
Were seen at different posts.
What about innocent people?
The images haunted them like ghosts!
Few hundred years of struggle
Had come to an end.
It was decided that the British
Back to England they would send.
The country we live in today
Is thanks to those,
The brave freedom fighters
Who destroyed our woes.
Where the sun sets the sky aflame painting it vermilion gold
Where golden green grass glow in soft sunlight, oh behold
Where the stars like golden lamps light up the sky
Where at the beautiful horizon earth meets with the sky
Where the first golden sun rays softly kiss the earth
Where the earth awakens from slumber in joyful mirth
Where bejeweled rays of moon cast its golden glow
Where cascading waters into clear, sparkling streams flow
Where gleaming sunlight through treetops cast magical spell
Where in the land of dreams my sweet thoughts dwell
Where wisps of soft white clouds gently sail past
Where softly floating they merge into dreams at last
Where from the seashore to the distance rolls golden sand
This India, my blessed, beautiful motherland.
Let me set something straight -
Right here, right now!
Let me put India in the right perspective,
Let me banish some myths,
Some gross misconceptions,
And take you beyond elephants,
Sacred cows, snake charmers and yoga,
Beyond Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Taj Mahal,
To a civilization rooted for
over 5,000 years in the past
To a land rich - majestically rich -
In many cultures, customs and traditions,
In a bewildering variety of races,
Religions, languages and folk arts,
In a vibrant tradition of dance and music,
In religious festivals and traditional events,
In saints, sadhus, gurus and sages,
In gods, goddesses, munis and mahatmas,
In temples, palaces, shrines and monasteries;
I'll baby-steps you through a land
Of Vedas and Upanishads,
Of epic stories and incredible mythologies,
Of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita,
Through one of world's great spiritual sanctuaries,
Where religion is a way of life;
An overwhelming, complex land -
Its charm, its vitality and yes, its confusion,
Atonce alarming and enticing.
And that's the way India is:
Elusive, confusing, contradictory,
mysterious and exasperating!
Beyond easy description or analysis,
A phenomenal diversity of dress
and manners making one aware
of a different world -
A veritable fairyland!
No other country offers quite such
A spectacle of teeming masses that
continue to enrich the heritage of mankind,
Nowhere do the past and present
coexist in more colorful promiscuity -
An incomparable country,
Easy to love, hard to forget!
"There's only one India!" raved Mark Twain,
"A wonderland of fabulous wealth
and fabulous poverty, of splendor and rags ..."
"The cradle of the human race,
The birthplace of human speech,
The mother of history,
The grandmother of legend and
The great grandmother of tradition."
This, indeed, is my country
Where I was born -
An Indian at heart,
An American in spirit!
Namaste!
Khuda Hafiz, Jai Ramji Ki,
OM Radhe Shyam, Sat Sri Akal,
Jai Hind!!
~Love letters to the sub continent
contest by cyndi MacMillan
Ah, to this land of the monsoons
or should it have been the sunsoons?
Yet for frozen land tourists, a tropical hot boon.
Where bullock carts, stray dogs, horse carriages and cows
pedestrians, goats, bikes and rickshaws
scooters, trucks, motorbikes and cabs
all compete together in quirky medley of traffic jams
On crammed roads you could ram into bulls and rams
So brakes forever screeching, the cars forever honking, hooting
while beggers begged and pickpockets could go a' looting on a footing
But where else you'd see, ducks and ponds in the city
buffaloes wallowing in mud without fear or pity!
Urban jungle eh, you'd think with a wink
and in many's esteem this land shan't ever sink.
Then pass the huge expanses of paddy fields and the rice farmers
and next come face to face with those Indian snake charmers!
Ah and the imposing edifice, Tajmahal, one of the seven wonders of the world
is no where else found, nor are the epic himalayas on any map unfurled
except for India, and a whole ocean with her name
The Indian ocean knows and salutes her fame!
As for me, meeting relatives there, is the best best part
then shopping too in each and every crowded mart
shopping like crazy, filling my spree's shopping cart!
MY COUNTRY INDIA
INDIA : My motherland shines as poem.
My Pride : My Glory : My Peace: My Bliss : I claim.
Traditional culture since ancient age
owes to peace and love as holy heritage.
Never to overpower other race.
Met on non-violence staying in grace.
Power-loving intruders bowed to serenity.
Mingled merged in unity for tranquility.
Great India believes in integrity.
‘Service above self’ : Her priority.
Secular country to respect each Nation
accepting ‘’ Humanity’ ‘ as religion .
Tricolor National Flag to exhibit
Saffron, White, Green with Blue wheel on strip white.
Saffron stands for Self-esteem and Sacrifice.
White to show Truth, Purity and Perfect Peace.
Green with Courage, Vigor and Fertility.
Spikes of wheel on symbols of Activity.
Twenty- four spikes represent twenty- four hours work.
Ceaseless labor devoted on honest walk.
Universal Morals sparkle in glory
India presents peace - loving history.
