A tribute to a real woman

To love without conditions
To embrace without shame
To rise above barriers man-made
And live without guilt

To share without a thought
To lend without expectations
To care for humanity
And show what love really means

To touch poor hearts
To nourish them with hope
To nudge them into action
So they live a better life

To look beyond colour
To speak through actions
To listen without judging
When they look towards you

To live a life worthy
To open many eyes
To spread love where it's lacking
And making many see God

In frailty, you showed strength
In poverty, you saw rich hearts
In sickness, you were there
Through your life, you showed me the way.

Snowflake

Sparkling in the sunshine
Pristine, white and pure
I am a snowflake there
High up above them all

Clear and shining,
Refreshing and rippling
Melting at the sun’s request
Charging down beneath

The vigor of youth
Glorious power
As I hurtle down
Rocks be damned

Youth left behind
I start bloating up
As I lose my strength
And take life as it comes

I go with the flow
Accept all the muck
The rot and garbage
Flung daily at me

Vile and defiled
I’m black at heart
No life in me
Just feel like giving up

But nature has her rules
Being born a river
I must flow on and on
Till the day I merge with the mighty ocean

Will I be cleansed?
I do not know
Or will the ocean refuse me?
Saying I’m dirty, tainted and vile

I started out pure
Gurgling and laughing
Up there in the mountains

Deep down below, I still am.

Identity

As a baby, you picked me up


Held me upside down


And while I bawled


You started your discrimination






At school, you brought in caste


Sub-caste, creed, religion


When Gopi, Mathew, Iqbal


And Melissa were just my friends





When I went to college


You made me a professional


While all I wanted was to sing


Dance, paint and read





When I looked for a job


You looked at my skills


And how you could use me


To achieve your ends





When I got married


You put a price on me


Made me a commodity


And walked all over my dignity





And when I grow old


You will make me a senior


label me unfit


And treat me special





When will you ever learn


That I am me


And will always be me


Despite whatever you say or do



M V J Simon

Time just walks

An easy pace


Relaxed and calm


Time just walks


Arms swinging by








Not a worry


Not a care


Time just walks


Arms swinging by






Step by step


An even pace


Time just walks


And leaves you by




Run if you want


Relax for a while


Time just walks


A never ending walk






Let him be


Let him walk


Just walk beside


And be his friend






Never overtake


Nor lag behind


Just walk beside


And be his friend






HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

A Poem by MVJ Simon

Rebel

I like “No”


The way it sounds





I like arguments


For the sake of it





I like to defy


For the fun of it





I like to fight


For the heck of it





I like to be rude


For no reason





I like my sneer


For warding away people





I like to shock


For the sake of it





I like to ridicule


For the annoyance it leaves





I like to be different


For the thrill of it





I like the attention


That’s why I do all this





I like some love


Give me a hug please!