In Sixty Seconds

Millions of years, trillion commixes

One chance olio and a species was born.

In sixty seconds on a cool wet planet

Zillions swarmed on to trammel others.

Zoos were born and cartoons too

In cages and pages all creatures live.

Tools were born and torture too

Mines and missiles minced no words.

Fences boundaries lines crisscrossed

Spiral smoke from every crooked chimney.

Deep under seas the molten belly revolted

And angrily sweep away a million vermin

Frozen heads melt, deserts in snow masks 

Bikini beaches breach, dead river fish float

Forests smoke out, rivers chart new paths

And angrily wash away a million vermin.

In sixty seconds we besieged our master

The sixty-first second, our litmus test on earth.

November 17, 2009
© Nalini Hebbar/openmind - all rights reserved.

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Evolution of Life in 60 Seconds § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM

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Haiku 81 wild flower

Photo Credit 

wild flower blanket-

we jump

out of bed

November 23, 2009

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

Take a leap into my PhotoBlog 

Interlude

Life zipping past as if in overdrive

Ebb and flow with unknowns thrown in 

Racing against the tide at all times

Surging ahead on whippy foamy waters 

Stress contaminated senses worn thin and bare  

Forever dashing around like a crazed hen 

Working woefully till the last ounce of energy

Crashing into a unmade bed in the three-piece suit

Moments of madness in the middle of the night

Oppressively sad without really knowing it

The ethereal calm may not last forever

Put up tired legs and just watch the traffic 

Find the patchwork overall and the garden

Some time to smell air good enough to eat

The mountain beckons with paths less trodden 

Collect rare shells on lonely long beaches

The winding rivers lure with whitewater rafts

Ride a bullock cart to discover forgotten forts

Trigger a renewal before a rap on the knuckles

Face up squarely before the banana boats pitch

Make a dramatic heft from the cloistral confines 

Sap it stem it stop it change it before it’s too late

(7th, June, 2006, Nellore)

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind - all rights reserved.

Take a leap into my PhotoBlog 

Haiku 80 name

Photo Credit

childhood home-

wade through webs

to our names on the wall

November 23, 2009

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

Take a leap into my PhotoBlog 

Inhale Happiness

Photo Credit

Happiness is but a state of the mind

Looking for it at the table you dined?

A filled stomach and a fuller pocket

Buys delight, as did a diamond locket.

Each has one’s own personal equation

Levels off at peak, horizontal fashion.

Money flaunting buys evanescent change

Wrap of affluenza turns life estrange. 

Obscure in snatched moments of phantasy 

Sinking highs of drugged satin ecstasy.

Orbiting round the key to happiness

Contentment is hidden in crypticness.

Trapped in a vicious circle of action

Hunting lifelong for gratification.

Love & happiness slithers beyond reach

Perhaps the route opted needs a reteach.

Endless-peace requires subtle openness 

Inhaling success-upset with sameness.

(30th October 2006, Nellore)
© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved


Click for my Photos
Beauty of Contrasts

On Fire

Haiku 79 silver

Image Link silver lining turns gold- sunset in April November 23, 2009 © Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved Time-waits-for-none

So here goes...

1. What is your current obsession?
A. Haiku

2. What are you wearing today?
A.  The climate is warming up- so it’s handlooms for me- cotton/khadi.

3. What's for dinner today?
A. The famous Nellore fish curry and rice.

4. What's the last thing you bought?
A. An Acid Lime Orchard (6 acres)…LOL…sounds funny but it’s true.

5. What are you listening to right now?
A. Can you believe it ‘The sound of music”!…We bought our son a Corby Plus and he is busy downloading music on Ares…I got all the songs downloaded…pure fun.

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
A. It’s been days since I was tagged…I copied the questions on to word and plain forgot about it…I don’t remember who…sorry yarr.

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
A.  Can you really choose?...right now we are planning a farm house, Kerala style in the countryside of Andhra Pradesh…anywhere else I would like to be? NO. I think anyplace is good enough to call home.

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
A. The dear old AC at full blast…the temp has gone up to 49 in Nellore in the past.

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
A. Any national park in India.

