STORIZEN POETRY

A Friend for Life

Icy fingers! Pitiless! Cruel!

They say that of you, the ones who fear

Realizing not

You walk with us

Every day, every minute, second

A trusted, empathetic friend Protecting, alerting

Giving us chances, three, four, more

Until the goings overwhelm

And then you ease us, release us

We start all over

A new lease

Not knowing yet again that you Death

Are a friend for Life.

Vidya Shankar, poet, writer, editor, blogger, motivational speaker, English teacher, a “book” in the Human Library, and mandala art instructor, is the author of two poetry books The Flautist of Brindaranyam (in collaboration with her photographer husband, Shankar Ramakrishnan), and The Rise of Yogamaya (an effort to sensitize her readers about mental health and the need to break free from an outdated society). A recipient of several literary awards and recognitions, she has been featured in the first-ever ‘Yearbook of Indian Poetry in English, 2020-2021’ as well as a unique coffee table book, ‘50 Inspiring Women boys and girls should read about, Chennai Edition’. She finds meaning to her life through yoga and meditative mandalas.