Here are two poems of Lily. The first one Maya is a tongue-in- cheek view of the various illusions of life. Her second poem, The Backwaters, transports us to beauteous Kerala.

Maya

Shrug it off, they say
Brush it off and pray
Just “maya” they say
Drama that we play
Be a Saint they say
Keep desire far away                                                          
Don’t sin they say
Do good each day

Ice freezing, hair turning grey
Music fades, lights dim away
Time again for Wolves to bay

You were dearer my dear in May
My heart sang like the Blue Jay
Shikaaras, gondolas all the way
The bells are ringing
Church steeples merry
No time for thinking
No bodies to bury!

Notes: Maya: Illusion, a concept propounded by Adi Shankracharya

Shikaaras: Houseboats on Dal Lake, Kashmir

©Lily Swarn

The Backwaters

Droplets of dew
Sparkling and twinkling
Dancing the Kathak
Glimmering and shimmering
Balancing on tip toes
Whirling and twirling
Banana leaves are the  dance floor
Shimmering rays the flood lights
Kathakali of  masked performers
The dewdrop glistens, the dewdrop glides
Palm fronds fanning, the  backwaters of life

Note: Kathak: North Indian classical dance form

Kathakali: Classical dance form of Kerala

©Lily Swarn

Pix from Net.

Lily Swarn

Lily Swarn is a gold medallist and a double university colour holder from Panjab University. She has authored, A Trellis of Ecstasy (poetry), Lilies of the Valley (essays), The Gypsy Trail (novel). A multilingual poet, writer and columnist, her poems have been translated into 13 languages. A radio show host and Emcee, she received World Icon of Peace, Chandigarh Icon Award, Woman of Substance, World Icon of Literature and several other prestigious awards.

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