10. Which language do you want to learn?
A. French

11. What’s your favourite quote?
A. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
A. Right now…Sachin…Great going Sachin!

13. What is your favourite color?
A. Blue

14. Give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
A. If you can carry it off, any style, colour works.

     Hair, face, and feet should be well cared for.

     Stop dying at 60…age gracefully.

15. What is your dream job?
A. Doing it right now…Am my own boss, Aquaculture Consultant…and starting a new project-Agri tourism…will invite all my readers in a couple of years.

16. What’s your favorite magazine?
A. Tinkle Digest…LOL…still love them

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
A.  A better camera

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
A. Covering one self with gold

19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
A.  David Beckham

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
A.  Short with soft curls

21. What are you going to do after this?
A. Post

22. What are your favorite movies?
A. ‘The beautiful mind’ and ‘Annie-the movie’

23. What inspires you?
A. Nature

24. What do your friends call you most commonly?
A. Naini

25. Would you prefer coffee or tea?
A. Coffee

26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
A. Never do now…never allow myself to get bored…work, read, watch the TV, write poetry, blog.

I used to feel low at 40 but taught myself to drive out the negatives and replace them with positive thought…painful and tiresome process but I won in the end.

27. What makes you go wild?
A.  Insensitive people who don’t see beyond themselves.

28. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
A. Every blog has something to offer…it’s great to read the young express themselves…we were a generation which had to fight to be heard…the gen-next has it all…so go on write and we will read with pride.

29. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
A. Need to stay away from them!!!...brownies with hot chocolate and ice cream…pure heaven!

30. How many tabs are turned on in ur browser right now?
A. right now 2…but usually 5-6

31. Favorite Season?
A. Winter/spring

32. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
A. How about some Iranian mutton biriyani with cucumber raita and chicken pepper fry…for the vegans…besibele bath with raita…or stuffed parathas maybe…BTW, am a good cook or so do all those who eat say!

33. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
A. Ignore them wholescale…look thru them at the beautiful world beyond them…don’t even dwell on them…a waste of time and energy!

34. What are you afraid of the most?
A. Dark…ha ha ha…oh, my secret is out!

35. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
A. Hey sweetheart, don’t you think you need to stop feeding that gob?

36. What brings a smile on your face instantly?
A. My family

37. A word that you say a lot?
A. Thanks

38. When was the last time you did something nice?
A. Raised my maids salary by 200 without being asked to-feel like doing that every time I buy rice, dal and vegetables…God! How do they eat at all!

39. What would you do if you were made President of India for one day?
A. Raise the salary of school teachers…that’s where the problem lies.

40. Do you Know who Master SHIFU is?
A. That was easy…I googled it like I do many a day!...Red Panda.


I inturn tag these 5 friends


Blesson
Souroneil

Anil Menon

Deepa

R Ramesh

Haiku 78 peekaboo

 Image Link

with the moon

in the lake-

moon plays peek-a-boo 

November 23, 2009

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

Haiku 77 star

Image Link

falling star

safe in my pocket-

monsoon clouds roll in

November 23, 2009

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved
Purple Patch

Haiku 76 tender

bare branches stiffen

to still the wind-

buds mouth a tender thanks

November 21, 2009

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com/2010/02/it-rocks.html

Hopeful

She is ensnared in a web of restrain

More the mêlée more the constrain.

It is a design that destines to detain

Grit and mush looking alike at times.

Stifling her soul with wires of barbs

She slips often into tormented thought 

The token taunts, the snide remarks

The unbroken blitz of foul words

The accusing tone in harsh judgment

Was she all that he said she was?

And often she is greatly astounded 

Uttered words and simple actions

Pretty easily turned and twisted 

Made out to seem so evil and ruthless

Does she appear as nasty a person? 

Her every move intently studied 

Under a microscope pinned and sliced 

Her every step judged and weighed

She the reason he feels like a worm?

She the cause for all his emotions?

It is so amazing she is still sane

And able to smile even through pain

A charade made easier to sustain

Topmost on her mind children and duty

What when they have a life of their own?

She wondered if she could ever manage 

On her own after a long lived marriage.

Stepping out would be a huge stride

The world beyond so new and untried

Should she rather stay on to endure?

