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-