Monday, February 26, 2018

Life




life
fragile as a moth's wing
dissolving at the lightest touch
into motes
 borne on a breeze

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Quarks



Our science believes that all matter in the universe springs out of one, another, or all of the three types of quarks, which supposedly conduct the business of running the universe. Interestingly, though, it is given only to mankind, as far as we can know today, as we have yet to discover any other intelligent life beyond us, no matter how near or how impossibly far away, to undo and alter the work of quarks by extinguishing intelligent life, if not life in its entirety.

A twist of quirk, maybe, do you think?

Friday, February 16, 2018

Buried



buried
in the innards of earth
more than a million years ago
to turn into
coal, gas, diamond
volcanic exudate

or

something else

or

who knows
even perish


------------------
Anonymous wrote:

What reaches us as fossil is the ultimate embodiment of tenacity in nature and yet the image you present is so delicate and fragile.

Once again im not speculating on what it might be.
It is beauty, nuanced in tone and texture and compelling.
The text compelling in its brevity and subtly depicting transience of life itself.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Before the End of Innocence


In Bangalore in the early seventies, before the West End Hotel was taken over by GRD Tata from Bhabha and very vastly expanded, Ashok was the ultimate hotel, where everyone from film stars to politicians to whoever was someone, with exceptions like me, stayed. The top, ninth floor was where I always stayed, and film stars  shooting in Bangalore also stayed on that floor. When I stayed there Dharmendra, not yet married to Hema Malini, was in the suite next to mine, shooting for Shalimar (a total disaster) with Rex Harrison.

To avoid getting carried away with my narrative, I will quickly come to the picture above: I was checking out of the hotel when I noticed her, toddling all over the lobby.  She turned out to be the daughter of the Manager, a Sardarji. I requested that I be allowed to take her pictures. She had a fever, but because of my pleading, the Manager called his wife, who held the baby on her shoulder. I took several pictures, and was so taken by her beauty and innocence that I wrote a letter, sealed it, and told the Manager to preserve it until the girl turned 25, and then give it to her to read.

This is the long and short of my emotional outpouring. For those interested, we moved outside near the swimming pool, because the light inside the hotel was inadequate. The baby was held by the mother with her head above the mother's shoulder, looking behind her. I took the pictures from behind to avoid the mother's head.

Friday, February 09, 2018

Phantoms


PHANTOMS
IN THE DARK
CLOUDS OF DREAMS
COME AND NESTLE IN MY HEART
ONLY TO FLOAT AWAY
ON WINGS OF LIGHT
AT DAYBREAK

Monday, February 05, 2018

In the Land of Dreams


in the land of dreams
in the shadows of clouds
come, come

struggling here
far from hope
come, come,
let's go away