Tsunami in South Asia

instantly
so many lives
extinguished

instantly
so many laughs 'n giggles
sssshhhhh-ed!

Back home in Boston!

Previously posted on LJ, Sept 28th

Exhausted, totally drained and my circadian rhythm completely shot. Two conferences in the next three weeks and 700 e-mails to attend to. (Why does everyone think I read emails while on vacation?)

Since I live to eat (suffer ye thinkers!), my self imposed exile to the culinary Siberia has resumed. Yesterdays cafeteria choices included Corn Chowder (85 Cal), Chicken in red cream sauce (995 Cal – really!) and 65 other equally savory options. While I really wanted the Rawas Hyderabadi or the Shrimp Kadipatha, I would have settled for the bourgeois Kamat's Thali (pics forthcoming).

I already miss Aiee asking every night what I want for breakfast the next morning (M, please take note). And even the lowly restaurant waiter understands “strong filter coffee.” I met fascinating people all day, every day. I am going to miss them the most. I don’t miss living out of a suitcase(s) for 4 weeks, and my shirt soaked 2 minutes after I wear it.

I have 900 pics to go through, 45 books I brought back, a huge stack of CDs, a suitcase full of Ganapati foods (puran-poli, chewda, shankar-palli, saath, mysore-paak, banana and almond halwa, kaju barfi from Chandu Halwai, ...) lots of knick-knacks and a boat load of memories.

It took me 45 minutes to get ready after the shower. Confusion reigned: What trousers do I wear to work? Which shirt? Socks? Where are they? Damn! I need to match with the shoes? Where are my keys? What time is my bus? … Am I forgetting something? Bostonians, if you spy a zombie on the streets, pl come to his aid!

All signs of a great holiday!

And I am equally glad to be back HOME! My bed, my pillow and my blanket (yes, its getting chilly here!).

Aaaahh Mumbai! The first few hours

previously posted on LJ Sept 2nd from Mumbai
Notes first:
Long write-up; working from a cyber cafe :( so no pics; sorry have not had the chance to see your posts - will catch up later.

Arrived in mumbai around 10 pm Monday night!

My cousin brothers picked me up from the airport and we headed south along Worli and Marine Drive. We stopped at "Naturals" for Sitaphal and Tender coconut icecream! Yumm! Yumm! This is even before got home!

Aiee and papa were thrilled. Even though it was nearing midnight, aiee had some fresh idli and chutney. Boy, I had forgotten how fluffy idlis were supposed to be. And the chutney was good HOT!

The adrenaline was pumping and we couldn't sleep a wink. Unpacked a few bags and fortunately nothing broken (or missing!). At 5 am, I gave up trying to sleep and went out for a walk. At that hour the streets are ruled by dudh-wallahs (milk delivery guys) on bicycles with large metal cans on either side. After several attempts, i got a few good shots :) Befriended two security guards on the night shift, keeping an eye on these fancy shops around here! I took their pics and they were thrilled to see their image on the LCD screen. Another of their colleagues from down the street joined us a little later. It was interesting to see many people sleeping on the side-walks in front of the shops. Escorted by the security guards, I boldly took pics of these folks. Mind you, they are not exactly homeless. Most likely they work at the shops in front of which they sleep.

Walked back home around 6:30 and since my parents were still in bed, M and I went for a walk to the Gateway for India (GOI). WoW, how peaceful at this time of day. It was low tide and the water had receded from the walkway, and I spied a person among the rocks searching for leftover coconuts (it was coconut day 2 days ago). Fancily dressed security wallah in front of the Old Taj - what grace that building has! Hundreds of pigeons munching on chana which passersby drop off. Walked around the Gateway and admired the architecture. I have been hanging out at the GOI since I was born, but had not noticed so many of the details!

The park in front of the GOI was lively and full of people out for a morning walk under the watchful gaze of Shivaji Maharaj. Seeing the young and old alike out here was heartening. Many were stretching, and a few were doing push-ups. The greenery was nice and pretty well maintained. Walked back towards Strand cinema and back to Colaba Causeway! An early morning aarti at the Maruti temple was in session. This is a quintessential tiny roadside temple and I love it. For the aarti, the temple bells were ringing loudly and rhythmically, numbing my senses and forcing me to focus on God! Since this temple is down the street from our home, I have been going here ever since i can remember.

