My 2019

In the cold winter mornings, seeds of self doubt crept into my numbing mind,

a new year began – the last in the decade of an ever testing kind.

Great enthusiasm matched with even greater failures,

But life went on, unaware of the abyss that lurks and lures.

A self realized lust for travel intertwined with a curious quest;

I journeyed into the ancient realms of yore, at my humble and humorous best.

I was a part of a raging huge crowd, yet I prized my solitude.

Between beautiful dreams and harsh realities, I moved seamlessly with a weird attitude.

What changes now? Nothing but a new calendar and a fancy new year with a rhythmic zing,

New experiences - some good, some bad, - to be faced without a sting. 

But, all the lessons learnt would not be forgotten, as I bid adieu to the bygone year;

and start afresh - my flirty tryst with twenty twenty, old and wise but still so young and foolish - with a silent cheer!

The Enlightened One

Temptations of Mara Panel - Gautama Buddha in Bhumisparsha Mudra, cave 26 of Ajanta - c.5th Century CE

(Based on the 'Temptations of Mara' panel inside Cave 26 - dated c.5th Century CE, of Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra,  which depicts Gautama Buddha in his famous 'Bhumisparshamudra', in deep penance, ignoring the threatening goblins and the tempting daughters of the demon Mara)

An army of goblins created a reckless ruckus,

their shrill deafening voices filled with ugly roughness. 

Curses, trumpets and drums failed to dampen the spirit

of the lone mortal, set to attain a blameless merit.

To that man, an avalanche of slander meant nothing.

Then - bejeweled and bewitching, they apperared, dipped in beauty, shaking;

the beautiful daughters of the great demon set to entice him,

yet they've failed beautifully, their pride taking a nasty skim.

At the cusp of glory, the man waited and bid his time,

Neither temptations nor warnings could dampen the ambition so selfless and prime.

Centuries later;

when pressures all around seize my senses, I think of this panel -  

of the enlightened one, the mortal turned divine, before I turn into a vandal.