Wednesday 9 March 2016

33. VOID AND VACUUM

            

My little nest, empty and void,
Never bear any bud, the flora aside,
Silent, gloomy, the clock stands still
The canopy, why forgets to smile?

None remains to care as she did.
Echoes, ‘how are you my dear child?
Be careful, don’t do it, say sorry’
And the soothing words ‘don’t worry’.

No one to look through the window frames
To check whether any coconut falls,
Whether gate grills rust or not, then to talk
To passers-by, the village women-folk.

The great hands vanished which softly cut
And pealed ripe mangoes, sweet jack-fruit,
Sliced pineapples and plucked, more
Yellow guavas for me, forever.

The courtyard, vacuum, no footstep,
The plantains search for some new hope,
Seeks the gardener, the pomegranate
With fruits in orchard, its inmate!

From the depth of well, the water, why
Listens for a weak pulley  cry?
The ash covered dormant fire-place
Why waits for a fragment spark?

In the boundary walls, slowly,
Mosses or weeds may seen roughly,
Fallen yellow leaves may cover
The sand grains in yard as shower…

The eyes straightened all vague visions,
The ears heard all aching missions,
The immortal soul to console and soften
Disappear in eternity behind the curtain.

The noble platform never again opens
No splendid saga anymore there plays
Nothing can re-fill the emptiness ever
Except the breath of my precious mother.

Saturday 23 January 2016

32.SLEEP

Life, a miracle but messing puzzle!
Love, marvellous but painful drizzle!!
Memory, blessing but despair, a curse…
Candle, a light but dripping tears.

Wind, a symphony but doom tomorrow,
River, a melody but flooding sorrow,
Dreams, raindrops but pangs shining,
Seasons, lovely but fast vanishing…






So, memories, in silence, rest in nap,
Mind, calmly let to sleep,
Dozing in drugs, Oh! Forgetfulness!!
Freeing all bondage, the scape-grace!!!

Eyes never see though widely open!
Ears never hear though keenly listen!!
Tongues never speak though frequently sob!!!
Nose never smells though sweetly breathe!!!!

While the ages fleeing very soon,
Can we have a journey return??
Can any fallen bamboo sprout
Come back as a sandalwood hut???

While the hearts wound, terribly bleed,
Let the minds swoon with musical reed,
Till they reach the cleansing shores
Of forgetfulness from turbulent pangs….


Sunday 20 December 2015

31.THE CUCKOO HIDES


The cuckoo hides!
Where? I amaze!
In late night, in midnight fall,
In solitude, in darkness all,
In early morning, in evening,
I hear the wings flapping!!

The cuckoo hides!
Smiles, sings and rides,
In the nest of memories
Among emerald leaves,
While silently passing moments
I hear the heart beats!!

The fallen shadow I see,
In the glass pane reminds me,
Chatter to giggle, the anklets,
The lustrous peacock whistles,
In my heart, it is in my heart….
Patiently hides, the green parrot!!!



Wednesday 2 December 2015

VEGETABLE RECIPES




ERISSERY


 Pumpkin,raw banana,elephant yam                   2 cups
(sliced)
Turmeric powder                                               ¼ teaspoon
Chilly powder                                                    ½ teaspoon
Coriander powder                                              ½ teaspoon
Cumin seed                                                        ¼ teaspoon
Garlic                                                                 2 pieces
Grated coconut                                                   ½ cup
Oil                                                                      2 desert spoons
Mustard                                                              1 teaspoon
Onion                                                                 1 teaspoon
Red chilly                                                           2 (cut each into 3 pieces)
Grated coconut                                                   2 desert spoon
Curry leaves                                                        accordingly
Salt                                                                      accordingly
Cook sliced pumpkin,raw banana and elephant yam with salt & water. Grind turmeric powder, chilly powder,coriander powder, cumin seed, garlic & ½ cup grated coconut. Add this mixture to cooked vegetable and boil. Add some boiled water to make enough gravy. Heat oil. Add mustard. Add red chilly, onion, grated coconut, curry leaves. Roast till it becomes golden brown. Add this to pumpkin mixture. Serve hot.



Kalan
  Kalan

Ingredients:

Raw banana.             1
Curd                             ½  lr.
Grated coconut          2 desert spoons
Green chilly                2
Cumin seed                 ½ spoon
Turmeric powder       ¼ spoon
Chilly powder              ¼ spoon
Oil.                                  1 teaspoon.
Mustard                         ½ spoon
Red chilly                     2
Curry leaves                accordingly
Salt                                 accordingly
Slice banana into small pieces and cook with water and salt.
Beat curd. Grind grated coconut, green chilly, cumin seed, turmeric powder and chilly powder. Add this to cooked banana.Stir to boil.Add curd. Heat oil.Fry mustard, red chilly and curry leaves.Add this to the cooked banana.Remove from heat.


