Rhythms of Change

Just a moment more, if we could take,

Rather than the whole lifetime we fake,

Truthful to mirrors, our face to make,

Joy to self and others, and no heartbreak.

In a moment, a flash, everything could change!

Life's boat could float either east or west!

Here we are with no appraisal of our range!

Our know might only keep us afloat a while, at best!

In the dance of time, we find our groove,

Chasing dreams, not stuck in the same old move.

Each step a chance, our spirits to prove,

In the rhythm of life, our hearts improve.

Yet, in this melody, a twist of fate!

A chord unseen, a shift that can't wait!

No crystal ball can predict our state!

We navigate the notes, love and create!

Just a moment more, if we could take,

Beyond the surface, where true bonds make.

Mirrors reflecting the essence we shape,

Joy radiates real, no shadows to escape.

In a moment, a flash, everything could change!

In this journey, shadows may estrange!

A symphony of life, a spectrum so strange!

No roadmap through this infinite range!

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                       -o-

Twilight Reflections

Just as I'm about to close my eyes,

A comforter of life before me lies.

In the stitching of moments, threads unfold

A tale to share, both tender and bold.

I wander through the alleys of time,

A flash of memories, joyful and sublime.

Learn, dear ones, from the steps I've trod,

In the drama of survival, each act, a fraud.

The canvas of youth ripens, dreams mature,

Seeds of passion, wisdom's threads endure.

Chase not just shadows, but the sun's warm kiss,

In the great oceans of love, find your bliss.

In my twilight, as shadows softly grow,

I ink these words, a heartfelt throw.

Life's blend, a mix of joy and fears,

Lessons etched in the passage of years.

Hold onto laughter, let it gently linger,

Kindness, a cloak that makes hearts bigger.

Beware, though, of pride, a deceitful ride,

In humility, true wisdom shall abide.

As I close my eyes, a final adieu,

To the world I leave, to you, it's true.

Cherish the journey, embrace its grace,

In every heartbeat, find your own space.

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                     -o-

Edges of Freedom

Life has proven itself a spiral today!

I've seen a bit of magic along the way!

To be out, on the ledge;

To be free, on the edge!

To find another good reason to sway!

Wonder what it takes to find a play!

The singers have resigned;

Nothing else comes to mind!

I'll let reason take a backseat today!

Embrace the night, come what may!

To live, as if to die;

To crawl, as if to fly!

Hiding in shadows, I found my own way!

Give me nothing, but take nothing away!

You'll see my cause;

Relax every clause!

Life will prove itself a spiral today!

You'll see a bit of magic along the way!

Reach out, on the ledge;

I'll set you free on the edge!

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                -o-

Shadowland

In the deep Shadowland, where secrets reside,

Subconscious whispers, a creative guide.

A silent force shaping thoughts in the night,

Unseen, unheard, but wields endless might.

Now there, now not; now there, now not;

Now somewhere else; now not anywhere!

There till you see it, not when you feel it,

Present not, absent not; nor unfair!

From a point in the void, out comes a thought,

Born of itself, like a lightning bolt caught,

A spark from the heart of darkness,

With dreams so tightly wrought.

Now there, now not; now there, now not;

Now somewhere else; now not anywhere!

There till you see it, not when you feel it,

Present not, absent not; nor unfair!

You cannot see the rivers in the sea,

Yet you know the one makes the other.

A furious uproar; a crying downpour;

Yet you know tomorrow will be in order.

Now there, now not; now there, now not;

Now somewhere else; now not anywhere!

There till you see it, not when you feel it,

Present not, absent not; nor unfair!

- Pradeep K (Prady)

Nocturnal Whispers

To observe, at closer quarters,

The secrets of the deep night,

In whispering winds, bells, and

In Supreme Shadow's light.

Nocturnal whispers in the night,

Mysteries hidden from our sight,

In the moon's embrace, we'll find,

Secrets of the nocturnal kind.

