Sunday, September 02, 2012

Nights In The LaKe Of DReams

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 31; the thirty-first edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for the month is 'Strangers in the Night'.



















As the night pulp spatters
Strangers in the night stitch me in the dark
They cry, they laugh; shake me gently
And break my stupor;
 I hear them running down the gravel path
And like a stalker, I tumble out into the darkness
Start following these ominous characters…
A bird swoops down to collect a quill
And disappears, Hush!
I continue to walk on my tiptoes..
The smell of the meadow and 
the noise of loose pebbles under my toes murmur in my ears; 
I feel like a child, touching everything, trudging into the blank spaces
A little moonlight trickles and the fog rises; but glitter of the night ceases 
A heavy, brooding silence illuminate the blue hour...
The strangers of the night suddenly start dissolving 
The taut silence petrifies me now....
I start walking back home faster clutching the end of my nightgown
Breathing gets grunt and a pant; 
Reaching home I find my door ajar! I cringe..
I quietly nestle my head in my pillow detaching my thoughts
The Sun frizzles the memory next morning; and everything goes blank....
Next night, once again the dark phantoms emerge,
They pull me out from the abyss of time
My restless mind starts following those hypnotic shadows
Ah, I'm unable to stop myself...to search, or to seek.

Then, after countless nights 

...one night the strangers disappeared...
It took me years to understand, that I was a sleep-walker
On those bleak nights when I tramped... I was always alone
I waded in the lake of dreams when my mind stepped out of my body
Experiencing the 'unimaginable' became a simple habit..
Thankfully, I bounced back to normal life; it was now
...ruled and reigned by my senses; a new voice whispered:
'You were bitten by the Wanderlust! Now you can relax'....
Everything was a farce, a sham...a ghastly pretense; 
I smiled, swallowing gulps of adrenaline...:)


Fiction...Somnambulism, or sleep-walking, still remains a most mysterious disease.


The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Introduced By: Jaish, Participation Count: 3

93 comments:

  1. Just one word. Beautiful.

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    1. SG...Appreciation is valuable when it comes from a someone we respect... permit me to feel elated.. :)))Thanks a lot!!

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  2. Wonderful..You play with words..:-)

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    1. Thanks Nagini, I am happy you enjoyed this out-of-box post... your appreciation speaks of your open-minded-ness to new ideas.:) Thanks for your constant support n love :)

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  3. I felt a shiver at first.....wonderful....

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    1. Thanks Sreeja for the visit... and the feeling of satisfaction you give me with your comment.. :))xoxo

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  4. Hi Panchali

    After your Nemo last time, I was really curious about your take on the BAT topic this time and you rock ma'm. You know how to create magic out of your words. Lovely!

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    1. Jayashree, Aha...you have very good memory!! It is thrilling to know that you remember the old post...well, I joined blog-a-ton only after reading your post. So, all my BAT posts are gonna carry your name with them.:))))))))))....You made my day... :)))
      Thanks a bunch!!xoxo

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  5. mam its a wonderful creation ......loved it - just beautiful :) :)

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    1. Aha. loads of thanks for the encouraging review, Vinisha !--Thanks a lot:)xoxo

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  6. Amazing once again , everytime I say this and then i come and read another and it is more amazing ..


    Bikram's

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    1. Bikram,
      Oh....hope you are not pulling my arthritic leg !! I am always squirming as it is... :))) Thanks for the encouragement..:)))
      Well, I am still trying to write :) And I wont give up - even if I churn out substandard stuff - will add to your suffering ..:P
      LOL...
      Thanks a lot for the feedback... really appreciate it... :))))

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    2. na.. I am not that strong I cud pull anyone's leg. :) and rest assured I am sure others will also tell you , I speak my mind and I am very outspoken , I say what I see or feel ..

      so you dont have to worry about me pulling ur leg or anything like that ..

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    3. Thank you, Bikram!!It is always great to get confirmation... you have my undying gratitude for that :)

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  7. Splendid!!
    ..what more?
    (I'm at a loss of words!)

