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Eighteen~ By Chirag Arora

7/9/2014

13 Comments

 
*dedicated to a teenage single mother who I had the pleasure of meeting

She kept to herself, yet wanted to talk:
She had made the badge that let me walk.
Something about her was both happy and sad-
Was it that smile, or a wish she had?

Her life had run faster than herself-
With a baby in arms and diapers in her shelf.
Having made through all of eighteen Halloweens,
She was a single mom while still in her teens.

She told me she didn't go out much-
Her responsibilities and priorities in life were such.
She showed me pictures of the little one,
And a giggle broke out where there was none

The whiff of her smoke rose and fell-
Like a taste of heaven in a mouthful of hell,
Like life wanting to start all over again,
Yet happy with its choices, its pleasure, its pain!

Author Bio:
I hail from the valley of Rishikesh, nestled in the Himalayas in India. Though my love for English poetry began with Shakespeare, my city has inspired my creativity. I started writing poems in my engineering college – on the ever-so-dear theme of  “unrequited love.” I wrote some my best love poems there.

After I started working, I experienced various emotional ups and downs in the form of my quest for love, opportunities to travel, meeting new people in new lands, finding my passion, trying to better understand life, working with children, learning a new language and learning to dance. In this period, I wrote poetry extensively. Better yet, I realized that poetry was my way of connecting with people, and the world. It was the part of me that came closest to that elusive “purpose” all of us seem to want to find. It was effortless, it was beautiful, it was liberating, and most importantly- it touched people’s lives. For me, the most fulfilling thing about poetry is the sense of belonging it inspires when people discover that someone out there feels the same things they do.

I have written 50 English poems so far and I am looking for publishers for my collection. The themes are as general as love, God, destiny, my travels in India and the US, nature, dance, passion, and as specific as the Delhi gang-rape, a teenage mother, a Turkish cab driver. It is my sincere hope that my poems make you smile, cry, ponder, wonder, feel, and in that way, touch your life too.
13 Comments
lata Arora
7/9/2014 04:18:30 am

Congrats dear.Again a nice poem.So touching.

Reply
Chirag
7/9/2014 06:09:20 am

Ma...love you...poetry comes to me from you...thanks for always being there

Reply
Shaunak link
7/9/2014 04:23:06 am

Another nice one from Chirag. He writes from the heart and absolutely amazing choice of words. Keep going...

Reply
Chirag
7/9/2014 06:11:25 am

Shaunak bro, thanks... you read almost all of them and share your lovely comments...that gives me more insporation to write...

Reply
Rakesh Thapliyal
7/9/2014 05:39:29 am

Bro I know you as a brilliant student at school, lovely son and a great friend.... you are inspiration for many students... keep writing your poems I love to read them and I m sure everyone appreciate it.... great going bro....

Reply
Chirag
7/9/2014 06:13:56 am

Rakesh bro, these words from you made my day...i am glad i know lovely people like you...hope to see you at Diwali in Rishikesh!

Reply
anmol arora
7/9/2014 07:28:35 am

Awesome bro..u r d best brother in dis world...u r so much talented n still u r down to earth..

Reply
Chirag
7/9/2014 07:32:14 am

ippi...you dont know how awesome you are....i am lucky to have you in my life bro

Reply
ritu sharma
7/9/2014 11:35:55 am

Hey anki its wonderful. .....keep it up. .......

Reply
chirag
7/9/2014 03:21:40 pm

Thanks Ritu di

Reply
Suresh Lakhwar
7/9/2014 12:36:48 pm

Dear chirag your poetry skill is great and congrats for poem being published love to read your whole collection..

Reply
chirag
7/9/2014 03:22:26 pm

Thanks Suresh :)

Reply
Jinnie
7/24/2014 04:52:02 am

Congratulations

Reply



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