The Conqueror

Trouncing odds of the greatest scale

For decades on end, journeyed had I

Conquering realms, wherever I went

Becoming a man, none dared defy

And yet this day, before me, it stands

Seeming to goad, with an unblinking eye

Undaunted, I return, the stare of my foe

The zenith of a mountain, proud and high

With assured resolve, my mount, I urge

Knowing full well, of safer ways, in sight

Solely with an intent, to inflict vengeance

On the insolent peak, for trying my might

As we advance, it unleashes cruel wrath

Veiled tentacles of frost, venture to Bite

And still I press on, unwilling to succumb

Though my beast suffers severest plight

Eventually, its trembling legs giving way

Down a deep chasm, I begin to tumble

And as the bottom of the abyss, appears

I realize, I die a man, far more humble

-Kartik Shastry

Sleep Cycle

Having tried and tried

To set my sleep cycle right

I, finally giving up hope

Resolved to somehow cope

So now I stay awake all night

Dream while outside it’s light

And when friends see me, they often thunder

“Your style of living is a serious blunder!”

But what once seemed a problem, to me has become a boon

For no longer do I love the sun nearly as much as the moon

-Kartik Shastry

Castle in the Air

For many a long years, sans, any pain or despair

I tried and tried again, to build a castle, in the air

For bricks, I sought to use, dreams of mine, which soared

And them, to firmly cement, unswerving hope, I poured

But each time, the castle, would crumble to the floor

And it seemed to require, a tinge of something more

Early, one beautiful morn, upon building a castle, tall

To my surprise, I discovered, that this one, did not fall

As high above, it hovered, I couldn’t help but wonder

Why did this castle, endure, when others fell asunder?

Suddenly, upon me it dawned, why I had finally, prevailed

For, to add ample labour in the blend, I had, hitherto failed

-Kartik Shastry

The Three Wishes

Gone astray in the desert,

Perishing of hunger and thirst

On a quest for deliverance,

In a place so desolately cursed

I happened to come across,

Half buried in the sand

A lamp of gleaming gold,

Which I stroked with my hand

And from within, arose a Djinn,

Heralded by a few swishes

Terrifyingly, to me, bellowing,

‘Master you have three wishes!’

Pretending to seem unperturbed,

I sternly said aloud

‘Djinn, at once, cure my famish’,

To which he merely bowed

Lo! I found, before me,

A feast and a beautiful Oasis around

I drank and ate to my heart’s content,

As the Djinn stood sans a sound

Then for my second I wished,

To be conveyed to the nearest city

Though I noticed the Djinn’s eyes,

Replete with puzzlement and pity

The very next instant transformed,

My dismal surroundings utterly, I found

As I Stood in the heart of a metropolis,

Which, did not fail, to greatly astound

As I stirred, to make a wish,

This one, my third and last

I was interrupted by the Djinn,

For a question, he politely asked

“Why, when dear Master,

Anything, you could have sought

Did you wish for a mere banquet and,

For yourself, to a city, to be brought?”

Reflecting over his query,

I said “Djinn! Quit trying to Balk!

Now, grant me three more wishes,

Then, maybe, we’ll talk”

-Kartik Shastry

The Traveller

On my way, one dreary morn

To a place, of little import

I came across, a traveller, lorn

My company, who, ventured to court

Exuding a demeanour, gently polite

And seeming, to be headed my way

I promptly expressed, with keen delight

“I’ll tread along, until I may!”

Soon my choice, proved itself wise

For my spirits were stirred, galore

Exulting in laughter, lamenting in sighs

As we talked, of life and lore

When the Sun, prepared to set

There arose, a fork in the road

Where the traveller, halted and said

“Farewell friend, yonder’s my abode”

As we parted, within, I sensed pain

And a wish, for a chance meeting, grew

But, never would I see the traveller again

In my heart, I already knew

- Kartik Shastry

Rise!

Years before, we struggled for her

And, in her cause, lost many a life

Yet now, we let, her present, rot

A blatant cuss, to our noble strife

Her beauty lost, her grace defiled

Seeds of decadence her leaders sow

And alas! We stand like forms of straw

Feebly watching, her misery grow

Unhindered, they stand tall

Branding her, an epitome of shame

Ghastly pests, despised by all

Harvesting for her, tarnished fame

Yet people, with apathy you suffer their wrong!

Blind, that this is your greatest failing

For unless you rise and wreak their fall

Your nation, shall forever, remain ailing

-Kartik Shastry

A Year Gone By...

There goes another year

Slyly smiling, as it passes me by

All I can do is watch and wonder

Do I laugh or do I cry?

I feebly try telling myself

“Many shall come and many shall go”

But then a voice inside my head whispers

“Well, you never know”

And as Joyous people around me scream

“Ring out the old! Ring in the new!”

I mournfully ask myself

Do I have to let go? For I may have so few

-Kartik Shastry