26 Nov 2015

#116 To a friend


 Birthday Wishes 





It was the chase of goal
That brought us closer
A slowly developing relation
To be treasured forever

Your arrival stirred me
Up from a recent solitude
All moments and days spent
Together, demanded gratitude.

Someone more than a friend
A sister in disguise
Sometimes immature but wise
Possessing all virtues inside

What makes me wonder
About your nature
Contrasting- strong and tender
May you move forever.

I can’t forget those innumerous
Moments of fun and laughter
The world of art and music
Made us enrapt, so severe.

I’ve always enjoyed your company
Sophisticated philosophies, some funny
Weird mash-ups and recordings
Since the first day of joining.

A rare combination of
Beauty with brain
Embodiment of all talent
Go ahead and face all torrents.

Thank you for offering all helps
For being there whenever I needed
It wouldn’t have been easy for me
For facing the difficult time.

I want to make few suggestions
Always follow your instincts and reasons
Never run away from the challenges,
As they’re required for the changes.

May you get all success in days to come
I wish and pray on your birthday
May you shine like a star
To lighten this world.

With best wishes…..
Swati Sarangi
6.11.2015




#115 Choices

Choices




Theme: This poem is about the choices we make in life. There are certain choices or decisions which make or break our lives. Many times we are unaware about the consequences of our choices but at the end everything becomes clear. The time’s strong blow dispels all mist which keeps on blurring our vision for long. Of course, it’s a long term process and demands wisdom to look beyond the situations.  Strangely, at the end, the challenging journey leading to success seems more pleasant the success itself.

The route taken from      
The myriads of intertwined
The choices in front of my eyes
Urging me to think twice.

The path to be discovered
Leading to results unknown
But to walk is my pledge
No matter- over the ground or terrain

What losses or sacrifices
When time is the ultimate ruler
Rising up after every fall
Is the demand of this battle.

The transient state of instability
Unsettled mind in search of clarity
When the present- between win or loss
It’s a stage to finally cross.


After every transient
Comes a phase of steady state
It can be only achieved
By bringing together east and west.

The success from the close view
Is not the same from distant
The journey is sometimes pleasant
Than the stable end.

Swati Sarangi

8.11.2015

#114 That Connection

That Connection


One of the scary experiences associated with college life is ragging. When you enter into engineering sphere to experience a new phase of life at hostel, this is the first thing that you are going to face apart from other problems. I had many unpleasant experiences associated with ragging during my first year in name of a long list of rules (do’s and don’ts) but those experiences are past now and painful or unpleasant experiences don’t occupy one’s memory (luckilyJ). They fade away easily. It’s only some memorable experiences that get recalled unconsciously or subconsciously. The bright side of the custom of ragging (provided those activities are not so intense to suppress the fundamental rights  of an individual ) is that it teaches one to be brave enough to stand for what is right and just not follow everything blindly. It also teaches one to trust himself during difficult conflicting situations.

The ragging experience taught me never to repeat unreasonable things with juniors. How can one behave the way he/she does not want himself to be behaved? I’m going to narrate an incident which left an unwashable imprint in my mind. As per the custom, we (few 2nd year girls) took an interactive session with the newly arrived Freshers at hostel to make them acquainted with do’s and don’ts of the hostel. Due to some minor problems in accommodation, few girls stayed in a nearby residence and we were asked to fetch them for dinner (to our hostel). They were more in numbers and we were only few. So, the ultimate option was to order them to form a queue. While I was standing near the starting of the queue, a girl approached me. She was very cute and short in height.
Girl: I want to make a request, Ma’am.
Every fresher was supposed to address seniors as ma’am untill Fresher’s party.
Me: Yes, continue.
Girl: Ma’am, will you mind if I say something to you?
Me: Of course not. You may continue.
Girl: I’m not feeling well today. So, please don’t rag me. I’ve never stayed away from my parents even for a moment. That may be the reason why I’m feeling so down now. Once I get over my illness, you can rag me then.

I got very touched by the lines she spoke. For a moment, I was speechless and did not know how to react even. I wished I had spoken the way she spoke when I was in first year. Frankly speaking, I’ve always been very much careful and cautious about the sentiments of my fellow beings. Her words made me even more cautious of my words and actions. I felt very very connected to her- an unfamiliar yet familiar connection.
Me: Don’t make me emotional at this moment. You can never be ragged, don’t worry. In fact, you’re too cute to be ragged. We are not here to make you feel miserable. Since you’re standing at the beginning of the queue, you must prepare to move now. I’m very hungry and can’t wait for more time. J
I tried to lighten the situation.

Swati Sarangi 

20.03.2014