Desert Tunes

Taking rapid steps on desert sands
in the hot blistering sun
Her head titled
to balance dual pots of water
with heavily ornamented hands
Swiftly rising drifts blinding her eyes
Her multi coloured patch worked skirt
swirling to the rhythm
of silver anklets,
Humming a rustic tune
A smile on her lips
Anticipating her lover’s embrace
The promise of an enchanting evening
With lingering nightlong soirees……


Simmering desert dunes,
created fresh patterns
Golden sands turning russet in the evening sun;
Faraway, across the miles
Floated strains of folk ballad music
interspersed with baritone voices
Men seated for a break from their daily grind
with their blood red turbans on heat beaten faces
like full blown roses adorning their heads,
Women pirouetting, swishing ghagras
The air was ripe with evocative medley
And vibrance of Rajasthan

Her smoldering eyes spotted his camel
She resisted the urge to rush forth;
Twilight blurred her vision
as she saw two heads
nearing the music podium
She recognized
A woman with a veiled head
holding on to him
He helped her alight
delicately carrying her down
The crescendo of drums reverberated
Dust storms blew ribbons of wrath
A million hammers pounded
Breaking down glass doors
Splinters pierced her feet
She would dance to death
The Chari Dance
For her best friend
And lover
Who were united as man and wife

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Trivia:
* The Chari dance with 7 pots on the head and a lighted lamp is performed on occasions like weddings

* Ghagra choli is a traditional dress worn by girls of North India. It is a two piece clothing comprising a blouse and flowing ankle length skirt with lots of material.

* Rajasthan is a State in India famous for its tourism, palaces, desert lands, folklore, colour, dances, tribals & more...

Black & White

A blank canvas captured
hues of black & white
hidden shadows of sinewy silhouettes
Preening dancers seducing drunken partners
in wild embrace entwined in circling vines
Entranced in rap fusion
amidst mooning soliloquies
Black satin reduced to single threads
Ripping onyx strands
his new found freedom reached tempestuous heights
like voodoo spells invoking evil all night long
exploring the Devil’s paradise
by a flickering fireplace
The night was young
even at dawn

Her faithful black hound
gate crashed inside the fence
White chiffon rustled past virgin lilies
Summer clouds turned claustrophobic
Rotten images had tarnished her virtuous home
Spotless white cushions lay ravaged
by vagaries of a sordid night
Stepping across the cold marble floor
her pearly white skin turned pale
Toxic brew like emotions
seared through her being
leaving a taste of rowan berries
A bleeding heart caught him red handed
adding the only splash of bright colour
to the picture
The wife returned to a maelstrom
she once called Home.

When Angels Wept

He was seated
at a table by the window
A lone, frail, bent figure
Other inmates were absorbed
in repeating tales often told
from their eventful past;
His unsteady hands were shaking
much more than usual
The first spoonful of soup spilt on the table
The second on to his shirt
The third, he barely managed
to get a few drops to his trembling lips
A vacant look in his glazed eyes
Looking without seeing
Tears welling up
Falling, merging with the soup
in his bowl

His gaze went back
to the window
Lunch, being the only time
He was able to walk down and wait….
Wait, wait, endlessly wait
For the mail
For a phone call
For a visit
From his children
Grandchildren
Friends
Relatives
Strangers
anybody
at least a handshake
to show that
Somebody cared
during his twilight years

The loud voice of the matron
And the gong announced
That meal time was over
She gave him a scornful look
Not a word of concern
that he had not eaten
Even her frosty smile
would have made him happy;
Resigning himself
to his share of profound grief
He picked up the newspaper
his only faithful companion

Others his age seemed happier
Yet, he prayed for an extension
Of one more day in his life
A flicker of hope
Among dying embers
Praying that the morrow
Would bring the visitor
He so longed to see………

Night Snow

O beauteous night, a wondrous sight
Of falling snow in evening light
Darkness grows against the white
Seems surreal, this ethereal night

Flakes gently embracing leaves on their flight
Settling on barks turning brown to white
Fairies waltzing on a silver kite
Angels treading softly, fearful of slight

A candle glows across the lane
Flickering away from the window pane
Lest a gentle wind blows the flame
To unsettle the drifting path in vain

Hushed silence, the world is in slumber
Sleep is a waste on such a night in winter
I dance with elves, goblins, and pixies
to the strains of haunting symphonies
Revelling in rapturous wonder
Till dawn breaks the hypnotic spell
Of heavenly paradise on snowbell