In quite a timid, lame embrace,

The quiet moon resets its hue,

Rising then, with a silver brush,

To paint the old world in a hush.

Riding in the stillness of night,

Phantoms and shadows divine,

Celestial whispers, near and far,

In the darkness, stories align.

Nocturnal whispers in the night,

Mysteries hidden from our sight,

In the moon's embrace, we'll find,

Secrets of the nocturnal kind.

Under the veil of secrets untold,

The Sprite's dance, eerie and bold,

In the pale glow, waltz and weave,

A labyrinth of tales they all conceive.

In the heart of nocturnal reign,

Silence and shadows intertwine,

A revelation, deep, stirs the soul,

Unveiling mysteries, making us whole.

Nocturnal whispers in the night,

Mysteries hidden from our sight,

In the moon's embrace, we'll find,

Secrets of the nocturnal kind.

As we look out the window, old,

To observe, at closer quarters,

The night sends out shivers, cold,

Through Supreme Shadow's light.

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                 -o-

The Veil of Truth

You, the veil that covers the truth

You, the play that unfolds the stage

You, the dream that awakens youth

You, the charm that seduces Fate

You're the love that transcends forms

The bliss that surpasses the mind

You're the fire that burns all norms

The spirit the wind leaves behind

You, the light that pierces the dark

You, the sound that silences all noise

You, the spark that ignites the mark

You, the voice that guides every choice

You're the grace that showers boons

The power that shatters all bonds

You're the space that embraces the moon

The flower that blossoms beyond

Oh Mahamaya, you are

The mystery and resolution

The journey and destination

The question and solution

The glory and salvation

You are, you are, you alone are!

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                   -o-

Reaper's Harvest

As the Reaper finds the garden,

Of course it is too late,

And the party will have to stop,

And all the guests will have to hop.

The flowers wilt and lose their hue,

The birds stop singing in the blue,

As the sun sets and the moon is out,

The silence fills the air with doubt.

Swings his scythe with deadly grace,

Cuts the threads of time and space,

Reaps the souls of young and old,

And leaves behind a field of gold.

As the Reaper leaves the scene,

The garden looks serene,

But underneath the golden glow,

Lies a secret only he can know.

He has collected all the souls,

And stored them in his secret vaults,

He will return when they are ripe,

And harvest them again with his scythe.

As the Reaper goes his way,

He hums a tune of joy and play,

He loves his job and never tires,

Of collecting souls for his desires.

--Pradeep K (Prady)

                                -o-

The Mask

I see she's always worn a mask;

A mask of many colors.

Her mask, forever a smile,

Which nobody ever questioned.

For, her mask hides her pain;

Pain that is deep and real.

Pain that breaks and bleeds

The one who wears the mask.

She puts on a show for everyone;

She acts like she's happy and fine;

She laughs like she has no worries;

She lies like she has no secrets.

She puts on the mask, but feels nothing;

Acts with the mask, but means nothing;

Laughs with the mask, but enjoys nothing;

She is the mask, and nothing more.

“Who are you?”, she asks me one day.

"You look at me with curious eyes."

I want to see behind her mask;

I want to know her real self.

She takes off the mask, but shows nothing;

Speaks without the mask, but says nothing;

Smiles without the mask, but loves nothing;

She's nothing, but the mask!

– Pradeep K (Prady)

                          -o-

Spiral Odessey

So, in the haze I stepped onto

A spiral, on which every point

Was yet another spiral!

And in the fog, I just wandered

Around, reaching places

I never knew existed!

Once I met a people who

Walked on their hands, using

Their head as a bob for balance!

They could make their legs run

Other errands independently

With nobody to oversee!

Once I met a creature that

Was born out a seed, and was

Ousted for not following norms!

It walked around providing

Shade and fruit to every tired

Creature, friend or foe!

Once I found a world where words

Held no sound, yet the rivers of

Meaning flowed profound!

