I am not a poet

I am not a  poet

I just write

And scribble sometimes

I am not a poet

I just write poetry

Sometimes the words flow

Sometimes they don't 

But still I write

I am not a poet

But this year I managed 

30 days, 30 poems and a prize

The World Around Me

Todays poem is inspired by the cute stuff around me . The words in the poem are the name of the toya of my daughter 

The world around me

Animal Puzzles

Iconic Monuments

Mastermind, Punishment

Shopping cart

Doctor set 

Soft dogs and Teddys

Colourful crayons and books

I am in a wonderland

What else do I need 

Believe

 Believe in

Yourself

Your ability

Your capability

Your strengths

Your greatness

Just Believe It

To -do List

It's the long weekend

I want to relax

Let me just read

And have my tea in peace

But.....

The groceries must be bought

The week must be planned 

But...

 It's the long weekend 

And I want to relax

But...

I look at my to -do list

And then think let me finish this 

The long weekend is gone

When can I relax?

Alone in a crowd

So many buildings

So many shops

So many people around 

Yet no one to talk

So many relatives

So many get togethers

So many WhatsApp groups

Yet no one to share thoughts

We are in the midst of people

Yet so lonely

Maybe we need to listen more

Lend each other a helping hand

And not send just Good Morning messages every day

A leisurely morning

I woke up early

And enjoyed the chirping of birds

Looked down from the balcony

And said hi to morning walkers

Savoured the tea leisurely

With a book in my hand

With no hurry to go anywhere

I was so calm

Tring Tring the bell rang

What's this noise I thought

It woke me up

It was all a dream, not in reality 

उत्सव जगण्याचा

गोडं वरण भात त्यावर तुपाची धार
आजीच्या गोधडीचा उबदार सहवास
चैत्रातील हळदीकुंकू आंबेडाळ खात
आमरस पुरीच्या पंगती लग्न सोहळयात
उत्सव जगण्याचा साजरा करूया आज

पहिला पाऊस आणि मातीचा सुवास
कांदा भाजी खात आनंद लुटूया आज
श्रावणात हिरवळ सगळीकडे बहारदार
येतीलच आता गणपती बाप्पा घरात
उत्सव जगण्याचा साजरा करूया आज

आपट्याची पानं देऊया दसऱ्यात
लाडू चकली खाऊन दिवाळी साजरी करूया दणक्यात
भेटूया भावंडांना करूया धमाल
उत्सव जगण्याचा साजरा करूया आज

संक्रांतीला गुळपोळी होळीला पुरणाची पोळी
खाण्यापिण्याचे वैविध्य ही आपल्या संस्कृतीची देणी
लहान थोरांसोबत राहूया सुखदुःखात एक
सण असो व आजारपण आपलं कुटुंब राहील एकीने
उत्सव जगण्याचा साजरा करूया नेहेमीप्रमाणे 

Hold my hand

She sat besides me

Talking about her life

Her friends, Her relatives

Her village, Her school

We are in 2023

She was still in 1960s

Hold my hand , she said

I held her hand tight

Her face brightened

As she recognised the touch 

An old pair of jeans

I kept the jeans behind in my cupboard
Hoping to fit in some time later

Diet, walking, I tried everything
Lose  a few inches more and I would fit in

I lost some weight and gained some
Checked the jeans if it fit
But sigh! It didn't

It's been 10 years
This old pair of jeans lies in the cupboard
I live on hope
Someday I will get thin
And fit in this old pair of jeans

Hey Siri!

Hey Siri!
Tell me if my nanny will take an off day
Coz I can't work if she is away

Hey Siri!
Tell me if my daughter will fall ill
And I need to reschedule my travel till she is well

Hey Siri!
Tell me when will my daughter stop crying
And give me the patience to bear this whining

Hey Siri!
Stop telling me about the temperature and facts
Pls help me in decision making ASAP!

A stay ( work?) at home mom

How are you always tired

When you sit at home all day

She sighed!

