The Journey called life!

Simba wishes everyone a happy diwali

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 10:22:00 +0000

Importance of visual story telling for the purpose of brand building

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 09:13:00 +0000

Whether or not you are a budding entrepreneur, it is not hard to understand the importance of brand building in today’s world of highly competitive consumerism scenario. If you are en entrepreneur, you can relate to its significance even more. In these days of bid data and know it all consumers (due to over exposure of information on the Internet) making an impact is no more as novel as it used to be even a decade earlier. In order to make an impact and generate/ sustain consumer interest/ attention, one needs to contrive something impactful.

This is one reason why modern marketing techniques so whole heartedly swear by visual story telling or info graphics as it is more commonly known as, to do the talk. We anyway know, that audio visual (graphics included) makes more of an impact than written content alone.

The rise of social media has been a boon to online marketing: this in turn has been instrumental in a large extent to influence the visual story telling form of marketing.

" Attention is the new commodity. Visual storytelling is the new currency."

- Ekaterina Walter & Jessica Gioglio

- Co-authors of The Power of Visual Storytelling

Reasons for rising popularity:

1. In the age of bid data and information explosion, people do not have time to assimilate a lot of information and categorize/ classify them simultaneously. The window for pondering over a content has drastically narrowed over the course of the past few years. This is the reason why visual story telling has had a more profound impact!

Visual content is:

1. Crisp

2. Precise

3. Informative without bordering on

exaggeration

2. The narrative is explained via images and pictures which the reader can relate to thus, helping arrive at the conclusion faster. It makes for a more attractive packaging which in turn attracts readership. Especially, in an age of social media boom, visual storytelling- online content marketing has proved to be vastly more effective when images or video are added along with well thought out content.

Take for example:

This attached image makes it quite evident that the attached video and the static image is what draws readers on social media forums to get attached to this post which highlights the cute animated characters of Minions. The usage of the image of the minions here acts as the leverage to draw reader attention and then, uses it to share the news.

In comparison, the sharing of the news as simple written content would have failed to generate the instant attention that the sharing of the image of the Minions here does! If it is anything to go by, the number of likes and shares for the post here on Facebook quite helps establish the fact.

Social media shares new faster; and nothing goes around the social forums faster than craft fully woven content that marries aesthetics of branding/ marketing with intelligent and communicable content that the masses can relate. There is no place for the abstract or vagueness in any form.

Visual story telling guarantees that instant ripple reason online that could erstwhile only be dreamed of. And, it does help that you can go on to connect to the masses (teeming up to hundreds) in a fraction of a second or so.

3. It also goes without saying that visual content is a lot more click worthy and memorable.

For instance: you see an extremely funny image and an accompanying text; you are more likely to share it and remember it more than a plain body of text. Consider the above image here again. You are ten times more likely to remember it along with the accompanying message and maybe, refer to your friends than just a plain text highlighting the message!

4. Visual content is recyclable and can be also used across multiple forums and in various differing ways, which makes them even more versatile. At a given time, as an online marketer, your competition is the entire world. This is the reason would want to make an effect that is- spontaneous and impactful.

What better way than through means of audio visual that directly interacts and engages your audience and customer and helps you directly talk to them. Right.

Bye bye Monginis

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 06:55:00 +0000

It used to be hub for all "burger" and Pizza" food fetishes before the emergence of Dominios and Pizza Hut. But it was known as Mongignis then. However, the fizzle fazed out since then. As a measure for reinventing itself for sustenance and a possible resurrection, the brand name was changed to Mio Amore. So, did it manage to reinvent itself as completely as it did its name?

Sadly, no! Which is a big disappointment! For people like me, who have grown up on Kathleen, Flurrys and Monginis, this dwindling state of erstwhile favourites (of Flurry's does not figure ion the latter list; it reinvented itself and how!!) is a tad bit experience. It just takes away with it that part of childhood which connected us to a lot of possibilities.

Now, without getting too nostalgic, let me. The food here is below average; well mostly. That is when, they have supplies. Although they did manage to incorporate a few new items into their list, they are mostly unavailable or not up to the mark of what is available at most other food joints.

