its just that
surviving
isn’t the same as living
and saying thank you
isn’t the same as having gratitude
its just that
loving someone
doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in love
and at times
changing the world
doesn’t necessarily mean you’re saving the world
it’s just that
not knowing, what’s happening around you
doesn’t necessarily mean
you’re living under a rock
and being married
doesn’t necessarily mean
that you’re settled
its just that
we got to try
to not be disillusioned
by these so called
‘grown-up’ perspectives
its just that
we got to try
to not let faith
be based
solely on comfort
and excuses
it’s just that
we got to try
to not let that magic
within us
die
its just that
we got to try
to live our life
and not just
survive
© Lishaka Gulati
Notes of Hope – of Questioning Behaviour
you strive and for what
what’s the point
you tire yourself and for what
what’s the point
doesn’t make sense
all this pretense
you work for someone else
what’s the point
they tell you what to do
and you do it
they tell you, how to do it
and you do it
really, what’s the point
maybe you’ll quit your job today
yes, you should do it
now you work for yourself
you are free
you’re also fearful
so, what’s the point
the point is, that today
we’ll help you
alter your approach
that’s the point
the point is, that today
we’ll help you
instill an impression
of copiousness
in yourself
that’s the point
because there are things, many
in this universe, unbridled
all ready for you
so don’t just survive
live and live free
that’s the point
© Lishaka Gulati
Wooden Bedside Table – of Superstitious Behaviour
someone comes up to me
and says something nice
all I can think about, is wanting to flee
for how could someone say such vice
my body reflexes on the compliment and immediately reacts with “what the hell man, now why did you say that for?”
my hand, meanwhile, reaches for my wooden bedside table and I mutter the words “touch – wood” and at the same time, stare at the person in disbelief, with a glare
now what does that term even mean
it’s a rhetorical question, so leave it clean
I don’t know how I even started using that term
maybe I picked it off from my mother
who ardently believes that this would ward off evil intentions that people sometimes tend to cover
I use this term a lot
and whenever I do so, I tend to always get caught
whenever a compliment comes my way
I tend to make a face and try to get away, to my wooden bedside table to say those golden words and save my day
why did I only mention, my wooden bedside table
well, I’m always in bed, that’s why I said
so you don’t end up feeling, like you’ve been misled
© Lishaka Gulati
Just never tried
never won
never lost
just never tried
kept still
never moved
scared
of free will
eyes shut
heart closed
turned away
from everything that grows
never cared
never shared
oh, so much despair
never won
never lost
just never tried
© 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
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.