Her belief in herself is ever present

Reinforced with every moment of slight

Unable to breach that wall of strength 

Never being able to crush that spirit

Is this what challenges him to bits?

She will go on till it gets too grim

Her patient strength under no thumb 

No plots of suicide or settling scores 

Little joys of life her vim and vigour 

Her heart fills with hope and a future.

(4th June, 2006, Nellore)

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com/2010/02/bonsai-palm.html

Haiku 75 merrygoround

new year morning-

the clown asleep

on the merry-go-round

November 21, 2009

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

Highway Hypnosis

Iris, peek-a-boo plays 

From under shutters

Weighed down

As if by stones 

Hung to eyelashes.

Sleep deprived minds

Fatigued senses

Weighed down

As if by sameness

Chin to chest falls.

Paradoxical sleep stages

REM in fragments

Jaded down

Driving long hours

On straight highways.

A spectator drives

As sleep in creeps

Guards down

To floating lights

Of approaching cars.

Cool tempered breeze 

Nonstop talking friends 

Get down

Get off those roads

Highway hypnosis.

(June, 2006, Nellore)

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved
http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com/2010/02/monolith-temple.html

Haiku 74 driftwood

driftwood

dusted with barnacles-

carved on it-‘Diana’

November 21, 2009

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved 

Haiku 73 sunset

sunset after the rain-

the rainbow dipped

its brush in gold

November 21, 2009

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com/2010/02/who-do-we-blame.html

http://poetrypoem.com/openmind

Hidden World

beautiful-mind by carlos-barcia An enigma both religion and poetry, origin of both a catechismal uproar. To the layman the poet a madman, To the scientist, he and the devout worthy apropos study of inner secrets. The debate ceaseless - In the brain of man were religion and poetry seeded by God? Or are they aberrations in the circuits within? A flaw that skewed the mind to wander Into unknown realms unseen by the eye? Seeing things that no one sees, Seeing it different, seeing it new, Questioning the seen, the old, the accepted, Questioning the hidden, mystic unanswered illusion. Are some minds prone to bring home truth wrapped in a poem unfurled before the astounded reader? A peep into his world on his cryptic terms. And you think you came out wiser? Think you have decoded him? His poem you will understand But understand it your way. His world is his niche Uniqueness stamped all over it Let him be, let him remain a mystery Unravel not that beautiful mind. September 18, 2009 © Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com http://poetrypoem.com/openmind http://www.keepwrite.com/2010/02/hidden-world_15.html

Haiku 72 chameleon

chatting school girls- the chameleon crooks its neck to listen November 21, 2009 © Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com http://poetrypoem.com/openmind

Haiku 71 eagle

gliding eagles circle- 

under the garden bench

a leafy whirlwind

November 21, 2009

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com

http://poetrypoem.com/openmind

Her Fight Is On

Man invented marriage

For order and stability

Divisions based on labour

That scripted roles not status.

Rank crept into the equation

As war and greed evolved

Protection of mother and child

Turned father into a keeper.

A modern Indian woman

Her progress constantly curbed

By ancient notions countless

Of purity and of pollution.

Models flaunted in plenty

Of moral traditional roles

Raised to a pedestal

To control as they preach.

Haunted by Sati she

Imbibed blind devotion

Her man was supreme

And his word divine

Abuse and humiliation

Just part of the game

Tied by the sacred knot

Her destiny was sealed.

Savitri with great tenacity

Confronted Lord Yama

Stree sakthi celebrated? Oh, NO!

Celebrated was a bond

That demanded conformity

Imprinted in pliable minds

To remain docile and minor

In his fame and his success.

Roles change with time

And woman no longer in chains

Liberty and opportunity

Hers to rightly proclaim.

Equipped and motivated

Shoulder squared she stands

With patience and endurance

Two weapons to help her win.

Sati-Savitri’s of the ancient!

Salute this modern Indian woman!

She triumphs as a single woman

In marriage now quite equal

In widowhood no longer cursed

Her progress once curbed

By ancient notions countless

Of purity and of pollution.

(20th October 2006, Nellore)

© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved

http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com

http://poetrypoem.com/openmind