Unvoiced communication, where

Minds connected by unspoken

Bonds, and silence a sweet song!

I saw universes unforseen

Worlds stranger than expected

With laws ever so different!

And I wondered, which among

These spirals is the one I really

Belong to, from where I started off?

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                 -o-

Entrapment

He called out to me when I

Stood in my driveway, looking

To escape for the day.

He yelled right at me, "Our

Street is taken today!”

Implored me to remain

Inside for the day.

How crazy should it be, that I

Had to get out, if I wanted

To save my soul this day!

"They're looking," he said, "for

A vulnerable fool, to mop their

Floor off their filthy rule!” An

Advice I just could not obey!

And out I ventured into the night,

Desiring to take on the world asleep,

But finding foe in every friend, and

Sighting daggers at every bend,

Decided to retire for the night.

Come morning he called out again

And I've been trapped ever since!

He calls out to me when I

Stand in my driveway, looking

To escape for the day.

He yells right at me, "Our

Mind is taken today!”

Implores me to remain

Imprisoned for the day!

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                   -o-

Enigma

She's always been an enigma;

A double force to reckon with.

Her smile, forever a landmark,

Which nobody ever got past.

For, her smile is born of assurance;

Millions of eons, floating through

The spaces, providing insurance

To the small, as much as to the large.

The heart, she took of a lioness;

The head of a good fox, she donned.

None ever crossed her resolutions

Not one form that ever existed.

Everything came forth from her,

For her, and only by her mere wish.

Her endless charm could even put

An end to the endless chasm!

The rise and fall, highs and lows,

The male or female, or otherwise,

The ebb and flow, and the in between,

It's her, all her, only her, none but her!

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                               -o-

My Own Sunshine

I'll go wherever you want to send me;

Don't have to fear, you want to end me.

I'll go wherever you want to send me;

Don't have to fear, you want to end me...

When I carry my own sunshine,

My own sunshine into the night!

Yes, I carry my own sunshine,

My own sunshine into the night!

In shadows deep, many doubts may breed;

Through trials and storms I'll find my way.

In shadows deep, many doubts may breed;

Through trials and storms I'll find my way...

Embracing night and rejoicing day,

I'll journey on, no matter how far!

Embracing night and rejoicing day,

I'll journey on, no matter how far!

The world born out the pregnant silence;

It knows you'll watch over it tenderly.

The world born out the pregnant silence;

It knows you'll watch over it tenderly...

But if you go at it, you'll soon realise,

A wrong night, it was a wrong night to go!

But if you go at it, you'll soon realise,

A wrong night, it was a wrong night to go!

In the quiet depths where secrets hide, 

I'll uncover truths, in me confide. 

In the quiet depths where secrets hide, 

I'll uncover truths, in me confide...

With whispers of wisdom, my heart will soar,

As I seek the knowledge that I implore.

With whispers of wisdom, my heart will soar,

As I seek the knowledge that I implore...

When I carry my own sunshine,

My own sunshine into the night!

Yes, I carry my own sunshine,

My own sunshine into the night!

My own sunshine...

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                  -o-

Dancing in Silence

Where is this colourful world,

The nocturnal kaleidoscope?

What brings us to this place

When all we want is solace?

On the way from the deafening din

To the deeply silent restful inn

Many obstacles strewn to surmount

Layers of dancing shades to count

Every ghost tells us a different tale

Magic, mystery, mystique on sale!

Every time we have to pass

Until we realize we need not halt!

There's a direct path to the place to be

From the noise to the silence, instantly!

The spinal route is open if you breathe

You can feel yourself without reverie!

This dance of colours in the silent night

Will gain force, but stop, gradually!

When you close your eyes, you'll go

Straight to the place to be, eventually!

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                 -o-

Let Go

Reap away, o farmer reap away

The fruits of your labour,

Reap away, oh reap away!

Turn around every now and then,

Find another chance to glow,

Bring the party back to life,

Surrender if it helps you grow!