The bread used for burgers are not soft but crumbly and hard and the patties are not always tasty. Although a few of the cakes and the custom made cakes are quite tasty; the pastries available at the outlets are definitely not! While at a time most confectioneries such as Afraa Deli, Mrs. Magpie and others are doling out such amazing treats to entice customers; sadly, Mio Amore lags behind.
If only it had as quickly reinvented its menu in sync with its image and brand name!

The food journey

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 07:41:00 +0000

A foodies' journey is often not very gratifying..the innate desire to taste and experiment with the gastronomical senses often causes riot with the wallet, the palate and the other bodily functions..Plus,
no one seems to relate to the simple nuances that goes behind tasting new dishes, at new eateries and sharing reviews with fellow foodies! But, at the end of the day, the simple joy of tasting new delicacies and trying out new food stops is the ome great pleasure that comes out of this otherwise thankless hobby. I am a foodie and yes, my simple leisures in life count eating out and finding new places to eat at, although, often the outcome may not be very satisfying to both my taste buds as well as the metabolism system too, I am quite open to accepting this challenge.
I will therefore, share my food journey with you too and hope that my food jounrey will be able to help out in some way (if at all), to anyone reading this blog!
Cheerios!

Amazing Australia: the famous cities of Australia that are a must visit for a holiday trip

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 14:18:00 +0000

Australia

is a riot of colours woven skilfully upon a tapestry, with azure waters, snowy white mountains, red deserts, green ranches. The land has many credentials placed sordidly on its mantle- it is a country and island continent. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean on both side, the island has some of the best beaches to flaunt on its travel brochure.

It is a tourist paradise boasting of resplendent coral reefs brimming with exotic marine life, arid deserts, tall lush forests, blue-green waters, sun-kissed beaches, extensively long coastline, snow-capped mountains and magnificent cosmopolitan cities- these are but a few of the component that goes on to make Australia such an important tourism hub. Diversity is another name for this continent.

In fact, the cities play a definitive role in creating its cultural diversity and are great fodders for boosting tourism to this island continent. These hip cities, mostly established along the coastline are where almost 70-percent of the Australians reside. They are primarily what define

Australia

There are a host of cities vying for your attention but the more famous among them will find a mention here. So when you go ‘Down Under’, these are some of the cities to go see.

Sydney

The harbour city of Sydney is straight out of picture postcard. Flanked by turquoise Pacific Ocean and its coastline, the city has to its merit nearly 100 tropical beaches, some of the most coveted in the world like Bondi, Manly, Coogee. Many famous harbour, bays and rivers complete its topography, among which the Sydney Harbour and its adjacent bridge is a major tourist draw.

This good looking city has many other offerings for travellers. The Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour, National parks, Blue Mountains, amazing night life, fine dining restaurants, and the effervescent lifestyles of the city’s dwellers, all make Sydney an attractive tourism package. The night-time silhouette against a blazing skyline is also among the salient charms of this picturesque city.

Canberra

Of course you cannot wrap up your Australian rendezvous without paying homage to its capital city of Canberra. The seat of all Australian hullabaloos, Canberra is set amidst mesmerising scenic natural beauty. Being a new city, it has only new age concrete architecture rather than any historical ones to claim ownership. Nevertheless, you will get the feel of the continent throbbing in the pulse of the city. While visiting this fledging, stylish capital, the liaison with your gastronomy will tease your senses and make it a cherished encounter.

Melbourne

This is the undefeated fashion and sport capital of Australia. There is a curious vibe resonating with the city. Sporadic zoos, national parks and aquariums spring in nooks and corners across the city. Colourful trams making way across new age set-up and the Billy Steam Train trip across Yarra Valley harks upon a time reminiscing the bygone era. Melbourne also has its share of history. The Melbourne Gaol is a historic memorial site where 135 people were hanged and the St. Paul’s Cathedral adds leverage to its historic appeal. Lastly, the city’s lively demeanour is a welcome charm to tourists who flock to it in hordes.

