Perennial Poetry

Echoes of Goodbye One more taste, Another small bite, A little more longing, For moments going to go by. A sweet picture, A warming hug, A lasting goodbye, We hope neither turns out to be its last. Trunks of memorable belongings, Chunks of treasurable joys, Trails of familiar scents, We bury all of them behind. We hope for upcoming chapters, Yet long to relive some old ones By turning calendars and clocks, To sweet sand timers of the past days. We learn to see love in various forms, In different timelines and spaces; Time and again we call our strength, During times of peace as well as chaos. Time is fleeting, While joys fill in only moments; But memories last a lifetime, For all the seconds gone, passing and yet to arrive. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

Ladder of Growth I feel so courageous, I feel so confident, My love for myself is my strongest asset, I feel ready to tackle all of life’s blues. Things that seemed impossible,  Now seem possible with a click; I built my self-esteem from pebbles, To a magnificent roaring peak. Nothing ever came easy, For I’ve been tested to persist, Through thick and thin, To mold me into what I am today. Lessons about being easy on myself, Being loving and kind to others, Absorbing every little spark of goodness in life, I added all of these to my golden arsenal. Self-love and introspection, Trusting and surrendering, Brought me calm and peace, Which even the deepest of seas couldn’t possibly gift. I am growing in all the ways intended for me, I am grateful for every lesson as a blessing in disguise; I am immensely thankful for all that I’ve been bestowed with, Family, health, love, wisdom and peace. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

How Do I? How do I find motivation When I don’t feel like it? Pondering questions like- Will I ever be able to make it? Why is there so much pain in the world  When there could be free-willed kindness? I wish angels and fairies would swirl, And the whole world be drenched in pure happiness. How do I muster the courage To stand tall on my own two feet And face adversities without tripping back Into my same insecurities one more time? How do I stop myself Form falling back into the same routines  Which no longer benefit me? How do I bring the change within myself? How do I continue to be kind When life seems to be unfair? How do I hold on to my resilience  When I am pushed to give up? How do I continue to believe  That there is always something good in life Despite situations that seem otherwise?  How do I find that light within me? How do I persist Without being carried away? How do I regain confidence  After just one rock threatens to crush me? How do I tru...

Thoughts of My Ink I wonder if I can say Words with my ink pen— Thoughts of my nights and days, That begin and never end. I ponder questions in my mind, I wring out all my thoughts, For I find peace as I unwind My thoughts and worries from their knots. For even the simplest of complexities, Endless thoughts my anxious mind sends, While I ponder my dizzying perplexities, Wondering what it is that I can possibly mend. Writing my thoughts out, Is one of my ways of channelling My peace and clarity, without a doubt;  And also because I feel it is my profound calling. For me, writing is healing, As it makes me better understand myself, And helps me in my journey to becoming My most authentic self. So I channel my thoughts into words of wisdom; It is my unpaid personal therapy, It is my golden key to unparalleled freedom, Writing makes me innately fulfilled and happy. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

Five Seasons’ Greetings From the moist ground, young seedlings emerge, And the prettiest of tulips and daffodils blossom; Fresh berries and cherries enjoy their prime,  As vibrance and lushness extend everywhere; Beautiful spring lovingly encapsulates one, In its pristine energy of rejuvenation. Summer sends the scorching Sun, Leading to beachy waves and memories of fun; Kids lining up at ice cream trucks for icy bites, All in all, enjoying the long holidays. Summer is hard but always memorable, For every summer has its own story to tell. Monsoon brings hearts to elation, As all pains are soothed to ease; Umbrellas and raincoats become steady companions, While soups and hot snacks make for soulful evenings. The sight, sound and smell of the rain  Perpetually bring relaxing comfort within. It’s the shedding season again; With the rustling of dry foliage and rustic hues, The earthy tones set mellow moods; Autumn exemplifies an essential transition, Reminding us that what is lost...

Little Buddy Sweet little buddy, Here’s a small poem From our filled hearts To your happy one. Little one with the sweetest smile, And eyes that gleam with joy, Aww, who does not wait to hear your talks? You are the one that delights our hearts. The smallest of your actions fascinate us, How come you’re growing so quickly? With you, we savour each moment, Your cuteness fills our daily bucket of enchantment. We always look forward to seeing you,  And dream about the chances of meeting you; And every time we see you, dear kiddo, You’ve learned something new. You show love in your own way, With your name-calls, gripping smile and charming gestures; You think of animals as your friends, And love saying that everything is green in colour. There’s none who’s not mesmerized by you, We love playing with and taking care of you; You fill our heart’s happy quotient, You are a God-gifted bundle of joy. Dear one, you are so loved and cared for, And protected by the highest power; I hope that on...

