On a rainy evening; the raindrops call for a long lost memory, kids play in the puddles, a loner embraces nature, a bird takes a bath... On a rainy evening; lovers cuddle, the clock calls for a cup of warm coffee, cozy beds and blankets, a poet weaves a poem... On a rainy evening; a frog croaks in a neighbourhood land, the greens come to a standstill, droplets of rain hang along a barbed wire, drizzles create a rhythm... On a rainy evening; a drowsy dusk welcomes an impending dark with ease, pleasure and peace to have a good night's sleep... Shaheen Akhtar 05.10.23

You who think you can know everything. You who think you can surpass God's power. You who is arrogant, you who is impatient. You who is a pessimist, you who is evil-minded. You who is an overthinker, you who is an egoist. You who think you are wise enough to decode God's mighty mystery of the universe. You who think you are smart enough to not being ignorant of anything. You who think only you are blessed unlike the rest. You who think only you are wise unlike the others. We all have such a 'you' in us which has every possibility to lead us to our downfall. We are but humans and so we have got a conscience. It is you who have to make use of your conscience to not let the 'you' in you, overpower you. Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

There was once a place where men of different shapes and races romanced with the wild. Within sacred woods and divine mist; they found home. Amidst the melancholic rains and laziness; they found harmony. By the Brahmaputra, they sang songs of love and the gods. By the Patkai Hills, was the end of their world. Attires smeared in colours of tropical birds and a heart beating to the rhythm of the Dhol….. They were the natives of nature and of the lush greenery, scattered all around. They were an amalgamation of tribes with diversity... Their culture’s so rich that history breathed in their veins. Originating from different clans and rituals yet they all lived in one spirit : the spirit of brotherhood. The creatures; be the animals, the birds or the life under water; all lived a life of freedom and of abundance. Thus, the kingdom of the indigenous men and women merrily celebrated nature; the harbinger of man's future. Composed by : Maharnav Bhuyan and Shaheen Akhtar.

Rhonda Byrne in her book 'The Magic' quoted, “Whoever has gratitude will be given more, and he or she will have an abundance. Whoever does not have gratitude, even what he or she has will be taken from him or her.” We tend to forget and ignore this very simple yet the most essential ingredient in order to live a happy and a contented life. People run after so many things during one's lifetime but they fail to realise that sometimes the greatest of blessing comes with 'gratitude' : practising it in our day to day lives and making it a habit. People think a simple 'thank you' is as simple as it looks and is of the least significance. However I pity this world that fails to see and understand what impact can these two words have in a human heart and mind. It's a magical word and you never know how a small act of kindness can make a great difference in people's lives. Thank the Almighty for everything that you have today : both happiness and grief, good and bad people, people who love you and people who don't, your well wishers and your illl wishers and thank each one who has been a part of your life's journey. When you have to think before you thank people and when you choose or prioritize people to thank, it is then that you actually misuse this gift called 'gratitude' . Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

What has men gained of all futile emotions? Has anybody ever gained anything out of jealousy or hatred? Nothing. Has anybody ever achieved anything out of aggression or violence? I don't think so. Emotions make us human, but futile emotions make us inhumane. And everytime we follow the devil's advice, are the times we turn away from the right path, only to choose the wrong emotions to guide us. You are the master of your emotions. So master it when required but don't let your emotions master you. Control it when you need to but don't let your emotions control you. For, of all the human emotions, it's the futile ones which has always led men to their ultimate destruction... Copyright Shaheen Akhtar. 06.02.2023

The midnight calls for a pindrop silence and this silence calls for an unfolding of a thousand stories of the heart, otherwise left; untold, overlooked, subdued... 31.01.2023 Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

Our soul live inside us. We are just bodies. Our bodies are dependant upon the soul, unlike the soul which is independant of our bodies. Our soul has a bigger purpose and so they roam; a reason why they are free. The souls never age unlike the bodies; that form, grow and decay... Souls are immortal and has been living from a time immemorial... Our bodies are nothing more than mere fragile frames of flesh, blood and bones. What is a body without the soul! A soul is untamed, unmoved by time and space, of unknown origin and always living. Souls can recognize each other in a realm where they breathe. Humans who talk about 'soul connection', Little do they know that, the souls had never built a connection in a time period, we live in. These connections are age-old and predetermined. It only needs a rush of awakening of the soul in us, to know... why we are asked to find our purpose in life, to understand... why do we feel connected with a few and not with everybody, and sometimes to perhaps realise... why are we created for. Copyright Shaheen Akhtar. December 4, 2022.

