sometimes they smoke,
to make their cough go away
they are somewhat of a paradox,
what can you say
© Lishaka Gulati
Alliteration Class
lover, lust little longer
love a little longer
like the goldfinches, go for goodies
feel fragile, frail, feeble
featherweight, fleshless
assume, aftereffect to be astonishment
although, all actually attained, abandonment
© Lishaka Gulati
Poem ~ Catching Butterflies
© Lishaka Gulati
Notes of Hope
so fearful, so much angst
everyday alive, thinking, what’s the point
let’s not be disappointed, disillusioned
in a sad state of mind
instead, let’s think about the profusion, boundless
that this universe offers to us
we’re well, we’re alive and we’re here
you and I
if this is not magic, what is?
© Lishaka Gulatil
Poem ~ Today the sky called me up
today the sky called me up and said
hi, I saw that you went for a walk but you danced instead
did you realize, that people were looking at you
like you were out of your mind
well, it wasn’t my first time
over the top, you appeared to be manic
lonely girl trotting on toes
so out of control
just swaying to the music
maybe someday, sky, you and the people will realize, that we have to lose ourselves to this lucid music
and not always care about other people’s eyes
try it with me, sky
let’s go for a walk
and dance instead
let them look at us and wonder
how we’re out of your mind
let them look at us and wonder
how we’re two of a kind
© Lishaka Gulati
Illegal trade, illicit trafficking
captive, caged, chained
elephants, expected to entertain
not just elephants
there are animals, many
who are engaged for human entertainment
at the cost, of their grave endangerment
clicking a selfie
with the caged animals
do you think that’s cute
were you not made aware
of their horrific abuse
from elephants to tigers
pangolins to turtles
all classified as species, endangered
illegal trade, illicit trafficking
for personal, profitable gains
all leading to these species, pained
© Lishaka Gulati
The above poem is written in support of the global campaign initiated by the NGO, World Animal Protection, India to gain support worldwide for banning the trade of wild animals.
Poem ~ Anxious and Distraught
look at you
you can’t handle the sadness anymore
just lying there like a corpse on the floor
you keep unraveling and there’s no one to speak to
you keep losing it and there’s nowhere to flee to
no one is there to hear your cries
no parent, no therapist, is understanding the agony that is your life
you want to give up on every step of the way
it hurts you so much and it’s not getting any better
being constantly bound by these fetters
all you want is for the misery to go away
that even giving up seems so easy today
here you are
trying to find your strength in God
to get over this misery, that you yourself caused
look at you
you can’t handle the sadness anymore
just lying there like a corpse on the floor
© Lishaka Gulati
Poem ~ Unasked
talent or tricks?
what made your success big?
because I’ve seen your show
no talent, a mediocre low
always in the deplorable fashion
igniting, nothing short of an allergic reaction
eyes shut and heart closed
you’ve turned yourself away
from everything that grows
do you not understand
that lives are affected
and an impact is created
as a result of your work
that you so irresponsibly network
I think its the tricks
that made your success big
because I’ve seen your show
no talent a mediocre low
© Lishaka Gulati
Poetry by Lishaka 