White Leaves

All the trees in my country

have white barks that

give birth to white leaves.

Some stems have no offspring

while others have mutilated leaves. 

I have a disfigured face and my

grown friend needs help dressing up. 

All of us fear toy guns, water guns 

and any signs of violence.

Yet I have seen videos

of your world 1000 years ago.

A beautiful world with green leaves

and healthy children.

I shudder at the anger and violence in your eyes. 

We are now reaping your thirst for blood 

and your experiment with nuclear war.

See for yourself. 

All the trees in my country

have lifeless white barks

that mourn

the loss of humanity.

Path to Peace

The soldier saw

reddish-orange blood pouring out

of his enemy’s chest

as he thrust his glossy sword

deep inside.

Reddish-orange, the color of the setting sun,

he thought, pointless.

For the first time, he looked into his

enemy’s face. Was he 17 or 18?

His hands numbed and bones quivered as he

imagined his youngest brother

soaked in reddish-orange blood.

Another enemy lay beside the young one,

like crushed leaves,

his dark crimson blood reminiscent

of the sky before a storm.

What is the color of my blood?

he wondered. What did he fight for?

Expansion? Race? Religion?

A vulture sat in the stench of blood,

her mouth purplish-red,

jaw dripping,

observing and waiting.

Suddenly, scared of all the red around him,

the soldier dragged himself out

of the battlefield.

His helmet and sword slipped away

in search of a better warrior.

His legs strolled where his heart led and

he stopped in front of a monastery.

He knelt with force

as the monastery bells rang,

his knees brushing

the hard rock below.

He found that his blood

was reddish-yellow

like a scattered autumn leaf.

He lifted his eyes

as the sun broke through the trees

illuminating his path to peace.

Limerick – Lockdown Woes

His reflection gulped at him
not long ago, he was quite slim.
The gym near his condo,
spring outside his window,
his keyboard soaked his frustrated whim.

Short Story Published in Page & Spine

Hello Friends,

My short story, ‘Shopping with the baby’ has been published in Page & Spine. Thank you, Nancy, for the kind words of appreciation and the publication. Please find a link to the story below.

Shopping with the Baby

There are two adult characters in this story. If you read this, do let me know if you have come across such characters in real life.

Spark of Fire

• 

I am the spark of fire

born from animosity.

I do not rue my birth

but transform into

a spark of hope

as I implant myself in

every child

who crosses my path.

I will burn in them

as a light of hope

and humanity,

till they pass me to others.

I will stay alight

with faith and joy

till the end of the world.

My Short Story Published in Terror House Magazine

Hi Friends,

My medieval fantasy story, ‘Closed Minds’ was recently published in the Terror House Magazine. This is my third work published in THM. Thank you, Matt, for featuring my short story. Do please click the link below to read it.

Closed Minds

Loyalty – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge

“Wait here. I will be back,” he told me as he walked inside the house, coughing. He stumbled and I heard a loud crash. I wanted to check on him, but he had asked me to wait. I heard a voice sobbing softly. People came and left, wooden-faced. That evening, I smelled lilies and heard the wail of terrifying silence. Everyone from his house came out, except him. I knew where he was kept. Should I follow him? But, he had said he would be back. I waited in the garden, amongst the daisies. He always kept his word.

This was written in response to the prompt at the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction. Write a story to the theme “a dog in the daisies.”

 

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge – Consequences

Peter turned off the alarm clock in haste. It was 9. In 15 minutes, he was in the living room, ready for office. However, there was no sign of breakfast. “Maisy, where is my breakfast?” She stared at him and turned away. Peter had slapped her yesterday and she was acting up. The next day was the same and so was the next. If he made extra food, meaning to save some for the night, she ate everything. Anger rose in him, but he thought of its consequences. “Maisy,” he began in a low voice, “I am extremely sorry.”

This was written for the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge.

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge – Meghan

Meghan stood at the entrance of the church looking at the white flowers which had begun to wither prematurely. Her husband, egged on by his friends, had carried her down the steps. They had been together for a month when he was called away to the sea. He described the calm and stormy waters in detail, calling the sea his mother and best friend. Although a little sad, he was highly excited when called away to the sea. “I am going home”, he had told her. Meghan adjusted her black veil as she went in to attend the service.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Meghan smiled at the colourful flowers and wondered if he would carry her down the steps or would be too tired to do so. Her fiancé had been called to the sea after their engagement. She thought about the fierce storm and six months of fear, wondering if he would come back. However, he was never in any doubt. He had called the sea his mother and best friend. His faith had been rewarded and he returned home, cherishing life and his loved ones. Meghan adjusted her white veil and took her dad’s arm as she entered the church.

These two stories were written for the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge. Thank you, Charli.

Get in, Grandpa

Sid looked at the threatening blue water as he stood at the edge of a swimming pool. He remembered the day 60 years ago when his coach pushed him inside the pool. Sid had told his disappointed mother that he would never go anywhere near a pool, a beach or even a pond. He had kept his word till now. His granddaughter looked at him with determination and tenacity. “Grandpa, don’t you want to get rid of your arthritis? You can do it. Get in.” He felt some of her courage entering him as he stepped inside the water.

This was written for Charli’s Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge.