At Heaven’s Gate

This is a poem about two men,

Who died and went to heaven,

And as they waited at the gate,

For St. Peter to judge their fate,

Standing together, in the dock,

To kill time, they began to talk.

“My odds of getting in are slim.”

Said the one called Tricky Jim.

“I’ve lied and thieved, all my life.

Hell! I even cheated on my wife!

And all the while, I enjoyed it too.

Why would they ever let me through?”

“Your odds aren’t as bad as mine.”

Said the one called Mr. Swine.

“But honestly, I just don’t care!

I already know I’m not getting in there.”

By the other’s conviction, irked, just a tad,

Jim asked, “What did you do that was so bad?”

“I’m a lawyer” said Mr. Swine with a frown

Jim said “Buddy, you win this one hands down.”

-Kartik Shastry 

...And They Listen

He struts to the podium, with a smirk on his face

His portentous persona, utterly devoid of grace

He reads the crowd well, and so knows what to say

A greedy guide, who has led his flock astray

And it shocks me, to watch this lot cheer

His revolting sermon, of hatred and fear

I know that these do not make a great nation, greater

And he who disagrees, is likely a bigot and a traitor

But how reason by so many, is so easily forsaken

My faith in humanity, now stands utterly shaken

Yet, I continue to hope, that he miserably fails

And that common sense, eventually prevails

-Kartik Shastry

The Monster Within Me

There’s a monster within me,

Who doggedly gnaws and scrapes

At the very innards of my being,

The prison of my docility, to escape

Knowing that patience has its limits,

I try my best to keep it chained

But the number of fools around me,

Ensure that the binds remain strained

As it feeds on my stowed wrath,

It keeps growing ever stronger

And I get this foreboding sense,

My control may not last much longer

And the moment, the chains break

I'll become a slave to the monster inside,

My body, left a mere husk,

By the monster’s will, shall abide

I may seem mad for writing this verse

But it's the only way I can make you see

'Cause believe me, when I tell you this,

No one fears this monster more than me

- Kartik Shastry

No Adieu

It isn't easy for me to let go.

Believe me, I mean every word I say.

Forced by life, I've made a choice though,

Which makes it impossible for me to stay.

Maybe, I’ll move on to better places.

Yet, it will never feel the same as this.

New surroundings and different faces,

Everything about here, I shall truly miss.

But to the old ones and the new,

I’d say, that this world is small indeed.

So I will not, for now, be bidding adieu.

All you have to do is call me, whenever you need.

And do think of me once in a while.

Reminisce all the good times we’ve had.

If someday my memory, makes you smile,

Know, that somewhere, thinking of you, I’m just as glad.

- Kartik Shastry

Saragarhi

Let us remember the battle of Saragarhi,

And that one fateful September day,

When a vast sea of Pashtun warriors,

Was, by a handful of Sikhs, held at bay.

Greatly outnumbered, though they were,

And knew that an option was flight,

Each of the one and twenty Sikhs,

Willingly resolved, to stand and fight.

And while brave, in their own right,

The Pashtuns, misjudged the Sikh men,

Several proceeding to their slaughter,  

Like lambs entering a lion’s den.

As wave upon wave, crashed against the post,

Threats and offers, in plenty, were made,

Yet, so resilient was the defenders' will,

Until the end, they remained unswayed.

With courage, as their one true master,

And honor, as their steadfast guide,

They faced their enemy with fervor,

And died for their principles with pride.

Aware all along, how the odds were stacked,

Instead of fleeing they chose to succumb,

And through a show of their unparalleled valor,

Taught history, how legends, men become.

 - Kartik Shastry 

Unconscionable Advice or The Purported Unimportance of Choice

Each moment of existence,

From waking to slumber

Is replete with choices,

Of an umpteen number

Ranging from significant,

To the utterly mundane

From evoking happiness,

To provoking disdain

And constantly we bother

About choosing what’s best

As though, this life

Is a continuous test

Having thought about it,

Very hard for very long

I, for one, am convinced,

No choice is right or wrong

For, what is wrong or right,

But a notion in one’s mind?

Never black or white,

But a grey streak, ill defined

Certainly, some choices,

Do cause suffering and pain

But it’s hard to ignore,

That each loss heralds a gain

So, though you make your choices

And your choices make you,

“How you choose doesn’t matter”

Is also equally true

- Kartik Shastry

A Husband's L(W)ife

You’re unreasonable when you’re reasonable;
Wrong, when you know you’re right
And the slightest hint of protest;
Is a prelude to a verbal fight

You’re forced to do what she does;
For your interests, are a waste of time
But if sometimes you beg to differ;
Your dissent is akin to a crime

Her money is only her money;
But your money is not your own
And her tendency of rubbing this in;
Often in humiliation, makes you groan

Yet when trouble rears its ugly head;
And you’re uncertain of what to do
You’re assured that you’re not alone;
For she’ll always be there for you

In utter darkness, she embodies a spark;
A beacon of strength in a relentless storm
She’s your advisor, caretaker, your truest friend;
She is love, in its purest form

So, marriage has its pros and cons;
Just as is, for all other things in life
Though, you’ll do well to mark my words;
No matter what, always cherish your darling wife

-  Kartik Shastry