The once mighty river
now rests as puddles of water.
Don't you see the morning sun
rising from each one of them?
Monday, 27 September 2010
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Where there is no equality
There is no learning.
Dont you think
Equality is the simplest relationship?
There is no learning.
Dont you think
Equality is the simplest relationship?
Repentance – unedited :Saturday, April 18, 2009
i never said kind words
i never thought u deserve some praise
all i knew was to hurt you
and to push you
the love with was within
i never uncovered it to you
my nails streaked with venom
came on you like a demon
i never realised u deserve some praise
there u are now
like a fairy angel
on a bed of flowers
may be u look down on me from high above
I’m like some beast in the darkness of my soul
may be someday
i can flyhigh
and rise above the filth
may be i can fly high and hold your hands
and my heart will sing the song of love
my hands will caress you with all the tenderness felt never before
and i will whisper into your ears
the words u never heard
that will bring a smile on your lips
then i can see the eternal world in your eyes
may then u will forgive all my sins
for i have risen above to reach unto you
may i learn to love you
like no other have done ever before
i never thought u deserve some praise
all i knew was to hurt you
and to push you
the love with was within
i never uncovered it to you
my nails streaked with venom
came on you like a demon
i never realised u deserve some praise
there u are now
like a fairy angel
on a bed of flowers
may be u look down on me from high above
I’m like some beast in the darkness of my soul
may be someday
i can flyhigh
and rise above the filth
may be i can fly high and hold your hands
and my heart will sing the song of love
my hands will caress you with all the tenderness felt never before
and i will whisper into your ears
the words u never heard
that will bring a smile on your lips
then i can see the eternal world in your eyes
may then u will forgive all my sins
for i have risen above to reach unto you
may i learn to love you
like no other have done ever before
No: 16B The Coffee Shop:Saturday, January 10, 2009
I entered the coffee shop. At once I saw her sitting in front of a small round table. Another chair opposite her was unoccupied.
She was dressed in a blue green sleeveless top. She looked healthy; she had the eyeliners, just more than a millimeter thick, silhouetting her naturally beautiful eyes. The lip stick was subtle, glossy, in a faint pink shade. Her well rounded wrist sported a white square shaped watch. On her right hand was a metallic bracelet, with a floral pattern in black against a white background.
She must be waiting for her friend or someone, I thought. Since no other seats were available, I sat in that unoccupied chair. She gave a momentary disapproving look and pretended to read the pocket sized book she held. A tender curvaceous silvery fish studded ring was on her right forefinger.
Suddenly I felt an urge to start a conversation with her. I was rehearsing how to start it though.
Hi!
Hello!
‘Are you waiting for someone?’ I asked her almost autonomously.
She was startled, but she managed to pose a calm demeanor and slowly raised her head and there was quite a few moments before she uttered indifferently, ‘yes’.
Her voice sounded like a briefest melody. Few more words could have resulted in a symphony.
That shop was located in the basement of a shopping mall, located in the heart of the city. One can imagine the nature of crowd one can witness during the peak hours.
I followed the trail left behind by her eyes and ended up watching the television which was mounted on a corner of that shop. A highly animated reporter talking about the bomb blast which had occurred in the other end of the world earlier that day.
The blood stains, ambulances with sirens, the paramedics handling the stretchers, shattered glass windows, a chandelier which had fallen on to the floor.
Suddenly for me, that girl ceased to exist. Some unexplained feeling gripped me. I felt a totally strange environment in stark contrast with the ambience of the coffee shop. For a moment, I felt as if the blast had actually happened in the premises of that shop.
The noise of a chair which someone was dragging at the next table brought me back to the coffee shop.
On the table, I noticed her, growing restless. She received a call on her mobile phone, which she held almost hidden, imperceptibly between her ears and dark free flowing long hair.
She tucked the book in to hand bag and readied herself to leave the table.
She walked away briskly, the tapping of her foot wear made the rhythm audible.
But something was going on my mind despite the pleasantness which lingered on.
I guessed, she must be working at a place somewhere near that shopping mall. What struck me was the fact that she didn’t seem to be bothered by those ghastly scenes on the television, which she was watching for few moments. I thought of various possible reasons, but nothing explained the air of indifference with which she was watching those bloody scenes unfolding on the television.
I sipped the coffee in a hurry, my mind was restless and I reached the washroom inside the coffee shop, splashed water on my face and I didn’t bother to wipe my face.