Like the roots surrender to the soil...

Like the fish surrender to the seas...

Like the friend surrenders...

Like the friend surrenders!

Try not to dig it up 

Once you've sown it,

Try not to kill it

Once you've grown it!

Keep away, o farmer keep away

Once you've sown the seeds,

Keep away, oh keep away!

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                            -o-

If I Go On

If I go on the way I've always been on,

Will you still stand by me?

Console me? Every time 

That I fail, that I cry, and

That I hope to die?

Within the pages of our unwritten book,

Will you be the author?

The secret nook? Everything

Transpires in the

Chapters untold.

As time's relentless river onward flows, 

Will you write my story? 

As it is? Because I know

You're the only one there is 

Through space and time.

When fractured wings heal away

Will you fly by me?

Risk it all? If only

To take another hit

By the sling of destiny?

In the shadows of the unwritten,

Will our spirits entwine?

Two souls, forever aligned

As stars in the cosmic plan

Together, in time, we'll combine.

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                         -o-

Somehow I Know

Cannot go on, without a sign

That everything will fall in place;

Cannot resist not doubting the line

That fires a shock during the race.

Yet, somehow I go, 'cos somehow I know

That I'll see you on the other side;

Yes, I'll see you, and you'll smile

And everything will fall in place.

When shadows are dense,

And faces are tense;

When nothing makes sense,

It's time to lay down the fence.

Yet, somehow I hold, 'cos somehow I know

That I'll see you on the other side;

Yes, I'll see you, and you'll laugh

And everything will light up again.

Somehow I know it won't be long now;

I can hear the buffaloes closing in!

Yet, I'm glad, 'cos somehow I know

No noose can strangle me anymore!

Somehow I know now that I belong to you

Somehow I know I'm coming back home

Coming home to you; somehow I know 

Everything has always been in place!

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                  -o-

Phantasmal Dialogues

In the theatre of my mind, I play and roam,

Where voices bloom like flowers in the gardens of my soul.

Imaginary dialogues, a tapestry they weave,

As fertile as the earth, where endless thoughts conceive.

Like a river's winding path, my musings softly flow,

With each word and whisper, a secret world I know.

I'm a sailor on the seas, my mind the endless shore,

With characters as constellations, stories to explore.

In this grand symphony, I wear the playwright's cloak,

Crafting tales and fables, where imagination spoke.

With metaphor as my compass, and similes my guide,

I journey through the galaxies that in my mind reside.

So, fear not this world, where fantasy takes flight,

For in its boundless wonder, we find our inner light.

In the realm of introspection, where creativity is sown,

I find my peace, my solace, a world uniquely my own.

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                       -o-

Her Decree

In Her grand theater

You took the stage

With hubris in your hearts, 

You declared your age

With mighty cities, and skyscrapers tall,

Thought you could conquer, control it all?

But then She whispered

Secrets, in wind and in trees

Her timeless wisdom far older

Than your silly decrees

Sent storms and fires, to humble your pride,

You're just guests here, on this crashing ride!

At times with thirst, at times with floods

And at times, with thirst and floods

She silently showed you where to sit

But you were too busy digging your pit

In Her whispers and roars, she tried to teach,

Blind by ambition, you remained out of reach.

For every dam you built

Every field you plow

She revealed her power

In a thunderous bow

In the end, you're actors, in Her unending play,

She's the director, you're just dust on display.

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                                -o-

Introducing Solitude

In solitude's embrace, I find my peace,

A world of thoughts and dreams release.

They say it's lonely, but I disagree,

For within myself, I am truly free.

Solitude, my friend, is where I thrive,

In its quiet depths, my soul's alive.

Though others may not comprehend,

I cherish the solitude, my faithful friend.

