The Boy and the Rain and the Road

Sitting there, staring out of my window

Seeing the rains as it pattered down

A bit gloomy and a bit flustered 

Cause your laptop not connecting

Though your mobile managed to 

In all your frustration,

Suddenly there's a quite whisper

Coming from the window outside

And low and behold it whispered to me

"I know you may not like me

And this may not be your time to run

But if you do, I promise to keep you cool

I will not let you feel the strain

Or the heat and the humidity 

I know you want to go out there and run"

And with that I was sold

This so appealed to the runner in me

And with the laptop not connecting

I needn't be told 

So it was off with my office stuff, 

and into my running gear

Much to the charging of my mum

Poor lady would have to live with my cold

If I happened to catch one

But then I could feel the sea call out to me

And the road beckon me

The rain was already whispering to me

So I truly had to go

And as Shania said, life was about to get good

So I went down on to the rainy streets

Splishing and sploshing in the puddles

Making the most of the pattering rains

Much to the bemusement of the onlookers

People cuddled under their umbrellas 

Taking shelter under bus stops

And the various shops

Trying to keep dry, scurrying off 

To where they needed to be

They looked at me with amusement

With weird stares

Maybe thinking who this fool was

Running in the afternoon in the pouring rain

Maybe he has totally lost it, with nothing to do

But then what do they know

What fun it is to go out in the rains

So taking heed to what SIA said

I had thick skin and an elastic heart

Like the back of a duck, a lotus leaf

I let their stares flow off me

And continued down the road 

Dodging traffic, splashing through puddles

Jumping over fallen branches

Soaking myself to the bone

Wondering what a difference a day makes

How the weather and mood

Can bring about a change in thoughts

Last evening what annoyed

What I wanted to avoid 

Today I was soaking in it

Enjoying every moment in it

Soaking in it, taking it all in

No cares and bothers of this world

Or maybe just a thought of composing this verse

Slowly and steadily through the puddles and pools

Past rickshaws and motorcyclists and cars

People in tempos and buses

And then there she was in all her majesty 

Against the grey skies, 

She didn't look disturbed but not calm either

Just alive and kicking and majestic

Not letting a gloomy day get her down

She smiled at me and waved to me

A gleam caught my eye like a twinkle 

She beckoned me on , calling me on

There she was in all her beauty and splendour

I just stood there admiring her power

Mesmerised by her beauty and strength

Spending a couple of moments

To take it all in

The sound of the gentle breeze

The waves as it rose and broke on the shore 

Like music to the ears

But then it was time to part

To get back home 

Through it all she just smiled and waved

And in the gentle breeze, she kissed my cheeks

Caressed it like a lover could only do

And so slowly I made my way back

Glad to have paid heed to the call

To have listened to that whispers

Cause soaking in that feeling 

Is the best thing a runner will do

And the runner who will forever be wild and free

I will rise

You try to bind me down with your lies

Tie me up with your deceit 

You may try to tear me down 

Break my body 

But inspite of it all, I will rise

Your words like a sword 

Driven straight to the heart

Leaving me bleeding and wounded

But I will not succumb 

To the pain you inflict

Cause you may try to break my body

My soul will forever be free

You lay a trap to ensnare me

Stabbing me in the back

With the dagger that you wield

You cage me, bind me in chains

Lock me in the dark recesses 

What ever you try to do to me

I shall always find my way

Cause I know I shall rise

Like a dead weight you drag me down

Into the depths of despair

You make me feel pain

Like I have never felt before 

Pushing me into the darkness

But somehow I'll shall find the light in me

And banish the darkness that engulfs me

You try knock me down

From the pedestal that you make

That I didn't ask for, but you put me there 

You judge me, mock me

You call me names 

Make fun of who I am 

But you'll never try to   understand me

You say I am different, I am not normal

Causing you to Zumba 

Start calling me names

Your words like stones pelted my way 

Causing me to bleed, causing me to fall

But through it all I shall not give up

Cause I know that I shall rise

You don't approve of the things i do

You call it something of no use

Just a waste of time of a fool

Nothing good will ever come 

from the things I do 

But I know, inspite of all your take downs

I will a rise for all to see

I shall walk with dignity

With my head held high

Being who I should be 

Being who I want to be

Who I choose to love

What I choose to do

Is a decision solely 

For me to make

And I will not anyone 

Take that away from me 

Cause I have the utmost faith in me

And will never loose hope in me

But then there's a you

That cares for me

That supports you, makes you feel safe

Never ever leaving your side

Holding you close in a warm embrace

That fills you with positivity and hope

That you once knew

Never truly letting go of you

Giving you the love that you need 

Cleaning your wounds when you bleed

But through it all will stay with you

Cause with their love We shallYou try to bind me down with your lies

Tie me up with your deceit 

You may try to tear me down 

Break my body 

But inspite of it all, I will rise

Your words like a sword 

Driven straight to the heart

Leaving me bleeding and wounded

But I will not succumb 

To the pain you inflict

Cause you may try to break my body

My soul will forever be free

You lay a trap to ensnare me

Stabbing me in the back

With the dagger that you wield