Regression..the link to the past (literally!!)

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:28:00 +0000

The other day I came across a Facebook update by a certain friend of mind that stated that she had undergone regression therapy (not unlikely for a psychology student perusing her Masters). Being a psychology student myself, it isn’t a term quite unheard of. However, this certain post has got me all perked up, coupled with the fact that the Facebook update was tipped up with a quick read of Dr. Brian Weiss’ Many Lives Many Masters.

The book in itself was quite captivating and the idea presented all the more interesting because it is relatively unheard of till date. REGRESSION THERAPY…by means of which one can travel to different planes (or revisit) in their past lives in order to overcome a present life crisis.

The idea of gaining wisdom from knowledge about my past lives got me considerably excited and I began searching online more on regression therapy workshops conducted. After all, the lust of knowing what had being and connecting it to what could be is very alluring.

While talking at length on the same topic to another friend of mine enrolled for her masters in psychology, I developed a set-back on the idea that had somehow possessed me over the past few days. Elaborating about a workshop that she had attended on para-psychology, she described what the guest lecturer had stated while discussing regression. And it had a ring of truth in it that struck home. He said it is best that the past and present don't entwine to pave way for the future!

Our lives have been designed as such so that we have a broken link between the past and the present; it is for our best. So that we don’t get weighed down by the mammoth burden of knowledge accumulated over our past lives. On an astral level, if any of our knowledge is left incomplete and unfinished, it is certainly meant to be attained in the course of the present life without being hurried by the pressure of all the past lives bearing down on us.

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 06:15:00 +0000

If...

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 13:51:00 +0000

If I have to believe everything I see and hear,
I'd rather want to believe that unicorns and fairies and the lost boys exist;
And that dragons fly across the sky,
That my letter from Hogwarts is yet to arrive;
Gandalf is on way to seal the fellowship of The Ring;
"To infinity and beyond" is possible,
And chance upon the Sith.
And yes, definitely be on The Wall!
Spare me the maze, the games;

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 17:15:00 +0000

Haze

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 18:06:00 +0000

Drenched city roads,
Wet are the city lights;
Garlanding the distant horizons;
In shrouded, mysterious lights.
We ride by; ride by;ride;by;
Distant, disjointed, perennial;
The glass turns hazy,
Clouding visions; myopic; wet; dark; distant
The finality of distant dreams,
Crowds the crowded sight.

In Memoriam

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 10:33:00 +0000

Walking along the long road of life, Unknown awaiting, crossroads gone by,

I was a jumbled puzzle.You came along and held my hand,

The puzzle pieces fell right,And loneliness walked out the door.

The answer to my many prayers seemed right, The wish upon the many broken stars, Was finally here.

This path we have embarked upon, Might seem bleak and lonely at times,

But hold on strong, a fill me with your warmth,,And your solid, warm presence,Which melts the frost in my heart.

When I lost faith, you restored hope,

When I doubted, you led the way,

I fought, you mended,

I cried, you dried my tears.

When I lacked love, you shone like the sun,

Though o lack the words at time, know this, I always

Thank you for being there, and I say I love you over and over again,

To you, My valentine. ♪♫♪♥

Till we part..

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 09:42:00 +0000

Between these realms of knowing and the unknown,

Where dreams as wet as desire, float

I have lost you there,

To unyielding yearning and despair.

Maybe there will come a day,

Clashing against the asphalt sky,

When we will find our way,

Therein, our dreams ignited,

We will finally part, my friend

With no hopes for future

To call our own

Of dreams and more...

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 06:28:00 +0000

The wet roads led to some distant dreams,
Where you & I lay beneath the open sky,
As dollops of cotton clouds twirled us by:
The clear blue sky,
An open canvas of dreams to write.
Where hope chased dreams;
And surreal merged into the real,
I held your hands, and took a leap,
A leap of faith you said,
We both jumped off the cliff of mystic faith,
The shackles of norms fell off,
And we drowned in the sea of beliefs!