Looked at the vessels

And The laundry

Thought about the  kids studies 

Planned the  dinner

And continued doing what she had to do

With no time to sit around and answer back anyways

Wonders of science

A button is all that is needed

To go from darkness to light

A call is all it takes 

To make two ends of the world meet

A prick is all it takes

To immunize against some tough illnesses

A pill is all it takes

To feel better after sicknesses

Wonders of science abound

Human life they enrich all around 

Click

Where are the specs?

She searched them everywhere

In the drawer , in the bag

On the table , in the rack

Her daughter wanted to take a pic

While clicking the selfie , it clicked to her

That the specs were where they were meant to be

Vacation times

 

Ek do teen, I want to dance like a queen

Ice cream I want to eat

Pepsi cola  I ate yesterday 

Vacation times are fun and play

I dream of a chocolate cha bangla*

Playing with friends all day and doing Halla gulla

Eating ,playing all day

Vacation times are fun and play

* bungalow made of chocolate 

With you Always

A palindrome poem--

Always Yours

Good times, Bad times

Successes, Failures

Good health, Sickness

Yours Always

Even if times change

Always Yours

Sickness, Good Health

Failures, Succeses

Times Bad, Times Good

Yours Always 

Marathon

Training she started

Gear she bought

A group of friends for  running company

Yet she couldn't reach the finish line after all

What's the use of training 

When you can't finish the race

People kept on saying

But she continued at her pace

Life is not a sprint ,but a marathon

Running a marathon - A test of grit, patience and practice

It's ok to not finish sometimes

But not giving up and continuing the practice

Is what matters in the end

Grown -up friendships

A group of women

From 20s to 70s

Discussing topics ranging from 

Bollywood to politics

Baking to painting

Dancing to reading 

 Styling to fitness

Travelling to parenting

Startup life to corporate 

A group of women 

Knit even more close during Covid lockdown

Sharing covid management tips and resources

Along with recipes for dalgona coffee and their bakes

A group of women

From fresh grads to CEOs

From enterpreneurs to corporate employees

From singers and  dancers to painters 

 

A group of women

Not knowing each other in person at first

But bought together by whatsapp

Sharing happy and sad moments with each other

Cheering for each other's happiness

Lifting each other up in sadness

A group of women

When we actually meet offline

Feels like not the first meet 

But that we have known each other forever 

A group of women

That is living example of grown -up friendships being possible

Cheers to the tribe!

Privilege

E-comm companies  can come and open a warehouse in our home

When they have the warehouse in our home

Then you don't need to order online anymore

No need to answer the doorbell when they arrive 

No need  to give OTPs,

No need to wait for the return pick-up to arrive 

No need for you to hide parcels anymore

Tired I am , giving OTPs and answering doorbells

Parcels you stop , I am fed up as well!

From,

 A senior citizen mom frustrated at the amount of parcels getting delivered at home 

Parcel time

E-comm companies  can come and open a warehouse in our home

When they have the warehouse in our home

Then you don't need to order online anymore

No need to answer the doorbell when they arrive 

No need  to give OTPs

No need to wait for the return pick-up to arrive 

No need for you to hide parcels anymore

Tired I am , giving OTPs and answering doorbells

Parcels you stop , I am fed up as well!

From,

 A senior citizen mom frustrated at the amount of parcels getting delivered at home 

Why has nobody told me this before

 Today’s poem is a poem made out of a compilation of book names. Most of these books are aimed to inspire women or are women focused. I am recently reading the book “Why has nobody told me this before” and this poem is inspired by the title of this amazing book. I have read many other books on the list and all of them are amazing. 

