Oh Kolkata! I walk
past your history,
standing tall in this
modern world,
The flowers are losing
their fragrance,
The crazy cacophony of
life
Dance to
the rhythm of traffic pattern
The layers of societal
fabric grovel
behind the gravel of the red-brick alleys
The tooth of vulnerability
Sinks into the flesh of humanity every day.
I hide in my own
shadow
filtering my breath through things.
I understand it all, yet again and again
My mind gropes in the
darkness
that gives me signals
of chaos…
In this city, am I the
only one who accepts
this comfort of chaos...?
It’s raining outside, I
stand by the window
all ears for an
obscure reply-
but hear nothing
except the sighing of the wind.
Oh, Kolkata! You gave me moons,
many many moons
Star-filled skies, beautiful
promenades
Alongside the chiming
sacred river- Ganga
Trust me, love, my ‘city
of joy’,
In the prayers you’ll
forever live
It's because there are alternatives
that life continually throws.
Written for Sumana's Prompt. CITY http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2018/07/poets-united-midweek-motif-city.html
“But a city is more than a place in space, it is a drama in time.”— Patrick Geddes
Humanity is, a creature of contradictions. One hand, we want everything given to us, in an orderly manner, without having to earn it.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, the very act of having everything handed to us, on a silver platter, is the end of creativity. Only during times of struggles does humanity move forward, in inventive ways.
A perfect city or community, is one that balances both needs, without stifling either one.
O, my heart! The paradox of city--its history mixed with its present, its light with shadows, its comforts with its chaos. You capture it all. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Panchali. I love that in such busyness you find "the comfort of chaos". I love that she gives you many moons and star-filled skies.
ReplyDeleteI think most cities have that contrast; the beauty and the ugliness, the bustle and the calm, its brashness and its secrets and so much more besides. What a beautiful poem Panchali.
ReplyDeleteYour words show the beauty and the chaos so wonderfully. Your love for this place is evident in your lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteLove this Kolkata scent all over Panchali di & "this comfort of chaos".
ReplyDeleteYour own city is like a mother,enchanting and beautiful when young,the inevitable lines on the face and niggles that affect the body in middle age,the scars on her body and mind left by the inexorable march of time. As the love and bonding for one's mother never fades,the city despite all the chaos and neglect is still comforting as rightly said.
ReplyDeleteYour love for your city shines through Panchali, despite her imperfections.
ReplyDeleteI love your words!
Anna :o]
A "crazy cacophony of life" well describes a city. Great write!
ReplyDeleteIt is all in that delicate balance. Beautiful poem, Panchali!
ReplyDelete