I came out of the mall, now I was stamping on my own shadows on the floral patterns on the pavement. The shadow followed me for sometime and disappeared as a passing cloud came across the sun. Within minutes the sun emerged again and my shadow followed suit.
After a tedious walk, I reached the beach, the sun was scorching. I purchased a water pocket and gnawed at one of its corners and squeezed the water jet on to my face with a moderate force. With the water that remained, I soaked the handkerchief and threw away the shrunken pouch on the beach sand. I tied knots on all the four corners of kerchief and now it snuggly fitted my scalp. I started walking towards the sea.
There were a countable number of young pairs sitting on the sand braving the sun. May be they were of some rare breed of flowers which bloom in pairs on the beach sand, in response to the midday’s sunlight. Some were devoid of this special quality and gallantry and were holding umbrella.
I managed to reach the waters. The sea was relatively calm. The breeze was cool and gentle. I removed the foot wear and felt the chillness of sea water flowing through my veins.
I walked along the wet sand for sometime, before heading towards the beach side park and took shelter under a pungamia tree. I didn’t realize I dozed off. I don’t know for how long I was sleeping.
One of the shriveled leaves which had a free fall from the tree fell on my face and woke me up. I stretched out my hands with fingers interlocked; twisting the hands so that the palms faced outwards, the process was complete with an elaborate yawn.
The evening was pleasant, the sky was clear; the blue reminded me of the girl whom I met earlier in the day. Her face popped up from nowhere and soon i was immersed in the thoughts about her.
The evening crowd was trickling into the beach. I was sipping the hot tea, which I got from a bicycle vendor. The hot liquid descended down my parched throat.
By now, the beach sand couldn’t be seen. It was flooded with human heads. It was like a vast stretch of canvas painted with human figures dressed up in various hues. The dynamic nature of the characters added to the fascination.
The sparks could me seen flying off spectacularly from a burner. A stocky young woman in a dark green saree was roasting corn on the burner.
After wandering amidst the crowd aimlessly, I walked away from the crowd slowly, thinking about the all important activity which awaited me the next day. And then I disappeared into the darkness.
The next day, I started early. I changed into a new set of dress and slung the bag on my shoulder and boarded the state transport corporation bus to reach the shopping mall.
Since that morning I was in a totally different state of mind as if possessed by ‘something’. There was some kind of apathy, which reflected on my face, I noticed it while looking at me in the coffee shop's washroom mirror.
Now I was seated in the same chair in which that girl was sitting yesterday. As it happens, the other chair which remained unoccupied reminded me of everything that happened yesterday.
Suddenly I saw her standing in front of me. In a single continuous flow of movement, she grabbed the chair and sat in front of me.
The apathy in me disappeared miraculously. My indifferent heart was now pounding faster than ever. All of a sudden I felt very clear, nothing bothered me anymore, I removed the bag, which till now was on my back and placed in on the table and rushed to the wash room. In a hurry I washed my face and wiped it clean with my handkerchief and I was happily looking at myself in the mirror. I felt ‘this is an important moment in my life’
I walked back to the table, I saw her sipping the café au lait. I was wondering what struck me and brought about this tremendous transformation.
What an evil act I was about to commit?! How this angel was able to initiate this soul changing event? I felt like prostrating in front of her. I thanked her from my heart.
I wanted to hurry and dispose of that bag immediately. But I sat quietly in front of her in complete silence. She was in a grey shirt; the big black handbag of her's was still on her shoulders.
But I had to leave and dispose off my bag. ‘She is special’ I said to myself.
I hoped I can meet her again at the same place. My heart felt heavy with emotions for having to leave her but at the same time I felt hugely relieved.
Now the mall was bustling with activity and crowd was peaking up.
I walked out to the main road and boarded a bus. The bus wasn’t crowded and I took the rear seat. I slid the bag underneath the seat and move closer to the window and rested my cheeks on the palm of my right hand. I was happily savoring the moments which happened at the coffee shop.
The bus had taken a U-turn and by now was crossing the shopping mall, which could be seen on the other side of the road.
Suddenly I heard a loud thundering noise coming out from the direction of shopping mall. Screaming and howling, people were running out of the shopping mall in a mad rush. Smoke billowed out from one of the basement windows. Horde of people came out running into the main road, some with bleeding faces, few could me seen wincing in pain, supporting their fractured arms with their other hand. The scenes were kind of frozen in time.
Everything came to a halt. I jumped out of the bus, and was running madly towards the shopping mall. By now people were seen lifting the injured, and screaming for help.
