pyaari Veena

हमारी प्यारी वीणा

तुम एक अजब गजब चीज़ हो वीणा,
सीखे कोई तुमसे खुल कर के जीना।
 SMC-77 ग्रुप का हो तुम एक नगीना,
जो मिले एक बार भूल पाए वो कभी ना। 

तुम्हारी भाषा भी है एक दम  निराली,
रोकने टोकने से नहीं तुम हटने वाली,
चुकती नहीं हो तुम देने से गाली वाली,
फिर भी सब कहें वीणा आली, वीणा आली !

कभी तो छेड़ती हो तुम सुरीली तान,
कभी बंद करने पड़ते हैं अपने कान,
बस मन की कहती हो तुम सीना तान,
लेकिन वीणा पूरे ग्रुप की हो तुम जान।

शोर मचाना आदत है तुम्हारी ख़ास,
पंगे लेने में तो हो तुम पूरी  उस्ताद,
पर दिल है एक सच्चा सीधा तुम्हारे पास,
वीणा, बंदी हो तुम एक दम  बिंदास !

अक्सर करती रहती हो बातें बेकार ,
हो जाते हैं हम सभी अक्सर ज़ार ज़ार,
पर है सभी के लिए तुम्हारे दिल में प्यार,
और खुले रहते हैं सब के लिए,तुम्हारे घर के द्वार।

शुभा सागर

Teens versus Parents

Teens versus Parents

Blaming teens has become a fashionable mantra and rap,
But doesn't it take two to create and even bridge that gap?

'Blame it on our hormones', the teens have to so often say,
And Parents say, 'Even during our teens, they were at play!

'Oh, things are different now you see', the teens exclaim,
Parents retort,'You better not give excuses that too lame'.

Between parents and teenagers goes on such a conversation,
And this has been continuing from generation to generation.

Let us all make a sincere effort to improvise this equation,
And with some more empathy, give it an all new dimension.

It's true, there are several issues that we need to be resolve,
But a little understanding can help this relationship evolve.

No doubt, parenting is a challenging and arduous task today,
But then for the teenagers too, it is certainly not an easy way!

In these times of knowledge explosion and technical revolution,
Finding a solution to endless questions, demands an evolution.

Facing challenges and meeting  parents' and own expectations,
Is just not an easy task, invariably leading to many  frustrations.

Who says issues between parents and teens cannot be resolved?
With sincere efforts,the most complex situations can be solved.

What is required is, hand holding and heart to heart discussions,
 Also to build and  strengthen bonds through healthy interactions.

Let us give each other a listening ear and some respectful space,
And soon,with each other's strides, we shall be able to keep pace.

Shubha Sagar

कुछ अलबेलियाँ, कुछ सहेलियाँ

चार दशक पहले, एक विद्यालय में मिलीं, कुछ अलबेलियाँ,
थीं  कुछ चंचल , कुछ नादान और थीं कुछ शरमीलियाँ,
कुछ तो थीं बड़ी पढ़ाकू,कुछ को सदा रहती थीं  बेफिकरियाँ, 
अपने अपने गुट में थी वो रहतीं, करतीं फिरतीं, अठखेलियाँ। 

मौसम बदले, कुछ आये नए पंछी, कुछ ने मारी उडारियाँ,
बढ़ती उम्र के बनते बिगड़ते रिश्तों में, पनपी खूब यारियाँ,
फिर  सबने अपनी अपनी मन्ज़िल पाने की, करलीं  तैयारियाँ,
कुछ के बीच हुए गहरे रिश्ते और कुछ के बीच बढ़ी दूरियाँ। 

फिर सबने ज़ोर लगा कर पूरी कीं अपनी अपनी पढ़ाइयाँ,
देर सवेर फिर सबने बसाई,अपनी अपनी घर ग्रहस्थियाँ,
व्यस्त हो गयीं  वो सब, खूब उठाने लगी अपनी ज़िम्मेदारियाँ,
पर कभी-कभी याद करती रहीं वो, भूली-बिसरि कहानियां। 

समय गुज़रा, उम्र गुज़री, बनने लगी वो नानियाँ और दादियां,
उसी दौर में बहने लगी, फेसबुक और व्हाट्सप्प की रावनियाँ,
हुईं बेचैन सब जानने को, सब एक दूजे के किस्से व् कहानियाँ ,
देखो अब वो अक्सर टच में रहने को हुई जा रहीहैं दीवानियाँ। 
शुभा सागर 

How would Books Survive???

