Takes Away A Little

For all of my years I've wanted to be

All that I can be and maybe a little more;

But the world around me speaks a different language,

Like they've chosen a path for all

And I am expected to follow.

When money begins to speak

Life around you crumbles,

And a new dark world begins to rise

When each brick in the wall speaks lies.

Takes away a little from you each time

Slowly but surely you walk in their way

Just like struggling in a quick sand
No reasoning here, it's a no man's land

The sun rises in the East so I’ve been told

But for how long will that truth hold?

The setting of the sun with its crimson red

Tells a thousand stories of blood that’s been shed

“Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are”
Now the stars can hardly be seen with the dark clouds a-blockin’

The day is no better with all chemical haze above a-hoverin’.

Vision is blurred and our judgement greatly flawed;

Will we ever heed to the path of innocence taught,

And start the walk back to that place of joy and reverence -

That perfect peace and love found only in his presence?

Don’t walk away in silence like you don’t care,

Ignorance is not bliss, know the truth and dare

To live the change we dream about;

Start from me and you and let it ripple out.

He, the Day, and After he met She

He walked into the room and saw her smiling face

Almost at once he felt his heart beat race

How could a simple glimpse make such a difference

Just like a quick capture of beauty by the 'camy' lens;

If angels walked the earth, he had seen one

If beauty took the form of a human, he had met one

Utterly and joyously bedazzled, he carried on.

Days went on, time and tide carried him along

But hardly a day passed that he wouldn’t think of her

He hardly had a day when he wouldn’t sing a song

Now each song found company as he thought of her

“These are trying days” somebody told him

“Be practical” another whispered in his ears

And he felt the lights beginning to dim

But only to be lighted up by her smiling face;

'Tis the story of a swain who had no clue

His life was gonna change when he met a girl he never knew.

Around her he is his crazy self

As though he has rediscovered himself

She’s as gentle as the moon

And yes she tries to see the moon –

Closer;  and up a ladder she climbs

Innocence and charm are wrapped around her

Beauty and benevolence go with her

This is sweetness in its 'bestest' form.

Yes, she may be well out of his league

And barely anything worthwhile from him for her to pick

But every future he pictures, he sees with her

Any trade life may bring, he wants to work with her

Every song he sings, he wants to sing with her

A ranch with beautiful horses (but not as beautiful as her)

To ride off into the sunset with her (so the song goes)

And he dreams on...

Beyond the smile… …everything happens for a reason!

Have you seen a face that is always smiling?

Brings joy to the one beholding

It’s contagious, there’s a smile on your face

Something you haven’t found in so many days

But look beyond and you will find

A hurt lying beneath the smile line

Tears covered in selfless melody

Every line blended in perfect harmony

It’s just a cover for some respite

Look beyond the smile and you’ll see it right.

Everything happens for a reason

In the Holy Book it is clearly written

And I tell myself it’s gonna be alright

Even when I don’t know how that’s gonna be right

It’s hard to connect the heart with the mind

I guess it will only happen with experience and in time

The hurt is real, and so is the pain

But it’s no time to play the blame game

Only fall in the arms of the loving father

He alone has the right fix when we falter

“You gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining”

So I’ve sung to the tune of Kutless

It’s real and happening and I have felt helpless

But the strength is rising, and it’s amazing

Like on supernatural wings of strength I am soaring

This is surely not from me that I know

It all began when I learnt to let go

The moment I said “Lord I’m sorry”

My weakness and failure became history

A fresh new road I see

To tread on it and be all I can be

Only You can see beyond my smile

And give me hope and strength for a new start

You draw me unto yourself and prepare me

For a higher task what my eyes cannot see

 “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet

And a light unto my path”

As I walk through this valley low,

I know with you there is joy as you show

Everything happens for a reason

And you are in control,
You're always the master of the show!

"The Quest"

Mine eyes have wandered fAr, Searching for a dame above pAr,
In Quest of a TRUE LOVE.
Pretty faces had been the cynosure- In them my heart had found a temporary cure!
But now...keeps ringing in my ears...Beauty is vain and charm a deceit,
But a WOMAN who FEARS the Lord is to be praised! :)

On My People, My Land, My Right - Freedom!

The Government of India is apparently our nemesis. We need to stand up and fight for our rights. How can we stand and fight for our rights against the "enemy" when the rights we so vehemently profess are totally suppressed by our own people in the first place? The very proponents of this so called ‘freedom’ are the ones binding us in chains. How can they talk about freedom when they bind their own people in fear? When no one is allowed to stand up for their rights in their own land... Who will respect this cause?
I believe in the ‘cause’ of our freedom struggle. I believe we have an identity different from the Indians. Even a person who does not know any history of the nagas will have no problem pointing out the difference between the nagas and them. I do not know much about our history either, but I have always felt this difference throughout my life. And I would love to see us live in a land of our own under our own government, who hears and understands the heart beat of the people, living out our dreams – freedom!
My friend once told me that he loves the undergrounds and wants to work among them because he said everyone hates them. This is something to really think about. Why do your own people hate you, who are supposedly fighting for their freedom? Is it because the common people do not want to be free? Is it because they love to be under the government of India who are quite indifferent to them? OR Is it because the undergrounds (freedom fighters) have made their lives a living hell that even the indifference of the government of India seems to appear much better and tolerable? Everyone knows how our people have suffered under the GOI. How many lives have lost, been raped and tortured. Even in the face of such cruel and inhuman acts committed by others, why are common people holding back in giving their full support to our brothers in arms?
The job of the freedom fighters is to inspire people to join in the cause, because it is a noble cause, and it is our common cause. This can happen only when the people love and respect them as their leader(s). And this respect cannot be forced or commanded, it has to be earned. Herein lies the problem. No one is willing to do the hard work. They think a gun in their hand is all they need to get people’s attention. Yes they will get their attention, and they’ve gotten their attention! Only, it is one of hatred and fear, and not of love and respect. They need to change their attitude if they want the people to subserve and follow their ideals and principles.
Our culture has taken deep roots, and thus changing any of it becomes an arduous task. Our culture is very unique, and there are so many good practices within it that cannot be found anywhere else in the entire world. Our family system, the bond and love we have for each other is only one simple example. I say it is transcendental! However, no culture is perfect, and ours has its shortcomings. We are not open to criticisms, and differences of opinions. We are not willing to bring our ideas to the table and consider others’ as well. All we care is what we think, the rest can go to hell. We virulently criticize others if they say or think differently.
Let us not be too quick in judging others because we ourselves might be indulging in the same mistake, perhaps even in a bigger way. Rather, let us do a little bit of self examination first before we speak. This will save us from being hypocritical! This very nature is eating our people today. One group blames the other, and the other comes up with an even better and greater blame, and it goes on. Nobody is willing to look at his own shortcomings! This very nature is dividing us Nagas, and the government of India is enjoying the show, free of cost.
We need to return to our loving nature, that culture which now lay concealed under threat of violence and guns. Let us not be blinded by the lies of power and money. Let ignorance not be our guide. Let the fear of God, the love of our people, the love for freedom, be our theme in their true sense. Let “Nagaland for Christ” speak for itself, and not otherwise.