Poetry by Sonya Kassam

[sonyakassam]

moments of shade

Kabira Says: i wish you moments of shade moments of solitude melodious moments and though your destiny is intended to lead to sorrow may your nature, nevertheless be joyful always [ Pawetry inspiration: this beautiful picture I came across this morning & the closing lines of the move Gangubai Kathiawadi ]

Beautiful Kabir Poetry

Sunta hai guru gyani Gagan me awaaz ho rahi hai jheeni jheeni Sunta hai guru gyani So says the voice and words of the Guru. The divine sound originates in the sky

Kahe Kabir suno bhai saadho Jai agam ki baani re Din bhar re jo nazar bhar dekhe Ajar amar ho nishani ho ji Kabir says, “Listen, Oh righteous brother. Understand and experience and become one with the non-ageing and eternal one principle who looks after this entire universe every single moment."

*** Here's our handsome cat, Kabira ღ

[sonyakassam]

the butterfly smiles

This poem is dedicated to my younger sister Citele. The world has lost a warm, loving soul who was still full of life. May she rest in ease and we shall always look out for her smile. you do not di…

In sweet memory of my younger sister and a beautiful soul who flew away to the ultimate freedom 2 years ago.

[sonyakassam]

poetry through our eyes

silent poetry, as clear as night

[sonyakassam]

Rumours from Twilight

What secrets does the night hold? What is it that lies beyond light?

[sonyakassam]

The Breaking Point

Reaching the point that could break me… … or will it?

[sonyakassam]

Serendipity

A happy accident – closer to home

This is an incredible, heart warming and hope-filled story that had to be shared. About parents, family and destiny. 

[sonyakassam]

Once Upon A Time

she woke to the scent of unscraped henna infused with eucalyptus oil hint of auburn, a tinge of pride, a bride expectant, once upon a time

[sonyakassam]

~ More or Less ~ the more you create the more you evolve the more you evolve the less you attach the less you attach the more you accept the more you accept the less you react the less you react the less they can touch you the less they can touch you the more they long to be like you … the highest evolution … the ultimate creator

[sonyakassam]

Pratiksha - the Wait

It was not the distance but the direction That kept me from you Searching through cosmic marvels Within each duality Though I did hear your call And I know you heard mine Why else would I be drawn towards you? Irresistible, though the magnetic pull was no more than zero (and no less) Spinning through void within void Where energy is enslaved by vibration (and also conceived) I uttered the name of your sound The separation between you and I was devoid of space Even time did not dare All I had to do was wait If only I knew how…

***

Photo Credit: Shirish Pandit

https://followyourshadow.me/2017/06/11/pratiksha-the-wait/

[sonyakassam]

The following poem and its revised version are inspired by my Poetry workshop. The speaker in the poem is a shoe and it is written by connecting unlikely items. This is a change from serious themes I tend to take on. So much fun to write about something ordinary and make it seem extraordinary or to be precise, extra ordinary. So here is…

Red Stilettos, and a Pair of Shoes

Ashamed, neglected, undusted Squelching on morning’s marmalade Sticky, bitter, eager Uncollected mail, dejected heap Red stilettos, sighs and goodbyes Candle wax, insignia on wooden tiles The piggy bank, hollow, implores Chipped vinyl, forgotten tunes Compass, lost and A journey has just begun How much… How much have we left behind?

***

forgotten were those chipped stilettos that implored upon the vinyl floor that morning, dejected with goodbyes aroma of a bitter brew, neglected hollow tunes

red map with kingly insignia lay beneath undusted tiles pointed to an unashamed compass, eagerly led the pair of us to a heap of uncollected inheritance

***

image credit

[sonyakassam]

Where Light Divides

From the International Space Station here is the India-Pakistan border at night. This photograph shows one of the few places on Earth where an international boundary can be seen at night. The winding border between Pakistan and India is lit by security lights that have a distinct orange tone. Source

Where Light Divides ~ Poetry by Sonya Kassam

perhaps we hid behind borders because we are afraid to see that “the other side” is no different from us perhaps we don’t want to see ourselves in “them” and so we light up borders and emulate the lines in our hearts and our tongues deny that we speak the same language so many borders such little land

[sonyakassam]

[sonyakassam]

Today, for Always

what day is it? it’s today

it’s only today everyday is today

even the mighty earth rotates in honour of today

it is always today whatever vows you fulfill you can only do so today

however intensely you love it can be felt…today

if you must forgive, even forget yes, today!

celebrate, be mesmerised by today observe today not by the hours but by its events

it has not flowed from yesterday today is embedded within you carry it as a gift, not a burden to discard in favour of tomorrow

what day is it?

how many todays will you have?

***

inspired by a question someone asked me “what day is it?” to which I had cheekily replied “it’s today” :)

[sonyakassam]

The House of God

the house of god is closed for the day the seeker is turned away his needs in discord with the custodian’s timings

why is it that taverns have longer opening hours where men find more comfort together in a strange watering hole than they do in an unfamiliar mosque or a temple in a distant land

restrained welcome are we to be limited to the one familiar house

the worshippers of each abode shout their superiority lay claim to god like they own him

do the keepers of the key imagine they can lock him inside bound till the morning call

do they not know that speaking to god is not restricted by time nor by ritual

that we do not listen to him through perpetual preaching that seeing the light can happen in a flash or stealthily through a lifetime

hearing the truth surpasses murmurs of repetitive prayers

seeking him in the rhythm gentle swaying voices sing steady alone or in unison dances of passion rhyming and depth of poetry where god’s beauty is expressed openly

so unlock your doors allow a true seeker to enter when he wants without the pretext of your prejudiced piety

**

For those of you who visit places of worship, do you stick your own? Do you feel at home when you visit different places? Have you ever felt the urge to just be in god’s house at a random time but knew you couldn’t? I believe god resides in our hearts, but there is a unique feeling when you attend a place of worship and prayer. Shouldn’t they be more accessible?

[sonyakassam]

(Follow Your Shadow)

~His Final Lesson~

In the beginning there was rhythm rhythm founded a relationship between sounds sounds created the moods of melodies melodies nurtured expression through words words aroused the singer to dance

And that, my friend, that is what music is a cosmic language a meeting and a farewell a recognition of souls

And now, my friend, tell me which part of creation is devoid of music watch grains of sand dance in the barren desert hear the pitch within an abandoned sea shell waves crash against a cliff, mismatched cymbals within the whistling wind, a flute-bearer softly teases it started with a steady beat of the heart each thought exudes vibrations even blood flows with its own song

As you recite scriptures with a poetic lilt tell me, my friend, do you still doubt this Creation is but a musical composition?

And the final silence is essentially an unheard sound….

***

Yet another poem about music. This one I needed to write as a dedication to our music teacher, our Guruji who suddenly left us on Monday 2nd May, 2016.

Less than 18 hours before his demise, he was at my house giving us a lesson. You can imagine how astounded my daughter and I are to hear he is no more. He brought us into the world of Indian Classical music. A musician, a story teller, a guide and much more, he left us too early. We shall miss him…deeply.

He had over 1,800 students and countless lessons. It was a privilege that my daughter and I had the honor of his final lesson. I know in my heart he held out for that final lesson.

May he Rest in Music

***

[sonyakassam]

Time in a Bottle

even time in a bottle seeps away silently it was never yours to begin with it will never be yours except for the present moment

and like the genie in a lamp you can have three wishes for the time that is in your name but you can never, ever return it to the lamp nor ask for one more wish

[sonyakassam]

it’s only because you never turn back that you believe you are all alone