  The Garden Hour As mysteries await, I sit in eagerness; Trees in my garden sway, As I while away in the lushness. Eerie whispers of insects Ring throughout my garden periphery, As I ponder and suspect Questions of life amidst this breathtaking scenery. The sound of dried leaves rustling under my feet, And the whirl of winds rumbling around me, I feel a voice inside me waiting to greet, Waiting to check if I’d realise and see. It is the voice of silence within me, Trying to usher me into calmness and peace; “Your thoughts can just wait and be, I am embracing you a thousandfold, just feel at ease.” Sometimes just ‘being’ is what’s needed, The what-ifs can be thought about later; All of life’s conundrums will succeed, And all apprehensions will turn out for the better. So I sit on this quiet bench, While nature calms me today, And with peace in my mind I ascend, For the trees and the breeze will be mine everyday. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

Intrusive Thoughts   Sometimes some thoughts cripple me- What if everything goes away? What if all I have becomes unfree? And what if I’ll have nothing to pay? The time of doom scares me; I know these thoughts are my mind’s mere apprehensions, But what if all is taken away from me? I feel anxious by all these futile comprehensions. The edge of the ridge feels frightening; If I am pushed from it, then what’ll be left of me? All these faulty visions feel threatening, They’re grabbing away my peace from me. If only I could sneak away Alone into my dreamland, Where I’d only see the brightest of days, I’d surely give anything up to stay in that wonderland. My dreams serve as my abodes, untouched, Filled with so much fresh air to breathe; But from dreams, we always wake up unbesmirched, And must face reality with our own sheath. Well, maybe the doom will never befall, And maybe I’ll never sneak away; But my wish is that I’ll always stand tall, Despite whatever might come my way. -Jaanvi ...

My Haven I used to come here for peace, The green trees and the quiet breeze Bring back all the lost memories; Oh, if I start, I can never stop with the stories. This place was my sacred haven, So precious and love-laden. During moments of contentment as well as grief, This place comforted me with hugs of peace. I saw endless sunsets from here, I gleamed at the infinite stars from here; Whenever I needed to replenish my magic, Coming here would just do the trick. I thought of poems while sitting here, ’Cause this place to me was so dear; I found answers when I was desperate, I always felt a surge of power that seemed infinite. Visiting back today brought a few tears Of joy and longing for the previous years, The whispers of wind and the divine’s bliss Will forever be etched within me like chef’s kiss. My haven has witnessed transformative alchemies, It holds endless moments and memories That are eternally mine to relish; And to continue having this perpetual nostalgia is my forever wis...

  Jewel I don’t feel like the same jewel anymore, I feel tarnished and broken to the core.  From the highest cloud, I came crashing onto the floor, Is there anything more left in me to explore? I don’t know if I am viewed the same now, Yet some good remarks I’ve upheld somehow; But the bitterness needs a taste as well, “The bitterness is what leads to the sweetness,” they tell. Time leads to precious tales, And the lessons lead to better sails, Leading me to be unapologetically brave,  As I bid farewell to this drenching wave. Providence has, for ages, been my saviour As I’m carried in divine arms like a soldier, With a love unquestionably abundant and deep, Unlike any treasure I could ever keep. After all, it seems my facets can be polished,  And I can be gracefully bejeweled and embellished. Well maybe I am still the irreplaceable jewel, That authentically sparkles on every level. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

The Gone Days I think about my friends Who have gone on with their lives, We shared good times and set the best trends, Their reminiscence brings me profound smiles. How strange is life, That you have the best times with some people, Until one day they are no longer a part of your daily life, And the distance starts growing out like a ripple? Time and again I picture my friends’ faces, And recall the times of love and laughter; I grim at the ugly phases, Yet each of the ups and downs brought us closer together. It hurts not knowing when I’m gonna meet them again; Can I go back to those times which were simpler? Oh, is it a fair bargain? To choose those memories ’cause they make me feel lighter? I try to keep alive the connection, ’Cause each of them at different times was my saviour. Each one of them is worthy of celebration; In their own ways, they are recipients of my heart’s fervour. I miss them, and I wish our lives once again collide; Even if we meet at times or haven’t met since ...

