The Journey with Words

Day-30 NaPoWriMo-2020

Prompt: Poem about something that returns

I tasted

Life in the words of

Fellow wordsmiths

A month of soothing poetry 

Comes to an end

Hope breathes in the heart 

Till we will meet again.

Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-thirty-6/

The Furry Tales

Day-29 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt: Praise your pet

What can I write about them? How can I praise them?

No words are enough to set the guidelines

One look of theirs. melts away all my worries

They are my lifelines.

They came In my life,
When life was getting tough,
The little voiceless souls,

Healed me, with their unconditional love.

My companions

My symmetrical twins

My little munchkins

My yin and yang.

I didn't rescue them

They rescued me.

Participating: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-nine-6/

The Warm Quilt

Day-28 NaPoWriMo 2020
Prompt: Describe a bedroom from a past

                                                            Image: Watercolor by Govind Silimkhann



How we miss the simple pleasures
Of a time so far in the past
Little shadows of a life lived
In a cocoon of a thatched hut
Couldn't make up for those little moments,
In a plush apartment adorned with luxurious.

The  sparse rooms and the shaky roof
Had an air of affection stamped on every wall
The mud layered walls
Felt cool in the summers
A piece of glass resembling a tile
Streamed the morning rays through the roofs
A few tiny grilled windows
Were shaking hands with the trees
The mornings were greeted by
A jackfruit ripe, fire flowers and fragrant jasmine
As if nature cuddled the little abode in its embrace.

Sleeping time was a happy time
In the long empty room
The wizened eyes oozing with warmth
Eagerly awaited to take to the dreamland
There were no beds or bedsheets
The floor felt cool to the touch
It was layered with layers of soft mud
Just a few multicolored quilts
Were strewn on the pleasant floor
Beautifully made with old sarees
By the loving, elegant, wrinkled hands.

Every one  huddled together
Finding warmth as birds of a feather
Tiny smiling faces peeped out of the quilts
Dreaming away to sleep
While a wrinkled hand touched their eyes
Singing a lullaby of prince, princess, and fairies.



Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-eight-6/

The Road

Day-27 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt: Write a poem in the form of a review of something that is not normally reviewed.

I always wonder
How you bear the burden
The burden, of the whole world
For ages, you have been walked over
In bits of hiccups
Driving on wheels or on foot
Steel drags on your skin
You are dressed in your finest colors
Flowers bloom in your arms
Trees lineup on your edges
Grass glides in careless whispers
Sometimes you lead to nowhere
Sometimes the destination is so near
I wonder, how would it be
If you would have not been there
How would man have prospered?
You led to the creation of so many inventions and discoveries
You fed the soul of many travelers and explorers
Trades flourished due to your generosity
Countries developed, communications built
Across the span of the globe
You opened up many avenues
To fulfill many ambitions and dreams
Country roads always take one home
You have been taken as an inspiration
When two roads are forged
Decisions are made
Based on your skin and hurdles incurred
You make shelter on mountains
On seashores and beside flowing rivers
Your reach is as far as the tallest peaks
You even cross the scorching deserts
Even underneath the earth,
You have made your home everywhere
A long drive over you
Relaxes the mind and soul
Lovers meet, friends depart
Families hug in the midways
You are too honest
You love mankind
Without you, humans would have been
Still stuck in the dark ages
A pandemic has put on the brakes
On the feet of your followers
Everybody misses you
From roadside cafes to highways
No words are enough to express so
Once the doors are opened wide
You are the first destination they will tread
To dance, to ride and to fill the heart
 With immense joy and embrace you!



Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-seven-6/

A Plethora of Images

Day-26 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt:Almanac Questionnaire