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    1. Thanks Amit...I want nothing more, what you've written is magnificen enough to make me love my work...!!:))
      Thanks a bunch for the feedback n visit... :))

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    2. hey Panchali..why so many thanks friend? Reading you has always been a great pleasure indeed:)

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    3. Amit,...You have spoken like a true man...! Mighty pleased to see you here again... :))) You are kind...:)

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  8. a beautiful read an absolutely refreshing and well woven treat :)

    all the best for BAT !!

    if you have time do visit

    strangers in the night

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    1. Richa,

      Such a reader indeed is a blessing..:))
      Thanks a ton for coming by... :)

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  9. 'You were bitten by wonderlust! Now, you can relax'.....that's what make you feel that what happened was past & it's time walk along the present. So, just chill!

    I loved the poem :)

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    1. Indeed Gayatri, :))
      .....Your words of praise humble me.. yet fill me with pleasure.. :)))
      Thank you... for the visit :)))

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  10. This is my second visit here, and I had written a comment earlier... where did it vanish? :( Nevertheless, this gives me an opportunity to read your poem... again :)

    Wonderful, You have a unique skill to paint a beautiful picture with your words and then converse through it... Kudos! Absolutely in love with your works, keep at it :)

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    1. Thanks Arti, for taking that special effort to post your comment here; your benevolence and sensitivity makes you a very valuable friend.. :))
      Thanks for the uplifting comment..... an artist needs appreciation from a discerning audience.. isn't it..? :))))
      Thanks a bunch :) xoxo

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  11. Vivid imagery! Loved it!
    I think there is a typo, instead of Brooding you have typed Brodding.
    Else it is lovely!

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    1. Thank you very much, Deepak for pin pointing the typo error...I've corrected the spelling :)Thanks!!
      Am thrilled you liked this..:))
      Thanks for coming by... :))

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  12. Dear Panchalidi,

    This one is mesmerizing and I am rightfully mesmerized :)
    <3<3<3

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    1. Awww...thanksa bunch, Ghaz...:))) You made my day... for many days to come... :)))) xoxo

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  13. sleepwalking kind of scares me..but this post makes it so interesting!
    All the best for BAT!
    ❤Not Just My Allegories❤

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    1. Welcome to my space, Anisha!
      Am thrilled you liked this... :))Hope to see you more :))

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  14. Rajesh, Am thrilled you liked this... :))
    Thanks for your visit and comment!

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  15. I once walked in sleep and fell miserable and hurt myself. The feelings have been captured beautifully.

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    1. Welcome to my space, Diwakar, Now I am really impressed with myself...! :))
      For me this was just a figment of imagination..thankfully, I never walked in sleep...:)Thanks a lot for your visit and comment.
      Hope to see you more on these pages!Thnx!

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    2. :))I 'll wait for your visits then, Khsitij!Thanks...

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  16. Wow, I am going to refer this post to a friend who is an accomplished, published poet 'cos I am sure he will like it too. Amazing depth and imagery. A strong contender. All the best!

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    1. Sandy! Wow...what a comment! There's not much traffic on this Blog....was swatting flies literally!! :D:D
      Thank you for the compliment... been worth the sleepless night... :))))I love it that you liked it... it inspires me to write more... thanks. :)))
      Hope your friend likes this piece as much as you did..!

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  17. you poured down your imagination so delicately with a pure heart..loved the way you pen down your emotions.. :)


    if you have time do visit
    http://odizzey.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/strangers-in-the-night-blog-a-ton/

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    1. Welcome to my space, odyzz...:)I am mighty pleased to read your wonderful comment.Hope to see u more on these pages :) Thanks!!