Beyond the Noise Why do I listen to the world’s noise When I can be who I am? When I can have my own voice Without anyone telling me who I am. Whose judgements am I afraid of? What scars am I trying to prevent? When magic is what I am made of, And I no longer want to pretend. Why should I look a certain way To please anybody else? When I want to live every day  For myself, and not for anybody else. Why can’t I sometimes show my emotions  In their purest and rawest forms? Why am I always compelled to take precautions  To follow some superfluous societal norms? Who is my controller but me? Who is someone else to say That I cannot be completely me And live in my own beautiful way? No one can tell me it’s inessential  To do something I am authentic at. I will always harness my fullest potential, For I am the best in who I am and I know that. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

  Good Concoctions A beautiful summer morning, With tables fancily set outdoors; One can hear the birds calling, Even from the farthest of moors. Feeling the sun glow and sun-kissed, Amidst cherry blossoms having candy sticks, Placing down lovely baskets of fresh cookies, The girls chat and touch up their lipsticks. The pretty friends have gathered for a catch-up; With umbrellas dipped in their shakes, They’re laughing away and sipping them up, Whilst eating cherries and cupcakes. Amidst the green grass and the clear sky, Wearing sundresses and sunglasses, They capture moments in photographs, Binding miles of memories for a lifetime. The friends look at each other and smile, Wondering if they’ll ever get these seconds again; Threads of long-lost flashes appear, To each of them in their own ways. Everything looks so perfect in the daylight, They wish for time to stop at this very instant; All these good concoctions were much needed, ’Cause the pictures, the voices and the memories a...

  New Chapters As old chapters close And new ones spring, We lose some beautiful connections But gatekeep the genuine ones. All the lessons learnt,  We transform into a sweet elixir of wisdom. And the choices we make,  Change from the ones we’d make an era before. Tangles of threads being to uncoil, With internal battles being slowly won, And priorities that truly matter Begin to be held in the highest regard. New dreams and desires unfold, With unwavering hope in the heart. And the collectibles of lessons and blessings, Make you a more powerful ‘You’. To new chapters waiting to be unleashed, And more wiser ‘Yous’ looking back in the mirror, We bid goodbye to the old ones, Whose best parts will stay in our memories forever. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

Unwritten Pages  I try to refind the lost pieces of me, This mosaic of all broken things Is the raw, unfiltered me, Ready to fly with my wings. I will go to far places, Where the eyes can’t see; I will meet new faces, And share with them the magical me. Life awaits for me In the most precious of ways; All there is to life is to dwell in glee, Despite any circumstance I face. So tiny steps I take, Towards my dreams, And leave it to life to make them come true, By the most wondrous of means. The best is yet to come, Many pages yet to be written, What has happened is just some, There are more moments waiting for me to be smitten. -Jaanvi Veluguleti  

Life’s a Celebration  Life is a big canvas,  Waiting for you to splash colours. Continue to work and have faith regardless, And see life shower you with the prettiest of flowers. Life gets so much better, Once you let go of your worries. Your mind, body and spirit get so much fitter, When you make peace with all of your life’s stories. Life can get miraculously blessed, When you are good intentional; There would be no room for you to be stressed, And life would become much more special. Life is a one time experience, And it’s uniquely yours; Continue to extract its precious essence, And in times of despair, lean on the divine force. May we continue to believe In life’s magical ways of things; May we all have precious moments to relive, And may we strive to be the best of human beings. Life is about celebration, So in its grand scheme of things, May we continue to have revelations, And accept life in all the experiences that it brings. -Jaanvi Veluguleti  

 Hold a Hand We never know What someone must be feeling, Whether they’re in joy or in the deepest sorrow, For they could be celebrating, or they could be grieving. Our sole job is to be kind, Be empathetic, make them feel heard and seen; All they might need is a holding hand, To help them cross over the stream. Sometimes one doesn’t need advice, Just an assurance that it will be okay Can be more than wise, It could supportively uplift their day.  Try to be there for someone, Even if it’s for a few moments; For you could be their shining Sun, While they rearrange their broken fragments. Empathise with kith and kin, Be kind to a stranger, For you never know who you might be saving, Always take the chance to make someone’s day better. We, humans, are social beings, And hence, thrive on understanding and communication. So may we always have good intentions, And strive to make healthy and healing connections. -Jaanvi Veluguleti  

  Her When the whole world praises her beauty, Only she knows the stories behind her scars, The things she goes through quietly, And the days she feels like she’s put behind bars. Sometimes she fakes a smile, For the sake of her and everyone else; She is appreciated for her unprecedented style, But who cares about the things she never tells? She wears her heart on her sleeve, She undoubtedly is an admiration; But would anyone really believe The life she lives behind people’s perception? She cares and she loves, She offers endless support without hesitation; But she also cries and questions Her worthiness despite the external perfection. She knows her scars mark her stories, They make up who she is; Despite all her glories, There is always more to who she is. -Jaanvi Veluguleti