The slight breeze licked the salt of the brows
while the hibiscus felt the caress on its red lips.
The red tiles on the slopy roofs gleaned after the heavy drizzles
and afternoon siesta were disturbed by the squeals of mating squirrels.
A childhood dream, inspired adventurous streaks
creating a hunger to find hidden treasures
in furrows and burrows and hidden nooks and corners.
The walls of the village church were masterpieces
with designs and symbols of unknown feats.
Weaning away from the adventures,
Mills and Boon added to the hunger
The dreams became images of tall, dark and handsome strangers
What an irony! A conspiracy indeed to promote the knights in shining armor.
I remember the struggle of wearing a saree
to impress the three knots tragedy
Leaving the ambiance of flesh and homely moors
finding life outside the harvested fields.
We are walking on thin ice" the print media predicts
And I remember "I Miss You" embossed on some letters
Searching for a unicorn in the drudgery my mind finds solace reading old books.
The borders are in chaos, hungry mouths measuring distances
To reach their homes and dear ones,
Some bullet shots are ready to ward away demons.
The green tapestry on the delta is waiting for the monsoons
and the paddy fields and brooks are hungry for the heavenly drops
I too dream  of sultry images
Weaving rhymes in sequential verses.

                                                                         The season for love



Participating in : http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-six-6/

And it Rains!

Day 25 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt: "Hymn of Life" by James Schuyler.

                                                                     before the rains



A cool, soothing breeze erupts out of nowhere and caresses my skin. 
The skin feels the pleasure of being alive. 
The coolness in the air soothes a few frayed nerves too. 
Not only mine but also of the people around me. 
That includes my pets too. The temperature has been dangling between 36degrees Celcius to38 degrees Celcius 
from 9am to 4pm every day for the last two weeks.

There is too much humidity in the air and the clouds are trying hard to hold on to the cottony babies which are eager to puddle along with the earth.
A dark sky does announce that there is going to be a shower. 
It is the last week of April and the monsoon is very far away. 
I have been reflecting on all days and worrying about tomorrow.
In an isolated cell, many questions do arise, "Where are we heading?'. 
A sharp cry of restlessness pricks. 
Running feet of bloodlines do their best to lay the beasts to rest. 

Every evening the burning earth waits for the breeze of the bay to blow and cool its skin. There is a flurry of activity as the temperature falls. The birds chirp in their best voices while flying to their nests in a straight line. A few naughty ones perch on the trees, which are not home.
A profusion of colors touches the eyes. 

In the distant sky, a dance of reds, pinks, whites, oranges, and many shades of magentas meets the eye. The softest and sweetest sound I hear every day is of the koel. The view of the glowing sky in the bridal attire brings hope that tomorrow is going to be another day full of promises 
The sunset makes a promise that I am going to be alive to enjoy it the next day. 

The layers of clouds are lighted up and filled with magic. Those few hours in the company of beautiful flowers, chirping birds makes it easier to deal with this isolation. 
Last year, it was nearly impossible to vouch out of the house. The blazing sun was in full glory. covering the face with a scarf was a must. Work needs loyalty and punctuality. 

This year the tables have changed. Life has come to a standstill. Imprisoned within the four walls, being scared to death by a tiny creature, has become a way of life. 
I notice people taking a breather. 

From my balcony, a grilled view, some ladies sitting outside in the bylanes chatting feverishly as if tomorrow is a distant dream.
A few men in their vests strolling on the terraces. There are those teenagers on another terrace busy with their cellphones. What are they chatting about? Maybe they are missing their girlfriends and boyfriends or the time spent in the company of friends. Maybe...

The happiest moment is seeing the little kids out on the streets and lanes, playing, laughing, and smelling of life. Staying within the walls of the house the whole day must be a real punishment. 
The evenings are lifesavers. The cool weather, happy faces and the evening glory of the sunset sets the mood.
My heart moves in a slow-motion and takes me to another shore.

I remember how it was in Goa, 
during this time of the year in the carefree days. Nostalgia reaches another stage when I recall the beautiful bounty of nature during spring. The kids in the village would gather around the mango trees to pick up the ripe mangoes. The phase between the end of springs and the advent of summers is the best time as vacations are around the corner. As soon as the exams were over the little feet were ready to conquer the world and wait to get into a new class. . 

Meanwhile, it was time to enjoy vacations in the company of friends and family. There was such happiness around in those little moments. A small village endowed with lots of beauty as if nature has been kind and the soil generous too. A river on one edge and the hills on the other end.

The village resembles a paradise with its abundant flora and fauna. The evenings mesmerized the senses with the fragrance of frangipani and jasmines. A tiny piece of bliss tucked in some corner, far away from the bustling cities. Life hangs on simple living.No high buildings can survive in its lap. 

