Mihir Kamat

Tag: writing

  • The scent of freedom

    The scent of freedom

    A thousand suns may have come and gone
    A thousand moons so brightly shone
    But the lone warrior stands tall and taut
    Stronger than ever, its metal wrought

    For eons it stood the test of time
    A mute spectator beyond the line
    With blood and sweat and tears withholding
    It bore witness to the events unfolding

    I stand here with my head held high
    My heart swelling, my breath alive
    I’m proud of the legacy they left behind
    Iconic; truly one of a kind

    It was here that our fathers from days of yore
    Their blood was seed, a fruit time bore
    The sweet and fleshy orb that grew
    Was freedom; a spark; an idea anew

    And they lay this flag to symbolize
    That truth prevails over a bunch of lies
    A gift of sorts for the coming generation
    Still a unique reminder; some gentle inspiration

    The flag flutters in grace to this very day
    The winds of change are blowing this way
    It gives me hope for the days to come
    For the air is pregnant with the scent of freedom.

    © 2013 Mihir Kamat
    Inspired by this week’s writing challenge.
    NOTE: I took this picture on top of Shay Palace, Leh, on my recent trip to Ladakh. Ladakh is extremely beautiful, picturesque, and one of the best places to visit in the summer.
    Image copyright of Mihir Kamat.
  • Stateless

    Stateless

    Beware, O keepers of this fine state
    The pot has begun to boil, its contents steaming
    Waiting to overflow and consume everything in its path
    Like a rabid volcano awaiting climax

    These people, your people; the very same
    That voted you in have now had quite enough
    For when I stare long and hard into those quiet eyes
    I see discontent seething in the cold abyss

    Their eyes are filled with great expectations
    And fabulous dreams; dreams of a better future
    Than what their past has had to offer them
    Each day their confidence in government shaken.

    I sense fear in their demeanor;
    Fear of not knowing what tomorrow holds
    Fear of living each day as it comes and praying
    That they can just make it through the long, dark night.

    The days and nights alternate endlessly;
    They come and they go like the soft touch
    Of a light wind blowing, unable to make its presence felt
    But still fueling a fire that burns brightly within

    And as the mercury rises, the heat unbearable
    A day will come when they would tear down the facade
    Of your false promises, and expose your decayed core
    Mocking you for your inability to provide for their simplest needs

    I warn you, open your eyes now and smell the coffee
    For the day is not far when the people, your people,
    Would turn your scepter, your symbol of power
    Into a mere piece of firewood, vulnerable to a naked flame

    And from its ashes, like a phoenix will emerge
    To spread its wings like never before;
    A mind that is free and one that always will be
    Stateless.

    © 2013 Mihir Kamat
    Inspired by this week’s writing challenge.
    Image courtesy of csmonitor.com.

  • The storytellers

    We are the story tellers. The dreamers. The seekers. We’re those who see things that others can’t. We’re those who dream with our eyes open. Who see the extraordinary in the seemingly mundane. Or those who like to live differently; see every day in a new light.

    Our stories pull rabbits out of hats. Or paint larger than life pictures, with a million colors splashed across a blank canvas. They take you on a journey. To exotic, magical places, with weird, rhyming names. They feature big, old, bearded men who hold the source to great power and wisdom. Or wizards, witches and fairy godmothers who appear as if from nowhere. Our stories are incomplete without magic wands or potions. They bring to life mystical creatures that take your breath away with their heroics. Like vampires and werewolves. Or centaurs and giant spiders. You could hear the sounds crystal clear, resonating with their every word. Like the song of a humming bird. Or the rhythm of the pouring rain. Or the quiet splash of a teardrop. Our stories portray the different shades of human emotions. Like joy and excitement. Or grief and despair. Intrigue. Anger. Jealousy. Lust. They teach us of hope; of how good eventually triumphs over evil. They teach us to be simple, yet creative.

    And you, yes you, are the fodder for every great story. Everything around us is an inspiration. A spark that lights up the dark corners of the brain. A chore that keeps the idle mind busy. You may call what we cook up fake, half-truths, or blatant lies. But the truth is you are very much a part of it. You are a vital ingredient to every great story. Our characters are really sharp; you can associate them with people around you. That mustached baddie might just remind you of your boss. Or that lady in pink brings to life memories of a loved one.

    There is no shame is falling in love with a good story. It might give you a reason to hold on for a little bit longer. Or inspire you to go that extra mile. Or where no human has gone before. It might implore you to think outside the box. Or to take an extra step to be kind. Not because you can, but because you should. They make us aware that it’s never too late to chase your happily ever after.

    Every story is a dream come true. And we are the story tellers. The dreamers. The seekers. We cook up the unbelievable; it makes life that much more believable.

    © 2013 Mihir Kamat
    Inspired by today’s Daily Prompt – Fantasy.

