Homeward bound ( Stone # 30)

Homeward bound- Feb 27th


Flapping wings, their paths intersecting, 
they bound home wards,
far into the Twilight Orange mist...

(image courtesy:http://www.hopnews.com/geese_sunset.jpg)

Magic of Sewing (Stone # 29)

Magic of Sewing- Feb 26th

Fabric, thread, needle
Measuring, drawing,cutting, sewing
Hand on wheel, 
feet on treadle
from whole to bits and then whole again...





(image courtesy: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfacIA1rk4scfk3q8YG-38BGCMHDPXa_AVW3a-bIyEHLVh-ciIrEt-G93afexn5m0wQoMwPT4FtTTSpy17FcvvuYjkUUXEgS1PEtoe-2z4BxKEHBpWUWH84yvjpJnpIfJTPVqP/s1600/At_the_sewing_machine-765932_49105755.jpg)

Scaffolding (Stone # 28)

Scaffolding- Feb 25th


Today under the blazing sun 
with cement and dust all around, 
some romping about, between wobbly planks and thin air 
and some perched precariously between land and the skies...
to create inviolable fenced in spaces 
for strangers Tomorrow...


(image courtesy: http://www.aluminiumscaffold.net/wp-content/themes/thesis_17/custom/rotator/scaffolding%20header.jpg)

In the classroom ( Stone # 27)

In the classroom- Feb 24th 

Edifying synergy, Ebullient creativity

Vivacious voices, tethered down by timidity

waiting for that gentle nudge of encouragement and succour

to surge forth in abandon...

(picture courtesy: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/25/images/2008112557730201.jpg)

Playing Truant? (Stone# 26)

Playing Truant? -Feb 23rd

Yesterday the sun was blazing,today nowhere to be seen
the wind is blowing chill,the clouds have rallied
will it rain or won't it?

(image courtesy-http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/375518699_bf2d7ea0df.jpg)

Chock-a-block ( Stone # 25)

Chock-a-block- Feb 22nd

The yellow and black giant bug
bursting at the seams 
with its precious cargo
tottered into the precincts
chuckles and screams heard from afar
one by one they spilled onto the outside...

(picture courtesy:http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/14/images/2008061461320301.jpg)

Tidal wave (Stone # 24)

Tidal wave- Feb 21st

some days the waters are still, no ripples , placid and calm
easy to watch from the shore
some days there are small ripples, causing hardly any flutter
easy to remain ashore watching

and then there are those days

its windy, there are eddies

swirling and turbulent

and now sucked into the vortex

struggling to stay afloat...

(pictures courtesy: http://cdn.webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Moskstraumen.jpg


http://cdn.webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Naruto.jpg)

Illusion (Stone # 23)

Illusion -Feb 20th

During some random moment
My vacant gaze falls upon the mosaic tiles 
shapes and colours emerge swimming languidly 
creating a splattered collage...


(photo courtesy:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K-Uxc_zp23yQrU3JrbA3Za-UqTG8JrdgLtpRXjkyZdqJFP9_aBOdg6UIAtxG6qE38JUQgililUuDCYbL3Ccc7c-iP0_jxxF4EVYwCDWoMJDsSvSqo2Woe2Nq7B0upT-UiDMaFA/s400/pompeii+mosaic+tile+floor.JPG)

The Train ( Stone # 22)

The Train- Feb 19th


The rumbling gets nearer
There is a slight tremor
A fleeting vision of windows,doors and faces
Yet another cargo of humanity
racing to reach somewhere...

( picture courtesy: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uae-pHpqdaQ/0.jpg)

Yesterday's ( Feb 18th) Stone # 21

Lull - Feb 18th

The night is still
The trees and leaves are still
Even the air is still
Has somebody pressed the Pause button of Life? 

Reach of the Sun Blades (Stone # 20)

Reach of the Sun Blades - Feb 17th

Blades of sunshine
searing through the coconut fronds 
in the distant grove...
scorching the doorstep...