Ginger Curry

GINGER CURRY


1. Ginger                     200gm
2. Green chilly           20 gm
3. Curry leaves           some
4. Coconut oil            50 ml
5. Turmeric                1 teaspoon
    powder
6. Chilly powder       3 teaspoon
7. Salt                                    some
8. Tamarind              100 gm
9. Jaggery                  50 gm
10. Mustard               50 gm
11. Fenugreek
      Powder                1 teaspoon  
12. Asafoetida
         powder.             1/2 teaspoon.
Method
Grate ginger. Slice green chilly into small pieces. Fry grated ginger in coconut oil until it becomes golden brown and grind. Mix salt and tamarind juice. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, asafoetida,fenugreek powders and jaggery.Keep aside.Heat a pan, add coconut oil, fry mustard, onion,green chili, curry leaves,add fried ginger, tamarind mix and boil. Stir to make a slightly thick consistency.Remove from heat.


Sambar



SAMBAR
1. Ladies’Finger                    100 gm
2. Potato                               100 gm
3. Onion                                100 gm
4. Green chilly                      20 gm
5. Brinjal                               100 gm
6. Drumstick                        100 gm
7. Tomato                             50 gm
8. Coriander leaves             some
9. Curry leaves                     some
10. Dhal                                250 gm
11. Turmeric powder          1 teaspoon
12. Salt                                  some
13. Red chilly                       5
14. Chilly powder                30 gm
15. Fenugreek powder        ½ teaspoon
16. Coconut oil                     50 ml
17. Tamarind                        50 gm
18. Mustard                          50 gm
19. Asafetida                         20 gm
20. Coriander powder         50 gm
Method

Cut ladies’ finger, brinjal and drumstick.Cook dhal. Add sliced onion and potato to cooked dhal and cook again. Add the other sliced vegetables and turmeric powder and cook. Boil adding tamarind juice, salt and asafetida. Add coriander powder, chilli powder, and fenugreek powder. Boil adding tomato pieces. Roast mustard and curry leaves in oil and add to the curry. Decorate with coriander leaves and serve.



Aviyal
Aviyal

Ingredients:

1. Elephant Yam                       100gm
2. Kumbala Fruit            100gm
3. Pumpkin                               50 gm
4. Banana                         1
5. Snake guard                 1 piece
6. Drumstick                    1
7. Green gram                  50 gm
8.Carrot                            1
9. Tamarind juice            2 spoons
10. Grated coconut          1 cup
11. Green chilly                5
12. Salt                               1 spoon 
13. Coconut oil                 2 Teaspoons
14. Curry leaves                some
15. Cumin seed                 1 teaspoon
16. Chilly powder             1 Teaspoon
17. Turmeric powder       ½ Teaspoon
Method    
Cut vegetables into 2-3 inch pieces. Heat oil in a pan. Add green chilly and cumin seed and roast. Add vegetable pieces, salt, chilly powder and turmeric powder. Stir well. After half cooked, add tamarind juice. Mash grated coconut with remaining cumin seed and add to the vegetables. Cook well. Remove from heat. Add 1 teaspoon coconut oil and curry leaves. Mix well and serve.    



Friday 14 August 2015

30.BEING A CANDLE


If I were the Venus in heavenly height,
In the sky, I would have shone, a glorious light;

If I were a lovely bud ready to bloom,
In the plant, I would have spread in doom;

If I were a glistening butterfly, colourful,
In petals, I would have sucked honey full;

If I were a sweet little diving loon,
In the infinite horizon, I would have flown;

If I were a cool garden breeze, mild,
I would have blown as fragrance aside;

If I were a wave of milky moon beams,
I would have been a lake of glow worms;

If I were a cloud, wandering in the sky top,
In the earth, I would have drizzled a drop;

If I were a murmuring stream flowing unfold,
In the blue sea, I would have dissolved;

If I were a little blowing conch in shore,
In the sand, I would have slept in pleasure;

If I were a celestial enchanting flute, I long,
In your lips, I would have been a song;

If I were an em-purpled dream in your heart,
I would have travelled hand in hand a lot;

But a tiny grass I was, being nothing,
Except a never warbling lark, silently singing;

A burning candle, a martyr, the smiling face,
Under the Calvary cross, a sacred sacrifice….


Monday 20 July 2015

29.SKYLARKS TO SKYLARKS


From the green hills, chant skylarks to skylarks,

The sweetest of the hymns from dawns to dusks,

From hillside to hillside flocking in the sky,

From dales to dales, floating in high!

“In the heart of your heart who still sings?

Still glows? Still blooms? Swings and swings??

Who travels with you unseen, unseen?

