Play
Yellow dhotis, caps
sweaters, robes
jostle for space on
the ghats.
One hundred and two
sunset priestlings
(can I call them that?)
offer Aarti to the
flowing ganges; they
chant loudly, noisily,
sometimes in and
mostly a little off-
tune.
Saffron marigold
petals float alongside
wishes; temple bells
dance to the sound of
prayers; the unstill river
stills my mind.
Twilight blurs my
vision and then
unexpectedly tears too,
as I catch him
surreptitiously cheekily
unraveling wool from
his neighbour’s
sweater; forgetting
(in those moments)
to chant.
He may well be a priest, yes,
I think, as I watched him play
unguarded.
But isn’t he really
really, just a little
boy?
Travellete 3 - Haridwar, On the banks of the river Ganga, Nov 2005.
sweaters, robes
jostle for space on
the ghats.
One hundred and two
sunset priestlings
(can I call them that?)
offer Aarti to the
flowing ganges; they
chant loudly, noisily,
sometimes in and
mostly a little off-
tune.
Saffron marigold
petals float alongside
wishes; temple bells
dance to the sound of
prayers; the unstill river
stills my mind.
Twilight blurs my
vision and then
unexpectedly tears too,
as I catch him
surreptitiously cheekily
unraveling wool from
his neighbour’s
sweater; forgetting
(in those moments)
to chant.
He may well be a priest, yes,
I think, as I watched him play
unguarded.
But isn’t he really
really, just a little
boy?
Travellete 3 - Haridwar, On the banks of the river Ganga, Nov 2005.
posted by kaaju katli | 6:32 PM
12 Comments:
wow.
never thought of visiting haridwar. seemed too crowded. but it seems that it might be worth it after all.
enlightenment through your travelettes?
danke
You paint word pictures that i can see in my head (and feel in my heart) :)
If I haven't already told you - I think you should publish your poems as a book. They're wonderful.
the unstill river
stills my mind.
Lovely
I was in Haridwar just a week ago...
Beautiful as usual :-)
You paint a picture beyond my eyes but well within the reach of the soul. Lovely words, really. :-)
You've got allround applause for this one. It is a wonderful poem and few phrases, imageries cling to my thoughts as I write. But I believe 'Measure' and 'Price' had more flow in them, especially 'Measure'. I still think there are edges you can smoothen here. :-)
A fine example of visual imagery.
:)
Came back again to read this one. It's very memorable. Cheers :).
KK, I came back to read it too.. And this is the fourth time, 'coz I've realised something just right now: your words have such an effect on me, that I just keep reading this poem over and over again, although I've not understood it..
*mixed emotions.. dunno whether to blush or frown*
P.S. I dunno anything about temples and priests..
Thank you all :-)
very beautiful, brought back the image to me .. like everyone has said here and like I was tell you -- yur words haunt a reader, you have that effect ...
awesome, wonderful, beautiful
Vaish
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