I reached the shopping mall, walked against a current of crowd who were coming out of the basement carrying the injured and the dead.
I reached the basement, shattered glasses, furniture scattered in disorder, charred bodies, blood stains on the floor, sickening smell of the burnt flesh…
In a corner, I spotted a severed hand…and that familiar ring on its fore finger.
From a few feet away, her head was staring at me.
She was dressed in a blue green sleeveless top. She looked healthy; she had the eyeliners, just more than a millimeter thick, silhouetting her naturally beautiful eyes. The lip stick was subtle, glossy, in a faint pink shade. Her well rounded wrist sported a white square shaped watch. On her right hand was a metallic bracelet, with a floral pattern in black against a white background.
She must be waiting for her friend or someone, I thought. Since no other seats were available, I sat in that unoccupied chair. She gave a momentary disapproving look and pretended to read the pocket sized book she held. A tender curvaceous silvery fish studded ring was on her right forefinger.
Suddenly I felt an urge to start a conversation with her. I was rehearsing how to start it though.
Hi!
Hello!
‘Are you waiting for someone?’ I asked her almost autonomously.
She was startled, but she managed to pose a calm demeanor and slowly raised her head and there was quite a few moments before she uttered indifferently, ‘yes’.
Her voice sounded like a briefest melody. Few more words could have resulted in a symphony.
That shop was located in the basement of a shopping mall, located in the heart of the city. One can imagine the nature of crowd one can witness during the peak hours.
I followed the trail left behind by her eyes and ended up watching the television which was mounted on a corner of that shop. A highly animated reporter talking about the bomb blast which had occurred in the other end of the world earlier that day.
The blood stains, ambulances with sirens, the paramedics handling the stretchers, shattered glass windows, a chandelier which had fallen on to the floor.
Suddenly for me, that girl ceased to exist. Some unexplained feeling gripped me. I felt a totally strange environment in stark contrast with the ambience of the coffee shop. For a moment, I felt as if the blast had actually happened in the premises of that shop.
The noise of a chair which someone was dragging at the next table brought me back to the coffee shop.
On the table, I noticed her, growing restless. She received a call on her mobile phone, which she held almost hidden, imperceptibly between her ears and dark free flowing long hair.
She tucked the book in to hand bag and readied herself to leave the table.
She walked away briskly, the tapping of her foot wear made the rhythm audible.
But something was going on my mind despite the pleasantness which lingered on.
I guessed, she must be working at a place somewhere near that shopping mall. What struck me was the fact that she didn’t seem to be bothered by those ghastly scenes on the television, which she was watching for few moments. I thought of various possible reasons, but nothing explained the air of indifference with which she was watching those bloody scenes unfolding on the television.
I sipped the coffee in a hurry, my mind was restless and I reached the washroom inside the coffee shop, splashed water on my face and I didn’t bother to wipe my face.
I came out of the mall, now I was stamping on my own shadows on the floral patterns on the pavement. The shadow followed me for sometime and disappeared as a passing cloud came across the sun. Within minutes the sun emerged again and my shadow followed suit.
After a tedious walk, I reached the beach, the sun was scorching. I purchased a water pocket and gnawed at one of its corners and squeezed the water jet on to my face with a moderate force. With the water that remained, I soaked the handkerchief and threw away the shrunken pouch on the beach sand. I tied knots on all the four corners of kerchief and now it snuggly fitted my scalp. I started walking towards the sea.
There were a countable number of young pairs sitting on the sand braving the sun. May be they were of some rare breed of flowers which bloom in pairs on the beach sand, in response to the midday’s sunlight. Some were devoid of this special quality and gallantry and were holding umbrella.
I managed to reach the waters. The sea was relatively calm. The breeze was cool and gentle. I removed the foot wear and felt the chillness of sea water flowing through my veins.
I walked along the wet sand for sometime, before heading towards the beach side park and took shelter under a pungamia tree. I didn’t realize I dozed off. I don’t know for how long I was sleeping.
One of the shriveled leaves which had a free fall from the tree fell on my face and woke me up. I stretched out my hands with fingers interlocked; twisting the hands so that the palms faced outwards, the process was complete with an elaborate yawn.
The evening was pleasant, the sky was clear; the blue reminded me of the girl whom I met earlier in the day. Her face popped up from nowhere and soon i was immersed in the thoughts about her.
The evening crowd was trickling into the beach. I was sipping the hot tea, which I got from a bicycle vendor. The hot liquid descended down my parched throat.