At the end of this poem , I have listed all the books mentioned in the poem along with their author names and Amazon links

 

So here goes- Why has nobody told me this before

 

Why has nobody told me this before
How women rise
Educated, Indomitable, Untamed - Lean In
Touch the Sky , Shine Bright

 

Why has nobody told me this before
Nice girls don't get the corner office
Career Rules - Own it, Believe it , Daring greatly
Ask for it, The moment of Lift

 

Why has nobody told me this before
You are a Badass
More than enough
Be that Unicorn
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Why has nobody told me this before
The most powerful woman in the room is you
Equal , yet different 
Lady, you're the Boss

 

-       Dhanashree Joglekar 

 

Why has nobody told me this before  by Dr Julie Smith -  https://www.amazon.in/Why-Nobody-Told-This-Before/dp/0241529719

 

How Women Rise – By Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

 

Indomitable By Arundhati Bhatacharya- https://www.amazon.in/Indomitable-Working-Womans-Notes-Leadership/dp/935489450X

 

Untamed by Glennon Doyle - https://www.amazon.in/Untamed-Stop-pleasing-start-living/dp/1785043358/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1JABBZJV3S598&keywords=untamed&qid=1681312474&s=books&sprefix=untame%2Cstripbooks%2C321&sr=1-1

 

Educated by Tara Westover - https://www.amazon.in/Educated-international-bestselling-Tara-Westover/dp/0099511029/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5P775CY6EZOK&keywords=Educated&qid=1681312515&s=books&sprefix=educate%2Cstripbooks%2C273&sr=1-1

 

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg - https://www.amazon.in/Lean-Women-Work-Will-Lead/dp/0753541637/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=59199044856&ext_vrnc=hi&hvadid=596889321252&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9062213&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=14770100098435293764&hvtargid=kwd-300728823784&hydadcr=23610_2222197&keywords=sheryl+sandberg+lean+in&qid=1681312571&sr=8-1

 

Touch the Sky by Rashmi Bansal - https://www.amazon.in/Touch-Sky-Rashmi-Bansal/dp/8194767911/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2H41YC17LVB0T&keywords=Touch+the+sky&qid=1681312641&sprefix=touch+the+sk%2Caps%2C322&sr=8-1

 

 

Shine Bright by Rashmi Bansal - https://www.amazon.in/Shine-Bright-Rashmi-Bansal/dp/9387894649

 

Nice girls don’t get the corner office by Lois P. Frankel https://www.amazon.in/Nice-Girls-Dont-Corner-Office/dp/1455558893/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T8KPS8ORB9CV&keywords=Nice+girls+don%27t+get+the+corner+office&qid=1681312679&s=books&sprefix=nice+girls+don+t+get+the+corner+office%2Cstripbooks%2C520&sr=1-1

 

Career Rules by Sonya Dutta Choudhury https://www.amazon.in/Career-Rules-Choose-Right-Life-ebook/dp/B071S6NJNT/ref=sr_1_3?crid=12QLPGVU9V4S3&keywords=Career+rules&qid=1681312747&s=books&sprefix=career+rule%2Cstripbooks%2C324&sr=1-3

 

Own It by Aparna Jain - https://www.amazon.in/Own-Leadership-Lessons-Women-Who/dp/935177791X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3TGNYPBDT06T&keywords=Own+it&qid=1681312777&s=books&sprefix=own+i%2Cstripbooks%2C270&sr=1-3

 

Believe it by Jamie Kern Lima https://www.amazon.in/Believe-How-Go-Underestimated-Unstoppable/dp/1982157801/ref=sr_1_3?crid=UHFKDFH80OYW&keywords=Believe+it&qid=1681312815&s=books&sprefix=believe+it%2Cstripbooks%2C325&sr=1-3

 

Daring greatly by Brene Brown https://www.amazon.in/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/0241257409/ref=sr_1_2?crid=30N1CCQFH78I3&keywords=daring+greatly+by+brené+brown&qid=1681312871&s=books&sprefix=Daring+Greatl%2Cstripbooks%2C374&sr=1-2

 

