Thirty

You ask on the years gone by,
and regrets that must have add.
Whether three decades have wearied me dry,
on the dreams I must have had.

As if birthdays were moments of reflection
for all one's work undone!
Never have I dwelt on past satisfaction -
I weary only for the times to come!!

Our Haiku - II

E9 days,
Our ways,
No sunrays,
Curtains drawn, always
- the other bojangles

Our Haiku - I

These days are so tight,
Have reached mechanical heights
Aint complaining my friend
Its just that all this is so different (from the lives we used to live)
- the other bojangles

To Live

Life is brief.
Fall in love, maidens,
before the crimson bloom fades from your lips,
before the tides of passion cool within you,
for those of you who know no tomorrow.

Life is brief.
Fall in love, maidens,
before your raven tresses begin to fade,
before the flames in your hearts flicker and die,
for those to whom today will never return.


(from Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru)

pg34 material

but may be I'll post when fed up of being me.

(text/plain)

it's getting bad again
perhaps we've outlived ourselves

" To lay me down
In silence easy
To be born again
In another world.. " - Van Morrison, Astral Weeks

if

Everyone's been working a lot - saturdays, sundays, independence days - wondering whether they get the satisfaction.. or may be it comes only when something is finished.. or when it's moving towards some line.. Osho says the pay alleviates the pointless - may be things would be brighter if there was a need. May be thats why people go about creating them.

cancelled tomorrow's class

Got the Most Stable Employee award today (a Shopper's Stop gift voucher) for doing the same thing for over a year. Dunno if it's a good or bad thing.. but the Mouse should be pleased.

Jackson Pollock

"If people would leave most of their stuff at home and just look at the paintings, I don't think they'd have any trouble enjoying them. It's like looking at a bed of flowers – you don't tear your hair out over what it means." (from the movie)

Also salary came in today and along with it the feeling that may be I can do this afterall.

yet another day

Working day. Others at lunch, me at Shravan (ekadashi today, ergo 11 days have already passed). Also thanks to the underground man, I think I even understand why.

a wise man leaves his feelings behind,
a kind man cannot but be kind..

(but that's work related, and the Others are getting back)

for little Rohit's art-book

written during my homeward train ride:

To Friendship

When I'm wearied, down, feeling low or sore
When I cannot see the light anymore
You knock unexpected at my door
And guide me safe to the shore.

And when I'm shiny, light, gay and high
(for happiness needs not a reason why)
You gift me wings, help me fly
Soar the heavens and touch the sky!

satday at work

Treat everything as an adventure, I overheard them say.
But it gets harder when you know they were right and you were wrong.

" So leave the ways that are making you be
what you really dont want to be.
Leave the ways that are making you love
what you really dont want to love." - Nick Drake

so that I remember

3rd june - solicited by gay fellow (already forgot his name). But it'll take more than one to get me cut my hair.

3rd july - got pushed & fell off the local train. Experienced Bombay's famous apathy and also the comfort of kneecaps!

11th july - another sad day for the city (ride with a totally deaf yet very talkative rickshaw driver).

so the financial papers win over page3!

to reality

Pune was surreal - if Time ever stood there, he'd be motionless. Utpal filing FIRs for stolen mobile phones. Nikhil's guitar and talk. Aniket on trekking. Mr Brownstone..

The Myth of Sisyphus

but, if they brought forth
one big simmering pot
to melt, blend or dissolve everything that we had got,
reforged all you were, and all I was not
would it be easier on us all?

The masses have their religion, so I chose my opium. But I was wrong - one must choose consciousness.

'The rock is still rolling.' - Albert Camus

Happy Birthday Shamik!

the dirt settles, the waters get clear
inebriety takes on new meanings, year after year
holding on to those who hold you dear
incapable of love, of laughter, mirth or tear.

the man from yesterday -

These words for you
I spoke to myself
After the phone call
Saying ‘couldn’t resist’

I want you by my side
Hold you through the night
So many lullabies to sing
To make you sleep like a queen

So many kisses to greet
The morning opening of your lips
Bathe you in them, awake
Make love to you at the daybreak

Then I’ll make some coffee
Those lashes will raise the lids
Drugged with the nights sleep
Your eyes will begin to see me

You will smile at the world
Brightening up my day
We’ll light up a ciggi together
And start talking in our smokey way.

