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

Poetry

The Untouchable

5 Replies

My skin bleeds when you touch me
I am weak; I may disintegrate
Carefully, you avoid me
I dance in the wind, and your mind
Slowly I settle on your shoulders
You gently evade my presence
Hurt, I watch you from away
Am I that bad? Why God, why?
You hate me; I cry silently
In seconds you come closer and
You shoot me from the left, right, and above
With your priceless black DSLR
You let the world see this golden monarch
How beautiful! Billions wondered.
But I noticed your love for me in the clicks.
Happily, I hopped from flower to flower
Giving you more poses with poise.
Day of acceptance, I longed for always.
I am no more untouchable, I roar.

Conversations That Never Happened

12 Replies

Why is it that I cannot meet you, invisible mystery
Oh mademoiselle, lost in your ancient book
What is there that you ignore this handsome genie
See my skin, so soft like a makeup brush
White as milk foam I am, light and mischievous
I wait here for long, for one gentle kiss.

You keep turning pages of never-ending history.
Galloping with the brave knights of an unknown era
Until your clock says, food time, wake-up
I am hungry, I agree; I need you to fill my pot belly
Why not give me your attention, that one loving glance
I wish I were born as a cat in your novel.

Ahh, time goes on, and I have fallen in love
With those slender fingers turning pages
I wish I were a book on your lap
It’s cute; your face changes to the novel’s weather
Why not see me once, I promise
I will keep you always smiling, I promise again.

As the lovers of the world, I do give you my word
It’s uncertain, I know, but let me try it
You will never touch the book again if you hear me
Meow- a longing purr tears the woods.
I may go now, and you may never see me again.
All will be lost in seconds if only you don’t hear me.

She turns the page again, and the cat falls off the tree
And the story goes on. New characters enter
Old characters are forgotten, but the meow still lingers
In hearts that read and imagined the longing cat
Akin to our very own life, where God writes
And we witness it silently with not much ado.

Shalini Samuel

Life And Dreams

6 Replies

Born in a little village,
I had no wings to fly
I hoped I could reach the skies
Little did I know of the world
The future looked blurry
Which way to go- the left or right
Simple is my life, and I love that
The skyscrapers don’t fascinate me
I don’t hate them, nor know how living in it will be
But when a nearby tree is cut
I weep and shout in anger
Still, I can do nothing
But plant one more in my garden
Time went on, and I learn
No one is born with wings
And no one can live in the skies
But everyone can admire life around
An incredible piece of a grand cake
Be it a village, a town, a city
There is always life in the air
Nothing extraordinary, Nothing small
But always beautiful.

Freedom

4 Replies

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

8 Replies

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

6 Replies

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

8 Replies

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

8 Replies

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

4 Replies

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.