Star.

Once a star of a long lost galaxy

I now am mortal of few tendencies

My hands are shaky

My gait slow n weak

What point life arrived

Looking back feels weary

 I had once a river of love in me

Ended in sea of grief ... shortly

Wrath and anger consumed me all

 I was my life’s own adversary

Haste made my present invisible

Regrets magnified faults to infinity

Regrets are for the bounded ones

Remorse for the ones in captivity

The freedom of choice, to live as wish

Is your own, not other’s luxury

Then why you limit yourself as a star

When the universe is flowing in artery.

Such vastness of thought

Such awe in imagery

Physical strengths were a bonus

Provided for early mastery

Your ideas made you special

Not hercs or maiden personality

So be your own hero

Create your moons and Sun

Gloominess is not the very option

Hope will rescue all torn n weary

Get up and stand for your own self

Show the world your shiny destiny.

(Samima Shah-Faheem)

King Bruce!!

Robert the Bruce, known as Robert I after becoming king of Scotland, was one of the greatest kings of Scottish history. His achievement in rallying the Scottish nation behind him in resistance to the English is all the more remarkable by his lack of resources at the time of his revolt in 1306. The revolt was defeated, Bruce's lands were confiscated and he became a fugitive. The story of his wanderings is very much embroidered with traditions and legends: the best known is the tale of his watching the spider while he was in hiding on Rathlin Island (now in Northern Ireland), and drawing inspiration from the perseverance of the spider in spinning her web. Gradually he recruited followers again, and in 1314 won at Bannockburn the greatest victory that Scotland had ever won or was to win over England. Fourteen years later Bruce secured a treaty with England recognizing the independence of Scotland and his right to the throne.

The following poem about Robert the Bruce and the Spider is from To Read & to Tell, edited by Norah Montgomery (Arco Publishing Co., Inc. New York, 1964):

When Bruce, King of Scotland, was getting the worst

Of the war he was waging with Edward the First;

When most of his friends had been captured or slain,

And the sky of Scotland looked very like rain;

When he spent his days hiding in bushes and trees,

Getting thorns in his fingers and cuts on his knees,

And when nothing could lighten the gloom he was feeling -

He lay in a cave and looked at the ceiling.

He stared at the ceiling with thoughts that were black,

Till a spidery spider came out of a crack,

A spidery spider all bulging with thread,

Which she started to spin on the beam overhead.

She spun the web once, but the spider-thread broke;

She spun the thread twice - Bruce's interest awoke;

She spun the web three times with pluck unavailing;

She spun the thread four times but still went on failing.

She spun the web five times - "My goodness!" cried Bruce,

"Yon spidery spider must see it's no use!

O Spidery, spider, it's plan as a pike

We two are as like as two peas are alike!"

She spun the web six times - "How now!" cried the Scot,

"Don't you know when you're beaten?" The spider did not.

But calmly proceeded, as patient as ever,

To start on an obstinate seventh endeavour.

She hung and she swung and she swayed in the air,

While Bruce for the Spider could not help but stare -

Then he whooped with delight and he sprang to his feet,

For from one beam to another the web hung complete!

With hope he was filled and with courage he burned.

"O spider!" he said, "What a lesson I've learned!

Dear Scotland! Of English invaders I'll rid it!"

Then Bruce sallied forth and at Bannock burn did it.

SOURCE
"Bruce and the Spider," from Favorite Tales of Long Ago, retold by James Baldwin (E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc.: New York, 1955), pp. 18-20. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 55-6511.

Be a Morning!!

Be a morning that strikes garden chimes

And brighten all world with sun & sunshine

Plays a song eternal, brace in its rhymes.

 Passes by so gently, but impacts are high

Hope flower bloomed, once a bud very shy

Serenity in gaze, pronounced peace hereby.

Days were strange, & nights felt lost

Morning received me, all free without cost

Here commences Life, concluding Dead frost.

(Samima) 

Gorging life!!

Live so gorged, & breathe so whole

 Life precious gift, superior to silvers n Gold.

Experience every moment, joy all seasons

Though, some get warm, others bitter for no reason.

Be some energy, and glow for a cause

Seek happiness  inside, a treasure soul holds.

Use all colors from your box of crayons

 Life's much better in bold, italic tones.

(Samima)

Fleeting Permanence!!

Time changes, is learning through ages

Never stops never halts, in life’s pages.