- the other bojangles

2nd poem...

She's gone,
& now I stoop down,
& collect pieces of my broken conscience.
She's gone,
& now I smile,
& try to rekindle my void existence.

She's gone,
& now I stab
into dreams reeking of my past-tense.
She's gone,
& now I cower
knowing that I've lost my innocence.

She's gone,
& now I crawl,
brought down by my decadence.
She's gone,
& now I live
aware of my shattered resilience.

- Shamik

cold turkey - day two

Morning panic: Thought I'd left the last-guy office-keys at home, but I'd passed them on to Thakkar when I'd caught the rick.

office is colder. outside it's hot. the women's loo have a mirror. the gent's loo have not.

Edited my cell's phone-book last night, now all work colleagues have an 'aroo' to end their name.

and if that don't do, I'll try something new

Am feeling really bad about waking up after a two day weekend.. both guitars watching me, unplayed. Slumbered through Being Cyrus and a play called Love Letters. Very nice, the play..

Shattered a pretty glass candle-holder thing this morning. Was talking with Mousey while putting laptop in its case and the top flap hit.. am horrible.

So to the newest change! (atleast until the King's next visit)

A hard rain's a-gonna fall

The clouds had all gone, but I caught a taxi and bought them all back.

We launched today - lots of buzz everywhere; the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Seattle PI,..

`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

(from Shelley's Ozymandias)

the King has left the building..

"Think we all got it under control.. won't get strung out. This rarely works. I'm living proof. But in the end, you've just gotta see the junk as another 9-5 gig, the hours are just a bit more inclined to shadows." - Jim Carroll (in The Basketball diaries)

Watched V for Vendetta.. orible orrrible orrrribbble!!
(Bought tickets to Being Cyrus for dad while Mom and Mousey were smsing from Dubai)

Terrified. Mortified. Petrified. Stupefied.

system reboot strongly advised
(also The King should be in town and Mom-sis are leaving for a Dubai wedding this saturday)

Will go to class tomorrow, even though I've been mainly playing electric since watching Johnny Cash (and Nikhil was right, the black Fender seems like an small easy toy after working on my classical). Bought a neat guitar stand too - Mr. Fender sits straight up by my bed, all night long.

Got accosted by a pimp on Sunday.
My name's Ramu. You don't want? Why?!!! You don't want a look?? Why??!!! Take phone number atleast - you don't have to call. No???? Whyyyyy... Ramu. Ramu. Remember, and ask for me.

here we go again

friday night, last local.
5:30am, login from home.
9am, dinner-cum-breakfast.
11am, office office.

better late

I brought in Navroz sweets to office today (as I'd then got the jacket for Shome). One assorted box for each of our three rooms - badam barfee, chocolate barfee, kaju katli and mawaa. We really aren't a bad sort, we're just lazy.. and that is all.

Cancelled my friday class for the second time yet. I could've worked hard and made the cut, but I've started on 'The Great Gatsby', and it's something I'd been wanting to read since a long time.

"It made no difference to me. Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame too deeply - I was casually sorry, and then I forgot." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Navroz Mubarak!

Finished reading Steinbeck's 'The Moon is Down' (while waiting for the ticket cancellation/rebooking - dad came and relieved me at eleven - the line was even longer than yesterday).

"Your eyes in their deep heavens
possess me and will not depart;
a sea of blue thoughts rushing
and pouring over my heart."

(may not be exact, I've returned the book)

So it's finally out!!

yes, I hadn't been reading - just found the post.

All the best you two!!

marlboro gays

the contrast is the key to the drama here...2 macho men, straight from the hoardings of marlboro fall for each other, one summer in the locales of brokeback mountain. the movie spans some 20 years of their lives wherein they are trying to balance their respective family lives and the relationship between them. breathtaking visuals, minimal use of beautiful music and understated performance of heath ledger makes it a good viewing

being a straight man i couldnt empathise with the situation but having been in love a few times, could identify with the emotions involved. a slow pace, repititions of the same situation and a lack of universal appeal are some of the negatives in this oscar frontrunner.

worth one viewing for all movie buffs

- the other bojangles

first poem of our own jerry bear

She sits her head held high,
Doesnt care for my forlorn sigh.
And me, the fool's fool,
Keeps on loving her as a rule.

