Ice and Fire

(I submitted this for a Limerick contest some time ago. The first paragraph was given. In general I write poorly when write for contests and stuff, but this one is ok I think.)

Adi-dasa the ever-ambitious sadhoo
Burnt his feet walking the fire bed through
So the next time, he ran on the coals
With hidden padding on his soles
And invented the first ever sports shoe.

Nevertheless, the experience left a bitter taste,
And dread of the mob made him leave in haste;
Yet, to go where he could not be seen
Meant going where he had never been,
So he headed for the snowy Himalayan wastes.

The snow vexed him to no end,
And he thought his bones would break if he tried to bend,
But he had God to thank
As he found a wooden plank
When the rocks had no shelter to lend.

But he’s clumsy, the old fella,
And when carrying the makeshift umbrella,
He slipped and slid down the slope
But he clutched the plank as his only hope,
And he had a snowboard, voila!

He reached a camp with his robes rent,
And all of his courage spent.
But to protect his modesty
He had to look for clothes, hastily,
But dared not approach a tent.

So he fashioned some with leaves and root,
And even made a cap, to boot.
Thus attired, he sauntered to the campfire,
Happy to be out of straits so dire,
And answered strangers with the whole truth.

Alas, not a single soul believed what he said,
And he became so angry his face went red.
Cursing the human spirit so vile,
Not knowing he’d started a new style,
He retired to his cold stony bed.

The man who hated ice and fire
And was the world’s most honest liar
Had made the most marvelous creations
That became the crowd’s passions,
Fashions of which they would never tire.

When not to duck

(This is one of those 15-minute poems I used to churn out regularly at one point of time... well I'm capable of doing better than this usually!)

In a tough, tough world,
Where if you stop to gaze,
You will be steamrollered;
You take a moment to laze,
And you will be left in the dust.

But what is even worse,
Is that you will be knocked down
Unless you are careful;
And you will look like a clown
Unless you know when to duck.

Be watchful and wary,
So when someone takes a swing,
You can get out of the way.
But the more important thing,
Is to know when not to.

Sometimes you should take a blow,
And also show the other cheek,
When it is from a friend,
And good will is what you seek.
So why create more friction?

Some things are worth more
Than that pain that comes
From not hitting back.
But in the end your heart hums
The tune of happiness.

A Tribute to Paternity

(I wrote this one on Fathers' Day, ages ago. Hopefully putting it up here will give it a part of the immortality that all tributes deserve.)

The pillar of strength
For me to lean on
In times of disappointment,
Frustration, failure or anguish;
Stronger than steel,
Yet softer than cotton,
He is that wonder
Who we call Father.

His reassuring presence
Boosts my confidence.
Ever an inspiration,
He encourages my aspirations.
Caring yet phlegmatic,
Soothing yet candid,
My beacon of hope,
My guiding light,
My friend, philosopher and teacher,
But most of all, my Father.

Father...
The word that evokes feelings
Of affection, respect and confidence;
On this wondrous occasion,
That we call Father's Day,
I submit my tribute to Paternity.