By now, the beach sand couldn’t be seen. It was flooded with human heads. It was like a vast stretch of canvas painted with human figures dressed up in various hues. The dynamic nature of the characters added to the fascination.
The sparks could me seen flying off spectacularly from a burner. A stocky young woman in a dark green saree was roasting corn on the burner.
After wandering amidst the crowd aimlessly, I walked away from the crowd slowly, thinking about the all important activity which awaited me the next day. And then I disappeared into the darkness.
The next day, I started early. I changed into a new set of dress and slung the bag on my shoulder and boarded the state transport corporation bus to reach the shopping mall.
Since that morning I was in a totally different state of mind as if possessed by ‘something’. There was some kind of apathy, which reflected on my face, I noticed it while looking at me in the coffee shop's washroom mirror.
Now I was seated in the same chair in which that girl was sitting yesterday. As it happens, the other chair which remained unoccupied reminded me of everything that happened yesterday.
Suddenly I saw her standing in front of me. In a single continuous flow of movement, she grabbed the chair and sat in front of me.
The apathy in me disappeared miraculously. My indifferent heart was now pounding faster than ever. All of a sudden I felt very clear, nothing bothered me anymore, I removed the bag, which till now was on my back and placed in on the table and rushed to the wash room. In a hurry I washed my face and wiped it clean with my handkerchief and I was happily looking at myself in the mirror. I felt ‘this is an important moment in my life’
I walked back to the table, I saw her sipping the café au lait. I was wondering what struck me and brought about this tremendous transformation.
What an evil act I was about to commit?! How this angel was able to initiate this soul changing event? I felt like prostrating in front of her. I thanked her from my heart.
I wanted to hurry and dispose of that bag immediately. But I sat quietly in front of her in complete silence. She was in a grey shirt; the big black handbag of her's was still on her shoulders.
But I had to leave and dispose off my bag. ‘She is special’ I said to myself.
I hoped I can meet her again at the same place. My heart felt heavy with emotions for having to leave her but at the same time I felt hugely relieved.
Now the mall was bustling with activity and crowd was peaking up.
I walked out to the main road and boarded a bus. The bus wasn’t crowded and I took the rear seat. I slid the bag underneath the seat and move closer to the window and rested my cheeks on the palm of my right hand. I was happily savoring the moments which happened at the coffee shop.
The bus had taken a U-turn and by now was crossing the shopping mall, which could be seen on the other side of the road.
Suddenly I heard a loud thundering noise coming out from the direction of shopping mall. Screaming and howling, people were running out of the shopping mall in a mad rush. Smoke billowed out from one of the basement windows. Horde of people came out running into the main road, some with bleeding faces, few could me seen wincing in pain, supporting their fractured arms with their other hand. The scenes were kind of frozen in time.
Everything came to a halt. I jumped out of the bus, and was running madly towards the shopping mall. By now people were seen lifting the injured, and screaming for help.
I reached the shopping mall, walked against a current of crowd who were coming out of the basement carrying the injured and the dead.
I reached the basement, shattered glasses, furniture scattered in disorder, charred bodies, blood stains on the floor, sickening smell of the burnt flesh…
In a corner, I spotted a severed hand…and that familiar ring on its fore finger.
From a few feet away, her head was staring at me.
Autonomous:Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Mother in company of her newborn
They remain together in their wakefulness
She steals moments of sleep from her infant
She hugs, kisses, cajoles, feeds
The infant cries for milk and
smiles while asleep
drifting into its own world.
Call it beautiful,
call it perverted,
It's my mind and
It wanders happily on its own
While I’m fast asleep.
They remain together in their wakefulness
She steals moments of sleep from her infant
She hugs, kisses, cajoles, feeds
The infant cries for milk and
smiles while asleep
drifting into its own world.
Call it beautiful,
call it perverted,
It's my mind and
It wanders happily on its own
While I’m fast asleep.
Its an illusion, almost : Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I wanted to say something
Beyond the seas, springs and flowers.
The sudden spurt of happiness
The sun rays emerging out when a cloud moves away
I never thought I will tell you all these
And I'm sure it’s all meant for you
Where it is that I wanted to say
Let me find it
It’s the moment and let me hold it
I need to say something
Which I will like saying to you
If you ask me to make sense of something
Which I have n't ever felt
Im sure I will be lost
But its right in front of me
The one I have n’t ever seen
Let me make sense of it
This is what I wanted to tell you
It makes me feel nice and good
Atleast like a fresh bunch of flowers in a vase on the corner of your table
for a valley of flowers are not beyond our reach either
I don’t know which one will make you feel nice
I glide over my feelings looking
Whether somewhere something have come up
Which is meant for you.