Please stop commercializing the inhumane slaughter of innocent dogs!

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 06:20:00 +0000

Dogs are a gift to man. They are the purest way of experiencing love. Therefore, the inhumane slaughter of such a loving animal is almost blasphemous I love dogs. I have a pet dog which is akin to a daughter to me. Could you butcher your children? I have also read in reports that some of the slaughtered animals were house pets that were napped! This should be stopped. Of course many could argue that when thousands of chicken or goats or other cattle were being slaughtered across the world in the name of food, why not dogs.

I would request you, that the next time you come across a dog on the road, please look him in the eye in earnest and feel the love of innocence. If you be kind, throw him a bite of food and you will see that the next time you pass, and all the other times, that act of kindness is recognized and reverted in earnest. This world needs appreciation of good work and dogs do that in plenty. They bring out the good in us, with love and keep on nurturing it. They connect us with our inner human being and fill the soul with love and kindness. You can never be too bad a person to your dog, even though your children or spouse or family or friends may stop thinking so. They never give up on us. We never change for them. Their love for us never stop, neither does it change.

Would you not want to experience such true love in this life? With chaos rampant in a world full of hatred and dying, we need such love, such selfless love and acts of faith to retain humanity. I would save, love and save all animals, and lets start that with the dogs, please!

Please Stop Yulin 2015!!

The Poison Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:55:00 +0000

He sowed in the dingy soil of his backyard,

an inch of a seed of hatred; angst; ire!

everyday he nurtured and watered it, with great care.

with emotions deep, of rage and vice.

Years passed on, the sapling turned into a plant.

With vices and revenge brimming from every thorn,

and thus the tree bore fruits this way.

little green bells of round, they were crude!

he looked at them, satisfaction a silver lining in the void,

Now he could show off his pride!

least some steal of his crown, the miser put a fence around.

he kept up vigil, of late night and dawns.

guarding what he thought his own.

thin and withdrawn he became,

from his daily rituals of pain.

he forgot love; thoughts of care and concern,

were pushed behind those frenzied frowns!

all was forgotten in this world, sans the green giant in the yard.

then came a dawn after a night, more bright than the gleaming daylight.

he looked up from his daily watch, tiny fingers reached up,
Encircled his world of pain, grabbing at the shirt’s end,
the cherub’s face lit up in toothless grin

light flashed across the dark, thousand nights of cold pure hate,

lay forgotten swept up on a far away shore, carried thus far by the tides of love,
like a thunder in the night that strikes upon the cold earth and sets it alight,

he found solace in the little urchin’s heart, and saw divinity within.

every one reclaimed him back from the dead

his wife raised a thousands words of prayers

his son thanked the universe above, for he felt too beguiled to thank the stars!

but the clever daughter-in-law knew, what was it that got him this due

and kept this secret hidden in the bosom, least the green tree (of hate) reared again and claimed its prized throne!

the cherub ran askew all over the lawn,

everyday he thought of chopping down the tree of yonder,

to make space for the tiny legs to run free!

he feared the unknown that pierced his soul.

days passed by in a haze

soon the tree and the fruits were forgotten; the little boy grew up in haste

the tree lay in a corner in the lawn, obscured from mind and vision!

Soon the curious legs found its way around the house, into the yard,

across the ground, to the dark formidable green

what was shunned in haste, now found its admiration in innocent gaze

the boy reached out for the tree, that was begotten of hate and misery!

the gleaming fruits gleamed in passion more, to have found someone to lure again,

as they lay scattered across the ground.

reaching out, the fingers curled around a marble of green

that was poisoned with hate and prejudice

swift hands carried it to the mouth,

a cry of pain, a wail, a howl.

his heart recognized his years of efforts in a bout, and his heart crashed against giant boulders in the sea of his tormented emotions deep.

rushing out to the yard he cussed his stars

that had begotten the ill-fated moment when he sowed the seeds (of hatred!)

there lay the child, a half eaten fruit of vile between his teeth,

the dear face turning white and blue and ghoulish,

until it shriveled up with all the hate that the poison fruit bore,

amidst the laments and wails of the departed,

deliverance over, the tree’s purpose fulfilled,

it lay shriveled and dead.

