When the dusk falls

Often I am alone with my loneliness

Peeping out of the brown wooden window

A sparrow extracting ice from its nest

Thinking spring is not far behind

An owl sitting on a twig

Waiting for someone to arrive

Beyond the lane, I see woods

And I slip more into our memories

Your footprints on icey pathway are gone

I saw them last, an evening before you left

At the end of the woods the graveyard freshens the scene

I turn away to shudder

And you are there on your couch

I think of you all more

© Priyanka Bajaj

Her Warm Smile

The kid was more hungry,

She hid her hunger behind her warm smile

He was excitedly calling her loser,

She hid her deliberate defeat behind her warm smile

He relished hot chappatis,

She hid the cold ones behind her warm smile

He said, "you are so lucky to rest all day at home",

She hid exertion behind her warm smile

He was congratulated for his promotion,

She hid her efforts of investing her soul, time, life in making his home, behind her warm smile

He teased her in the streets,

On reaching home, she hid her hurt behind her warm smile

She lives more for others,

And burn her desires, hides it behind her warm smile

Her compassion touching sky and is grounded at heart,

Your well being and happiness is the reason behind her warm smile.

© Priyanka Bajaj

Three Words, He Didn't Say

You spoke to me about everything

Alas! One song, you didn't sing

You wrote letters and mails

Poems, verses, their long trails

You said I am beautiful

I became hopeful

You spoke about our love and care

But to say those three words, the time you didn't spare

I waited, I longed, I craved

Thinking someday you will say, that you have saved

Didn't you mention, "Without me, you can't stay"

Then why didn't you say, "let's run away"

©Priyanka Bajaj

Her Walk

Walking down the beach

She recalls her last visit

She was carried by him in peach

He made her a tiara, on her crown, that still sit

She took her steps in cross

Making trails of her and his footsteps

She walks the length and finds moss

Turning it into bracelets for old chaps

Looking behind, she notices shells

Put artistically on his footsteps by waves

She walks towards shore, hearing what sea tells

Sensing sea's intentions, her heart raves

Gushing waves come and touch her feet

To her, the sea wants to serve

"No matter how many times you touch my feet

I will never forgive you, as you engulfed my love."

© Priyanka Bajaj

I Knew A Girl

I knew a girl, who liked to draw

She drew the pictures, that nobody saw

She was most creative, late, at night

On the dark terrace, out of everybody's sight

She kept secrets, that nobody knew

She didn't tell a soul and her gallery grew

Her drawings were a twist

Her paintbrush was a blade and canvas, her wrist

Her friends were fake and her family let her bleed

Those, who ought to be her strength, made her bleak

One night, we met on a cliff, under the stars

I asked her, why?

She took off all her fancy bracelets, to reveal the scars

She felt embarrassed and looked down in her muse

Then, I rolled up my sleeves and said ," I draw too"

© Priyanka Bajaj

She Left Me

Those days feel like centuries ago,

That cliff sustained cold air

The only hideout of her from the selfish world

She didn't fear of getting hurt,

She didn't want to hurt.

How aesthetically she described life,

But The opposite way she was treated.

She said, that place, the cliff was safe

It was, yet, I asked her to move out and I'll be with her.

She peeped from the cliff

And left her solitude behind.

Many tried to snap her

Some, I could prevent, some, I could not

But I never left her alone.

I were all she had.

The world, once she was afraid of,

Did not haunt her anymore.

Yet, that cliff remained her favorite place.

She smiled, made others smile

She was happy, spread happiness

She became brave and inspired others

She even cried, and made others cry

By leaving the world, that she made beautiful for me.

I never left her, but she was gone.

I miss that cliff, I miss her.

© Priyanka Bajaj 

Travel Bliss

Initially, we travel to lose ourselves

We travel, next, to find ourselves.

We travel, not to escape,

But to live every phase.

Remember?

The journey, the train, the bus, the plane,

Eyes swaying in excitement,

because destination is not the only main.

Remember?

The unknown weather,

The situation out of comfort,

And to gain experience.

Remember?

To live by the currents of beach,

fill the lungs with cool breeze,

And follow the sun.

Remember?

To trek the highest hill,

Stand amidst the clouds,

And see the world.

Remember?

To walk endlessly in the woods,

To be lost in the right direction,

And embrace the stillness.

Remember?

To wander in the crowded streets,

Meet exotic people,

And devour local treats.

Remember?

To visit the city museums,

Get amazed by the history,

And take inspiration.

Remember?

The tropical culture,

To perceive their beliefs,

And learn to put faith. 

Remember?

The peace to follow your bliss,

All the places, traveled and untraveled,

We will surely miss.

Travelling turns us

Into a storyteller.

The best of the stories are found

In between the pages of passport.

© Priyanka Bajaj