I don’t want to walk through the
meadows,
Highways,
snow clad mountains,
dense forests, barren lands, clear springs
I may not find anything there
For I know they will all remain mum
And they know I will find it somewhere
Whatever I’m supposed to say.
Beyond the seas, springs and flowers.
The sudden spurt of happiness
The sun rays emerging out when a cloud moves away
I never thought I will tell you all these
And I'm sure it’s all meant for you
Where it is that I wanted to say
Let me find it
It’s the moment and let me hold it
I need to say something
Which I will like saying to you
If you ask me to make sense of something
Which I have n't ever felt
Im sure I will be lost
But its right in front of me
The one I have n’t ever seen
Let me make sense of it
This is what I wanted to tell you
It makes me feel nice and good
Atleast like a fresh bunch of flowers in a vase on the corner of your table
for a valley of flowers are not beyond our reach either
I don’t know which one will make you feel nice
I glide over my feelings looking
Whether somewhere something have come up
Which is meant for you.
I don’t want to walk through the
meadows,
Highways,
snow clad mountains,
dense forests, barren lands, clear springs
I may not find anything there
For I know they will all remain mum
And they know I will find it somewhere
Whatever I’m supposed to say.
Insanity : Sunday, October 12, 2008
I go out looking. It is twilight.
The horizon merges with the sky somewhere in the distance.
Millions of words turn over the ocean's surface.
The moon is folded into half over itself.
The loneliness springs out and drowns oneself.
I dont know where the sea gulls have gone.
Their eggs will be incubating somewhere.
I dont know where the sea hawk have gone today.
It would have found its prey somewhere.
The breeze is gentle, incessant and dry.
where it will go from here on?
a small fish kisses a pearl in oyster.
the moon unfolds itself.
and the lonely now talks louder in the moonlit night.
the breeze returns to listen
the sea gulls now flock together and float on the calm waters
the words gather on the surface and an incredible monument takes shape.
the hawk sits on top of it.
the lonely laughs louder
even louder
even louder
even louder
the monument crumbles down and drowns into the ocean
the sea gulls fly away.
the hawk goes looking for the prey.
where is the moon?
where is the pearl?
will the fish kiss it again?
the loneliness springs out and fills the heart.
it fills the entire sky
the sea surface become still
heart beats slower
and slower
and slower
and slower
and slower
and slower
the monument reappears
the lonely holds it on the palm of the hand.
the night is moonlit.
the loneliness takes wings
fly gently
and disappear into the horizon.
It is dawn
Where have the loneliness gone?
The horizon merges with the sky somewhere in the distance.
Millions of words turn over the ocean's surface.
The moon is folded into half over itself.
The loneliness springs out and drowns oneself.
I dont know where the sea gulls have gone.
Their eggs will be incubating somewhere.
I dont know where the sea hawk have gone today.
It would have found its prey somewhere.
The breeze is gentle, incessant and dry.
where it will go from here on?
a small fish kisses a pearl in oyster.
the moon unfolds itself.
and the lonely now talks louder in the moonlit night.
the breeze returns to listen
the sea gulls now flock together and float on the calm waters
the words gather on the surface and an incredible monument takes shape.
the hawk sits on top of it.
the lonely laughs louder
even louder
even louder
even louder
the monument crumbles down and drowns into the ocean
the sea gulls fly away.
the hawk goes looking for the prey.
where is the moon?
where is the pearl?
will the fish kiss it again?
the loneliness springs out and fills the heart.
it fills the entire sky
the sea surface become still
heart beats slower
and slower
and slower
and slower
and slower
and slower
the monument reappears
the lonely holds it on the palm of the hand.
the night is moonlit.
the loneliness takes wings
fly gently
and disappear into the horizon.
It is dawn
Where have the loneliness gone?
‘I have nothing to say’
So many flowers to bloom
so many evening roads to walk along;
sunsets to get absorbed in
hills to be climbed
valleys to flow through
meadows to roll-on
dew drops to touch
butterflies to shoulder
to fly among the birds
to remain solitary in the infinite sky
to swim along the tide
to swirl amidst the winds
to feel the warmth of the soil
to caress the wool of the lamb
to listen to the sparrows
to drive them off the ripe paddy fields
endless will be things to say
how can I say 'I have nothing to say'?