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  18. Replies
    1. Suresh,

      Thanks for the visit and the wonderful words of appreciation. They mean much to me...:))

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  19. beautifully expressed panchali....lovely

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    1. Thank you, Alka!I am so happy that I managed to express what I wanted to in the poem. It is always great to get confirmation from a poet of your stature :)
      Thanks a ton..:)

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  20. fatiye diyecho PanchaliDi...! if i had written for this BAT, my vote would have been for you undoubtedly! lovely lovely read :)

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    1. Apala...!!Ki kando...astey bol! shokole shuntey parche je!! Dara bapu. :D:D
      Thanks for your wonderful words of appreciation. They mean so much to me, my dear:) xoxo

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  21. I was curious to read your take for BAT. The way you wrote was just too good. Totally, beautiful Poetry from a great poet. And, yes still sleep walking is one of the most mysterious diseases. Good luck for BAT! Keep writing!

    Someone is Special

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    1. SiS...To win that kind of compliment from you has made my day... I too was waiting eagerly for you to comment... thank you...:))

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  22. Beautiful. Everyone makes dreary dark stories out of schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease etc. You have instead taken sleep walking and made it actually look beautiful and fascinating. Really enthralling read.

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    1. TF....Your words of praise humble me.. yet fill me with pleasure.. :)))
      Thank you... for the visit and for the implied kudos... :)))

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  23. Panchali this is beautiful--oft in the stilly night our thoughts will leave us & go wandering here & there ;meeting apparitions from the past--how vividly you have pictured this-words fail me.

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    1. Indu,

      Thank you for your uplifting feedback. To tell you the truth, I was trying to learn how the human mind works... ! You being a psychiatrist would know better :)

      Your benevolence makes you a very valuable friend...To win admiration from an author one admires, is the biggest high in the world... :))Thank you...

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  24. HI Panchali,
    SIMPLY FANTASTIC....
    Great write up...keep it on..
    Regards..
    Bhavik Shah

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    1. Hi Bhawik, Indeed...Yeah... there is hope , and that's what keeps us wanting to write more.. isn't it..? Pleasure to have you here.. thanks... :)))

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  25. Great poetry Panchalidi, the structure is excellent , reminded me of the lines by Walt Whitman..

    All the Best for BAT

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    1. Tom..he he.. I am honored... :)))
      WALT WHITMAN...?---the father of free verse!! Oh, that white bearded poet is my favorite!:)
      Do you remember his poem...

      'A Clear Midnight'
      "THIS is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless,
      Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done,
      Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the themes thou
      lovest best.
      Night, sleep, and the stars." ---Walt Whitman

      Gratified you liked this... thanks... :))))

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    2. I studied his poems, especially I remember the one titled 'Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking'. It was when I attended my PG in Eng Lit. Ah those were mesmerizing days. I even have a written a poem in memory of my PG examination days, u can read it here http://littlelyrics.blogspot.in/2008/08/goodbye-examination.html
      But I rmbr, I havent mentioned Whitman in this poem..

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    3. I 'll check out soon, Tom!! Thanks for the link...

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  26. Your writing is very inspiring! Great read, all the best.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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    1. Welcome aboard, Deepa !! Thanks for your encouragement. Hope to see you more often on these pages!

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  27. beautifully written...mesmerizing...loved the revealing of the sleep-walker
    ATB for BAT :)
    i could not participate...but u can see my post here
    Karan - Strangers in the Night

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    1. Karan,

      Thanks... your words have made me feel on top of the world...:)))) Why couldn't you participate...awww:(
      I'll definitely read it ...soon!!!:)

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  28. Hi Panchali,
    First time at your blog and I must say its great to be here. I never thought that way! Beautifully composed and represented. My best wishes to you! :)

    Happy Blogging!

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    1. Welcome to my space, Simran:) You comment has overwhelmed me..thanks a ton!! Do visit a again ...please:)

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  29. Wonderful imagery created by your words..it indeed is mysterious ..the feelings experienced by a sleep walker..

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    1. Welcome to my space, Rinaya!! Thank you for the visit... and for your words of praise. :))))I am thrilled!!! Hope to see you more on these pages...:)))

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  30. Panchalidi a wonderful read..every line is well described..my sister was a sleep walker and thus I know how they feel when they return to their true self..thanks for sharing and my best wishes for the contest..