Addicted to mobiles from a tender age,
Deprived of the pleasure of turning a page,

You need to let go off the touch screen for sometime,

And touch a book, instead, it would not cost you a dime.

Get acquainted with the vast treasure of  books,
The pleasure of being literally on your tenterhooks,
As you get absorbed in romantic or suspense thrillers,
The love stories, the real stories and also the spine chillers!

Yes, indeed it is a sad state of affairs,
Because, about books, no body really cares,
But are drawn to Wi Fi like swarming bees to a hive,
I really wonder, how would then the books survive???

copyright @ Shubha Sagar

A Tribute to My Co-writers!

Dear co-writers, I just finished reading Spilling Essences today,
In one go, and I am spell bound and awestruck, the least to say!
Poke me, pinch me, move me, shake me, do what you must do,
To bring me out of the euphoric state that I have slipped into!

Its simply impossible to choose the best work from this collection,
In which talented writers, through their unique style and expression,
Have created such  a fragrant bouquet of eclectic poems and stories,
I just do not have enough words to sing apt praises for their glories!

Poems, 'Footprints' by Asoke Mitra, 'Folder Verses' by Bipul Banerjee,
Damodar's 'God said once', touched my heart and I read them with glee!
Dr Bhavesh's 'Cloud' and Radhakrihnan's 'Transformation', floored me,
Madhu and Meena's 'I am She', 'In search of Peace' were a magic weave.

Jolly's touching story,'Temple that blocks Evil Spirit',  stirred my soul,
Siva Sir and his wife beautifully captured their story on the whole!
Monika and Mousumi's 'When nature Wails'and 'The Path', made sound,
Rajan's 'Parents' and  Ravi's 'Questions', made statements very profound!

Ruchira's,'Let Me Be' and Saraswati's 'Time is Supreme' emitted fumes,
Saumendra and Sharmila's 'Unpoken Words'and 'Additction' spoke volumes,
Smruti's 'A look at Life-50', and Sujata's,'Heavenly Beauty' were so charming,
And Varad Shenoy's 'The Grace Of God' made up for such a beautiful ending!

It was indeed such a great pleasure to read 'these pourings of the heart',
I am indeed fortunate to spill some essence in this book and be its part,
Instead of choosing the best poem for which I was not equipped enough,
I have mentioned the best poem of each writer, and even that was tough!
Shubha Sagar

Simplicity vs Complexity

 Simplicity vs. Complexity

Humans minds are born with such simplicity,
 We mindlessly, ruin it with so much complexity!
If we try and  keep it just simple and straight,
We can very easily conquer, much spite and hate.

Just be and let others be and not be in any race,
And move ahead in life at a comfortable pace,
Is the only thing, a simple mind forever desires,
And to remain happy and gay, is all it ever aspires.

A complex mind is, however, a complete contrast,
Forever competing, and always trying to race past.
Plotting and conniving, never ever resting in peace,
Ever eluding happiness and joy, never being at ease.

A simple mind beholds beauty in just everything,
Seeking joy and happiness, and also spreading.
Is calm and content even in the face of trials,
Even when provoked, it never cribs or quarrels.

So, while a simple mind finds the going all easy,
A complex mind is always restless and uneasy.
So aware of the beautiful world, is a simple mind,
The same for a complex mind is so difficult to find.

So let us strive to keep our mind, simple awhile,
Let us win several hearts, with a charming smile.
Continue to aspire and achieve,with a simple mind,
But surely not, by acquiring complexities of all kind.

copyright@Shubha Sagar