O! Shall I never caress,
the skin where her auburn hair does recess,
Or feel the heat,
When with her, my chafed lips do meet.

Oh God! my hands are raised in prayer.
Give me life or send me my slayer.
How long should I withhold my encore,
Must I always stand on a deserted shore?

- Shamik

The Peter Sellers version

It's been a hard day's night,
and I've been working, like a dog.

story of sayuri

from the desktop of the 'other' bojangles:

for those of you who have seen the kamaal amrohi epic 'pakeezah', memoirs of a geisha will come as a hollywood rendition of it. an underdog goes on to become the most happening geisha in the town and in the end gets united with her childhood love. loads of plot twists like, a bitchy rival, a dedicated trainer and wwII happen in between. the high points are mindblowing cinematography of the oriental and moving background score by none other than john williams . all in all a visual/musical delight.

i havent read the book to comment on the quality of adaptation but 'time has told us' that the latter is usually weaker.

ps: sayuri is her 'geisha' name.

craaaash!

from the desktop of the other bojangles:

many plots, 2 days, 1 city and racism in US...that in a nutshell is the plot of this multiple oscar nominee. the execution, remindful of previously seen smart flicks like magnolia & traffic lays bare the deeply embedded racism prevalant in the US society. some great acting specially by don cheedle & matt dillon and a brilliant background score makes this movie a must see!

though the nation keeps bragging about the egalitarian, humanitarian society that they have, the reality is that something like racism is still very much around. but its only a country like US where you can talk about it so openly!

..anything

you say
or do
can and will be used
against you.

But I finished!!

All of 21.097km!!! (these spirit fellows don't know a thing)
It took me 2 hours and 40 minutes - knee gave way when there were about 3kms left, so I had to slowly walk to complete.. now for 2007.

Straight from the horses ear:
'Milind Soman! Milind Soman!!' (he overtook me twice!)

'Dude we have to be smart - see that guy with the frizzy hair with that short chick. They sprint for a while and then walk - yet they catch up with us every time.'
'Keep running or I'll tell Shivani you wanted to walk behind a babe.'

'prrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Excuse me.. sorry..'

frizzy haired guy to short chick, 'I was..'
short chick, 'shut up!'
(when I crossed them half an hour later)
frizzy haired guy to short chick, 'I..'
short chick, 'just shut up!!'

'Abhi nahi, race ke baad mein donate karo!' (the organ donator cheering group - and there were lots of cheering groups in all sizes)

'Aunty, aap ko toh fashion-show mein hona chahiye.'

'Abhi toh ho jayega. Aate waqt kaise hoga!' (DHL guy on running up the peddar road bridge)

When we started out at 7, the full moon was still up over the sea..
and there was a navy brass band playing really well - the guys actually used sheet music!
and there were lots of these small yachts with uniform light blue sails..
and for a long long while I ran with a big white baloon having a UV water purifier ad - till I gave it to a street kid at Haji Ali..
and the Mousey did the 7km dream run - even with her terrible cough that kept her up most of the night..
and the dream run looked a Carnival - there were kathakali dancers, people in all sorts of costumes with things on their heads, even a Yamraj (with two guys dressed as skeletons) doing an anti-tobacco campaign!!

Mumbai rocks!
(The Bombay festival has begun - trilok gurtu playing tonight by the gateway - but the knee demands his rest)

Another brand new day!!

So there I was, coming back up after my jog, thinking how I no longer have time to watch the VH1 classic hour, that apart for being able to read very simple pieces I have nothing to show for my 7 months of practice, that something's really wrong with today's education-career thing..

Got home and slid open the drawing room window.

Pre-dawn skies, the calm sea, the sweet morning breeze.. mom leaving for her morning class saying she'd left me some tea (and that sugar was added twice by mistake).. the mouse still in hibernation (and she's better now) - who was I kidding?!!!

'No need to run and hide
it's a wonderful, wonderful life.' - Wonderful wonderful life (Black)