Category: Poetry

Picture Credit – Joshua Cripps https://visualwilderness.com/fieldwork/photograhing-reflections-meets-eye

Often lost in myriad thoughts we roam,

Not broken by even the loudest noise;

Life, as fragile as sea foam,

Stop, take time to listen to your inner voice.

In days of trouble and woe,

Doubt not self, nor close the door;

Despair will be your worst foe

Be aware that for every vast sea, there is a shore.

The lights are bright, vibrant and clear,

If you let your mind speak to you;

Never fret or worry or fear,

For reflection will always guide you through.

© Rahul Sitaraman, 2024. All rights reserved. Views expressed are personal except where cited, and written without any malice or ill-intention. i can be reached at me@rahulsitaraman.info and rahulsitaraman@hotmail.com

There are times when certain people just waltz into your life and leave a mark (a good one) forever.

It ain’t an easy task finding a friend
It ain’t an easy task setting a trend

It ain’t so simple to say a few words
Or even make sure that you are heard

Among all this chaos and confusion
You always seem to have the right solution

Whether a stroke on the green or a move on the floor
Whether a volley on the court or maybe something more

Your versatility will never cease to amaze
Neither will your poise, your panache and grace

As the clock ticks towards the final few
I wish wellness, prosperity and joy unto you

This poem is inspired by the book Who Will Cry When You Die? by Robin S Sharma (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/289029). The very title got me thinking about a lot of little things in life and it culminated in these few verses.

Why, do you think birds fly?
Why, do you think the leaves rustle?

Do you wonder why the sky is blue,
Or why the waves wash ashore the way they do?

Do you get time to pause and ponder,
Or stare into the wild blue yonder?

Why do you think the stars twinkle at night,
Or why man ever wanted to take flight?

If you wonder why the fishes can’t speak,
Or why birds don’t have a mouth but a beak!?

Have you the time to hear a solitary sigh!
Or have you ever thought…
Who will cry when you die?

© Rahul Sitaraman, 2023. All rights reserved. Views expressed are personal except where cited, and written without any malice or ill-intention. i can be reached at me@rahulsitaraman.info and rahulsitaraman@hotmail.com

The Sky may seem bluer
And the Grass greener

There’s something in the air
Which you’ve ne’er seen’r

Short of four decades
You’ve served with pride

Everything does recede
Even the rising tide

As you walk out today
With your head held high

Our necks crane upwards
As we look up to the sky

A friend, mentor and more
You’ve been to scores of younglings

With all our heart, mind and soul
We sit you excellent tidings

This poem was composed for Commodore Aseem Anand on his superannuation from the Indian Navy after 38.5 years of glorious service.

© Rahul Sitaraman, 2023. All rights reserved. Views expressed are personal except where cited, and written without any malice or ill-intention. i can be reached at me@rahulsitaraman.info and rahulsitaraman@hotmail.com

With a few hundred men he takes on the deep, As their kith and kin ashore they sleep; His castle of steel ploughs a new way, As winds howl and the bridge takes the spray

His are the shoulders the burden that bear, The might of the weapon or the red flare; You know not what goes on inside of his ‘ead, As the ship leaves the haven of the roadstead

The engines whine and sizzle and bang, Eight bells and all’s well the Quartermaster rang; He sits on his chair with eyes fixed afar, Lest something escapes the sweep of the radar

You cannot fathom the deep of his mind, Nor the talent the prowess and courage of his kind; With him at the helm, crew knows nothin’ll happn, But it’s lonely at the top, cos he is the Cap’n.

© Rahul Sitaraman, 2020. All rights reserved. Views expressed are personal except where cited, and written without any malice or ill-intention. i can be reached at me@rahulsitaraman.info and rahulsitaraman@hotmail.com

Cover photo courtesy Indian Navy Quarterdeck 2019