Kiran Bedi: courage under fire

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 10:41:00 +0000

Inspiration comes from all walks of life, but when it comes from motivating figures around us, it adds that necessary flavour and zeal for enticement. Such a figure is Kiran Bedi, India’s first female Indian Police Services (IPS) officer. She is a prolific figure across the social and political tapestry of India, the front-runner for women in power in the nation.

Born in 1949, the 63-year old Bedi is a national icon worth reckoning with when it comes to women empowerment in India. Known for her passion and dedication, both to the work at hand as well as the welfare of society and women, this firebrand of a lady has ruled over public imagination and sympathy, over a long period of time; a fact revoked by the faith that Indians instil in her reflected in her recent crusade against corruption, when she formed alliance with Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal. She has delved into many roles, far too magnanimous and varied- former prolific police official, aspiring power woman, television celebrity and neo-nationalist among others. In her more recent avatar, she is more popular as a social activist. In each of roles, she put in equal measure of passion and dedication.

She has played a great role in shaping the patriarchal society’s notions towards the role of women in the cultural and social fabric of India. At age 63, she still aspires and motivates generation of women to dream beyond what the prevalent cultural periphery allows or thinks suitable for women of any age and social standing.

Breaking social norms
During her prolong tenure with the Indian police, Ms. Bedi was appointed as the Director General of India's Bureau of Police Research and Development. It was her zeal to be truly “outstanding” that Ms. Bedi chose to join the IPS and raise the bar for the women around her. While serving her tenure, Kiran Bedi was posted at New Delhi traffic control, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Mizoram, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Chandigarh, and Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau. She was also appointed the Civilian Police Advisor in United Nations peacekeeping operations, a prestigious and honorary position for an Indian, more so, a lady.

She has been known to be a strict disciplinarian who would not budge from her stand even when her opponents were people involved in the power-play of the nation, such as high ranking politicians and bureaucrats. She is known to have even towed the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s vehicle for car parking violations, an incident which earned her the fond nickname of Crane Bedi.

Bedi is known to have influenced many crucial decisions of the IPS while she held office in such areas as VIP security, narcotics and traffic management.

Social activism
Bedi has played a varied role when it comes to changing India’s social activism scene, into which she jumped headlong and as passionately and unequivocally as she did in her professional space. She is one of the founders of Navjyoti India Foundation (NIF), besides 15 other police officers who set up the NGO in 1987. It caters to various social causes ranging from illiteracy, women empowerment to rehabilitation for drug addicts. Empowerment of women has remained one of the foremost issues that Bedi has chosen to fight for in her long association with social activism.

India against corruption
It is because of her strong stand against corruption and general societal degeneration, Bedi has remained unequivocal about the eradication of the plague of corruption from Indian politics. This is the reason she chose to join forces with the radical social anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare. She was vehement in her demand for India’s Jan Lokpal bill, a stand which even led to her arrest along with her fellow crusaders. However, when the Aam Aadmi Party was formed, she didn’t commit to it, and before the 2014 general election, shifted her allegiance to Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Influence on silver screen, literature
Being a prolific lady and former IPS official, Bedi has been the topic of various films and literary works. Yes Madam, Sir, a non-fiction film is based on her life which was screened at various film festivals. Another film, Carve Your Destiny is also on way. She has also been the topic of many documentaries, and she was a part of the reality show, Aap Ki Kachehri Kiran Ke Saath in recent times.

Bedi’s influence is deeply realised in the fact that when asked to enact the role of police officers, many actresses are said to have adapted her demeanour.

Laurels and recognition
Bedi has won many laurels and worldwide recognition for being a powerful woman to have impacted the Indian society. Among the awards that came her way, the 1994 Ramon Magsaysay Award, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship, to write about her work at Tihar Jail are a few. She has also received the UN Medal for her peacekeeping work as the Civilian Police Advisor.

Of the second beginnings...