    Image courtesy of idesignnetwork.com

  • The plot of land

    The plot of land

    The welcoming earth lay vacant in the spring
    Untouched, unkempt, with wild flowers blooming
    With the sunset in the eve its beauty would peak
    A dazzle of golden with bright orange streaks

    A pool of water so silent and serene
    A spectacular dimension to the surroundings so green
    And a large oak tree right near the edge
    Towering over the little shrubby hedge

    The emptiness begged for fruition so much
    A blank canvas it was seeking an artist’s touch
    Like the surge of the sea the ideas were flowing
    With every great thought the excitement growing

    Would it play host to a home cozy and small
    Or give children space to play with bat and ball
    A perch for lovers to rekindle the fire
    Or a place for old folks to relax and retire

    But how could I take away the beauty that existed
    Replace it with concrete; the idea seemed twisted
    How do I steal it from under nature’s caring hand?
    What was I to do with this plot of land?

    The answer was clear, it began to make sense
    It was so simple, nay just commonsense
    A beautiful garden, the plot would remain
    A place for nature to blossom again

    The birds and the butterflies would flutter once again
    The grass would look greener when bathed by the rain
    With the cool summer breeze calling out as before
    To see man and nature together once more.

    © 2013 Mihir Kamat
    Inspired by today’s Daily Prompt – A Plot of Earth
  • Second chance

    Second chance

    I lie here wide awake yet
    I feel like I am dreaming
    All I can hear outside are
    Loud wails and excess screaming

    I see death smiling in the corner
    He’s waiting at my door
    He says he’s here to take me home
    To offer me much more

    He says I lived a mediocre life
    A life full of plans and caution
    The life I lived was not worth much;
    A life easily forgotten

    He promises to take me to heaven
    He appeals fervently to my heart
    He offers me a brand new experience
    He paints pictures of a fresh new start

    But then I see all the faces around me
    Loved ones gathered, saying their goodbyes
    And while I was taking my last few breaths
    I looked into their eyes

    I made my decision; I wanted my old life back
    I made a difference to all these people here
    So what if I lived a mediocre life
    I must have spread some cheer

    This was my world; this was my heaven
    This was where I was needed
    My life may not be worth much
    But it looks like I had succeeded

    Death admitted defeat and walked away
    He left me to my fate
    I had just received the gift of life
    With death walking out the gate

    And with that I snapped out of
    My stupor; my deathly trance
    It was my time; my fresh new beginning
    My second chance.

    © 2013 Mihir Kamat
    Inspired by today’s Daily Prompt – Karma Chameleon
  • My happy place

    My happy place

    I wished for a place, my happy place
    A place where I’d be myself
    Where I’d be alone, yes all alone
    My mind left to itself

    My dream came true, and one fine day
    I had my wonderful place
    It feels like my cocoon, my bubble
    Yes, my own happy space

    I have a desk, a chair, a lamp
    My books, some paper and a pen
    A cup of coffee, pictures on the wall
    To look at every now and then

    Add to that, my comfy bed
    A place to take my beauty nap
    Where I’d be one with my dreams;
    My fantasies I’d unwrap

    The view outside is breathtaking
    And the clear cool air feels nice
    The peace and quiet make a perfect mix
    Like a mix of sugar and spice

    I love the fact that it has a lot of light
    It keeps me thinking good
    It simply keeps me happy all day
    And brightens up my mood

    And I love to be there all day long
    Not a second left to waste
    I thank my stars for letting me have
    My own happy place

    © 2013 Mihir Kamat
    Inspired by today’s Daily Prompt – Writing Room
  • Lost in the ashes

    Lost in the ashes

    A horrific blaze
    Engulfed my home
    Reducing my life
    To ashes and dust

    Those ashes were once
    Things that meant the world to me;
    Memories of childhood, now
    Reduced to cinders.

    In the smoky haze
    I search frantically
    But all I can see are embers
    Part of a horrific design;

    Burnt pictures lying everywhere
    Pieces of my childhood lost
    Half burnt faces lie around the floor
    Smiling no more

    The fire lay waste
    To all my belongings
    They were simply objects, insignificant
    Never meant to last –

    Like the pieces of broken glass
    Now crumbling beneath my feet
    They were made to be destroyed
    They were made to be replaced

    But in the blaze that night
    I lost something more
    That I could not find in the ashes;

    It was irreplaceable;
    And more than just my belongings,
    Much more than memories,

    I lost something dearer –
    A part of me.

    © 2013 Mihir Kamat
    Inspired by today’s Daily Prompt – Burnt
  • Music to my ears

    Music to my ears

    It feels wonderful
    To be so close to you
    To feel your warmth
    On this cold, winter day.

    Listen closely
    I can hear our hearts beat
    In unison, like they’re one
    And not in two different bodies.

    Your breath is like
    A sweet whisper;
    And the soft quiver
    In your lips
    Feels like an echo
    In my mind.

    Your every nuance
    Your every move
    Is a delight to me
    And music to my ears.

    © 2013 Mihir Kamat
    Inspired by today’s Daily Prompt – Musical