You cage me, bind me in chains

Lock me in the dark recesses 

What ever you try to do to me

I shall always find my way

Cause I know I shall rise

Like a dead weight you drag me down

Into the depths of despair

You make me feel pain

Like I have never felt before 

Pushing me into the darkness

But somehow I'll shall find the light in me

And banish the darkness that engulfs me

You try knock me down

From the pedestal that you make

That I didn't ask for, but you put me there 

You judge me, mock me

You call me names 

Make fun of who I am 

But you'll never try to   understand me

You say I am different, I am not normal

Causing you to actbstrange

Start calling me names

Your words like stones pelted my way 

Causing me to bleed, causing me to fall

But through it all I shall not give up

Cause I know that I shall rise

You don't approve of the things i do

You call it something of no use

Just a waste of time of a fool

Nothing good will ever come 

from the things I do 

But I know, inspite of all your take downs

I will a rise for all to see

I shall walk with dignity

With my head held high

Being who I should be 

Being who I want to be

Who I choose to love

What I choose to do

Is a decision solely 

For me to make

And I will not anyone 

Take that away from me 

Cause I have the utmost faith in me

And will never loose hope in me

But then there's a you

That cares for me

That supports you, makes you feel safe

Never ever leaving your side

Holding you close in a warm embrace

That fills you with positivity and hope

That you once knew

Never truly letting go of you

Giving you the love that you need 

Cleaning your wounds when you bleed

But through it all will stay with you

Cause with their love We shall risea

I've got you Babe

There's this person 

Who will always be with you

No matter what you go through

No matter where you go

They'll never ever leave your side

Through good times and bad

Through the thick of it all

Though people may desert you

Some may even walk away from you

But they will forever be by your side

They will always be there

To console you when you're sad

To hold and cover you with their warmth

Giving you a helping hand 

When you're fallen on the ground

Often picking you up

Dusting you off and helping you move on

They are your biggest supporters

The voice that eggs you on

In the darkest hour

They bring you hope 

Give you the faith that you lost

And provide you the will to move on

When you feel all hope is gone

And there's nothing else to live for

Like the little voice of reason

They will help you through

They see you through it all

They know your every whims and fancies

They see you bare to the bones

They know who you truly are

Nothing is hidden from them

Though you may deny or hide

They see you for what and who you are

They know what pleases, What hurts you

And through it all They take care of you

Often rationalising with you

When you veer towards the irrational path

They steady your shaky ship

And blow into your sails

Righting the wrong course

They care for you, they love you

They whisper words of wisdom to you

If you could only be quiet and listen

They have your back

Where others may stab

Never ever giving up on you

Cause they know what you are capable of

And they want to see you be that

They are your best friend

Your greatest love

You biggest support

You cheerleader, your lover, your friend

Like a shadow, always at your side

Never ever leaving you

'Cause that person is YOU

How running has changed for you: a confession of a Runnaholic

I remember the days

When I ran wild and free

Running was just running to me

There was nothing to correct

Nothing to do

Just find a path and away you'd go

No cares for the world

Or where your arms were

Or what your foot strike were

It was all about running

The road, the freedom and you

You ran when you were happy

You ran when you were sad

You ran from situations 

That often got you mad

Over fields and meadows

Across grounds and streams

You went where the road lead you

With absolute glee 

There were no markers to tell you

How far you had been

It was just you and your senses

Trying to judge where you had been

There were no watches to tell you

What pace you did take

Just breeze of the air

As it brushed your face

No phones and earplugs

No apps or music to listen to

Just the sound which nature provided you

The rustling of the breeze

The chirping of the birds in the trees

The joyful yelps of pet

And cheers of your friend

There were no races to be won

No podium to stand on

No medals to bite on 

Once you were done

Just cheers and howls

of your friends who were around

Even though you ran out breath

But it's the joy that you felt

Breathing in nature

Telling you that you're alive

The years have gone by

What was fun now a passion

Complexing what you once knew

Your run is all about mileage

And maintaining a form and pace

Where your hand is 

How your arms swing

How you lean forward

And where your foot meets the ground

You run on a track 

Or on an empty road

But it's Your race that dictates 

where you train 

On a flat route or a slope

Up inclines and down declines

But holding on to the form

Keeping your hands 

where they should be

Ensuring you're taking breaths 

To coordinate with your strides

You race at a pace 

As fast as you can 

To achieve your best 

Then post about it 

And share it with all

Then preen and pose

For selfies and pics

And if it ain't your best

Blame the weather and your health 

A niggling injury that flared up

Even a mismanaged race

Everything that can be blamed

Is sure to be blamed

Though running now is competitive 

The passion burns bright

But that spirit that you ran with

Still lingers with you

Trying to burst out

Making you long to run with

No cares of the world

No form no technique

No pace to keep

Just you and the path you run on

All wild and free