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                            ---

Kannada translation by ChatGpt3.5

Refined over 10 rounds of editing

                ತನ್ಮಯತೆಯ ಪರಿಚಯ

ತನ್ಮಯತೆಯ ಮಡಿಲಲ್ಲಿ, ನನಗೆ ಶಾಂತಿ ದೊರಕುತ್ತದೆ,

ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ, ಕನಸುಗಳಿಂದ ತುಂಬುತ್ತದೆ.

ಇದು ಏಕಾಂತತೆ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಆದರೆ ನಾನು ನಂಬುವುದಿಲ್ಲ,

ನನ್ನ ಆಳಿನಲ್ಲಿ, ನಾನು ಪೂರ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ.

ತನ್ಮಯತೆಯ ಮಡಿಲಲ್ಲಿ, ನನ್ನ ಆತ್ಮ ವು ತನಗೆ ಹೊಂದಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ,

ಇವರು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಲಾಗದು, 

ಆದರೆ ಇದು ನನ್ನ ಚಿತ್ರಣವಾಗಿದೆ.

                                  -o-

Resurgence Manifesto

Wake up to your... Wake up...

Wake up... Wake up!

Wake up to your nightly maneuvers

The harbingers have arrived!

Bring yourself out of the slumber

Into which years ago you had dived

Arm yourself with favoured arsenal

Grit and logic, rigor and rationale

Grit and logic, rigor and rationale!

Wake up... Shake yourself up...

Wake up... Wake up!

Listen to the harbingers now

Hear what strange tales they tell

Shining candles have retired

Shining candles have retired

None will be burning any more!

It's time to wake up...

To your journey... Wake up!

Craft yourself another tool

None you dreamt will help, awake

Draft yourself another hand

All you hold will seem too fake!

It's time to wake up...

To your destiny... Wake up!

Charm your way in and out

Of the eerie quiet of the night

Outre mentions and maneuvers

Head is where the heart should be

Head is where the heart should be!

With a purpose clear, now arise

Chase your dreams, drive your ties

The harbingers' wisdom lets you see

Embrace your role in the night to be

Embrace your role in the night to be!

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                               -o-

Whispers of Wisdom

Speak to me, o stranger

Your voice I'd like to hear

Tell me the tales

Of the far and deep

Of lands where spirits soar

Their wisdom drawing near

Can we unravel ancient veils

And mystical secrets, keep

Tell me what they taught you

How and why they brought you

From your bustling riches

To your tattered robes

In stillness, I should listen

When ancient wisdom flows

From palaces to ditches

Where the heart, in silence, knows

In twilight's gentle embrace

Self and soul find their place

Moments of depth we trace

Over wisdom's quiet grace

Each step taken in the unknown

A personal journey, I've grown

Silent moments, truths I've known

In solitude, my soul has flown

Beneath the moon's gentle gleam

This dialogue, as though a dream

Found myself in the quiet stream

Depths of silence, a life of teem

Speak to me, o stranger...

In my mirror, I'd like to hear

Tell me the tales

Of the far and deep

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                          -o-

Cosmic Echo

Time again, time to go

Time again, time to go

Leave behind the magic glow

Features fall, and races slow

Time to dive into the depths

Of the heart... of the heart

Of the day, we cannot say

And in the night we cannot stay

Beneath the stars the river flows

Eternal dance, high and low

The golden room awaits a key

The vast expanse, the symphony

A time to glow, a time to grow

A time to fly, a time to know

A time to laugh, a time to show

A time to run, a time to slow

Amidst the verses, threads entwine

The cosmic constellations shine

Just as the roots deep below

Go to sleep... go to sleep

In the realm of shattered dreams,

Where dramas high and whispers sigh

Through the night, where stars reply,

Go to sleep... go to sleep

In the realm of endless streams,

Where life unfolds in fleeting gleams,

Embrace the night, where spirits weep,

Go to sleep... go to sleep

Time again, time to go

Time again, time to go

Leave behind the magic glow

Features fall, and races slow

-- Pradeep K (Prady)

                          -o-