We walked back and went on to my old school - Holy Name High School. Still a beautiful building. About ten kids were dribbling basket balls on the outdoor court and a few others were doing sprint drills. Walked behind it to the Holy Name Cathedral. The church was all lit up and people were waiting for the 7:30 mass. This is truly a superb and exquisitely maintained church. I remember how we used to come here nearly every week during school. As a kid, I remembered the pudgy faced, strict disciplinarian Principal - Father FX Fernandes. He would occasionally conduct Mass as well. Most of what I learnt of discipline I learnt from him. He also created in me a fascination for English literature and poetry.

After sitting in the pews for a few minutes we walked out and did not wait for Mass to start. On the signs outside, I noticed they frequently have mass in Konkani. WoW! And the huge bell outside is a gift from Pope Paul VI commemorating his visit here in the 1960's.

I was glad that within a few hours of arriving here, I was guided to visit these two places of worship - the hindu temple and the catholic church. As i was growing up, both these have influenced me strongly. As we walked back home, it felt like it was only yesterday that I had walked here with with buddies to and from school.

In a few minutes we reached home and aiee had just woken up and was fixing coffee. My first day here was just beginning and I had already had enough memories to last me a long, long time!

Of Diamonds, Mehndi, and the Girls Who Deserve it All!

Originally posted on LJ, July 30 before my India trip. I am back now!

As I daydream of the foods I will be eating in mumbai, M interjects my reverie - she needs a small diamond cluster earring. "But you already have a beautiful pair," I remind, as if any woman can actually forget the glittering rocks they have. "Those are too big, and for wearing to work everyday I prefer something smaller." :-( I wish she was a food gourmet, its less expensive.

And so, we will put together our list of things to get in india. Jewelery, salwar khameez and other dresses for her. Eating out, books, and music for me.



One thing is certain, a day before we return, one of my cousin sisters will organize a 'mehndi' session. They usually ask a talented lady to come home, and after dinner all my cousin sisters, sister-in-laws, nieces and whoever, get their hands decorated. Whenever I poke my head in, its a treat to see all the girls and women treat themselves in such a collective manner, joking with each other, giggling and sharing in the camaraderie. As one gets her left hand decorated, with her right hand she designs anothers. And so a whole chain of young women, little girls at heart, helping each other amidst a squealing cacophony. With both their hands covered with mehndi, they also relax knowing they wouldn't be called to bring water, or make chai, or other silly things for the menfolk. I only wish such joys visit them always, and for the rest of their lives. For they who make our lives worth living, what are a few diamonds!


I took this pic several years ago at such an event at home.

Konkani Delicacies: Jackfruit Hapol and Vodi

Deep-fried foods are rare in our home. We save it for our favorite konkani delicacies: Jackfruit (Phansa-) Hapol and Spicy Vodi. Haaaah! During our summer holidays in Honavar and Kumta, we kids helped make them. The women would roll the hapol and we would carry them up the rickety stairs to the temporary roof (mandal) made of palm fronds and spread them on the woven mats. As they dried in the blazing sun, the pattern of the mats could be seen on the hapol. For a light snack at any time, deep fry the hapol and serve with freshly grated coconut! Heavenly. A few months ago, one of our friends brought these back from Udupi. May she live long and healthy!

And the spicy Vodi! I think they are made with flour, garlic, red pepper and salt. Delicious! Goes very well with dahi-bhaat or even a chilled beer. Now that our india trip is about a month away, there was no need to hoard these any more. ;-)

Authority of Ideas

"Dr. Stephen W. Hawking threw in the towel yesterday ... . Dr. Hawking, the celebrated Cambridge University cosmologist and best-selling author, declared at a scientific conference in Dublin that he had been wrong in a controversial assertion he made 30 years ago about black holes, the fearsome gravitational abysses that can swallow matter and energy, even light. As atonement he presented Dr. John Preskill, a physicist from the California Institute of Technology, with a baseball encyclopedia." As reported in the New York Times, July 22, 2004.

In a free, rational and prudent society, such a statement is not only hailed but also adds to the prestige of the person. This reminded me of the authority of ideas as posited by Lawrence Summers. Universities are institutions where the authority of ideas reign supreme; this is in sharp contrast to corporations which thrive on the idea of authority.