Perhaps the greatest power of being alive is that we can pray for the dead. Have you ever cared to stop by a graveyard and feel its vibes? Apart from the trees, the grass and the sky all you see is a land, breathing the dead underneath... And to even understand what happens with the souls after it leaves the body, is beyond anybody's imagination. Is living a good livelihood our sole responsibility as humans? No. We have got even greater responsibilities, not as humans but as living beings. None has seen tomorrow and none has seen what lies beyond death as well. But our deeds speak for us in this world and in that world too. We are humans and humans are not perfect. We all have wronged ourselves at some point in our lifetime, and so we repent and seek His forgiveness. But has anyone ever seen the death coming, much before its time? What if death took somebody before they could finish their act of repentance! What if someone has suddenly lost their sanity, and failed to remember who he was and what he did when he was sane! The dead don't speak but we do. The dead can't think but we can. Therefore ask yourself, what have you done so far for the peace and the forgiveness of the souls on their behalf? Do more than enough for them. Do as much as you can, in all ways that you can. And above all, keep your prayers constant. Life is not just about living for yourself. Life is also about living for the dead. And you need to know this that the dead need us. Copyright Shaheen Akhtar. October 31st, 2022.

Where everything sprang from. That which gave in us a new life. We didn't matter to this world and it made us count as one among all. It is our roots; validating our existence on earth. So reflect upon your journey this far. See for yourself where have you come from. Your origin makes so much of who you are today. So don't forget your roots but carry it along... Never paint yourself with pride, instead immerse yourself in humility and gratefulness. Your achievements should make you humble, not arrogant. Watch your steps as you walk ahead. Everytime you achieve in life, remember the seed in you. For what is a tree without its roots? Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

Would I have ever known the poet in me, had my father lived! Could I have ever introduced myself to my pen, if my father had never been attacked by an autoimmune disorder! 2015 to 2016; that one year marked the starting point of his journey to death, while it marked the birth of poetry in me; the beginning of another new journey of my life. Little did we know, destiny had so much in store for both of us! Could you have ever imagined a 68 year old vigorously robust man turn into a frame of just skin and bones, in a matter of twelve months? What would have hurt you the most, then - being a witness to this reality of his sufferring or being a witness to his deteriorating condition? He has never surrendered himself to his disease nor did he ever give up on himself. Perhaps that is the only reason, the only cause my pen bleeds for him, even after 7 years of his passing. How do I visualise and perceive this junction as - is my father's disease, God's way of reminding him that it is time for him to leave this world and return to dust, or did God cause him the disease because the universe had to sow the seed of poetry within me...? Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

For those who deny the existence of a supreme power, tell me what created your brain that works from your birth till your death, from your cradle to your grave sans a fail ? What created the air that is invisible yet it is something we can't live without ? What created the universe, the galaxies, the cosmos that science and astrology today talks about? What created life in a womb, that breathes without suffocation for nine months? What created dreams when you are deep asleep? What makes you wake up everyday and take control of your life, after a night's sleep when nothing was under your control ? What made death permanent and life temporary ? You can think because you have a brain to think. You can feel because you have a heart to feel. You can sense because you have got sense organs. What makes you think, feel and sense ? You say you don't believe in the existence of the Almighty, then where does your invisible emotions originate from; emotions of sadness, happiness, fear, anger ? You say you deny the existence of a supreme power because you can't see it, then why do you believe in the existence of the evil spirits, that are unseen ? People say, it is God who brings us to life and it is God Himself that shall take us away. If you don't believe in the existence of a supreme power; a formless form, can you then defeat death and be immortal ? Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

