The unmistakable scent of Deli Coffee
Fills the bus
You know it’s coffee
And you know it’s gonna be weak

Still, it’s morning
Late to work
The person in back of you has it
And you wish you had some

.90 for regular, 1.00 for flavored
It’s gonna get your eyes open
Maybe not like the hipster crap for 4.00
Deli Coffee is still value caffeine King

On the way to railway station–
a sweet passionate voice flew in,
“Have a fun with me,”
a commercial solicitation of a line-girl
with an erotic embellishment
and a youthful gesture of submission.

I had never been to their parlour
where injured and abandoned hearts
rush for a little plaster and shelter.

To my dormant lustful instinct,
it seemed to be an passionate summon,
or an inquisitiveness pinched me too
which slowed down my walking speed,
so I stopped and looked at her.

Was it a miracle or the spiritual power
of a God fearing who ruled over my
body, mind and soul?
resisting me from any beacon of hell.

As I looked at her, surprisingly
I witnessed my beloved wife on her face,
that sacred image and the blue eyes
where my dreams were bloomed.

A wave of shamefulness rushed
and floated away my shameless instinct,
my trembling honesty was rejuvenated
and the trust survived its purity.

I turned myself to railway platform–
my regular semi-destination for the
final-destination, my home- my divine shelter
where my family is growing up.

“Hello sir, I don’t demand more,”
same temptation with dramatic emotion
which enchanted me to look at her again.

Amazingly, I found her with my children
by her either sides, watching my step
which acted as a final stroke on my soul.

Suddenly I felt sick,
and started toddling for a while,
“Oh God save me,” an importunity came out
and I centralised all forces on my feet
to walk gently towards the platform.
the train arrived in on time
and took me to home- my final destination

When I was just another first year
Scared, nervous and ignorant
I used to hide under your great wings
Where I found
Warmth and assurance
We were so intimate
My friends used to call me by your name
A sweet nickname
I still remember
But you were old
Old and unfashionable
They couldn’t change your
Old-fashioned ways
So they got rid of you
And
Built a new library
To which I now go
Since I have to read
But do you know
How much I still care
How many times did I visit you?
Now made empty
My eyes filled with tears
I hope, my old love, you feel
How much I still care…

Check out girls
Delivery People
People who do stuff for you
Do they get your vibe or your thanks?
This holidays season
Try to think beyond stuff
And appreciate the people
Who make your lives function
Many are undocumented
Nameless faces in the crowd
Came here for a better life
Sending money home to distant lands
They are community, they are real
Appreciate them a little
Take the time
To say THANKS…

Each and every atom and molecule–
the architects of the earthly lives
look for the destination
set by an unknown autocrat
and make them mindful to their own business.

Indeed, this is just a daily routine–
the sun rises,
and all plunge into the time-river.
Water flows down
and touches the bottom
to penetrate it for flowing
down again to the deepest
hollow of the earth.

Air blows up
and flies to touch the sky–
the ceiling of capability and wishes
to pierce into it to fly
up again to the highest cavity of the space.
Maybe, they are destined
to somewhere else
and for some other purposes.

Look, Life can’t flow down
or can’t blow and fly up
but still it steals silently
the fuel from water and air
to survive as an opportunist in nature.

Love is divine and untouchable to selfishness
nevertheless, someone appears in life
in quest of a company
and a life needs too
to tame an enchanting illusion
in the name of love
and it loves and is loved in earthly style.
Maybe, heart can feel
and soul also can perceive,
a needy and greedy body
with an opportunist life
can only trade but not love
so long we are not adopted by Liala and Majnu

Scented Letter
Wanting for you centers me
Like lovers lost in battle
In some foreign land
We wait, wonder and ponder
For the next communique
Text, Email, Chat
What I wouldn’t give
For a scented letter
Your perfume filling the room
Old fashioned romance
Lust and love
Burning in my brain
Fire in my loins
Desire is our landscape
Love is the calling

your mouth is sublimely sensual
your lips invite me home
your embrace pulls me in
and leaves me wanting more

quiet streets
walking my dog
neighbors nodding “good morning”
newspapers on the stoop
wet leaves
coffee brewing
sun breaking through
cascading between buildings
perfect winter air
crisp and inviting
the day awaits you
all the promise
make it happen…