Monday 3 October 2016

Red and white


Source


The rain would make it gleam, right? caught chickens
on crimson paint zigzag white, mesmerised –
they didn’t see their reflections often;
the rain glazes more than barrows, clarifies
and blurs, polished broken grass – was there grass?
green on red, green and white – meaningful too,
rain-glazed this entire yard of colour contrasts.
Can’t spot the chicken feet in all this though,
but never mind, they’d probably fit right in –
ochre or pink feet in deep; rain or sun,
sunrise and sets, unspoken sky, everything
brushes the work, and the grass, and everyone.
Hear it or not, plain feet and ripped, broken
reflections are as loud as the garden.


As you can probably make out from above, I have been reading William Carlos Williams lately, and this one is another response poem to his Red Wheelbarrow. read his famous Imagist poem here.

I am posting from India, back at ye olde homeland, barely a month after the home leave.  Have had to return because my mother's unwell, hoping she will be better soon and I can go back to being my less energetic mouse-potato-self on my own familiar (red) couch in Bahrain.  E
verything depends on wheelbarrows and chickens and where the feet are!  The good thing in all this is, of course, that I am here in Kolkata for the start of my festival season, the Durgapujas, after a gap of some twenty years  :) :) unplanned, unasked, undreamt of....the skies here are to die for now!

Life can be a strange combo of tough and terrifying and terrific but always, always a blessing, still a blessing and an adventure!  

Have a glorious week!





18 comments:

  1. Life can indeed be a strange combination. I hope that where-ever your journey takes you you find beauty, blessings and adventures. And red couches.

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    1. Thank you! the red couches are the most important item on the agenda :) Stay well, and in control EC..

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  2. Hope your mother's health improves. At least you can be there for her. And you get to see the festival.

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    1. Thank you for your wishes. Those are major pluses.

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  3. Gosh, do I owe you an email. We have some unfinished business, but as you say life changes and then life changes. We will connect when the time and day is right. I'm just so thrilled that you have offered your talents to the WEP. So needed! Love the inspiration for your work, always!
    Wishing your mother the best of health! Something your visit can bring. Blessings in many ways!

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    1. Thanks Yolanda! Life is busy and good, mostly. Some good to be wrangled out of the ghastliness also :)

      Love the WEP, and love being part of the community.

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  4. Hope your mother is feeling better in no time!

    Enjoyed the poem.

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  5. nice to salute to The Red Wheelbarrow and more. Definitely hope your mother gets better. I'm sure she's happy you are there. Enjoy festival time

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  6. A lovely poem. All my best to your mom. The best of her garden is by her side

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    1. That is a seriously neat metaphor, thank you!

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  7. Hope you're mom feels better soon!


    www.ficklemillennial.wordpress.com

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  8. Hi Nila - I do love your poems with their descriptive ways of getting us to think differently. I'm sorry to read of your mother's health - but may she soon improve ... though there will be positives - such as the sky, and your festival - while dealing with that rich diversity that comes with illness.

    Take care and all the very best - Hilary

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    1. Always the positives are what I am after :)

      Thank you as always for your support, Hilary!

      See you soon.

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  9. Have a great Pujo, Nilanjana-- hope your mother feels better soon!

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    1. Thank you, Damyanti. Wishing you and your family a very happy Pujo too!

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