Monday blues
Enlivening my spirits
In biting the dust
During the weekend's carnage
At the hospital that morning, I was option-less but to park my vehicle under the supine branches of this lovely tree. It could not survive the wind gusts and rain soaked putty soil.
3rd June 2024
Assortment of colours, textures, fragrances
carelessly collected in unhurried
walks amidst nature.
A volcano erupts, spewing pleasure!
Slow savouring of the gifts of today,
cherry picking
only blessings strewn en route.
This load generates a warmth of fulfilment.
Then what was this mad race for more they mentioned?
Amassing wealth and fame you think.
Along sneaks in something more
and then more...
The wall-engulfing bedroom window
Leaks inwards during torrential and monsoon showers
When the sky pours out its heart fanned by the furious gale.
I never find myself complaining for the wanting of a ledge above
The glass panes here look the cleanest after nature’s scrubbing,
With a three dimensional canvas to soothe the fourth dimension spent in confines of bed
Nursing the self to healing.
The amorphous grey mass is purposefully drifting towards north east
Blending tints and peeping hues revealing movement.
Now a flock of anxious ibises; flapping, fighting the gust
Melt into a beautiful V
Streamlined bodies in fluid formations.
A laggard or two play catch-up
In their daily micro-migration, merely from one lake to another.
Migration, flight behaviour and adaptations...
Lessons imparted by Dr. Deepak Sahay play back unfailingly
Every time flock after flock
Waltzes across the heavens, drawing my gaze with it.
Oft, I wish to spin back time and change professions
Or in the least, magically conjure up pages upon pages of class notes
From the damp mouldy vault, which I cleared off my belongings two decades ago.
Views of the sky, while lying in bed last monsoon inspired these thoughts. The culmination found its way out today.
The years breathed in your vast expanse
Looking closely, deeply, intently
At the nuanced charm of nature
For which you always created the context
Have made me realise that you no longer exist separate from me
You are in me
I have discovered you everyday
In things around me
Within me
cheerfully, gratefully, wistfully
Floral clusters of Kadamb
Taunted me a month ago
Such resemblance to the virus-with-its-spikes
Ah! Isn’t this the same Kadamb
That was planted in the Amphitheatre on Valley’s last birthday
When we remotely watched the planting ceremony
The same virus holding us at bay
My letter to Valley for the school newsletter as she turned 43 on 17th July 2021 - amid the COVID lockdown.
I am bursting with ideas of what could be a possible tangible gift for my daughter's 17th birthday tomorrow. Except that I am almost out of time.
Words, yes words of wisdom are what I will send to her.
Therein emerges this above piece, from cues collected post an erstwhile discussion between us on the matter of a mild accent in her speech while uttering certain sounds.
Smugness is the feeling rising in me after the words have been inked onto the almost dried paint, their soft melting into the lingering wetness raising the satisfaction to its crescendo.
In a flash follows humility. Easy come the words and the wisdom. The test is to live by them.
To watch the should-be trappings of one's own mind.
Snuggling neatly amidst ten and twenty
Fifteen, the age of exceptional opportunity.
Be a kid for all you want
Flaunt maturity when the hour demands.
Playing pranks, giggling for no rhyme
Folded over a book, hoping to warp time.
Dodging the bedtime with gay abandon
Still open to ideas; you are fresh, new born.
Passing off as adult to the untrained gaze
Testing freedom’s elasticity, tasting emotions ablaze.
Expanding boundaries uncover marvels untold,
Decisions made, accountability shouldered.
Clawing tightly into the ebbing childhood
Anticipation, curiosity, exhilaration heralding adulthood.
Fearless, unstoppable; rationality not your agency
Unconditioned, unshackled, raw and ready.
Inspired by my daughter’s idea, as she turned fifteen, that she is equidistant from ten and twenty.
चटक इन्द्रधनुषी रंग लपेटे
नाना प्रकार, विस्मयीं आकार समेटे ।सींचाई करते दुलार, नमीं, पोषण, धूपऋतु आगमन उपरांत ही खिलते हैं पुष्प ॥
कुछ सूर्य का मुख चूम चूम
कई रात्रि की शीतलता में झूम झूम ।
अवधि कुसुमित रहने की विविध
असीम आभा! कहाँ उस पर आश्रित ॥
खिलने को प्रयत्नशील हर कलि इठलाये
तुलना की तपिश में नज़ाकत कुमल्हा ना जाये ।
हर ख़ुशबू रूहानी, चिर परिचित
प्रोत्साहन की चाह, हृदय में निहित ॥
इक इक फूल करता बगिया को कृत-रचित
झिलमिलाती संगीत संध्या हर नृत्य से सुशोभित ।
स्नेह, सराहना सबकी सर आँखों पर लिये
हम आशीर्वाद के लिए सदैव झोली फैलाये खड़े ॥
~ दिव्या
नमस्ते !
बच्चियों ने पारिवारिक नृत्य संध्या में भाग लिया और उनकी रचना एवं प्रस्तुति की भरपूर प्रसंशा हुई। हमारा मन उनकी इस कोशिश की कामयाबी से पुलकित हुआ जाता था!
योजना में घर के अन्य छोटे बड़े बच्चों ने भी हिस्सा लिया था। उनकी प्रतिभा, शैली और प्रयत्नों को नकारती सी प्रतीत हुई वाहवाही एवं टिप्पणियाँ — जब चर्चा सिर्फ़ दो बच्चों की दुहरायी जा रही थी और उन्हें अव्वल दर्जा प्रदान किया जा रहा था।
उस चिंतन से उपजी है यह कविता। उम्मीद रखती हूँ कि यह मेरे भाव व्यक्त कर पायी !
पढ़ने के लिए धन्यवाद।
आप अपने विचार कॉमेंट्स सेक्शन में लिख कर मुझ तक पहुँचा सकते हैं।
