Wednesday, June 12, 2013

My Blue Lotus





In a big city, the green seems a myth
Ugly buildings tremble through variegated shadows
Flash of synthetic colors sparkle and fade
Shutting out the sky in a gritty mass…
Amidst the menacing shadows of concrete jungle
Untamed blooms sometimes bow and move aside
---live on till they thrive on.

Likewise one morning,
Nature came to my windowsill
Clapped her hands, danced and ran away;
I walked to the window, peered out
A measureless wet expanse
Had always been there; but
Today its vibes floated out
Urging me to meander in its stream
I was awe-struck…
a dozen of mud-bloomed lotus flowers
Naked, vulnerable, full of grace peeped one by one
I ran up to the pond, dipped my feet in; pushed a frond
Creating a ripple…
A pearly-dew rolled on the leaf,
Making a tinkle… tinted blue lotus
Gathered, wobbled with many pauses; it was kind of dance
On a dark blue surface of water
I cupped a flower in my hand, released it; and sighed
The dense mass of leaves parted and thinned
Tucked and wobbled a bit....

Wish it lasted longer…
The sun rose,
Massaging the base of my neck; I rose
Walked past buildings with
Trellises of bougainvillea and hibiscus
Swaying and swinging at the doorways…but,
My mind was still hooked
on my new-found lotus pond.


65 comments:

  1. I love the idea of nature coming to the windowsill and clapping her hands (demanding to be noticed) and leading you to the lotus flowers. Beauty exists, it seems, in the most unexpected places to bring us joy if we only look where we are led!

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    1. Oh Mary, I am always excited about the prospect at finding beauty in unusual places!Beauty exists! So well said. Arghh... it takes so much to survive in this harsh world !
      Thanks Mary for your precious comment.

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  2. smiles...ha. i love the connection to nature in this...the awe and discovery....i bet that lotus pond is beautiful...cool to waken up to what is right there too...smiles.

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    1. Brain, You comment has pleased me immensely... Smiles. The lotus pond is there towards the southern side of our building. Normally its full of hyacinth..only, this year we noticed some lotus blooming in the pond. Thanks for being here, Brian. Do appreciate.

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  3. Wow! Lovely feelings! Lotus flowers are always special :)
    On the way to my village I always stop by at the lake to have a glance on them. They are so pure and fresh though they rise from murky water. Its amazing! Thanks for sharing this lovely poem!

    Happy visiting you after long time :)

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    1. So good to have you here after a long time, Valli. Ah, they look so pure...indeed!!In this world, beauty exists in unexpected places...
      Thanks for the visit and the comment... :)))

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  4. Loved each and every word of it! Beautifully written !

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    1. Nabanita, I am so glad you liked this poem. Thanks for the appreciation... :)))

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  5. Beautiful... I love how nature came to you.

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    1. Smiles...Kolkata is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the Hooghly River that flows on the western side of the city. So, we've many water bodies around the city--mostly unkempt, disarranged unfortunately.Glad you enjoyed..Laurie. Thank you.

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  6. If you actually have found a lotus pond then I am actually jealous but the fact that you can create the beauty of it for us through your words makes me amazed :) a lovely poem :)

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    1. Richa, As I mentioned earlier, Ganga and its tributaries flow through the city. Therefore, we've many water bodies in and around the city-- though mostly unkempt...And we do have one pond just outside our complex...*trying to invite you to come over* Smiles.
      Thanks so much for your encouraging words.

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  7. It is nothing short of bliss to be awakened by such a beautiful sight, spend a few moments, solitary, assimilate the fragrance of the moment and well let it pass, hopefully, to come back again and again.

    A beautiful piece Di! :)

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    1. What a beautiful comment, Akila!!I am so pleased....! :)))) Thank you for the compliment...

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  8. I love the lines ... 'Nature came to my windowsill,Clapped her hands, danced and ran away ...' what an image!

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    1. Good to see you here, Susan... Glad you enjoyed reading that line :))Thanks a bunch.

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  9. Wonderful. All the development and modernization has taken a heavy toll on nature.

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    1. Oh yes...look at our hills!! The hills have turned out to be concrete jungles...pathetic!!
      Thanks for being here Rajesh.

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    1. Thank you, Shaivi. Nice meeting you here:)

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  11. Welcome Panchali!
    Excellent post.
    Beautiful blue lotus.
    First time I've seen this flower in the color.
    I send greetings from distant Polish.
    Lucia

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    1. Thanks Lucia for the compliment...I am so pleased :))

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  12. Specially like the second verse, nature inviting and coming to your window ~ I can relate as I live and work in the city ~ Blooms and trees are a gift to me ~

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    1. So glad you liked this. Thanks for the visit and the comment, Grace... :)))

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  13. What a beautiful morning it must be!! :)

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    1. Oh yea...it was, Divya! Beauty is more important than ever. Thanks so much. Always good to see you!

