Cold

Cold

Small ball
Smaller
Smaller
Still smaller
Round curved spine
Head almost touching knees
Hands cradling the head
Silent
Cold
Numb
Lost

Wishing for warmth.

75 startups you can Bet On

My company, Anduril Technologies, got featured in DARE's '75 startups you can bet on' (in India) story. It was their cover story for May 2010 issue. I have been waiting for an electronic version to write about it, but it hasn't come and it is already June. So I decided to post anyway. If they do publish it on Internet, I'll update the post. It is the first time, Anduril got covered in print. Is what I am feeling very similar to how parents feel when their kid faces the stage the first time to recite a poem (optimism laced with dread interrupted with bits of unreasonable embarrassment and groundless pride) ?

We made another small (tiny? minuscule?) appearance in PCQuest. Our biggest client, Eko, got covered in PCQuest's June 2010 issue, and we were mentioned in passing as their technology vendor. Here. In general Eko gets a lot of coverage as its team is one of the smartest I have worked with। In this case, this feature was specifically for the best IT projects in India, so we can preen ourselves a bit.

Update: Post the nomination I had mentioned in this post, Eko received the award for Best IT implementation of the year 2010 in Maximum Social Impact category.
Soft link: http://pcquest.ciol.com/content/search/showarticle.asp?artid=120756

Blunt Instruments

Blunt instruments

A blunt instrument was used to kill Ms. Morris.

Sharp knives they tried first
Then teeth, nails, and claws.
Then, all kinds of arsenal,
Yet still breathing she was.
It was a surprise to everyone
When they saw the signs of hurt.
Why, they thought, when nothing did,
Did the blunt words work.

A blunt instrument was used to kill Ms. Morris.

If Only

If only

While they depart, and still grieve you,
Three thoughts alone desires leave you -

Would have been,
Could have been,
Should have been...

A walk in the woods

A walk in the woods

Life could be lived
In the faster lanes;
Or could it just be
A walk in the woods?

Roof top summers,
Paper boat rains -
Life could be lived
Collecting childhoods.

Fact

Fact

However the dark skies
And the pale dots of white
Also play a role
In making his rhymes right,

And help him compose his epic
So faithfully they serve;

The most special stanza
The nearest to his heart,
All else being his work
The one that is his art,

That one he will keep,
The poet will ever reserve

-- For the stars who shine brighter.


However the broken doll
With its twisted arm
Is also cute
And has a charm,

And is the one the kid hugs
When she needs a loyal friend;

The gold and pink dress
Her favorite from the store
The one she loves best
The one they all adore,

That one she will give
When playing a game of 'Pretend'

-- To the dolls who look prettier.

Mistakes

Mistakes

Disoriented

By dreams -

Dreams of

Flying,

I found

Rocks,

And saw

Wings.

I bought

All.

Smiled,

And soared.

Now,

If I let go

I fall faster.

If I hold on

I fall harder.

Peace

Peace

Gods are mighty and

Mean, arrogant, cruel;

But you are small and

Hence more nimble.

When they deny you joy

And bind you helpless,

Spite them by being

Happy nevertheless.

And when they play unfair

To your right of happiness too,

Steal the peace that wasn't

Ever meant for you.

Eldorado Fades (Eldorado IV)

Eldorado Fades

Eldorado, My love!

Stay for a while more.

Stay in my sight.

Stay, let them explore -

The green of your lands,

The yellow of your sun,

The red of your hills,

Blue skies like none.

Stay here while I die,

Come, let fall your golden locks,

My love! don't fade now,

Let me think these little thoughts.

While they slow my beating heart

And Gods claim their due

My love, let me fill it with

The golden sight of you.

Let me breathe in your air

Smile, this one last time,

As you've done for all poetry -

Pose, for this one last rhyme

Ah! I lose. I falter. I die.

But what matter it does.

My eyes shine with lyrical light

My heart with a golden buzz.

Don't spare your precious tears,

Don't blur my golden view -

All life is worth my love

A sight of golden you.

Lost

LOST

Lost a color on the street of reality.

It looked benign, felt soft, smelled green.

It slipped; Got lost with such finality -

From is, From being, towards had been.

It was mine, I forget which shade though.

If you find it, please return it to me.

My address has changed a while ago -

Color dash less, Drab Street, Dull City.