I have been writing poetry, deriving solace from the spring, heralding change – a brilliant reminder that nature remains untouched despite the encroachments that have been made on her beauty.
The fiery touch of Corona virus that nature has sent to show who is in command, is just the beginning of a new era for mankind who didn’t bother to heed the warnings. William Wordsworth’s prophetic lines come to my mind:
“To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man.“
I’ve kept my cool by keeping my thoughts positive, by reiterating the message of the universe that nothing is permanent.
I’ve been listening to music more than the news to keep my sanity.
I come from the family of doctors and many of my dear ones are directly involved in the task of offering their services, I call them the soldiers of present times and salute all those who are fighting the monster called Covid – 19.
We shall overcome is the refrain that rings in my ears everyday.
Mother nature has been too kind, ‘we should never take anything for granted,’ we heard that phrase a thousand times but never paid any attention. We need to respect her message and her creation.
Remember, we are doing no honor to her. We are doing all this for ourselves, to save us and keep our dear ones safe.
After paying for our negligence, we would get another chance. That’s the law of nature. As a renowned urdu poet Sahir Ludhianavi wrote, “Raat bhar ka hai mehmaan andhera, kiske roke ruka hai savera…” (Translation: Darkness is just a guest of the night, who can hold back the morning?)
When morning mist allured us And we sprinted to meet each other To play summer games When we were in no mood To admire the pink sky And sit for a while.
We, the children of the wild No dreams could distract us No fears touched us Our only realm – the moor Our only love – the games Those were the days!
Days of ardent alacrity When delight filled our hearts And magic of wind was all around When branches danced with us Wind sang our favorite tunes Birds watched in delight!
There was a time when I didn’t understand Haiku. I thought anybody could write those three lines, which hardly evoke any emotion till I tried to write this form and stumbled; till I came across brilliant haiku! My prejudice fell apart, as I started exploring more about this form of poetry.
The inspiration came from my blogger friend Bette A. Stevens who evoked my interest with her brilliant haiku that she keeps sharing at her blog. My Experiments with Haiku seem to fade into insignificance when I read My Maine: Haiku through the Seasons by Bette Stevens. There are some books that leave a profound impact on you, that stay with you long after you have read the last page. Bette’s new release is one such book and I would like to share my reflections about this book.
My Maine: Haiku through the Seasons by Bette Stevens is an exhilarating journey through the seasons, brilliantly defined in the form of haiku, each one a vivid treat for lovers of nature. Bette takes us along as she walks through the breathtaking woods and vales of The Pine State. Here, spring emerges from ‘wintery boughs,’ breaking their stony silence, as birds, bees and butterflies return to lend a riotous glimmer to the landscape. We watch in delight as mother earth divests her icy mantle, blossoms smile in harmony with the clouds as they roll in to add their sparkle to them. The shimmer brightens with the rich imagery of the poet. Awestruck, I walk further to explore more of Maine!
Emotional Shadows 