37.PETALS' WHISPER

Towards the burned earth just fallen the drops,        

The rain, the branches shaken in whirls,

A fire tongue, lightening, swallowed the nature,

Over all dales and hills, the sweetened shower,

Hailstones fell like icy plums,

While thunders vibrated grey sky walls,

Opening windows to listen raindrops,

With mesmerizing, patting, breeze embrace,

Stood up the petals beside the garden plants,

The heart hugged the heart in rosy gowns,

The smile loved the smile in pillared quills,

The eyes conquered the eyes of daffodils.

‘‘Be Gracious! Oh! Butterfly! Where had you been?

Over all moments, all those years, nowhere seen,

While winter and autumn, summer and spring,

Made their way in season’s swing….

Over all dawns while all waves curled,

Over all dusks while all stars glowed,

While termites spoiled, worms made it dry,

Wind withered it away, birds stole the honey…

Fostered to be charm, rejoiced although,

Pleasing to the blinks drifting through,

Nourished to be an offering ever gratified,

Good Heavens! Glimmers still the garland…

From petal to petal, nectar to nectar,

Riches to riches, pomp to pomp,

Mind a vagrant, in vain, in vain,

Till the flesh dissolves in soil again…’’

In drizzles, the heart hugs the heart still,

The eyes conquer the eyes to love the smile,

In brocaded petals the morning showers,

Leave hidden plops of water drops….

36.THE TRAVELLER’S LAMP

Through thorns and stones, the passer-by;

Feet stung, face crumpled, in soil dry,

Pours burning heat, the sun, melting;

All winds of ember embracing.

Fascinate shadow trees aside,

Tempt fruits with wines red,

Entices coolness of oasis beside,

To plunge in pleasures far and wide.

Never a flower pulled the hands,

Never a wine sipped the lips,

Never a plum tasted the tongues,

Never a tear shed the eyes.

Neither any status- the hands empty-

Nor any splendour, nor luxury,

Nor embellishment, nor pomp,

In its journey from the womb.

The head naked, neither any crown,

Nor dwelled in golden throne,

Nor any ruby, nor emerald,

Never had it any coral bead.

While time passed uncertain end

As the deaf, as the blind,

Those who wore precious pearl,

Mocked: “a destitute”, “a fool”.

In the bundle only cost-less things,

Tear drops, scars of wounds,

Torn, scattered, rags of dreams,

Also the refugee’s silly coins.

Still a treasure, in mind's screen,

The traveller’s lamp in journey alone,

Few ever heard, few never saw,

Few ever felt, few never knew.

Neither impure, nor shattered,

Nor hidden, never falsehood,

Can’t be replaced with any jewel,

“The love forever, unconditional”.

35.MAGIC LANTERNS

Hides setting sun in charming sea;

Tumbles saffron box in lurid sky;

Flowing strands of clouds sweetly hug

Afar mountain slope’s misty fog;

Touching shores, slowly recede waves;

Yonder, a sea-gull in alluring dreams;

Gentle shade, a serene cedar spreads;

In horizon, a gallant golden vessel rises…

Twinkle all tire-less planet gods;

Stars as necklace of coloured beads;

While in still-ness the pea-hens wait,

The fragrance of their soul-mate…

Who waves then all the magic wands

To ripen mangoes in dream-lands ?

Who blazes there all magic lanterns

Of love, over feathery green ferns ?

34.FIRE

The fire in veins, ignited;

That can’t be extinguished;

Never becomes an ash heap;

That blazes again with hope...

The most gentle, the delicate;

The strength of the weak, the light;

Mightier than rocks; the petal,

Live, soft, the glowing crystal !

Sleeps as seeds, germinates as plants;

Blossoms as lavender, keeps and spreads

Its nectar in buds as flames;

Where it melts to kindle, as dews..

In hearts, like hurricane lamps;

Leads in incessant rains and storms...

It snows in marrows, blooms in bones;

Makes the dead alive, away from burdens;

Arises the mind – inconstant,

Unsteady, fickle and transient-

Towards immovable permanence,

With amiable loving glance…..

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.

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….

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!!!

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.    

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….