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    1. aah! kothaye chili re....was waiting for your comment!!!Thanks so much for coming by and sharing your thoughts. And thanks again for the words of appreciation... :)))))It is always nice to have you here, Ranita :)

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    2. Aar bolo na khub besto ai kodin..guest, daughter, husband everything ;)..thanks so much for the wonderful reply..I too always wait for new posts from you..khub apon mone holo..<3<3

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    3. No problems....the blogs are here for eternity! Somoy pele chole ashsish---no issues!! Apon korte kothokon lage re??Chotto jibon ey sukh taratari kore nite hoi..tai na? Love you too, sweetheart :)

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  31. Beautiful, I loved those parts where you wrote about sparrow and compared yourself with a child. Amazing work and I agree with someone who compared you with Walt Whitman...

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    1. Thanks a lot, Saru... Am absolutely thrilled...:)You make me feel so good always... thanks for the pat on the back... it means so much to me... :)))))
      Sorry about the late revert...:(

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  32. This is the first time an on your blog and though poetry doesn't quite reach my dumb brain, this one was really beautiful! Nature has a world of its own doesn't it? Its almost as if you sat through the night penning what really happened! Best wishes for BAT!

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    1. Deepa, Welcome to my space :)
      You can't have a dumb brain definitely.. LOL..I am glad, you're in tune with my thought process, else I would have felt miserable :))
      Great to see you here... thanks for the visit... :)))

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  33. Hmm...you are such an artist. Didn't I miss reading you!!!

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    1. Divya!! Where have you been, my dear ? This space was missing you tooo!!....pleasure to have you drop in again.. :))Thank you!

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  34. wonderful play of words. Loved reading

    Cheers
    CRD

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    1. CRD..Thanks for coming by... and sharing your thoughts on this post... :)))Hope to see you more often on these pages.!!

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  35. You almost made sleepwalking beautiful.

    I wonder how you are able to get such beautiful words to explain and describe what's in your head. Very good wordplay.

    This is the second-last post I'm reading this BAT... kept it for the end because I usually stay away from hi-fi poetry (Pssst... I don't understand such poems). And I wonder how people like yourself write all this.

    Good one Panchali. Khoob bhalo.

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    1. Kshitij....Glad I was able to engage you.. :)) *patting her own back*
      Puh-lease don't talk about my dumbo head--stupid things corrode the innards of my head time to time... like a hole gaping biggern bigger...hence, these aresimple results of such activities...LOL. :)))
      Comment pore khub bhalo laglo!! How do you know Bangala/ just curious :)

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    2. Thoda thoda toh sabko aata hai. :)

      Aami little bangla jaani.

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  36. WOW! you have penned down the mystery disease so well!
    such a lovely flow of words!!!fabulous!


    best wishes :)

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    1. Welcome to my space, ashzzes...thank you for your implied kudos...pleasure to have you drop in.. :))Do visit again...please!!

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  37. Fantastic piece. What a gripping description of a sleepwalker's feeling. Amazing poetry, deep and enthralling.

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    1. Ash!! Good to see you back...!! Thank you so much... your appreciation is like a tonic for me. So, dare not vanish again:))

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  38. Ha I never expected sleep walking! Wonderfull!

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    1. Welcome to my space, Manasa....!!Your comment delights me... thanks a lot... :D
      Hope you visit again...

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  39. Beautiful. I`m glad to see more poetic entries this BAT.

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    1. Welcome aboard, Richi :) May our tribe increase... you made my day... :)))))
      Thanks for stopping by..
      Hope to see you more on these pages...

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  40. Sleepwalking eh? Nice take! :D Was a superb read :)

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    1. Thanks Rajkiran. Thrilled to know that you enjoyed reading this...!!Do visit again :)

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  41. lovely flow- I enjoyed your write...

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    1. Thank you, Muthu for stopping by..Do appreciate:)

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