The Mad Alchemist

He looked at snow filled streets from his window

collected birds and beads

-

Like a recluse

he

stayed in the walls of his castle

and never let her in 

-

He, the alchemist

mixed 

hopes with dreams and dreams with fear,

mixed

songs of escape with moods of melancholy;

mixed

her emotions with his paintings

.

He looked at passing night skies from behind his lenses

collected berries, spirits and memories

-

Like a reckless recluse

he

erased his impressions

and misplaced women with things

-

He, the mad alchemist

fused

love with desires and desires with panic,

fused

songs of beauty with moods of malice;

fused

her story with his misgivings

.

In the end

Rudolf II, the master of images

died, very sick

Shringi

Feburary 5, 2017

Painting: Vertumnus (portrait of Rudolf II) by Giuseppe Arcimboldo in Milan c. 1590- 1591

The poem is inspired by my twisted history and that of Emperor Rudolf II of Austria, "The Mad Alchemist" 

Two of Him, Half of Me

And love took me to another place

but my shadow stayed

And love gave me flowers, songs and days

but my shadow craved

.

My shadow bled, hurt and crawled

but my love, carried it all

My shadow mocked, cheated and lurked

but my love, loved it all

Shringi

February 3, 2017

Painting: The Meat Train by Mark Ryden

After many days

As though I drank your jagged shadow
and couldn't spit it out

After many days
I didn't know, from nowhere
you would come and rake my heart
rake my heart

again

As though I swallowed your beaten spirit
and couldn't gulp it down

After many days
I didn't know, from nowhere
you would come and stroke my heart
stroke my heart

again

As though with you, I chewed away some of me 
and couldn't tell us apart

After many days
I didn't know, from nowhere
we would come and probe my heart
probe my heart

like many days back.

Shringi
January 30, 2017

Painting: After Many Days by Thomas Hart Benton

Wrote the poem while listening to 'The Robin's Jar' by My Brightest Diamond 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL3xTt-cvSU

A Flight

We stand in a colorful array

You and I and the people we have met

With dresses and smiles, in the color red

You and I and the people we  have met

Against the night of stars

With young, brilliant hearts

As a sparkling twinkle in the expanse

decked in dreams, we stand

In a moment from now, we will form a ballad 

With lyrical symmetry and lit eyes -
You and I, and the people we have met

Will rise and swim in the starlit skies

Shringi

January 18, 2017

unknown photographer from Archana's engagement

To broken darkness,

We have come far
From nowhere to nowhere

Our journey has been of words
You and I have celebrated the festival of silhouettes
Stared into endless blurry nights

My dear broken darkness,
As light spills through you, I feel reassured of your presence
Thank you; tonight
I owe you my ornamental lapse.

Shringi

13 January 2017

from my instagram

Everyday Rituals

There is endless enjoyment behind our minds Where the speedy moments of outside - pause, Slow down And dissolve

They travel freely and reside into our pores for a
restful instant;

Before trickling down

There is an immeasurable amount of song and dance

Within us

Within us,

Are also tendrils of gleam

Participating in the mass celebrations

Twirling

Rhythmically

With ornate hearts

And limpid breath

Let’s voyage

In

Shringi

1 July 2016

Unwanted

The air was swollen with quietude
It felt calmer than usual

Vibrations of bygone conversations

Usually lingering about
Were nowhere

It had no smell left
no music, no story

The air was empty but heavy
with the heart of an unwanted

It had finally concluded its cleansing
Now,
Swollen with quietude

Shringi

29 June 2016

Painting by Dan McCaw