***
to look at beautiful kids
and the weathered faces of laboring farmers;
to forgive the wicked,
to feel pleasure,
to bear with betrayals,
the pain of suffering,the loss of a beloved,
the birth of an infant ,
the limitlessness of dreams
the strength of the masses
the helplessness of the lonely
the serenity of the solitude
to savor the shades
talk out endless emotions
how can I say, 'I have nothing to say'?
***
the showers of the twilight rain
the scent of the soil that it brings along
the tenderness of mushrooms or
the transient life of termites
So many flowers to bloom
so many evening roads to walk along;
sunsets to get absorbed in
hills to be climbed
valleys to flow through
meadows to roll-on
dew drops to touch
butterflies to shoulder
to fly among the birds
to remain solitary in the infinite sky
to swim along the tide
to swirl amidst the winds
to feel the warmth of the soil
to caress the wool of the lamb
to listen to the sparrows
to drive them off the ripe paddy fields
endless will be things to say
how can I say 'I have nothing to say'?
***
to look at beautiful kids
and the weathered faces of laboring farmers;
to forgive the wicked,
to feel pleasure,
to bear with betrayals,
the pain of suffering,the loss of a beloved,
the birth of an infant ,
the limitlessness of dreams
the strength of the masses
the helplessness of the lonely
the serenity of the solitude
to savor the shades
talk out endless emotions
how can I say, 'I have nothing to say'?
***
the showers of the twilight rain
the scent of the soil that it brings along
the tenderness of mushrooms or
the transient life of termites
the fluttering of wings
the thundering storms
the flashing lightning and
the herds of cattle
the thundering storms
the flashing lightning and
the herds of cattle
the soothing breeze
the incessant murmur of the little spring
tall trees and
the shrubs that sleep
how can I say, '
I have nothing to say'?
***
caterpillars eating away at green leaves
cotton seeds bursting open in pristine whiteness
colorful beetles on tender shoots
pupa dancing to the tune of the evening breeze
butterflies taking wings
mother birds feeding young ones and
their shrieking that could be heard aloud
floating clouds looking for their lost child
the evening sky in its glorious colors
the incessant crackles of the frogs in the nearby lake
sleepless nights of the white lilies in a secluded pond
the restless squirrels that fight on the tree top and
the solitary fruit awaiting the parrot's peck
***
I’m sorry…
I should not have said,‘I have nothing to say’.
Edited by: alpha kilo
the incessant murmur of the little spring
tall trees and
the shrubs that sleep
how can I say, '
I have nothing to say'?
***
caterpillars eating away at green leaves
cotton seeds bursting open in pristine whiteness
colorful beetles on tender shoots
pupa dancing to the tune of the evening breeze
butterflies taking wings
mother birds feeding young ones and
their shrieking that could be heard aloud
floating clouds looking for their lost child
the evening sky in its glorious colors
the incessant crackles of the frogs in the nearby lake
sleepless nights of the white lilies in a secluded pond
the restless squirrels that fight on the tree top and
the solitary fruit awaiting the parrot's peck
***
I’m sorry…
I should not have said,‘I have nothing to say’.
Edited by: alpha kilo
Darkness :Thursday, July 10, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Darkness
Persian Gulf.
I was sailing.
It was midnight.
I came out of the accommodation of the ship to breathe fresh air.
It was pitch dark outside. Noise from the ship engine exhaust blower was louder. I stood still with hands in the trouser pockets.
Now slowly my eyes took over, thanks to the dark accommodation,
The darkness is no more its former self.
I walked along the Port Side walk way and reached the forward of the ship.
Now the exhaust blower sounds milder, now almost a continuous murmur of low intensity.
Now the mighty sea unfolds, it’s a scene I’ve witnessed never before. Its darkness everywhere but one can make out the horizon and of course few details on the vast sea are visible too.
I looked straight down on the sea; the ship 'M.V. Sea Command' gently cruises through the calm waters almost effortlessly.
Waves remind me of the breeze over the paddy field in the twilight.
I keep looking at it, now I feel like as if floating over dark clouds in the limitless sky.
Then I try not to relate, associate this scene with my earlier experiences......
After few moments,
I pulled myself out of 'that' experience, to look up.
It is stars and stars all over the sky, the heavens have come down and it makes one feel as if the stars are within the grasp.
Along side the ship, in dark waters I can see occasional flashes of lights, from the fishes swimming along. Or have the stars spilled over to the sea?...sinking still deeper?
