PARADIGM SHIFT

Moves on the chess borad are

Occupying  my mind

As the latest passion

For the palpable promise of

A pawn turning into

The Prime Minister...

Having served

As a dispatch rider  

To the masters of

Stentorian commands,

I have ceased to see

My future in

Outdoor games

© DEEPAK  NIKUNJ

PROSCENIUM

another twilight 
interlude in the offing... 
the sun sinks into 
its dormitory, the moon 
readies to direct 
the starry stage
for a new act
© DEEPAK DARSHAK

A FLESH DEALER AT SEA

The butcher

In my neighbourhood,

One of the hardcore veggies

Known to me,

Told me last night that

The rising prices of

Edible greens were

Pressing hard to

Change his food habit,

Though he thought

The prices might fall again

By the time

He would learn the craft of

Choosing the best catch

From his shop

For his consumption 

© DEEPAK NIKUNJ

A NAKED GRAFFITO

A poem is,

More or less,

A graffito  

Scribbled on

The wall of time,

Those who conceive it

Have the wealth of stratagems

To hide their nakedness

Under the veil of

Kaleidoscopic expressions,

Those who read it

Have the privilege

To see through their nakedness

Using the eyes

Offered by the writing others

© DEEPAK NIKUNJ

IN THE VIRTUAL MART

This space of ours is

Much like a big

Shopping mall

Where some words sell

And others buy,

In the selling arena,

My words have a

Marginal value as

Commodities of little interest

Compared to the hot cakes,

At the buying counter,

My words have stand in

Long, tiring queues

Due to their low

Purchasing power,

When the day ends

I often stand in a corner

Perplexed as to where

I should place my words

Without getting carried away by

The avalanche of makeovers

And volte faces  

That the volatile equations of USP

Persistently demand 

© DEEPAK NIKUNJ