Ask for it by Linda Babcock  https://www.amazon.in/Ask-Women-Power-Negotiation-Really/dp/0553384554/ref=sr_1_2?crid=BKERROFVVWDK&keywords=Ask+for+it&qid=1681312906&s=books&sprefix=ask+for+i%2Cstripbooks%2C270&sr=1-2

 

The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates - https://www.amazon.in/Moment-Lift-Empowering-Women-Changes/dp/1529005515/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IA6LGU83F2UL&keywords=the+moment+of+lift&qid=1681312977&s=books&sprefix=the+moment+of+lif%2Cstripbooks%2C353&sr=1-1

 

You are a Badass by Jen Sincero  https://www.amazon.in/You-are-Badass-Doubting-Greatness/dp/1473649528/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1HWZV1714D52V&keywords=You+are+a+Badass&qid=1681313019&s=books&sprefix=%2Cstripbooks%2C264&sr=1-3

 

More than Enough by Elaine Welteroth - https://www.amazon.in/More-Than-Enough-Claiming-Matter/dp/0525561587

 

Be that Unicorn by Jenny Block - https://www.amazon.in/Be-That-Unicorn-Magic-Truth/dp/1642501840/ref=sr_1_2?crid=37TIWWMM3I7VQ&keywords=be+that+unicorn&qid=1681313176&s=books&sprefix=be+that+unicor%2Cstripbooks%2C304&sr=1-2

 

Stay Hungry Stay Foolish by Rashmi Bansal - https://www.amazon.in/Stay-Hungry-Foolish-Rashmi-Bansal/dp/8190453017/ref=sr_1_1?crid=J70B9IPTTRKX&keywords=Stay+Hungry+Stay+Foolish&qid=1681313201&s=books&sprefix=stay+hungry+stay+foolish%2Cstripbooks%2C265&sr=1-1

 

The most powerful woman in the room is you by Lydia Fenet - https://www.amazon.in/Most-Powerful-Woman-Room-You/dp/198210113X

 

Equal Yet Different By Anita Bhogle - https://www.amazon.in/Equal-Yet-Different-Professional-Woman-Hardcover/dp/0670096725/ref=sr_1_1?crid=11Z7M8J95CP2I&keywords=equal+yet+different&qid=1681313275&s=books&sprefix=Equal+Yet+diff%2Cstripbooks%2C289&sr=1-1

 

Lady you’re the boss by Apurva Purohit - https://www.amazon.in/Lady-Youre-Boss-Apurva-Purohit/dp/9388754417/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7TR0G2GIMCET&keywords=lady+you+are+the+boss&qid=1681313296&s=books&sprefix=Lady+You%2Cstripbooks%2C291&sr=1-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother Daughter

For today I am writing a Palindrome Poem. More on what is palindrome poem is here- https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/poetic-form-palindrome-poetry-or-mirror-poem

This poem talks of the transition of us being children of our parents to us being caregivers of our parents. It is not easy to see parents grow old. This transition from been kid of our parents to being parents of our kids is not easy to handle. 

Mom tells daughter-

 "Walk carefully, step slowly"

Time passes fast

And

Fast passes time 

"Slowly step, carefully walk"- 

Daughter tells mom

Kalnirnay

A lot has changed in the last 30 years
But some things are constant year on year
Be it a festival or a wedding
We look at it to find an appropriate date and timing

In the world of everything digital
We still prefer it physical
It's place is in the kitchen by the fridge
We look at it to confirm the 'tith'

Year on year they accumulate in the house
We never give them away, precious knowledge they espouse
In case you haven't guessed it already, it's our very own Kalnirnay
Kalnirnay ghya na, Kalnirnay dya na!

Remember to Forget

Remember to forget the bad 

And keep only the good

Is it as easy as it looks

Or have I misunderstood?