Hope is like the horizon. Horizon is where the sky appears to meet the earth in the distance. Probably the sky and the earth never touches, but the horizon feels seemingly possible because our eyes envision it. Uncertainity makes hope but we never know what lies beyond hope. As long as our eyes envision the existence of probability, hope feels seemingly certain. Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

What is happiness, if not lived for others? What is happiness, if you can't love people truly? What is happiness, if you cannot find joy in another person's achievements? What is happiness, if you cannot be the reason for someone's smile? Is happiness always about personal gains? Is happiness selfish? Should your happiness be always about you? Is 'I, Me, Myself' the key to your happiness? Can't we be happy when others are? Can't we acknowledge this that everybody deserves to be happy and, that what we deserve may differ from person to person? That which a person is blessed with; can't we accept that it was destined for them alone for a reason the Almighty knows best? Each one of us is fighting a silent battle. Each one of us has sorrows rooted deep within. None of our lives have been easy! If someone is bestowed with some goodness or happiness in their lives, can't then we be happy for them and double their happiness? Isn't happiness all about being humane? Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

Amidst the humdrum of life, Don't forget to stop and stare at nature's wonder. She is always invigorating, always inspiring. Yesterday felt beautiful. Ask me why! It is because as I walked through my way, I made it a point to look at the sky. Had I not cared to stop, stare and admire this hue, Would I then have witnessed the sun's playfulness behind the clouds as it smiles and spreads its rays, outlining the borders of the illuminating blue? Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

जो दूसरों की जीत को देखकर, घुटन महसूस करता है ; जो दूसरों की कामयाबी से डरता है ; वही कायर होता है । जो दूसरों की खुशी में खुश, दुख में दुखी ; जो मुश्किल वक़्त में उनका साथ देता है ; जो उनकी तररक्की के लिए दुआ करता है; जिसके दिल में सिर्फ दूसरों के लिए प्यार हो ; जिसके दिल में नफरत की कोई जगह न हो; जिसके ज़ुबान पर लोगों के लिए मोहब्बत का ज़िक्र हो , और रूह में बस इंसानियत की चाहत ; उनको ही इंसान, कहते हैं । जो ज़िंदगी से लड़के , इससे सीखना जानते हो , ज़िंदगी भी उन्हें , खुशी के मौके देती है । जो ज़िंदगी से नाराज़ कम , और इसके शुक्र-गुज़ार ज्यादा होते हैं ; वही लोग खुदा के सबसे खास होते हैं । जो हमेशा सच्चाई की राह पे चलते हैं; जो मदत लेने के बजाए , लोगों की मदत करना पसंद करते हैं ; और जो ईमानदारी निभाते हैं ; उन्ही को ईमानदार इंसान कहते हैं । यह ज़िंदगी है, गिरके उठना , उठके फिर से गिरना; हार-जीत के चक्र से गुजरना ; यह सब ज़िंदगी के कानून हैं । अगर लड़ना है; तो खुद से लड़ो । कामयाब होना है ; तो खुदसे मुक़ाबला करो, लोगों से नहीं । और अगर नाम कमाना है , तो अच्छे कर्मों से कमाओ । क्योंकि सबको एक न एक दिन , इसी मिट्टी में ; और इसी मिट्टी की धूल में ही , मिल जाना है । जब इस रूह से खुदा सवाल करेगा ; तब , तुम्हारी कामयाबी , हार-जीत के बारे में , तुम से कोई नहीं पूछनेवाला! क्योंकि तब , तुम्हारे कर्मों का हिसाब होगा । इसीलिए अगर डरना है , तो बस अपने बुरे कर्मों से डरो । और, अगर हो सके तो सामने से वार करो ! क्योंकि , पीठ पीछे से वार करना तो ; कायरों का, काम होता है । Copyright Shaheen Akhtar Edited by : Abhishek Bagra.

