Poems

Mahadevi Ji was a pillar of Hindi poetry in the Chhayavad era. Her poems are characterized by a strict adherence to meter and purity of language. Though at times difficult to understand, they nonetheless have a mesmerizing quality. Resolve to keep marching in spite of untold difficulties on the path, …

Another nursery rhyme. I learnt first four lines from my children when they were in Kindergarten (KG) and made up the rest. Artwork is also mine. Please also read another similar poems for children Kachhua Jal Ka Raja Hai, and Maindhak Jal Ka Rajkumar.  Rajiv Krishna Saxena मछली जल की …

As we “progress” in life, complexities of living and thinking increase. Then one day suddenly we come face to face with the simple life and scenery from the past. It then appears as if all that no longer belongs to us. As if the past in now beyond our reach. …

Here is a poem written in Hariyanvi dialect of Hindi, just for laughter, by the well known hasya-kavi Jamini Hariyanvi. The poem plays on the similar sounding words “stree” and “istri” that mean a woman and a clothe pressing iron respectively– Rajiv Krishna Saxena स्त्री बनाम इस्तरी एक दिन एक …

Our cities have become too westernized. Thousands of years old Indian culture however still survives in its lovely villages. Unfortunately, this wont last for ever. It wont be long before urbanization overtakes the last vestiges of our ancient ways and we get homogenized in the powerful juggernaut of western influences …

In most human endeavors, there are ups and downs. But in the field of politics, downswings can be brutal and up-swings full of elation and optimism. Two poems of Atal Ji reflect beautifully on this roller coaster. First one appears to have been written in a phase of disillusionment and …

In this modern age of rationality – careers, money and possessions are foremost considerations. Each year hordes of our youngsters leave for foreign lands in search of all these. Under-neath all these “important considerations”, the feeble voices of emotions seem to get drowned. Old parents back home yearn to see …

Here is a lovely gazal by Arunima Ji. I first read it on eKavita, a yahoo group on Hindi and Urdu poetry run by Anoop Bhargawa – Rajiv Krishna Saxena चंद अशआर गुनगुनाते हैं यों ही हम जहमतें उठाते हैं चंद अशआर गुनगुनाते हैं वे बताते हैं राह दुनियां को …

Here is a famous poem by Bhavani Prasad Mishra. Some deep thoughts about the creation of a poem and its texture. Too much analysis of a poem defeats the whole purpose. It simply cannot be broken down into components. Rajiv Krishna Saxena बुनी हुई रस्सी बुनी हुई रस्सी को घुमाएं …

Another picture drawn from words. An impression of early morning when the birds suddenly start to chirp in unison. Here also we find the amusing and funny idea of crows as the security guards of birds! Note also the lovely lilt of words arranged in a perfect meter – Rajiv …