How can I forget the pain and the trouble 

And show my face as if nothing happened

How can I forget their indifference

And carry on my day with non-chalance

How can I forget every single time I was belittled

And now meet them just assuming everything is settled

A wise man then told me-

Remember to forget the bad

Keeping the lessons in your head 

Remember to forget for your own good

And move on with your life as you should

Between

A leaking roof over her head

But her determination unfazed

A single mother of two

She fought her destiny alone

Odd jobs she did

To fund her kids education atleast

Her kids were bright

They won prizes all the time

One fine day , an NGO came to help

Looking at the kids talent, funded their higher education in a big school 

A few years later as the kids did really well

There was no leaking roof over her head

A pucca house was built

Between a leaky roof and a pucca one

Stood years of sweat, hardwork and patience

The second home

I don't know if it's the beautiful weather 

Or is it the yummy Mangalore buns either

Was it the warmth of my hostel staff

That made my two years there memorable after all

Was it to do with two of the best years of my life

With friendships from there lasting for a lifetime

Was it the lovely time spent during my daughter's infant age

While making memories at every stage

Whatever that is

Bangalore you are very very special

Holding a special place in my heart forever

You were my home when I was away from my home

And now I miss you so much 

Stop Dreaming Start Doing

The best time to start is today

Do not wait at all, Go seize the day

It may seem one small step

But over the years they aggregate

From atoms to galaxies it all falls in place

If you can't exercise for an hour

Start with 15 mins a day

Slowly your body adjusts

And results show themselves

If you want to write a book

But don't know where to start

Start with a page daily

That itself leads to 365 pages a year at last

Start today, start you must

One step at a time, go forward you must

Every day please ask yourself, what is the one thing to do to move  closer to your goal

You will move from an atom to galaxy in due course

This is not a love poem

Two men sitting next to each other Holding their hands

Celebrating valentine's day and dancing to the bands

Hoping to get married when their country says they can

But yet This is not a love poem

Two women something much more than friends

From different backgrounds and ages vast apart

time together they spend

Legally not allowed to be a couple ,the law says

But yet This is not a love poem

A man and a woman meet in a park

Like each other and and decide to tie the knot

Does this sound like a love poem at last?

Who decides what's love

Who decides what kind of love is legal

Points to think about

This is not a love poem

This is a poem to think about what is love

- Dhanashree Joglekar

Your Perfume

The aroma of a freshly baked bread

The khamang thalipeeth that spreads its smell

The fragrance of the kesari bhat made

The whiff of fresh parathas that fills in the air

Which is your perfume, can you tell?

The fragrance of Jasmine that spreads far and wide

My sandalwood soap that smells so nice

Old shops remind me of peculiar smells

Newer malls have air fresheners everywhere

Which is your perfume, can you tell?

Perfume or attar what do you prefer

The jasmine gajra is fragrant, oh so natural

Tata Skinn or Dolce&Gabbana , their fragrance stays

Which is your perfume, can you tell?

The Broken Glass

 Just have one glass, nothing will happen

She took just one and it left her hooked

Soon the one became two , two become three

Unsure when to stop, she drank all of them in glee

It became a daily affair

Till..

One day when the glass broke , Not literally but figuratively 

Her body replied to the glass and she rushed to the doc

"Your liver is damaged and it needs to be replaced" he said 

Her world came crashing down in a second

A good lady's liver saved her life

And she never ever took to the glass again in her lifetome

#drink_responsibly

- Dhanashree Joglekar 

Of Moons and Stars

 There is darkness all around

There is absolutely no sound

I am all alone in a faraway land

Longing for a hug from my gran

Looking up above in the sky

The stars and the moon look just the same

Reminding me of my home miles away

It's almost like I am sitting the balcony on my granny's lap

And chatting with her just like times gone by

Of Summer Holidays and Mangoes

 When the exams came to an end

Mangoes my granny used to send

Sweet, juicy , delicious they were all

We devoured them all day long

Summers meant going to grannys

Summer meant meeting cousins

Summer meant eating mangoes and icecream

Summer meant fun

Time passed by fast

Now there are no exams to pass

There is summer 

There are mangoes 

Without my granny, they don't taste the same anymore