Your wise eyes glistened with cataracts, showing me the hazy Indian sky
The wrinkles on your face, the lines by your eyes, showed me the joys of the hills and caverns of the lands
The raised veins on your hands, bumpy yet smooth, acts like the Ganges, a life supply for you and many
The graying in your hair, shows me the struggles and triumphs, the marriages, the children,
The arthritis you have showed me the pain and determination, the years of work, the labor,
The gentle touch from your rough hands, show me your motherhood, your warmth, your love
The words you spoke, your native tongue, acted as the voice of a generation of women, a voice that’s been heard for years, but only sometimes appreciated
Your loss of hearing showed me the loudness of actions, the loudness of your people, the stories, the lessons you have heard over the years
The loss of memories for you, only showed the tremendous amount you lived, you saw, and felt
Your old passions and anger shined w the ferocity of the fiery red Indian sun
Your dry and cracked hands, showed me the deserts of Rajasthan
Your old gold, your wedding ring, your bangles, show me the beauty of our country, the traditions, that even after the years of wear, we still have value
Your old stories of your family show me the interconnectedness of us all, one large tree, supported by your roots
“Mother India, Mother India,” I call into the void,
Wishing you still were near to bring me back home
The wonders you have seen, the pain you have felt, the revolution and wars you have lived
Mother India was you
A woman older than the world, wiser than philosophers, more beautiful than the Taj
As one Mother leaves, the next generation takes her place,
Yet we never forget our ancestors
The ones who fought, clawed, and struggled for us
The ones who sacrificed their lives for us
You truly loved me
This much I know
You were a mother and grandmother
In more ways than one
You were my grandmother, but you were Mother India
You taught me to love my culture and you were my reason for going back to India
Your time had come and your daughters will take your place.
You were Mother India, I was Daughter India
My world is different from yours,
but the same values and lessons I hold
I miss you
But I know i have the same passions, the same strength, the same love running through my veins
I am ... I am the land of Ashoka the Great, of Kwaja E Hind,
Sachin's Sixer, of Sania’s Stoke, of Aryabhata & Abdul Kalam,
Tan sen and AR Rahmans,Lata Mangheshakar & Mohammed Rafi,
of Chanakya & Ghalib, of Amitab Bachan & Shah Rukh Khan,
the Varity in Colors of Holi and the fast of Ramadan, of Bhagat Singh of Ali Brothers
I am the Holi waters that flow into Ganga, the waters that washes at Haji Ali;
I am Tirupati. I am Taj of Hind; land of Mahatma Ghandi & of Tipu Sultan Shadeed
I am the Gem of Green valleys of Kashmir, I am the Coolness at the backwater of Kerala,
I am India I am Indian ... diversity flows in my blood, unity in soul
....................................
Written on India's Independence Day...
Happy Independence Day:)
Hindustan Zindabaad –
Jai Hind
Dancing vibrant hues
Blink in shades of blue
Peafowl, A majestic bird
Our nation's pride
Peacock - Pride of India
Come, visit and enjoy
All are welcome, yeah!!!
Yellow sturdy physique
On glimpsing him, the forest shrieks
Bright black stripes on body regal
Stands the royal bengal tiger
Tiger - Pride of India
Come, visit and enjoy
All are welcome, yeah!!!
Smirking amidst the fecund pond
Pink beauty lotus lightens the land
To glance her in the morning,
Arises the sun gleaming
Lotus - Pride of India
Come, visit and enjoy
All are welcome, yeah!!!
A lofty banyan tree
deepens its roots free
Broadens its spiritual hereditary
Coerces to confront the world contemporary
Banyan - Pride of India
Come, visit and enjoy
All are welcome, yeah!!!
Camaflouged with dry leaves
A dry leaf butterfly make us perceive
Don't judge by the veneer
Orange butterfly our seer
Oak leaf - Pride of India
Come, visit and enjoy
All are welcome, yeah!!!
Our mother earth, the queen
Dons the elegant dress in green
And the blue crown forever
And so our place is prosperous ever
Ever friendly weather - Pride of India
Come, visit and enjoy
All are welcome, yeah!!!
Ancient books and poems
classical songs and rhythms
Valluvar, Vyasan, Kamban, Bharathi
Tamil, Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi
Poets, cultural treasures & languages - The prides of India
Come, visit and enjoy
All are welcome, yeah!!!
Like different euphoric rivers
Accumulating minerals and deliver
We travel in a path discrete
But at the same sea we meet
With diverse faith and believes
With the varied swaying leaves
We still shine with glee
As we affixed to a single big tree
Named India
Diversities - The pride of India
Come, visit and enjoy
All are welcome, yeah!!!
August- 15 -2021
Wish you all a very HaPpY InDePeNdEnCe DaY
Mother India
Each August 15th since 1947, a day of expectant waiting –
Either terror from India’s enemies and frenemies
Or the terror of weather, some natural happening
Or holiday hazards, even hospital tragedies …
This year, 2017, has India and Israel in alliance
Culture and history connects these ancient folk
Different, yet similar, even in religious compliance:
Ritual purity, Hindu and Jew, avoiding beef or pork
For generations now, we have been South Africans
But grandparents loved the movies, famed Bollywood -
And we learned more of music from these films
Names like Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajesh Kanna, plus Shah Rukh
The classic movie, “Mother India” – with hard times
With village life, and then those famines
Family sacrifice, especially from Mothers divine
Sad songs tug those chords across miles and times
So now, this August, we say Happy Birthday: Jai Hind
And in sibling magnanimity, Bless Pakistan too:
Politics and language, love and hate, led to partition
Moving on, we seek Shanthi and Shalom, Salaam and Truth
Poor India, rising India, nation of every contradiction
You are still worth admiring, both kurtha tops and sari
Cool cottons and silks for export, along with technicians …
Those deep religious roots siphon truths told by Mahatma Gandhi ....
(c) Anil Deo, 2017Aug15