Tell me who we are. Aren't we the innocent minds of our childhood times when we had nothing to worry for; when the vagaries of this world was a total stranger to us? We are the teenage love stories which we relished with all our heart, unaware of the fact that, those were just our infatuations, and not love. We are the blissful evenings of some hot summer afternoons, when we used to be the carefree souls. We never bothered to observe the beauty of the horizon where the sun sinks to sleep. We never cared to understand life. We are the moments, that we have created out of laughter, happiness, fights and affection with our siblings and our family. We are also the faces of the phases when we have known loss and longing, loneliness and death of our loved ones. We are the happiness and the sadness, the failures and the achievements, the heartbreaks, the hard times and the rejections. We are the survivors of our battles. We are the moon, the stars and the sky. We are the waters and the woods, the mountains and the tall trees, the dusty countryside roads, the memory lanes... the misty mornings and the silent nights. In us lingers a fragrance; of places we have been and the things we have seen. We are the essence of our own lives. While in the process of our growing and maturing, we become the moments and the memories, of our lives and of the times that we have lived. We are our destiny's innocent slave; unaware of what it holds, yet we immerse in it. Copyright Shaheen Akhtar. 01.07.2022

As wise as the monks; is WissenMonk. It preaches humanity. It is not just a community, but it is more of a family! We are tied forever by togetherness and love, kindness and selflessness. By supporting each other, here, we grow together. To see one rise and shine, we help one another. As poets; when our sole purpose Is to write and spread positivity, we do that with all our might and with honesty. We celebrate achievements. We stick to our commitments. We encourage others, we uplift our fellow writers. We all are unique; yet we are like-minded. We differ in opinions; yet we respect the differences. Everytime we lose our way, are short of ideas or feel helpless; we are guided and enlightened by the ultimate torchbearers of the community. They are the leaders, the humble lot, the motivators and the positive thinkers. We look up to them as our parents. To them, we all are equal. Thus, being a part of such a wonderful family, I feel blessed to be blessed by Him; The one and only; the ultimate giver. Copyright Shaheen Akhtar ❤️ Dedicated to each and every member of the WissenMonk community on account of its 3rd year Anniversary Celebration. ❤️ 28th May, 2022 Guwahati Press Club, Ambari.

Image Credit https://images.app.goo.gl/Gwvx4A1GSBr7Zo7Y6 You are your own sunshine. You are your own scar. What you emit, follows you too. What you hoax about others Takes you one step closer, To degrading your self-worth. The mathematics is simple. Everytime you talk ill of someone, You make it easier for the world To understand you better. Everytime you choose to demean someone You are only revealing a part of yourself; Which would have otherwise gone unnoticed. What you are doing basically is, Harming your worth and not that of others. The mathematics is simple. Copyright Shaheen Akhtar.

Hunger on his plate. Wretched hope on his face. A worst sufferer; a lone survivor! A plateful of urban dust of the streets. A pair of numb eyes with a dull stare. He does not fear anymore to die. He has lived a hundred deaths... As hunger kills him every single day. The crowd and the celebrations many. Festivity in their minds; far from agony. Not a single passerby cares to drop him A packet of food or some penny. His soul pours out a desperate cry; Silenced by a wave of bitter truth; A truth that carry his fate, Too dreadful to be a lie. Festivals come and go, Different religions, different cultures, Different practices, different tastes. He but knows no religion nor practices. He is neither a believer nor a disbeliever. He is but a worshipper of the one truth. He but follows only one religion; The religion of humanity! Copyright Shaheen Akhtar. Day 09, Theme - Festivals. #NaPoWriMo

Come, let us learn a lesson today. The lesson of the 'selfish time' ! Selfish is the time and swift is its pace. It neither waits for the procrastinator, Nor for the doer. It neither knows the rich nor the poor. It but knows its purpose. It stops for a while, only when it has to Reward one or punish another. How selfish is time, isn't it? 'Time' hardly takes time to care. It just arrives and it fleets. 'Time' never wastes a single second. It makes use of every second. The selfishness of time is enough For us to learn from. It's time that always knocks at our door. Time is selfish yet it harms none. Time accomplishes everything on time. It waits for none. Time knows that it's okay to be Selfish at times when you harm none. Let's try to not waste time. Let's try to be like the 'selfish time'. Copyright Shaheen Akhtar. Day 5, Theme - Time and tied waits for none.