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 19:24:00 +0000

The first and foremost rule for second beginnings is to give yourself a pat on the back, say aloud, "Dude, you tried and well, learned; now it's time to move on (to greener pastures). If it was as easy said as done!. We always seek to attain closure, a fact that hold us, gravitates us towards the those very things that we seek to forget in the first case. An old flame perhaps, an unsolicited dispute, a half read book-yada yada yada!

Without closure, regret slowly creeps into our heart and usurps other emotions we one felt. "Regret is the canker to our soul." Unless we know how to distance ourselves from regret, the ball is always in the courts of well, our turbulent emotions.

But, second beginnings are not that hard. Once you let yourself, well, just simply get going (yes, the closure could be as easy as that), the course runs itself out and through. Life is the best tribunal for offering you another chance; to help move on, to better things or to just, simply, gather yourself together. Just go with the flow. Don't resist. Think, life is too beautiful to be stuck in the rind. Well, unless, you are often struck with a bout of the black gloom, as is my case often, you are quite good to go! So, cheerio!

The big black dog

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:10:00 +0000

On a sunny day I was walking by

And it came, running my way

A big black dog,

With pleading eyes,

It licked my hand and had me pacified.

I embraced it with my whole being,

I made it my own.

My big black silent companion overwhelmed me.

It accompanied me wherever I went,

Playful, compassionate,

My silent companion filled my being, slowly, gradually!

The big black dog was

Always constant,

Always there.

Sometimes it came close, engulfed me,

Sometimes it fled,

But at all times, it was omnipresent.

Slowly the bile rose, nauseated I felt,

The black dog grew larger,

Until no one else was there.

It engulfed me in shadows,

Until I was choking,

Breathless, stifled, lonely

And then it was still there,

Looking with the eyes of ownership,

Even when I lay and looked up at the ceiling,

I saw the silhouette of the big black dog crouching, growing,

Drawing patterns on the floor, across the floor,

Against the ceiling.

And I was lost in the shadows,
Of my big black silent companion.

The bouquet for V-day

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 07:51:00 +0000

The surprise bouquet hubby brought home for Valentine's Day.

Colours n flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 07:47:00 +0000

Kolkata bookfair souvenirs

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 07:42:00 +0000

Saraswati puja

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 10:18:00 +0000

House of cards

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 10:44:00 +0000

We built a house of cards

On the sandy beach, out in the wind;

Near the sea shore,

Out close to the greens, the tall tress casting,

Shades of green and grey, all around.

Putting together the pieces up one by one!

There was ample sun around,

Gusty bouts of winds,

The sun hammered down upon us,

Oft it was a blissful scene.

The house of cards came up piece by piece,

We arranged each around with careful ease,

Out in the sun, out in the wind,

Singing the summer song, we held our hands,

We laid out our dreams, one by one; card by card.

Lost in delightful reverie,

Looking into each other’s eye

Alas, how time flew us by.

We laid out the foundation,

Built up the wall, arranged the ceiling,

Tiny windows and doors,

Dotted the walls,

Letting in the sun, breeze and our dreams,

We made it all our own.

The land, the garden, the nook, the aisle,

The corners around the alcove,

The dust, the mud stains on the staircase,

Yes, it was all our pride.

Proud were we, and even strung the welcome wreath,

Just above the door, to spread the welcome cheer,

The little fish bowl adorned the chest,

That stood right beside the door.

The tabby cat, the fluffy dog, the fat mice, a fledgling bird,

All called it home.

But in daze, we forgot the make the space,

For our special keepsake.

Along came a light draft of sea breeze,

Tinged with salty seduction,

It blew the house of cards,

Right away from where it was laid on its base.

The balmy breeze wrapped up,

In a lover’s embrace,

Around the card block,

And threw helter skelter,

Everything we put together in haste,

Alas, all our dreams were unmade.

We were left scrambling off our feet,

Collecting souvenirs of the dreams we had courage to once see.

The house of cards, out in the open,

On the beach, in the sun, right beside the sea.