Making to smile back to sweet seventeen??

Who sprays the fragrance of yester years?

Echoing the fair flute in your ears?

While waterfalls rush from the lofty hills,

Changing pearls gently sing which ever thrills?

Hearing the marvel, the imprinted grace,

Who whispers among olives, the melodious peace?”



From the green hills, chant skylarks to skylarks,

The sweetest of the hymns from dawns to dusks,

From hillside to hillside, flocking in the sky,

From dales to dales, floating in high!

“Who plunges you in the memory pool?

Gracious, radiant, gentle and cool?

Awaking the soul towards the sunny day,

Where the youth waited the footsteps gay....

Passing the ray, the merriment evergreen,

While in the sky a star seemed queen…

Who plays the harp, in the core of your heart?

Lingering the withered, never wanes the part,

The moon who lights the luminous lamps,

Anonymous ! Anonymous among clouds like lambs !!”

Friday 1 May 2015

28.THE RHYTHM OF LIFE


Oh! My beloved morning star!
Hear the lute from afar, afar!
The spring has again brightly sprung,
The larks their songs have sweetly sung,
Butterflies flutter in tiny wings,
Pattering squirrels in palm leaf swings,
Glistening dewdrops in thin grass smile,
Blue-bells, lilies and laurels bloom awhile,
Hear the giggles of shallow streams rush,
Feel the chill of fresh oasis gush,
Listen the rain clouds drizzle with fun,
 Sunflower’s murmur towards the rising sun,
Thrill in lovely rainbow blaze,
The pretty row in horizon, amaze!

Life an ember where memories arise,
Though put in pyre, the phoenix again rise,
Even one travels with a paralyzed heart,
The shadow, the death, accompanies to part,
Everyone has to drink the cup,
The Father has given from the heaven up,
Life, a sea where waves of troubles,
To heal, to heal, one ever, ever struggles,
Fortune, a dream glowing afar,
The vanishing morning star in dawn so far,
A truth? A falsehood? In mind’s palanquin,
Just be pleased in mild moonshine,
Oh! My beloved morning star!
Hear the lute from afar, afar!

Sparrows dive through wind slowly,
Buds bloom to garlands in valley,
Petals of lotus and roses open,
Spreading sweetness to gateways unknown,
Silent stars gaze upon the doves,
Cooing beside the roof with loves,
Lamps are lit to begin the journey,
Towards the pain and pleasures of honey,
Curtains are drawn to life’s new dawn,
Cheer again, cheer again, farewell to mourn,
Enjoy the lost canopy nearby,
Fortune, a cloud roaming in the sky,
Oh! My beloved nightingale!
It rains! It rains! In all mount’s dale!!!



Friday 26 December 2014

27.I FOUND THE INFANT.......






I found the Infant, sacred, the heavenly grace,
In the virgin’s lap, in manger, the face,
Blazing amidst the angels, the shepherds,
Who sing the praise, the glory with herds.
I found the Infant in that hut,
Dilapidated, broken, shattered which cut
Down in pain their defeated life,
In vulnerable, savage, outpouring grief.
I found the Infant in the faces sweat,
Of the tillers, in their troubled eyes wet;
And in the pale lips of the path maker,
Who toil in the sun, in the rain, in the courner;
In the maid wearing cloaks all torn,
In the eyes of the unknown kids who born
 Orphans, passing the merciless dawn;
In the patients shivering in death bed who mourn,
Disappointed, wretched, in the isolated ward
Aside dark corridors no one to guard;
In the voice, trembling, of the helpless crowd,
The prey of terrorists, amidst blasts aloud,
In the depth of desperate sunken eye,
In all the flesh and blood who weep and sigh;
And in the hands weary, the shelterless beggars,
I found Him, in their life struggles.


Never found Him, the Holy Infant,
Though I searched in palace in front-
Of luxury, in mansions of richness;
In the faces fat, in cheeks of happiness;
In the lips crimson with poisonous blood;
In the tongues of spears and sharpened sword;
Which stretch to utter just flattery pomp,
And explode to mangle with words of bomb.
Neither in the altars of temples or church,
Where only battles of powers do march,
Nor in the kingdoms of world, in the siege;
Nor in the artillery from where no refuge;
Nor in the hearts proud, so jealous,
Storming towards the humble, the gentle, the pious;
Nowhere in the flashes of gunfire sound
The grace, the glorious face never I found.
I found Him, the humility, in every manger simple,
In all the hearts humane, ardent and humble,
In the virgin’s lap, joyfully with heavenly grace,
Showering the blessings of eternal peace,
To send the rich away, their hands empty,
To bring down the kings, strong and mighty,
To fill the hungry well, to lift up the lowly,
Smiling the Infant in the manger lovely!!