I was a solitary witness for almost an hour, which felt like few moments.
The darker side of the sea was worth exploring and equally fascinating!!
After all it’s the light that plays the trick on us.
Our point of views…Does it matter to the seas, stars and skies?
Darkness
Persian Gulf.
I was sailing.
It was midnight.
I came out of the accommodation of the ship to breathe fresh air.
It was pitch dark outside. Noise from the ship engine exhaust blower was louder. I stood still with hands in the trouser pockets.
Now slowly my eyes took over, thanks to the dark accommodation,
The darkness is no more its former self.
I walked along the Port Side walk way and reached the forward of the ship.
Now the exhaust blower sounds milder, now almost a continuous murmur of low intensity.
Now the mighty sea unfolds, it’s a scene I’ve witnessed never before. Its darkness everywhere but one can make out the horizon and of course few details on the vast sea are visible too.
I looked straight down on the sea; the ship 'M.V. Sea Command' gently cruises through the calm waters almost effortlessly.
Waves remind me of the breeze over the paddy field in the twilight.
I keep looking at it, now I feel like as if floating over dark clouds in the limitless sky.
Then I try not to relate, associate this scene with my earlier experiences......
After few moments,
I pulled myself out of 'that' experience, to look up.
It is stars and stars all over the sky, the heavens have come down and it makes one feel as if the stars are within the grasp.
Along side the ship, in dark waters I can see occasional flashes of lights, from the fishes swimming along. Or have the stars spilled over to the sea?...sinking still deeper?
I was a solitary witness for almost an hour, which felt like few moments.
The darker side of the sea was worth exploring and equally fascinating!!
After all it’s the light that plays the trick on us.
Our point of views…Does it matter to the seas, stars and skies?
Fascination :March 2008:
I remember myself collecting the pictures on the match boxes, various types of them and making an album out of it. This happened during my primary school days. Baby, Jumbo, Two Cats, and wow…Cheetah fighter!!… that was my favorite. Sometimes I collected the pictures of deities and made an album out of it too.
I think this habit has got something to do with my fascination in later years. During my high school days, I was fascinated by the name boards, which the shopkeepers displayed on their shops. I used to travel by bus, a ride of about 30 minutes to attend my school in Krishnagiri. Once the bus enters the town limits, it naturally slowed down, courtesy of narrow roads, parked vehicles, pedestrians, and of course the omnipresent cattle..
Once inside the bus, whether I was seated or not, because of the convenient height, I can have a real close-up look at these fascinating name boards.
( any way this business of being seated or standing inside the bus really didn’t matter becos, I was a tiny little boy those days, involved in few fights, usually with the most heavily built boys in my class. I will end up crying in anger; few of my shirt buttons would have been lost in the process).
Especially when seated in a window seat, its fun time and it’s me and the name boards.
At one point of time, I remember, I had memorized most of the name boards in Old Sub jail road and Salem Main road (Krishnagiri) in their respective orders!!
They could be seen in various shapes and sizes-square, rectangular, even circular sometimes. Few of them will bear only the names; few will have names amidst the picture and vice versa.
And one can see an astonishing varieties of images-deities, infant, child, boy, girl and celebrities.
Aahaa! Aishwarya with a veil on most photo studios and Silk Smitha obviously will be holding in her hand, a wine glass, filled with country liquor.
Rajinikanth, Kamalhaasan on hairstylist’s saloons, (these days I guess it will be Ajith, Vijay or Dhanush, Simbu or it could be all of them together)…
Later these celebrities, especially Aishwarya with a green Short Sari (the term Dhavani is more appropriate) got herself transferred and prominently displayed on the rear glasses of the privately owned buses fitted with blasting digital audio systems. One can add Nayanthara, Sneha, and Trisha as late entrants in this category.
Those days the name boards were mostly hand written with paint, few embossed metal boards (white in blue) could be spotted though.
Each locality had its own share of popular nameboard artists. I rank Mr. R.Chandrasekar from Kaveripatnam, a small town near my native village in Krishnagiri Dist as one of the best of his kind.
Chandrasekar was excellent in his portrayals of human figures, be it with modern or classical looks. He was good with the fonts too.
He did his painting works in a small shelter, located in the basement of a house, where my friend Senthil's family lived in the first floor. I met him there once, with few of my amateur line drawings, but being a gentleman he complemented me with good words. This happened more than 6 years ago and I never pursued seriously, this art of portraits/caricature is another matter.