What remained of thee, but some mere pieces,

Lying scattered on the silicon sea,

Abandoned by the cat, bereaved by the dog, the rat and bird both gone.

Even the fish bowl is amiss, the fish retreated in haste;

The welcome wreath lay sheathed in its dusty shroud,

All glory is lost.

And we ran along to collect, treasure and save,

Those bygone moments cherished,
And placed them inside the Pandora's box.

Where our dreams took shape; life blossomed,

Now just shadows and shards of memories created in giddy pace,

A mere card, tattered and barred around the edges,

We held clutched in our grasp.

A sojourn with a nocturnal companion

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 07:58:00 +0000

Cold was the night, my soul listless, relentless;

A paradox of emotion, tumbling through my head.

The rhythm seemed imperfect,

Or I had shut my mind’s eye.

Through the doors, I walked into the cold night,

The cool of the night and my burning emotions,

A charitable companion, me and the night.

I walked past the doors, of the sleeping city,

I walked even past the dark narrow alleys,

That brimmed with nocturnal activities.

Night’s canvas painted a different picture,

Than that of it’s bright-lit cousin- daylight.

It all seemed purist, even part illusion,

A far away dream,

That has long faded, leaving its scant essence,

Chaffing against the soul.

Yet we walked on, me and my companion, the night.

I came upon a crossroad, which I may have often passed by before,

But never oft enough,

For I never stopped to explore.

To look beyond what was there.

To overcome the cold stares, that crippled one’s soul,

There was not enough defiant-ness, to find out anything more.

To escape this existence, where mundane seemed life;

All else- a hushed up existence,

Dwelling in the dark abyss of mind,

So deep, so dark,

Light could not reach out.

And there it lingered, crawled, clawed, tried to break free.

But the shackles of darkness, held it place-

A prison of its own destiny.

Help me night, to see where I am going.

For, this journey, once began, has no ending.

No going back to the very beginning.

Night’s kaleidoscope painted a mournful hue,

The mind’s eye, knows not what’s true.

What is before the eyes, or what has bygone.

It just might not have ever been existent.

I turn to my companion, unanswered questions lingering,

But the apparition fade off into nothingness

And, as I trace my way back, pensive from my traverse

I pass the doors of the sleeping city,

I walk even past the dark narrow alleys,

And walk back through the doors,

Away from the cold night, into my cold, closed soul.

A paradox of emotion, clamouring all around me, choking.

The rhythm all imperfect, without harmony;

And I, without my nocturnal companion, lost in the cacophony of the silence.

Down, down the Ferris Wheel

noreply@blogger.com (Priyanka) — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 10:49:00 +0000

I am going down on the Ferris wheel;

Everything around me stands still;

The wind sweeps across my face,

Unsettles my dress, my visage,

Everything else stands still.

I go low, low,

Doing the rounds, a musical twirl,

Faces pass, visions blur,

The world is a colorful maze,

As I sit perched, going down on the Ferris Wheel.

There someone rushes past,

A multi-hued zigzag, amidst the façade.

As I sit still, the world moves in a tumble,

Spinning out of control,

While I sit and assemble.

I am going down on the Ferris Wheel.

It is a prolonged journey;

From top to bottom; of the arc,

I make it in periodic motions,

Never past, the downward spiral of the Ferris Wheel.

The peripheral vision plays tricks,

I see the world in colorful haze,

An alluring lion’s lair,

Or a gypsy’s forgotten tune, playing out to the meadows.

A mask here, a face there,

It gets hard to decipher, truth from dare,

While I am going down on the Ferris Wheel.

The cold air stings,

Ground seems afar,

While I am suspended,

Hit the bottom below,

Or fly away,

The wings and the clips are both in my bag.

The Ferris wheel goes round and round

It replaces all others sounds,

I am the sole occupant,

Besides me none,

To hold me up,

Or push me down.

Eyes, hardly see past the daze,

Nose leaves behind its senses to the ground,

Ears, they strain to hear,

The mortal sound, while the giant Ferris wheels roars past the ground,

And I, its sole occupant, sit and wait my turn to get off.