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  14. Such BEAUTIFUL lotus flowers - such an intense blue. Lovely to find such places in the middle of a city.

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    1. Sherry, Even if it sounds a bit retro, beauty is more important than ever.We live in a world that is shaken by on-going conflicts, sudden turns and complex situations. In this world, beauty exists in unexpected places. Thanks for the lovely comment.Smiles.

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  15. Beauty in the big city ... I'm glad it found you, you found it!!!

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    1. Oh, I feel blessed..Beautiful places exist not only in movies and fairy tales, but in the real world too! Glad I found one very near the place where I stay..!!:)
      Thanks Helen...

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  16. Wow Panchalim this poem is superb.The lines nature inviting you are so captivating that I have no words to express. Simply enchanting!!

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    1. Usha, Thanks a lot for your generous appreciation. So happy you enjoyed it. :)))

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  17. you imagine so fascinatingly...And the way you use words, I can never finish your poems without touching a dictionary.. :)

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    1. Awww, which word did you find difficult...no, FiF!! My blogs cover thoughts of an amateur writer, so they should be easy to read...sorry for the inconvenience...!:((
      Thanks a lot for your visits re..

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    2. Aww no...not at all...rather my vocab is so weak and poor...today, I learned the word frond...and dont be sorry, I meant to appreciate...:-)

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  18. Nothing to beat lotus, I have a small terracotta pool at home!
    Wish I could write such wonderful poetry seeing them :)

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    1. Indrani, Even I have a shalllow crystal bowl of water with artificial floating lotus in the lounge..and its a blue lotus! You do get to see such ponds in and around Kolkata quite freely.
      Thanks for stopping by..:)

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  19. oh you don't know how much happiness you filled in me with this poem...loved it absolutely... thanks didi....

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    1. Sreeja...I am glad, I am so glad that you enjoyed the mind massage so much!! :D
      Thanks for your appreciation...means a lot to me!!:))

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  20. Its indeed a relief to see nature in concrete jungles:)

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    1. Yes, it is...Vandana. Thanks so much for your visit and comment.:)

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  21. I love the creating a ripple feel, that joy and wonder of creation. Excellent Poem

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    1. alan1704, That was my fave part too...and you are the only one who touched it. You have floored me with your appreciation.

      Thanks a lot, dear friend.

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  22. love it how u say, nature comes calling..it always does doesn't it? we are ones not looking at it...looking for it rather! lovely lines!

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    1. Yes, its OUT THERE for everyone to see...one has to just look for it, princess. You said it so accurately.
      Though for me, it is 'An idle mind is a devil's workshop.' LOL..
      Thanks so much!!:))

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  23. Beautiful mesmerizing read!

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  24. What description you have given, we give up on nature, destroy it, but it never gives up on us, we just need to look around and we are sure to find nature spreading its beauty in corners we never percieve :)

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  25. I believe nature has a special affection for you--as you have for it.
    It is true-beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.So many must pass by that pond without giving a second glance.

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  26. Yes we do sometimes lose nature in the urban world--but then she comes knocking at our windowsill! Love the dark blue color of the lotus in the photo--I have never seen one that dark blue color. May nature stay with you!

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  27. What a beautiful find in a big city! How lucky to have found it!

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  28. Love how you personified nature in this! What a gorgeous find!

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  29. Lovely indeed... Have you taken the photograph? It is equally beautiful......


    You may also find Kenfolios
    interesting......

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  30. Excellent,Panchali.A piano played with words and sense.

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  31. Nature came to my windowsill
    Clapped her hands, danced and ran away

    A playful mistress, for sure. "come out and enjoy" is her motto.

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  32. I wish we all have such a beautiful view from window. Beautiful poem Ma'am. Nature lifts our spirits and more people should have plants in their house so the concrete jungle looks a bit green.

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  33. I was awe-struck…
    a dozen of mud-bloomed lotus flowers
    Naked, vulnerable, full of grace peeped one by one

    very nice....I can feel what you see!

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  34. Panchali--So beautifully written, lotus blooms are are amazing--I was just looking at a catalog that had a blue bloom in it! Beauty can be found everywhere, and love how once your found it all the other flowers came into view :-)

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  35. You painted such a vivid picture of that I was entranced.

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