( photo courtesy : http://coastcaribbeanimages.com/photographs/473/disp_473.jpg)

Whats Brewing! (Stone # 19)

Whats Brewing!- Feb 16th

The spatula slicing through the  splattering stew 

a pinch of this, a dash of that... 

simmering low

the aroma just right

not too pungent, not too bland...

Strangers (Stone # 18)

Strangers- Feb 15th

For a brief slice of time
Two people share the same space
No glances exchanged
No words uttered
The bus comes
And they part forever... 

Had to share...

This

Seeking Warmth ( Stone # 17)

Seeking Warmth- Feb 14th 

The sun tracing geometric patterns 
on the floor through the lattice of the windows...
making it just a tad bit warmer...

(photo courtesy : original copyright :http://admin2.clikpic.com/stevepcox/images/window_shadow01jpg.jpg)

Experiencing Entertainment Theatre...

Yesterday, after a long time, I experienced Theatre once again. The last time was several years ago in Bombay when I was a child. 

Our Womens' Forum, ( The Aura-) of which I'm a member, conducts monthly workshops and speaker meetings for the members dealing with various themes. Apart from these, we also have a few public events. 

So this February it was Theatre that was brought to the temple town of Trichy. A contemporary English play- ‘Five Point Someone’ (based on the novel by the same name by Chetan Bhagat), by the popular and well-established theatre company –EVAM, from Chennai, . They are a professional group who conduct workshops in theatre, produce plays that has entertained millions of theatre buffs all over the world and who offer workspace for those who love to work in this genre of art.

I was looking forward to the event and was predisposed  to enjoy whatever was offered. I had of course read the book, seen the movie, but more than that it was the prospect of experiencing live theatre that was exciting. 
The experience was pretty rewarding and I liked  the treatment and presentation of the play. Stage paraphernalia was minimal, uncluttered and yet effective. The actors were excellent. About the story, much has been said and I've nothing to add. However, if I had to nitpick, it would be about the audibility over the microphones of a couple of the actors which was soon rectified. 

After the play was over, the entire cast and crew introduced themselves to the audience in a very endearing and informal manner. The team of unpretentious youngsters, their enthusiasm and spontaneity was charming and infectious.  Evam's mission is to entertain and to de-stress and that they accomplish effortlessly! We came away entertained and smiling. 

Wishing them success and accolades in their mission to make the world Happier!


Updated to add : http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/17/stories/2011021761880200.htm

All that remains ( Stone # 16)

All that remains- Feb 13th

Memories trapped in the mind
Tears trapped in the eyes
Sobs choked in the throat...

Image trapped in a frame!

Aflame (Stone # 15)

Aflame - Feb 12th

Crackling sounds
Blinding smoke
Licking flames
Burning leaves...

(image courtesy: http://www.deforestationaroundtheworld.com/uploads/5/7/2/3/5723602/1293683.jpg?390)

Blessed Oblivion (Stone # 14)

Blessed Oblivion- Feb 11th


Under the skies, below the over bridge
covered by a tattered sheet, feet sticking out
flies hovering...
blissfully asleep.

Deluding oneself...

( This post  is not a part of the river of stones project) 

When I meet people who knew her, who talk about her...I feel happy. I like to talk about her, to listen about her...then I feel she is still around...will we ever get used to her not being there? Do I want to in the first place?
Today met a couple who knew her, who liked her, who had such good things to say about her...

The Day After (Stone # 13)

The Day After-Feb 10th

The wedding is over

The Day after is also gone

The bride has left

All that remains is the withered festoon

and some scattered rice and turmeric on the floor...

(Right from the beginning of the project we've been encouraging you to really look, and listen and so on and record what you discover. The best of the stones are ones that put us straight in touch with the world, often in a fresh way. In the best small stones, the writer is almost invisible.

In a good poem the poet disappears. That's what the struggle with language is all about. The point is that in the finished poem you don't lay yourself bare. 