Small houses with equally lovely gardens soothe the soul. Splashes of Bougainvilla and hibiscus overtakes the walls. A few rose bushes peeping in the doorways. The fire of fire flowers adorning the hair of the village bellies. The village smells of ripened fruits. Ripe bananas, mangoes, luscious papayas, and a garden full of guava trees.

Oh! There are a variety of berries too. Blueberries, blackberries, and of course gooseberries and wild berries. Memories do have a life of their own. There is the fabric of sorrow and pain and a few threads of happiness woven in their layers. I remember to wrap them in my heart. 

Every day comes with a belief that nothing is lost. Every breath we take has a timed phase.
Yes, life is taking a leap in these times of crisis. 
And, as I finish writing this,

It rains!

                                                    and now


Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-five-6/

The Long Road

Day-25 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt: A lengthy poem
Poetry form: Blitz (A 50 lines poem with short phrases and images and a repeating sequences of words)

Here come the rains
Here swirl the clouds
Clouds dark as inked eyes
Clouds  in wooly shades
Shades of passionate chimes
Shades of impending dreams
Dreams to fill the belly
Dreams to quench the lands
Lands dried in salt
Lands of the landless
Landless with open bellies
Landless waiting for the water
Water from the sky
Water to keep them alive
Alive to feel light on feet
Alive in the maze of  heartbeats
Heartbeats of the restless souls
Heartbeats of the orphaned children
Children of the forgotten mankind
Children with many wants
Wants dancing on wishes
Wants in the poet's words
Words are courage
Words are silenced
Silenced by  leaders
Silenced by guns
Guns of the power lords
Guns welded in riots
Riots caused  by hunger
Riots chasing after freedom
Freedom in kindness
Freedom in acceptance
Acceptance of people
Acceptance of dissent
Dissent is not a crime
Dissent is fighting for rights
Rights of the people
Rights to be equal
Equal are we all?
Equal, just in words
Words without meaning
Words of forgotten echoes
Echoes of red shades
Echoes of  revolution
Revolution demands
Revolution in poetry
Poetry feels
Poetry thinks

Thinks...

Feels...






Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-five-6/

The Taste of Soil

Day-24 NaPoWriMo
Prompt: A Fruit

One juicy bite

Oozed down a season

Shining in the midair

   A saffroned tangerine.

Childhood pranced
On a verdant canopy
A child in two plaits
Touched the sky in gleeful pirouettes. 

A rainbow-

Touched the hungry lips

Arousing a sensation of bliss

Summer...on your wings

You brought back many lingering memories.

Participating in : http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-four-6/

SILENCE

Day-23 NaPoWriMo 2020
Prompt:  Write a poem of a particular alphabet or letter. What its shape signifies.

                                                                          Nature is silent



S  meandered in our life quietly

I solemnly, stand tall attentively

L angled in marking ninety degrees leisurely

E created too many barriers and locked us all in

N let us find a way out of the cliffhanger

C half circled around the world and collaborated with nature

E !  Oh no! We didn't listen and keyed us in the lockdown again!


And the world is reeling in the echoes of SILENCE!





Participating in:  http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-three-6/

A Flavour of Friendship

Day-22 NaPoWriMo 2020
Prompt: Foreign Language Proverbs and Idiomatic Expressions

                                                                           image: google

               
Thousands of letters
Unsent, flashes in dreams
Dreams of distant shores
An azurine minaret of magical walls.

A cup of flavour evokes
A deep longing
I hear the echo "Come"
The ornate flame mesmerizing
In quotations and legends.

Between the past and present
On the bridge of destiny 
The voice of friendship echoes
" Bir Kahvenin kirk yil hatiri vardir"




Turkish Proverb: " Bir Kahvenin kirk yil hatiri vardir"  

 Meaning:  A cup of coffee has a 40-year memory.



Participating in : http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-two-6/

Unknown echoes

Day-21 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt" Homophonic Translations"

                                                                            Pic:Sneha



(A Finnish Poem)

Minä tahdon maljani tyhjentää, kun ensi leivoset laulaa, kun koivut on hiirenkorvallaan ja vuorilla virrat pauhaa. Ja tahdon ma lauluni lahjoittaa, kun ensi joutsen soutaa, kun kukka on puussa ja kukka on maassa ja lehdot leikkihin joutaa. Eino Leino (1878 - 1926)






Mine, the dawn of magical chant
I can see the loveliest love
I can hide in novel lines
Yes, an aura of a variant power.

