16/07: In the rain again
It was a placid, dreamy day. The charming weather, the chilling atmosphere, and the lurking rain, all underlined the poetic dreaminess of that enchanting afternoon. There was a silent harmony, a colorful vibrance and a certain grandness to it. It was dark, yet somehow it was bright and prismatic. The rich and myriad hues all around further deepened the radiance of the exotic day. Under a tree sat a solitary soul, relishing the picturesque, idyllic scene; trying to summon up a few words.
Then came the long anticipated drops of rain, that further enhanced the magic of that afternoon, almost elevating it to fairy-tale like. First lightly, then heavily, the rain came down like a passionate outburst, quenching the thirst of the parched earth and a parched soul.
And, it was almost as if nature had woken up. The lush green grass was back, the trees seemed rejuvenated, there were infinite pools of water and the atmosphere all around was sparkling. The splashing of water on the ground reminded me of the chaos inside, a sort of blissful, almost welcome chaos.
I still tried to put the artistic scene and my racing thoughts into words. I could have written a thousand verses that day, and yet failed to capture the sublime and exquisite story that it told. There was a beauty, a charming touch to that rainy afternoon, that can perhaps never be expressed in words - and I have never used plain 'words' to express my innermost thoughts. One had to be there to feel it. There was a flow even in stillness, and a pause even in the flow.
The sweet lure of cold rain on an enchanting afternoon! It was an invitation I could not resist. I went and stood in the rain, barefoot, and bare soul. And, I almost thought that it completely wiped out the tears inside me. I hoped it could wash away all the ego, all the anger, all the sorrow and any traces of hatred; so that something more important and wonderful can take its place.
Then, I ran around like someone celebrating a big achievement. I was filled with a mystic, deep joy, that seemed to quench the unquenchable. There had been many a day like that. Yet, that rainy day seemed truly spectacular, somewhat special; just because I had made it so. My heart seemed to beat faster, yet it must have skipped many a beat.
My eyes searched around for a rainbow, almost revealing the inner quest for colors and hope. I could not quite find one in the sky. But, that afternoon, amidst the rain, amidst the inner chaos, I found a rainbow, where I had almost forgotten to search. I was eternally looking for signs of hope in the external world, but that day I found hope inside me. Of course, the external world, the scintillating atmosphere around, the rain and the wind had played their part in helping me discover it.
I was touched, simply mesmerized by the sheer magic of that electric day. The cool, unrelenting gush of wind; the long endless spaces of green, the sweet smell of rain, the steady rush of inner emotion. It was bewitching, soothing, almost unnatural, yet so natural. It touched something that had never been touched before.
I gave up thoughts of writing, and just let myself free. My eyes gazed away at the splendid scene all around, my ears listened for unheard words, my body enjoyed the biting cold, my feet, almost numb, still felt the fresh water on the ground and my soul just reverberated with an unknown joy, still punctuated by hints of woe.
And, I don't know why, I was reminded of the first drops of long ago. That moment was magnificent, glorious and almost timeless. And I felt that whatever happened in my life from then on, it did not matter, for in that one lasting moment I had lived a lifetime.
And I continued to stand there, the unending rain drenching me completely, even from the inside.
Then came the long anticipated drops of rain, that further enhanced the magic of that afternoon, almost elevating it to fairy-tale like. First lightly, then heavily, the rain came down like a passionate outburst, quenching the thirst of the parched earth and a parched soul.
And, it was almost as if nature had woken up. The lush green grass was back, the trees seemed rejuvenated, there were infinite pools of water and the atmosphere all around was sparkling. The splashing of water on the ground reminded me of the chaos inside, a sort of blissful, almost welcome chaos.
I still tried to put the artistic scene and my racing thoughts into words. I could have written a thousand verses that day, and yet failed to capture the sublime and exquisite story that it told. There was a beauty, a charming touch to that rainy afternoon, that can perhaps never be expressed in words - and I have never used plain 'words' to express my innermost thoughts. One had to be there to feel it. There was a flow even in stillness, and a pause even in the flow.
The sweet lure of cold rain on an enchanting afternoon! It was an invitation I could not resist. I went and stood in the rain, barefoot, and bare soul. And, I almost thought that it completely wiped out the tears inside me. I hoped it could wash away all the ego, all the anger, all the sorrow and any traces of hatred; so that something more important and wonderful can take its place.
Then, I ran around like someone celebrating a big achievement. I was filled with a mystic, deep joy, that seemed to quench the unquenchable. There had been many a day like that. Yet, that rainy day seemed truly spectacular, somewhat special; just because I had made it so. My heart seemed to beat faster, yet it must have skipped many a beat.
My eyes searched around for a rainbow, almost revealing the inner quest for colors and hope. I could not quite find one in the sky. But, that afternoon, amidst the rain, amidst the inner chaos, I found a rainbow, where I had almost forgotten to search. I was eternally looking for signs of hope in the external world, but that day I found hope inside me. Of course, the external world, the scintillating atmosphere around, the rain and the wind had played their part in helping me discover it.
I was touched, simply mesmerized by the sheer magic of that electric day. The cool, unrelenting gush of wind; the long endless spaces of green, the sweet smell of rain, the steady rush of inner emotion. It was bewitching, soothing, almost unnatural, yet so natural. It touched something that had never been touched before.
I gave up thoughts of writing, and just let myself free. My eyes gazed away at the splendid scene all around, my ears listened for unheard words, my body enjoyed the biting cold, my feet, almost numb, still felt the fresh water on the ground and my soul just reverberated with an unknown joy, still punctuated by hints of woe.
And, I don't know why, I was reminded of the first drops of long ago. That moment was magnificent, glorious and almost timeless. And I felt that whatever happened in my life from then on, it did not matter, for in that one lasting moment I had lived a lifetime.
