Naughty Nicole

Here's another one of the young who entered and exited!

NAUGHTY NICOLE

Naughty Nicole, in swirling skirt, swept into the room,

Only to find Selma playing cat-and-mouse with a broom,

She deemed her Italian, rechristened the feline Pupulini,

So that she could rhyme with cannelloni and tortellini!

She proceeded to toss Pupulini in the cold winter air

With distracted disdain and a certain kind of flair,

All the cat-lovers were horrified with wide-eyed shock,

Rolled up their sleeves, prepared to knock off her block!

They wondered and analysed this weird juggling act,

Was she sane? She’s losing some, yes, that’s a fact,

Imagine the worst if she tossed her man in the air,

The poor soul would be up-ended to his eternal despair!

All in all, she was one energetic, vibrant, bubbly lass,

Who never failed to religiously attend Sunday Mass,

That’s what she told her mother with a heave and sighs,

What would life be if not for a few little white lies!

Comprehension dawning, the multitude wept copious tears,

She could do no more, say no more nor allay their fears

It was no lie, though, when she said she had to leave,

They saluted, cheered and in her wake, lay down to grieve.

            Antonio

Interlude

You may have observed that most material published on my blog are about celebrating people - those who at some time or the other, enter and exit one's life. As one's career moves on, colleagues get younger and younger. And this poem is about those in whose presence, I felt alive! The good times, far away from the high tension that was part of daily routine.

Another lesson! Remember the good times, forget the bad!

INTERLUDE

(for Kavita, Lilian, Pooja, Shilpa, Sonali, Suchita, Bharat, Kunal & Noshir)

In the too brief interlude between work and hard work

The entire team decided their responsibilities to shirk

Rode the bus down the dark, desperate highway

No waiting to exhale and blindly seizing the day!

The rain driving kaleidoscopic patterns on the glass

The team reached for glory and attained critical mass

The noise unabated, joy was unalloyed and pure

Lost their way, got back on track, for fun, no cure!

Morning brought them to the miniscule reservoir

Not enough to contain their unbridled energy

Moved to paddle boats in a man-made lake

One safe return, the other, the shore could barely make!

Life continued on the edge of the lunatic fringe

Leaving those, not party to paradise, to cringe

Gathered around karaoke machine, one crazy dude

In macho masculine voice, gently affirmed – INTERLUDE!

Carried over to the room, on sadness, a permanent nix

Threw in whisky and vodka for a merry uproarious mix

And lyrics on the screen rendered romantic mood

A smoking hot feminine voice, gently crooned – INTERLUDE!

Then it was time to hit the disco dance floor,

As they gyrated, set the pace, what a show!

As spirits rose and the soul fed on good food

In one voice, they shook the heavens and cried – INTERLUDE!

Antonio

Quest for Jest

The holiday season has ended. And year-end reviews and new year perspectives reigned awhile. I thought I'd let the noise die down, let the usual internet clichés run their course. Old correspondence pulled out from my archives addressing common concerns. Fact, nonsense,  life learning, management lesson? Maybe? 

Hi Zoeb,

Thanks for the invitation to light banter.

However, being the self-appointed court jester, I cannot stop my fingers and keyboard from speaking my mind. And I do appreciate people who are upfront and speak their mind. I believe that positive conflict is necessary for the growth of any organisation be it our place of work (for the money or voluntary), the family, friends and society at large. And though I agree that the banter and the feel-good factor are important, we must pause awhile to address issues that are close to the heart and face up to them like mature human beings. So long as all parties to the conflict face each other in a mature fashion!

We are human beings first and, the fact that we are single-minded about our cause does not mean that we do not experience the emotions that may appear negative on the surface. I see it as passion from people who care about the cause they work for! Now all we need to do is ignite that passion further with accompanying vision, then we got it made! I think that is what we are asking for. Passion combined with vision will catapult us into a higher realm!

Even when the lighthearted stuff is not taken in the right spirit, let us remember that there are times when some of us may have other pressures that seep through our communication. So let’s excuse that.

And for your invitation, here’s a poem in your honour:

To Zoeb in his Quest for Jest

‘tis not the clime for jest, my friend,

When forthright speech we miscomprehend,

For men must learn and apprehend

Their domineering egos to suspend!

The jester stands alone in the abandoned court

And watches Passion die in the castle moat!

Behind his mask, he wears a weary frown

As no one sees the tears of a clown!

Pardon me if I strike the wrong key,

‘tis not an ill wind that blows o’er the sea

but the tumult raised by passionate men

who attempt to beard the lion in its den!

Raise the clarion call for sanity

Blow the bugle for maturity

Pray, let wiser counsel prevail

So that the cause does not flounder and fail!

Antonio