Reading the above, I stopped short! I went back to look at my stones...and there in almost every single stone, 'I' loomed large! It was all about me...I was hardly 'invisible'. My writing has always been about laying myself bare!! Where do I conceal myself as I look, listen and perceive? Interesting, challenging...)

Aliment ( Stone # 12)

Aliment - Feb 9th

She had her child on her lap, chattering to her about birds and trees, 
distracting her, so that another mouthful is swallowed...

  ( image courtesy: http://www.exoticindiaart.com/oils/mother_yasoda_feeding_butter_to_kanhaiya_or78.jpg)

Stumped (Stone # 11)

Stumped- Feb 8th

The whiteness of the page
taunting me with its emptiness
I strive to colour it with 
letters, words, phrases
The page is no longer empty for sure,
But now its shallowness 
persists on mocking me...

Fragility Of Humour (Stone # 10)

Fragility Of Humor- Feb 7th

Grains of irritation
Grating the mind
Patience wearing thin
Edges getting frayed
leaving the visage threadbare

Bonded/Bound? (Stone # 9)

Bonded/Bound?- Feb 6th


The bride looked visibly nervous clutching somebody's arm . 
All eyes were on her, everyone eager to see how she looked, what she wore...
The ceremonies progressed solemnly.
The priest said that today was a Blessed occasion, 
Because here was a bond being forged with family sanction!?  
May the couple be happy together
The veterans smiled wearily...
The feast was delicious
For now, that's enough. 


( image courtesy: http://www.newdelhirestaurant.com/images/wedding_hands.jpg)

Growing up (Stone # 8)

Growing up- Feb 5th
He leaned up from the seat in front
looking at us unabashedly
Ah! the pleasures of childhood innocence!
Soon he'll learn to mask his curiosity...
And learn to look through veiled  glances...

Timely Awakening (Stone # 7)

Timely Awakening- Feb 4th

The breeze lashed harshly 
On came the ear plugs
The song in the bus was now a pleasant muffle.
The eyes drooping, The head  nodding, The lips half open
Welcome daze... 
Suddenly startled awake!
Time to alight! 

Fever Ravaged Face (Stone # 6)

Fever Ravaged Face- Feb 3rd


Her sunken  cheeks
flushed an angry red
burning with fever
Her swollen eyes
struggled to flicker open...

The Silver line (Stone # 5)

The Silver line- Feb 2nd


The mercury crawls up the 
tube along the calibrated walls
of the glass thermometer...
I await judgement...

Stones #2, #3, #4

January 30 Stone #2


Flitting glances

I remember to look again, my hands stop in mid air
 as I set aside the vessels...I look outside the kitchen window. 
The setting sun shedding its glistening rays through the trees. 
A gecko crawling against the wall, its tail a grotesque lump, 
this unfortunate lizard has been giving me company 
in the kitchen for many months now. 
I've often wondered why its tail never grew back.
 Or perhaps it did, just that it grew into this shapeless lump? 
I was looking at one thing but this gecko distracted me...

January 31 Stone # 3


Blood and Gore

Two spots of blood on the wall!
 Two spots of blood on the wall of the room- in the hospital.
 She is sprawled on the bed next to the wall. 
She has not seen the blood spots on the wall. 
I keep looking at the spots.
 I feel uneasy. 
I find myself thinking about the story 
behind the blood spots... 

February 1st. Stone # 4


Looking or Seeing?

Paying attention to One Thing?
 I look at one thing, 
a hundred thoughts come traipsing in
 through the window of my eyes into my mind. 
I begin at one point an end up elsewhere. 
Sometimes the eyes, they perform 
the biological function of looking 
but seeing happens with my mind, 
and sometimes the thought falls 
deeper into the soul.  
The thoughts get stirred in words and language
 and the clamour of mute voices silence the world outside.
 Then they die an unknown death 
without having sought to be expressed ...
I keep looking without seeing...