Sometimes; in blooms of happiness like meadows

At others, a tree of winter in shadows.

The secret is to go on slowly as this World

Everyday very same, suddenly different and twirled.

It’s the shift that creates life so very loved

Transition always needed to increase its worth.

Today in droughts of scarcity & insufficiency

Tomorrow its abundance in God’s clemency.
(Samima)

Ripples!!

You can act like a stone  

Riffling water a little, when thrown.

Or a rhythm, generating lasting waves

The message is consistency in ripples one plays.

Though vileness is only ephemeral 

Goodness is that Wind, change courses eternal.

 Without darkness, light lacks its meaning

With no confusion, the clarity stays demeaning.

It’s the vagueness that asks direction

Its nothingness that seeks perfection.

Doubts bring peace & impossibilities many chances

Corruption we thought, but Virtue made advances.

Deceit tries to undermine Faith

Beautiful thing, that a choice we have.

Which resonates with you is the best one

 Ripples reaching corners, like the rays of mighty Sun.

(Samima) 

I am Enough!!

I remind myself constantly

That learning from mistakes is a rare ability.

Have that strength to overcome trials

 Smile in hard times, consider whining a vile.

Keep head high when the world’s falling

Miracles of nature, do find their calling.

Wonderful beings with power enormous

Laugh and be grateful, even for small stuff.

Say: I want to live every moment of life

Without thinking of tomorrow, in present I dive.

I am enough and I will be fine

Never let life's bitterness , shape or define.

(Samima)

A West side Story

Fears irrational, dwellers of mind

Timid & uncertain with horrors unknown

Doubts need time to scatter, dispel

And vagueness space, before it’s gone.

Alien it was, found best resolve

Was empty-handed, now with fortune overload

There’s a light after every dark spell

A beacon so clear, its glow foretold.

Insight’s mine, awareness home

Wisdom’s a flame, burns bright and high

An odyssey of life, with self discovery

It’s prudence and truth, one can’t deny.

(Samima)

Failures ( by Samima)

Like falling down from a rock

Never expected but things flopped

Was left speechless & mindblocked.

There was much struggle and toil

Was up many nights,thought life spoiled

 Surprised big time, 'coz it recoiled

At times its a blunder, or just fright

Failing isn’t the end, Not trying adds plight

Say No to timidity, don’t fly but fight

The priceless failures and tears

Are the inevitables, one can’t spare

Will be gems of Crown, only triumphs wear.

This too shall pass!!

You did your best

But things went wrong,

 All efforts pointless;

Some days are very long.

The Rain will stop

The sun will smile,

 Life will be great;

But wait a little while.

Use the patience key;

That unlocks many gates.

Its Lessons very lasting;

But embracing isn’t straight.

So, don’t lose hope

 And give your best,

Despair is corruption

Wait for the best.

Believe in yourself,

As sorrows will harass.

But Life takes turns

This too shall pass.

(Samima)

Your Troubles Are Making You Strong!

One after another

Challenges come, and grab your arm

You ask life, Now whats wrong?

Troubles said: We are making you strong

Living a breezy life

Where no effort tag along

One never realizes what he has

Grasps after struggle short or long

Troubles said: We are making you strong

Remember

the Man... helped butterfly in cocoon

Hindered its struggle, made a slit drawn

With swollen body and crippled wings

Would never now, but was a destined flown

Troubles said: We were making it strong

Everyone has a talent deeply sown

With no strive, stay hidden and unknown

In weakest moment, one becomes strong

So, cash in  hardships, they bring a new dawn

Troubles said: we will make you strong.

 (by Samima Shah)

Living Well (by Samima)

You feel Riches and wealth felicity agents

 Not a recipe for better life spent

Flying around, exotic foods and flashy cars

May add little but won’t fill  those happiness jars

How to acquire Joy is a million dollar question

Some small tricks, a good mindset will freshen

 Simple food and meaningful work that matters

Want little, desire few, woes would shatter

Live in present, stop future worries

Be happy who you are, let regrets bury

Feel grateful to life for small pleasures

Berries, chocolates & tea, sometimes good book a treasure.

Drive should be Joy never fear

 Interesting and valuable things complete life sphere

Practicing compassion to others is rewarding

And to yourself, it’s eating well and exercising

Life isn’t all goals, productivity and numbers

Treat lifes a gift, it’s the poor outlook that encumbers

(A poem I wrote inspired by Leo Babauta's Article)