Author: Shalini Kathuria Narang

Shalini Kathuria Narang is a software professional and a freelance journalist. She has reported for national and international newspapers, magazines and news sites. Her poems have been published in several anthologies including Starry Nights: Poetry of Diaspora in Silicon Valley and Pixie Dust and All Things Magical. She is a monthly contributor to Masticadores USA and has been published on Spillwords Press. She is originally from New Delhi.

Meeting Me

~ Shalini Kathuria Narang ~ 2 Comments 
Letters from the past,
are a memory blast.
Met myself from three decades ago,
Via writings from a loquacious pro.

She spoke with spontaneity,
Chuckled without scarcity,
a perky personality,
enveloped with vivacity.

Has time changed her?
And responsibilities molded her?
Have some experiences hardened her?
And others softened her?

The extra pounds on the waist,
Reveal only a partial tale in haste.
As do the growing silver streaks in her hair,
Or the lines on the forehead that stare.

The real story is known to a few,
Of struggles that came to skid and slew,
Family and friends-old and new,
Helped and healed scars that life drew.

How will rest of life play?
Will more challenges come on the way?
Are there any new dues to pay?
Or will calm and happiness stay?

Time will reveal in due course,
Higher power’s unknown morse,
Good karma is the only recourse,
That wise ones emphasize and endorse.

Hope

~ Shalini Kathuria Narang ~ 1 Comment 
In a bag of emotions,
hope is a potent potion.
Promise of persistence,
Desire for fulfillment of a vision.

An itch, a hankering,
a wish for a miracle,
a last straw, a longing,
a personal pinnacle.

A logic defying craving,
wishes on life’s ascend,
maybe, day dreaming,
or to simply transcend.

Hope can be a deep yearning,
stubbornly defying reasoning,
In rain, wish of sunshine,
blossoming of flower on dry vine.

Pining for good results after a test,
when nerves astray, from east to west,
like a desired end to a thriller,
hope is  both a pillar and a glimmer.

An Old Tree

~ Shalini Kathuria Narang ~ 4 Comments 
The tree is bent,
Like a person spent.
Dropping at an angle,
Some branches still dangle.

Do its roots mingle with another?
Making each other stronger.
Or sharing worldly bother.
Like a brother with a brother.

The old tree has some nest(s),
Can still provide shade for rest.
In past, its been through many test,
Tall and leafy-the very best.

Does it think what will happen?
A heavy breeze may leave it shaken,
Will it be cut and its wood taken,
But, it’s not yet broken.

An old man walks under an old tree,
Both seem to say-you and me,
Have been around and seen it all,
Good-bad, zeniths and falls.

Is it time to go?
We don't yet know.
But when the call come(s),
Let us be ready to welcome.

Small Steps

~ Shalini Kathuria Narang ~ 2 Comments 
Yesterday I did the prep,
Today I took a few step(s).
Tomorrow I will walk,
Day after I will run and talk.

Growth happens in increments,
Not on commands or sentiments.
We thrive at different place and pace,
Life is no contest or race..

From a seed to sapling to tree,
Germination cannot be rushed,
This is just how it happens to be,
Cannot be pressured, persuaded or pushed.

Everything and everyone has a time to bloom,
There’s no reason for glum and gloom,
Nature dances to its own tune,
Neither late nor soon.

Sad days

~ Shalini Kathuria Narang ~ 2 Comments 
Some days are just sad,
Seems nothing can be done or had,
Despite best effort to not feel bad,
Things don’t work in direction of glad.

Are those times just to be endured?
Hoping clouds clear, equanimity restored,
Sadness and sorrow cured,
And normalcy implored.

Sadness imparts vital life lesson,
Like power of slowing down and small action,
Retrospection and self suggestion,
Merits of inner connection.

We learn enhanced appreciation for happy times,
And also to take the sad in the stride,
Strategies to rise above the situational grime,
Dust off and pick up to enjoy the ride.

High Hill

~ Shalini Kathuria Narang ~ Leave a comment 
The hill was high.
Her spirit higher.
The sea was deep,
Her dreams deeper.

The task was tough,
Her persistence tougher.
Sounds of distractions loud,
Music of her dreams louder.

Work was over whelming,
The village encouraging.
The pain was scathing,
Her endurance towering.

Standing on cross road(s),
Decisions determine destiny profound.
Choices surround,
Attractions abound,

Journeys are rarely all smooth,
Tough times reveal many truth.
Navigating road blocks,
Determines final stock.

Stories We Tell and Hear

~ Shalini Kathuria Narang ~ Leave a comment 
Life revolves around told and heard tales,
Our biases adding color without fail.
A story can have varied flavor,
Like multiple tastes to slowly savor.

So many tales to share and hear,
Narrations changing from mouth to ear.
Molded by observation and interpretation,
Contoured with varying perception.

Stories continuously change version,
Of the same event, place or person.
Grand in scale are the variation,
From inception to adaptation.

Some stories we hear are powerful,
Others can be mundane and dutiful,
Still others fun filled, fearful or fanciful,
Narratives that challenge are most beautiful.

Stories include both facts and feelings,
About experiences in varied setting and dealing,
Some we may loathe, while others are appealing,
Stories exist without a ceiling.

Sweet Little Lies

~ Shalini Kathuria Narang ~ 2 Comments 

A friend and I met after ages,
Hugs and smiles were initial exchanges,
She said-you look the same,
You too- I responded in the conversational train.

Meeting old friends is magical,
In a few hours, we can go back in time,
Recollecting old days is sweet and sentimental,
These trysts of shared memories is sublime.

Later, I thought of the sweet little lies.
That work great as breaking ice tries,
Our attempt is mutual feel good,
And nothing deeper to brood.

But, some words make me ponder,
Changes are inevitable in a decade,
Why do we want to stay the same-I wonder.
Or is sweet nostalgia-the game played.

I am now a woman- who was once a girl,
With life free of responsibilities,
She loved to dance, giggle and twirl,
Now, she manages home and work with precious abilities.

I have experienced and changed.
I do not feel or look the same.
I have my advancement embraced.
Desire to hold off against a natural tide is lame.

Age has given me many gift,
Perspective being a precious drift,
Calmness as an energy lift,
And conscious responsiveness-a personality thrift.

New Year

~ Shalini Kathuria Narang ~ Leave a comment 
Another year coming soon to an end,
And a new one just around the bend,
As we each other good wishes send,
In keeping with annual practices and trend.

I like to retrospect year going by's reels,
Replay both facts and feels,
Varied stages hold different appeal,
Some truths slowly simmer and reveal.

All actions have some return,
Some easy and others stern.
Some learnings come with burns.
And teach us how to discrete and discern.

Not all relations are forever,
Some sustain and others sever.
Not every time one needs to be quick and clever,
Some difficult doors can be opened with simple lever.

Since varied experiences make life’s twists and turn(s),
And some acts are better without a rerun.
Retrospection teaches there’s always something to learn,
And something to unlearn.