Winter

Winter, you are the queen of all seasons

Ethereal and beautiful for so many reasons

The shedding of leaves beckons your birth

As the joyful wind gently whispers in mirth

When you grow stronger, with age and time

All things witness, your splendour, sublime

And even the mighty sun, forced to relent

Rests hidden aft the clouds, humbly bent

Then comes along, your fair sibling, snow

Making all things exquisite, pale and glow

Transforming this world, into a realm divine

A glimpse of heaven in an earthly confine

Tired and old, then you gradually, wane

But even at your loss, there is very little pain

For winter, you benevolent harbinger of spring  

Even in your demise, rife blossoms you bring

And once you depart, your return all await

As, with time, summer and rain also abate

Then one day, the miserable shower is gone

Lo and behold!  Winter, you arise again, reborn

-Kartik Shastry 

The Ward

Such a wicked place, I wonder

A silent witness to lives asunder

Wretched stench of death in the air

Mingled with cries of pain and despair

And helpless Angels, in fluttering gowns

Floating, bearing sombre frowns

Who often upon me, bestow a glare

Stressing my pointless presence there

With immense strength, I barely quell

The urge to flee, this embodiment of hell

For forced, I am here to stay

As a dear friend, withers away

Sorrow and fear in thoughts abound

Born of suffering that thrives around

And as towards sleep, I begin to stray

For swift respite, I quietly pray

Awoken at midnight, by a ghastly wail

Cringing, as I sense myself turn pale

I open my eyes, feel fear rebound

Seeing, my friend’s, panting mound

As I stare, with a gasp, his earthly bonds sever

Weakly I watch his soul, depart forever

Trailed by a lifeless gaze, profound

A sight which, my mind, shall eternally hound

As they gather his earthly remains

I hope, salvation, his spirit attains

Then solemnly, walking out the door

I cannot help but, myself, abhor

For as my friend endured torment

All I did was, shamelessly lament

And, suddenly I realize, pain swelling my core

His death granted, my loathsome wish of before

-Kartik Shastry 

The Martyr

There was once a young man

Whose life with violence, was fraught

Overflowing with regret and anger

Vengeance, his distressed heart sought

But latent his hatred, within him, lay

For he lacked the means to attain his end

Though, very cunningly, biding its time

To avenge his pride, that was yet to mend

On his way home one early morn,

Accosted he was, by a bigot in disguise

Saying he was a messenger of God,

Claiming himself to be wisest of the wise

Preaching a sordid lesson of death

He alleged, damaged pride could be mended

Wanting the man to be a martyr

He declared, “Only with violence, can violence be ended”

With the sermon over

His hatred fiercely incited, the man found

Reasoning against reason,

He sensed rage within, vigorously begin to pound

His judgement clouded

Accepting the bigot’s words, as solemn truth

To silence his seething heart

The man impulsively resolved, to martyr his youth

Then resuming his walk home

He came across a crowded market place

When arose a flicker of doubt

As he rested his eyes on a baby’s untainted face

Suddenly his heart melting within

He stopped in his tracks, compelled to wonder

Was vengeance truly necessary?

Or was he just committing a dreadful blunder?

Slowly realization dawned

That such revenge was a worthless fate

He finally understood

That all hate does is breed more hate

His mind, at ease

Heart at peace, he decided to move on

A sudden flash and thunder

The light from his eyes, was forever gone

- Kartik Shastry

For Minni

A pure gleam that lit our lives, 
Can shine brightly, no more 
As its soul, has left its abode, 
Amidst the heavens, to soar 


And though we hurt for our loss, 
We are forced to bid adieu 
Destined to cherish, for our lives, 
Our loving memories of you 


-Kartik Shastry

Nature's Splendour

Oh! How much I yearn, to breathe
The pristine air, of a meadow blooming
Adorned, a plenty, by droplets of dew
Which rest atop, flowers perfuming

In peace, to hear the mellow calls
Of song birds, I furtively long
And to heed the whispering wind
As unfettered, it drifts along

I crave to feel, the satin stream
As it mirthfully, caresses my being
And then to trail, on its course
When it attempts, in haste, fleeing

This and more, my soul seeks
Alas! I but, possess a trice
Such infinite gifts you have to offer
Nature, a lifetime won’t suffice

-Kartik Shastry

Panspermia

So many beautiful wonders we see

As through space, we silently float

From distance vast, akin debris

To a desolate world, still remote

Isles of lights, dazzling galore

Amidst an eternal ocean of void

Stars, planets, moons and more

Though for life, utterly devoid

As that is the duty, we now so bear

Our sole charge, our future to sow

And when young, for it to care

Then our wisdom on it, to bestow

For indeed soon, will come the day

When our abode shall finally wane

And, though we are so far away

Through us, our kind shall remain

Thus, now striving, our utmost to cope

We silently journey, into the deep

Of someday reaching our goal, we hope

So life elsewhere, we may yet reap

-Kartik Shastry

Time and Perception

It is said, that the mightiest is time

For none else are able, to alter all

And as the many clocks restlessly tick

Fortunes change and aspirations fall

Sans mercy, the juggernaut lumbers

Under its bulk, trampling many a life

All servants of punctuality and haste

Their hopes of bliss, begetting strife

Yet, time is by no means, invincible

As its might derives from perception

For man, its inventor, regrettably is

A pitiful slave of his own conception

So if his own ruler, he yearns to be

His view of time, man must forsake

For upon becoming, free of its grip

To an unlived life, he shall awake

-Kartik Shastry