Possibly the kind words of Chandrasekar doused the fire out of the budding artist’s belly!!!
One can see a myriad of synthetic printed banners, bill boards these days, looming large over the city’s landscape, spilling over to the towns and some villages too.
This banner culture reaches its peak during the elections, be it for the local council, the legislative assembly or the parliament.
These days there is not much scope for these name board artists, largely because of this deluge of synthetic stuffs.
One has to indulge in mural paintings on the roadside, depicting the proclaiming political avatars or else in painting the house walls along the National Highways with advertisements of textiles and jeweler’s showrooms.
These endangered species need to adapt and evolve through the changing times to survive in this modern world.
I think this habit has got something to do with my fascination in later years. During my high school days, I was fascinated by the name boards, which the shopkeepers displayed on their shops. I used to travel by bus, a ride of about 30 minutes to attend my school in Krishnagiri. Once the bus enters the town limits, it naturally slowed down, courtesy of narrow roads, parked vehicles, pedestrians, and of course the omnipresent cattle..
Once inside the bus, whether I was seated or not, because of the convenient height, I can have a real close-up look at these fascinating name boards.
( any way this business of being seated or standing inside the bus really didn’t matter becos, I was a tiny little boy those days, involved in few fights, usually with the most heavily built boys in my class. I will end up crying in anger; few of my shirt buttons would have been lost in the process).
Especially when seated in a window seat, its fun time and it’s me and the name boards.
At one point of time, I remember, I had memorized most of the name boards in Old Sub jail road and Salem Main road (Krishnagiri) in their respective orders!!
They could be seen in various shapes and sizes-square, rectangular, even circular sometimes. Few of them will bear only the names; few will have names amidst the picture and vice versa.
And one can see an astonishing varieties of images-deities, infant, child, boy, girl and celebrities.
Aahaa! Aishwarya with a veil on most photo studios and Silk Smitha obviously will be holding in her hand, a wine glass, filled with country liquor.
Rajinikanth, Kamalhaasan on hairstylist’s saloons, (these days I guess it will be Ajith, Vijay or Dhanush, Simbu or it could be all of them together)…
Later these celebrities, especially Aishwarya with a green Short Sari (the term Dhavani is more appropriate) got herself transferred and prominently displayed on the rear glasses of the privately owned buses fitted with blasting digital audio systems. One can add Nayanthara, Sneha, and Trisha as late entrants in this category.
Those days the name boards were mostly hand written with paint, few embossed metal boards (white in blue) could be spotted though.
Each locality had its own share of popular nameboard artists. I rank Mr. R.Chandrasekar from Kaveripatnam, a small town near my native village in Krishnagiri Dist as one of the best of his kind.
Chandrasekar was excellent in his portrayals of human figures, be it with modern or classical looks. He was good with the fonts too.
He did his painting works in a small shelter, located in the basement of a house, where my friend Senthil's family lived in the first floor. I met him there once, with few of my amateur line drawings, but being a gentleman he complemented me with good words. This happened more than 6 years ago and I never pursued seriously, this art of portraits/caricature is another matter.
Possibly the kind words of Chandrasekar doused the fire out of the budding artist’s belly!!!
One can see a myriad of synthetic printed banners, bill boards these days, looming large over the city’s landscape, spilling over to the towns and some villages too.
This banner culture reaches its peak during the elections, be it for the local council, the legislative assembly or the parliament.
These days there is not much scope for these name board artists, largely because of this deluge of synthetic stuffs.
One has to indulge in mural paintings on the roadside, depicting the proclaiming political avatars or else in painting the house walls along the National Highways with advertisements of textiles and jeweler’s showrooms.
These endangered species need to adapt and evolve through the changing times to survive in this modern world.
Saturday, 25 September 2010
the dew drops are lit blue
the mighty night is wide awake
the wandering breeze searches aimlessly
a cat's cry reaches the open ears
the dew drops fall onto the sand and disappears
few dogs are howling too
coconut leaves are chattering in the windy sky
speeding vehicles are honking
birds are nestling
moon is in a lunatic travail
the radiant dawn is inevitable
may the night go into a slumber
the mighty night is wide awake
the wandering breeze searches aimlessly
a cat's cry reaches the open ears
the dew drops fall onto the sand and disappears
few dogs are howling too
coconut leaves are chattering in the windy sky
speeding vehicles are honking
birds are nestling
moon is in a lunatic travail
the radiant dawn is inevitable
may the night go into a slumber
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