Yes, the dawn of my lonely heart.
I can sing a joyous duet
I can catch on pause aye!
Yes, catch on I may say!
Yes, loud, lingering enjoyment. 







(God knows what I decoded, but I tried :D )







Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-one-5/

Garam Masala

Day-20 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt: Hand made gift
Form: Loop Poem

                                                                      Pic: Sunita Prasad-garam masala

Affections,

affections cannot be measured

measured in money or gold

gold is hidden in small gestures.

Love is carved

carved with delicate designs

designs on a bonded tapestry

tapestry of a sweet rhyme.

I carry this gift of nostalgia

nostalgia of aromas
aromas of tender affections

affections of my loved ones.

It enhances whatever I cook
cook throughout the seasons

 seasons filled with precious memories

Memories stored in a tight jar.

( This is a gift, homemade garam masala, from my aunt when I visited home in January, after two long years. It will last me for more than a year( the pounded one). I usually visit my hometown once a year.)

Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-7/

Walking with Time

Day-19 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt: "Walking Archive"

                                                                  A 30 years old memory



In the hours of solitude

I rummage 

Through many memories.

There is an air, for attention,

In the empty spaces

From the books,

To the old photos-

A few sepia frames 

On the walls too.

Merged with times

Some orphaned curios

In some corner of the

Tables and mantles. 

A chipped glass

An old bowl

A handle of a pot

In an isolated corner!

All these 

Gaze at me

As I move from

One room to another

Urging, to touch them

To feel them.

There is a need

In the static shapes and sizes

As lost children

What else to do!

These are my timekeepers

Whom I have discarded

Nearly forgotten,

In my busy world

And now!

In a quarantined lair

I caress them

To feel alive...



Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-nineteen-5/

A Piece of Sky

Day-18 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt: Life's small pleasures.

A tiny being

Taught a lesson

To a busy mankind

To stop, to breathe

To understand

The ways of nature.

Locked in the house

Search for small pleasures

In the whiff of fragrant flowers

In the smile of a little child

A few moments of family time

In the company of voiceless ones

Life hides many treasures

In the smallest things

I find my joy

In the tiny garden

In the morning

Breathing deeply

In their fragrance

A profusion of myriad hues

Greets me in abundance.

A few days back ago

While sipping my tea

A cuckoo

Tucked among the trees

Filled my heart with such joy

With its sweet voice.

Limitless joy!

Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-eighteen-6/

On a Loop

Day-17 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt: Forgotten Technology.

                                                                         my memories 


Teens ~~~~~~~~~~

          danced on a loop ~~~~~~~~~~

                      while memories were made ~~~~~~~~~~


Strings ~~~~~~~~~~

          of  rhythmic pulses ~~~~~~~~~~

                      pulsated on umpteen dreams ~~~~~~~~~~

Youth ~~~~~~~~~~

          aimless, breathless ~~~~~~~~~~

                       plugged on a beat ~~~~~~~~~~

              
Loneliness ~~~~~~~~~~

          melted unseen ~~~~~~~~~~

                      on rewinding wheels ~~~~~~~~~~





Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-seventeen-6/

Salt on my Skin

Day-16 NaPoWriMo-2020
Prompt: On the top praise

                                                          Watercolor painting by Govind Silimkhan

In these bleak times

My heart yearns

For the countryside

I imagine myself

Under the coconut tree

Looking into the vast sea

As the waves lap my feet

The sun kisses my face

From a distance.

I wish,

To fall in love again

Carefree in a paradise

Relaxing and feeling alive

Under the canopy of  palms

Brushing away all the blues 

To smell, to feel the view

The breeze soothing my soul

The aroma of festive seasons

The pearly verdant fields

The nooks and corners

The beautiful architecture

The ancient vibe

The camaraderie of being alive

The towering sentinels on the east

The luscious beaches on the west

Miss them all, the milestones-

Colorful and bohemian 

The rhythm of my village

It has been a good life

In the periphery, of the present tense

But, I miss home sometimes

To visit the childhood jaunts

And, to the resting place of my father.




Participating in: http://www.napowrimo.net/day-sixteen-7/