a journey beyond.......

i walk
all alone
among the known
known know me not
am i an alien?
it is a journey beyond......

different roads travelled
various paths walked
unknown among the known
to know 'the Unknown'
to be with 'the beyond'
it is a journey beyond....

to look out
why don't you look in
to sign out
very soon sign in
to be with 'the beyond'
it is the journey beyond......

shedding the selfishness
centering on selflessness
a self-less self
in search of 'the beyond'
to be with 'the beyond'
it is a journey beyond.......

o! busy beings
become aware of 'NOW'
know yourself
be yourself
give yourself
to be with 'the beyond'
it is a journey beyond'.......

j.john britto xavier

different facets of silence

some came

broke in the neibhour's door

i closed my door

they raped the lady

i said nothing.

watched through window.

could my sound have prevented it?

may be!

an inmate

spoke. spoke. spoke.

i said nothing.

my silence listened.

he went with a smile.

could my words have diverted it?

may be!

As i plug in to the room

do i switch on music?

do i try to read something?

why can't i be silent?

are my thoughts louder in silence?

am i afraid of silence?

may be!

i log in

google myself

i speak God listens

God speaks I listen

there's silence....peace....

is that enlightment?

may be!

j.john britto xavier

i am a joker......

in the world-circus

i am a joker......

i laugh

people laugh

i cry

people laugh

i sit

people laugh

i stand

people laugh 

i walk

people laugh

i jump

people laugh 

i fall

people laugh

i rise up

people laugh

whatever i do

people laugh.....

in their laugh

is my life (laugh)....

in the world-circus

i am a joker......

j.john britto xavier 

Are you not defeated God?

when an innocent woman raped

are you not defeated God?

when a new-life is negated in the womb

are you not defeated God?

when one kills the other in ur name

are you not defeated God?

..................

God said,

'You've defeated yourselves,

you've thwarted your own well-being

i am beyond defeat and victory'

blueline blues (delhi)

every blueline shrieks, 'andher chalo'
every conductor booms, 'andher chalo'

crowded bus stops, board bluelines
conscious conductor pops, 'andher chalo'

stops-after-stops, more people jump in
one-tune he harps, 'andher chalo'

pushing and pulling, while one-on-the other
the-one-man-singing, 'andher chalo'

52 seated bus, carrying 100+ by now
no time no muse, 'andher chalo'

nobody listens to, cry of the pick-pocketed
all attuned to, 'andher chalo'

it's bloody tyres, yelling for more blood
o! pavement dwellers, 'andher chalo'

no way to exit, it's all blocked
what a plight, 'andher chalo'

j.john britto xavier

can i ask u a question?

o! woman,
u r addressed
moon. mother-earth.
goddess. shiv-shakti (parvati).......
is ur freedom enveloped
within four walls?
are u safe to walk on street
(if not ramp) at night?
are you a cheap commodity
in capitalistic market?

o! women
you, a mother.
daughter. sister.
wife..........then?
who decides?
what u ought to be?
others? or u?
by the way, what's ur name?
u are u, when?

with a question....
j.john britto xavier

An inner journey: a journey beyond (a meditation)

I

While dawning sun

Illuminating the surrounding silently

I sat at the feet of the Lord

Lips of my eyes smoothly locked

Breathing the fresh-air in and out

Calming the mind, silencing the thoughts

In the struggle of silence

I saw myself in the herd of sheep

Waking to the melody of sister-birds

Synchronized as a perfect symphony…….

 II

A gentle voice tore silenced-air

‘friends, are you ready?’

we enquired with certain curiosity

“where are we going lord?’

the angelic voice aired again

‘it’s time to go to the pasture’

in-one-voice we chorused

‘Lord’s our shepherd, what else we want’

one-by-one we followed Him

our hearts chanting the same song……..

III

smiling sun-rays stared at the path

wild flowers waved hands

silent trees fluttering hands

from their wake-up slumber 

we sighed our eyes acknowledging

our shepherd led us from front

his staff cleansing the way

his steps paving the path

we moved on with the journey

our lips carrying the same song………

 IV

the path was narrow, difficult

not taken by many, less traveled

our eyes fell on green pastures side-by

maintained roads leading to…..

picturesque beauty of the field

enchanted our hearts

I could no longer resist but

moving towards it

tasty leaves tempted many

our hearts forgot the tune meanwhile.....

V

We jumped with joy

eating everywhere in further frontiers

We climbed high to get more

The slippery place saw us in thorny pit

The pierced body oozed blood

Our pain knew no boundary

A distant melody resonated in our hearts

The moaning lips got tuned to the melody

The repenting hearts surfaced on the lips

‘Lord’s our shepherd, what else we want’

 VI

the shepherd left the rest behind

on the search for us

we struggled to come out of pit

he reached to the pit to lift us up

he looked at us

we looked at Him

he carried us on his shoulders in turn

led us to the herd

the herd chanted in-one-voice

‘Lord’s our shepherd, what else we want’

 VII

He led to the pasture

Leaves tastier than honey here

What was not there?

except pain and suffering?

had no words to express

We joined the chorus of angles

Along with all saints

‘holy…holy…….’

I sat at the feet of God

praising God...thanking God

j.john britto xavier