Author Archives: sweetshalini

About sweetshalini

Shalini Samuel was born in Kanyakumari, southern tip of India. After completing her schooling from St.Teresa’s MHSS, Kanyakumari, she graduated in Information Technology and took her Master’s in Computer Science from Noorul Islam College of Engineering, Kanyakumari. She has been writing poems from her school days. Her poetic pursuits took a pause during her college years.Writing journey of Shalini Samuel started again as a blogger and slowly crept into Muse India. Holding the branches firmly she ventured into poetry. Her poems got published in International journal Tajmahal review and she also contributed to Inklinks anthology. She is currently editing e-magazine Fragrance and more of her poems will be published in journals in near future. Contemporarily she is venturing into fiction and essays too. She has written few poems in her mother tongue Tamil. Her passions include photography, gardening and cooking. She loves to take challenges and learn from it. She is eager to learn and cherish all nook and corner of writing. Here goes the link to her official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/shalusamuel

Freedom

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She stood at the crossroads for eternity
Shadows of passers by, a solace to her feet
The trucks, bullock cart, the sedan and the bus
Even the wind asked, “Shall I carry you forward?”
‘I cannot be hoodwinked by anyone’, she thought.
Pity on her, a fool, a shame- the horns blared.

On a moonlit night, smoke evades the next turn
Footsteps she hear, a silhouette grows from dust
Man with a raincoat and a hat. “Oh, here he is!”
Rejoicing, she let her guard down, her saviour arrived.
The pain she bore has seen it’s light, God opened His eyes.
The end of the tunnel with white light, she exclaimed.

Her eyes looked into his weary eyes, there was surprise
“Why are you standing here, do you not move forward?”
He broke the silence with his baritone voice. Her eyes queried.
“Eras back, when asked if I should wait or move on
Didn’t you ask me to stay? Had you forgotten?” with no much ado,
She let go of her hold, the statue still laments at night.

‘I cannot be hoodwinked by anyone’ she says softly
Hoodlums passing by understands her pain
They help her relieve her grief, and speak to her in brief
Stealing her values, her belongings, her life
They mock her, and destroy her more and more- at last,
One day, her sculptor repents and demolishes her cage.

She flies off like a free bird, higher to the skies.

Climate Activist

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Reminiscences of recurring cyclones swirls tongue,
Augmenting shock to the already terrific, poor lung.
Weathernews invades the little space left for the curd
Media leads our way toppling the real reasoning cowherd
Corona counts take the corner seat in the critics’ cartoon.

The rotten reek of radish rampage fragrant garden
Though elixir drenches earth vaporizing men’s burden,
There is sombre sadness, akin to bitter medicine, a penalty.
Ramshackle, needy rodent’s residence receive no remedy
Tauktae breaks more green limbs before crossing the fence

Relieved we stroll out to embrace the cerulean calm sky
Should we extend help, hearken the neighbour’s cry
Or be happy of our save- dichotomy and mushrooms bloom
Rain, are you nature’s boon or a harbinger of gloom?
Shamefaced I bow in utmost guilt; we are to be blamed.

No cops could tame this hit-and-run mischief mongers’ bold shout
How sad and intriguing- sigh it’s another dichotomy I breathe out.

The riot

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Distant birdsong, chirps and cries, we hear-
Deafening ears, driving people mad
Ravens grip every inch, calling men to listen.

Whats that commotion we hear?
Is danger coming closer?
What do we need to guard ourselves?

Repercussions keep rolling out
Akin to electricity lighting up the world
And the sun, burning forests and wild bushes.

When the noise subsides, I hear music
Silently invading the bustling lanes.
Media and social media are a carnival, sometimes.

The Never-Changing Monarch

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The bustling road to the distant town with shops and traffic closed- stands numb
The scurrying vehicles fed up and exhausted, stand by the parking lot,
Drowsily dreaming with their masked yet shabbily clothed masters.
The tenants of the empyrean, their only guard and companion.

As I walk sporting a face mask, the green lush paddy fields dance
Or did my mind jump in excitement, I know not-
Hither side of a large pond, I stand and watch the egrets,
The marshy land, the glowing sun, the palmyra trees.

The highway breathes silence but the birds chirp loudly
Or were I deaf to their happiness beforehand, I know not
Hither side of a railway track, I stand and watch the rodents play,
the track, the gatekeepers’ cement bench, the dried leaves.