And I continued to stand there, the unending rain drenching me completely, even from the inside.
21/05: One Fine Night
A chilling breeze, shining full moon, a captivating calm, a strange sense of weird excitement and a deep secret within. That night had all the ingredients of a glorious, haunting, and unforgettable winter night.
As the city slept a hard earned sleep, there I was - mad and crazy, as I have been, ever since my inception - taking a silent, thoughtful stroll alongside a river. I walked along a narrow, crooked path, that seemed to enhance the eeriness of the already spooky night. And I just loved it!
All along I felt that someone walked with me. Someone who silently laughed at me - at my state. I knew that it was just a figment of my silly imagination. But, still in a strange sort of way, I enjoyed the silent invisbile company on that chilling, lonely night.
The cold wind which softly blew across me, filled me with a sweet sense of ecstasy. It reminded me of how important it was that we do our little bit to bring sweetness into the life of people around us. Bitterness does not come naturally, it is man-made. I thought that I too should be like the gentle wind, colouring the minds of bitter people with sweet thoughts. And I began to wonder whether everything in nature had a story to tell, a lesson to teach.
And then I noticed the stars that adorned the sky above. Each sparkling little thing lit up the dark sky, with a charming twinkle of its own. I was gently reminded of the pearls that brighten my life and I began to think whether I could bring a sparkle to any dark soul in this world. That was perhaps the first time I had wondered deeply about the 'diamond in the sky', though I had sung that nursery rhyme many a thousand time, in those sweet rhyming days of childhood.
Then, I noticed the bright full moon, smiling down at me - a smile that almost strained my eyes. The moon smiled all night, almost tirelessly, at each little thing that crossed its way - a stunning reminder to all of us who have forgotten to smile. I could not stop the infective smile from lighting up my face. I gave my silent thanks to the divine being up there. Thank God, there was a moon to smile at me that night.
I sat down on the bank of the river to give my strained legs a quiet rest. If only there was something I could do to give my mind a breather. And, there I noticed the river, flowing over rocks and other obstacles, and slowly, unnervingly moving towards its goal. Oh, the fear that grips us all when 'little' obstacles stare at us! And there was the river, confidently burying those devils under its roaring waters. It stirred me up. It really did.
Then there were the trees - tall and murky. As, they swayed to the gentle music of the wind, I almost began singing, the lyrics coming out instantly from my heart! Never before had I heard such a magical tune. I then thought of the shelter those trees must have provided to a tired, grateful(?), traveller on a hot summer afternoon. And I just felt a strange sense of security, sitting beneath those gigantic trees. After all I was also a traveller, in the middle of the tiring journey of life.
And that last piece, the piece that made the night even more magical - the enchanting silence. Again, a vital lesson about how silence teaches a great many things, if only we care to 'listen'. I have always been enchanted by silence; but that night surrounded by strikingly natural teachers, the deep silence almost overwhelmed me.
That night, nature served me subtle reminders of the sublime way of life. And I still sat there overawed by the stunning silence of the dazzling, heavenly night!
As the city slept a hard earned sleep, there I was - mad and crazy, as I have been, ever since my inception - taking a silent, thoughtful stroll alongside a river. I walked along a narrow, crooked path, that seemed to enhance the eeriness of the already spooky night. And I just loved it!
All along I felt that someone walked with me. Someone who silently laughed at me - at my state. I knew that it was just a figment of my silly imagination. But, still in a strange sort of way, I enjoyed the silent invisbile company on that chilling, lonely night.
The cold wind which softly blew across me, filled me with a sweet sense of ecstasy. It reminded me of how important it was that we do our little bit to bring sweetness into the life of people around us. Bitterness does not come naturally, it is man-made. I thought that I too should be like the gentle wind, colouring the minds of bitter people with sweet thoughts. And I began to wonder whether everything in nature had a story to tell, a lesson to teach.
And then I noticed the stars that adorned the sky above. Each sparkling little thing lit up the dark sky, with a charming twinkle of its own. I was gently reminded of the pearls that brighten my life and I began to think whether I could bring a sparkle to any dark soul in this world. That was perhaps the first time I had wondered deeply about the 'diamond in the sky', though I had sung that nursery rhyme many a thousand time, in those sweet rhyming days of childhood.
Then, I noticed the bright full moon, smiling down at me - a smile that almost strained my eyes. The moon smiled all night, almost tirelessly, at each little thing that crossed its way - a stunning reminder to all of us who have forgotten to smile. I could not stop the infective smile from lighting up my face. I gave my silent thanks to the divine being up there. Thank God, there was a moon to smile at me that night.
I sat down on the bank of the river to give my strained legs a quiet rest. If only there was something I could do to give my mind a breather. And, there I noticed the river, flowing over rocks and other obstacles, and slowly, unnervingly moving towards its goal. Oh, the fear that grips us all when 'little' obstacles stare at us! And there was the river, confidently burying those devils under its roaring waters. It stirred me up. It really did.
Then there were the trees - tall and murky. As, they swayed to the gentle music of the wind, I almost began singing, the lyrics coming out instantly from my heart! Never before had I heard such a magical tune. I then thought of the shelter those trees must have provided to a tired, grateful(?), traveller on a hot summer afternoon. And I just felt a strange sense of security, sitting beneath those gigantic trees. After all I was also a traveller, in the middle of the tiring journey of life.
And that last piece, the piece that made the night even more magical - the enchanting silence. Again, a vital lesson about how silence teaches a great many things, if only we care to 'listen'. I have always been enchanted by silence; but that night surrounded by strikingly natural teachers, the deep silence almost overwhelmed me.
That night, nature served me subtle reminders of the sublime way of life. And I still sat there overawed by the stunning silence of the dazzling, heavenly night!
