some feeling, some faith

i am young, i am old
i am new, fresh, untold.
i am wise, i am naive
it is on faith, that i thrive.

when it seems i am tormented
actually i am fermented.
for my sake? i do not know -
to be a channel pure, i know.

may each pain enable me
to shed my skins with thankful glee.
through my changing forms i go -
changeless, eternal, me to know.

~ vani murarka

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to be me

i wish to be a butterfly.

i wish to ride the bare back horse
on vast and open greens -
wind blowing in my hair.

i wish the crackling fire beside,
below night sky -
a distant drum in the air.

the shimmering water of the stream
the silent singing night
the shadows of the trees alive
now that the trees sleep tight

i wish to touch.
yes the true touch.
hesitant, but
not very much.

the mud, the earth,
the bark, the skin,
the ripples, and the glow.
Her surface varied such!

the touch that tells
of inside spells -
a song hidden
under the skin.

i wish to smell
Her inside smell -
where i do find
that i do dwell.

to tribal be
to animal be
in earth rejoice -
to simply be.

i wish ...

~ vani murarka

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song of evening solitude

under the flame of the forest
silent and empty i wait.

unfathomed hues
and deepest blues
do touch the sky
and glide on by.

and i just listen
to them glisten.

my heart they strum
no beat no drum
no song no hum
just simply mum.

i dont touch them
they touch not me.
i am in glee
with my friend tree.

~ vani murarka

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Love is like Water

This blog "vani expressions" has moved to my website manaskriti.com. Here is the link for the new location: http://manaskriti.com/vani-expressions/ . Please visit there for the latest posts.

Love is like water.

Water might be cascading down like a waterfall, or it might be in the form of robust waves of the ocean. It might be flowing as a gently gurgling stream. It may be calm and placid in a lake or swimming pool. Water may be flowing under the ground. You may get just a hint of it, as dew drops on the morning grass.

When Love is heady, passionate, it is like the waves of the ocean. The over-flowing Love of a mother, where she herself is overwhelmed by the intensity and force of Love that she feels - it is like water is falling down rapidly from the mountains. When it is the quiet implicit Love of a father or a reticent mate or even of someone close who may seem unloving, it is like water flowing underground. The Love of a friend, the lighthearted laughter and companionship it brings, feels like dew drops on the morning grass. The calm, still, placid water in a lake or swimming pool feels like the calm Love of a saint for all.

The water in all cases is the same. The Love in all cases is the same.


Water takes on the color of its receptacle. In a red bowl it looks like red water. It feels romantic. In a blue bowl, water looks blue. It feels like the Love of a father, mother, mentor or guide. In a green bowl, water looks green. It feels like the Loving companionship of a friend.

But the water is neither red, nor blue, nor green. It is the same water.

The Love in a romantic relationship, amongst friends, between a teacher and a student, between a parent and child - is not different. It is simply Love. There are no different kinds of Love.

The receptacles (the relationships) are different.

What gives comfort when you look at it is the water, not the receptacle.

~ vani murarka

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বিনয় (humbleness)

বিজ্ঞ দার্শনিক এক আইল নগরে,
ছুটিল নগরবাসী জ্ঞান - লাভ - তরে;
সুন্দর - গভীর - মূর্তি, শান্ত - দর্শন
হেরি' সবে ভক্তি - ভরে বন্দিল চরন |

সবে কহে, "শুনি তুমি জ্ঞানী অতিশয়,
দু' একটি তত্ত্ব - কথা কহ মহাশয় |"
দার্শনিক বলে, "ভাই, কেন বল জ্ঞানী?
'কিছু যে জানি না' আমি এই মাত্র জানি|"

- কবি অজানা (anonymous)


a learned philosopher once came to town
the town-folk ran for some knowledge to own
handsome and quiet form, peaceful face -
with devotion all there his feet embrace.

they say "we hear, you have wisdom profound.
a few deep matters for us expound."
philosopher says, "friend, why say wise?
'nothing do i know', that is all i cognize."

- translation by vani murarka

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