Yonder, a well-cleaned hut, with fresh neem leaves on its fence
And a pot of turmeric water- the poor man’s sanitizer welcomes passerby
Flawlessly the lockdown days proceed with discipline. It’s picture-perfect.
But the other days, the fear of the disease, awareness disappears- economy reigns

The Camouflage

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Oh, Chameleon,
As I drink my cup of Chamomile tea
You peep from behind the window
I keep watching the blue sea
Ignoring your drill on the portico.

The plantain leaves turn you green
And also to the colours that I have never seen
I wish I could be like you
When fate reminds me of my karmic overdue.

When I feel ashamed of my existence
And when guilt overrides my pride
I wish I could escape this life verse
Or get on your cloak, until the end of the tide.

Oh, Chameleon,
I wish I were like you, resting on the branch
Changing within seconds, my makeup
Daydreaming, while waiting for a catch
And also basking in the sun, doing a push-up

I wish I were like you…
But I promise, I never watched you on my portico
I was just looking at the tides of the distant sea –
Alas, I too camouflage!

chamaleon portrait close up on a tree background



The Coloured Pieces

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I was once that broken glass vase
Scattered all over the universe
Colored, opaque and at times transparent

An angel gathered me
Dropped me in a dark chamber
Hoping I would be safe there
I grew into a ball of life
Slowly transformed into a fetus
And then entered the earth

My mother fed me food and knowledge
With dads’ protection, brothers’ love
And sisters’ guidance, I evolve
With aunts’ and uncles’ care
I stay safe in my grannies’ lap

A day came, friends walked in
With loads of love, great support, and motivation
they conquer my life adding more colors
Love, wedding, children, nephew, and niece
Grandchildren, grandnieces, and grand nephew
My family grew.

And again one day, this beautiful vase I am making
may break, shatter into million pieces
yet remain as a gem in the hearts of millions of people.

The Reverse Has Flown Down To The Seas

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Down the hills on the river that flows, a poem lies there, and whatever
That soul of mine reminds me of the lost wanderer
of my thoughts, of the grand memories of my time
with the night-wind, the trees and their lonely presence;
where the sun would rise to the sky now and then.
For the wise said the soul of men will never fall asleep.
And I believe it even now that they fly to the skies often
To meet the Divine and the dearie’s,
And more than the dense forests the secrets they hold may be greater;
And they feed on food from the Heavens.
In my own heart and all my day awake
I see you, as a man born in a fantasy world
Where stones flew; the spirits in a never ending smile
In trees and seas you live, and white clouds..
There the master of many floats.

Your thoughts, cometh through the clouds into the street and beyond,
and I read it as it sets sail
and with a belief that it will never be wrong.
So addictive, the shapes thee maketh for me,
But at weird hours I hear the strange sound of thy hands,
Keep the pace, shall say that little spirit of mine for the fire keeps glowing
And I keep believing.

I will not be lessened amidst the tall and glittering worldly things.
And you all see in me the dying days, the youthful yesterday – the reverse.
She was a menace, you say-
When I walked the thorns, I entered a light, a lovely place to fly and rejoice.


Soul hunt

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The unperturbed oceanic darkness hides a million secrets
Smugglers shipwreck and a pot of collyrium, a warmonger’s lance 
The bones of sailors and sea animals, pirates and prisoners alike
I count them one, two, three and infinity
Did they reach the road to Trinity
Or do they keep wandering over the waves, I ponder
I reckon. The colorful corals and the algae, what do they say
and the oldest and wisest turtle, twirling its head in wonder.
With no reply, I dive deeper and deeper into the dark unguided world 
Unfathomable findings evolve every time the churning stick turns
A dead civilization lives there with its gloomy statues and pottery
The fish that swims by silently pays homage to the oldest memories
Alas I discover a clandestine cave on the slippery rock with a clay pot
Unfurling the ties, out comes a stone that would never rot –
A rare expensive diamond from the distant eastern realm

It’s just a virtual examination of the oceanic bed, isn’t it?
just akin to the soul search in a meditation session, I proclaim. 
With virtual treasures, I move on for a real worldly exploration
Not wanting to go back to the dead and the rotten,
With the unearthed treasure bag, I pace to the present
The stored secrets in my DNA or my blood or my soul
May they not hinder the tomorrows of my life
The fears, the sadness, the pride, the sins, and the ghetto
The trail of my past, I shake off leaving no imprints 
In a new world, with an open mind, with fresh air, I open my eyes
With hope, with love, with confidence, with a smile – 
I traverse adversary thoughts. As the day sets, no more 
the effervescent dawn awakens enriched with blessings.