In Hawking's cases, his self-less dedication to the pursuit of truth (and ideas) is what matters in life and having the maturity to acknowledge mistakes adds to his aura. This is particularly timely for me, as I prepare to tear down the walls and theories that I (and the giants whose shoulders I stood on) help build over the last decade, ... and build new ones! Lets see what the future holds.

Notes: Hawking is the author of the best-selling A Brief History of Time;
Summers, Authority of Ideas, Harvard Business Review, Aug 2003.

Deez DEMS Don't Doz!

The Democratic National Convention is in town to nominate John Kerry for the US Presidential Election. What a ruckus! Major roads and trains are closed for security reasons. On subways, bags are going to be checked. Imagine the look on the security guards face as xe holds up my soggy gym clothes. They may erroneously sound the biohazard alarm. To save the city such angst, I will be taking a few days off and catching up on life.

Even though the DNC starts tomorrow (Monday), the city was already a buzz this afternoon with a variety of protests. Heading out for a Dim Sum lunch we were thoroughly entertained by the demonstrators in the Boston Commons and Public Gardens. It was very peaceful, very colorful and had the sense of a carnival. People were displaying placards which read the usual: Stop the war; Stop the occupation in Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti (?); Bring our troops home; Stop the blockade of Cuba; More funding for schools; More teachers for schools; and so on. I was particularly drawn to these girls proudly displaying their enthusiasm for the Kerry Campaign.



This beautiful lady wanted to send Bush on an interplanetary voyage! Seeing her famished look and bare feet, my heart went out to this brave soul upholding our precious Freedom of Speech, and I briefly considered negotiating the price of the T-shirt with her. M's sharp elbow in my side reminded me that I had given up such liberties long ago, and could be sent on my own desolate journey :-(

Sunday Cuisine: A berry beautiful meal

Its July and the peak season for fruits at the local farm stall - berries in particular. Blueberries are my favorite, with raspberries, cherries and strawberries close behind. Theres something about blueberries. Bluish-black tinged, tiny, no seeds, tangy and barely sweet, and my tongue turns blue! When I wrap handfuls in a napkin and toss in my bag, they don't get squishy either.

Many recipes call for smothering the blueberries in pancakes, choking them in muffins, preserving them in jam, pickling them in a lemony cheese tart, freezing them, whipping them in a smoothie, or covering them in chocolate. I ask, why this obsession with messing up something so delicious to start with? I love my blueberries just plain - no recipes needed, thank you!

And if taste doesn't convince you, they have the highest anti-oxidant activity which protects from the detrimental effects of aging (I should know), prevents cancer and heart disease!

After a nice satisfying run, my dinner on Sunday was a bowl full of blueberries, a handful of cherries, papayas and a strawberry-mango lassi which you needed to spoon out. Burp!

unwashed blueberries shot in light from the setting sun, with Olympus C4040

Nutella Ki Baat Hai

After a two week hiatus, I opened the Nutella jar to make a sandwich. IT WAS EMPTY! How could that be? I never put an empty jar back in the pantry!

I asked M if she had the last of the Nutella. Nope she said! Its been ages since she touched Nutella. After much moaning and pacing I asked M again. Nope she insisted! "Besides, its too sweet for me." She is not much into sweets and my stacks of Indian mithai are safe. But M does have an exquisite craving for chocolate and hazelnut, and our stores of Swiss chocolate recede steadily. (I got those just for her.) After additional pacing around the house, I asked again with my practiced, 'lie and you rot in hell' look (btw, we guys don't have the genes for this). Not even bothering to look up from her newspaper, she responds, "maybe there is a mouse in the house."

A mouse!

Ghar mein ek chuva hai
ya daal mein kuch kaala hai!

Nature's Shrine: A place to give thanks

Livejournal user "shri" says, For me, God exists in Nature and I see him in a beautiful sunrise.

I can add, I see her in the blue skies, towering mountains, chirping birds, the butterfly and the serene lake. Wherever you see her, take off your shoes and gaze in awe at her munificence!




The pic was taken many, many years ago in the idyllic town of Brevard, NC along the Appalachian Trail. My favorite escape from the rigors of grad school!

Home Shrine: Where I bow my head every morning

Every morning I pay my respects to the Supreme Being at a small altar in our spare room.

It started out with the brass "OM" on the bookshelf during my student days. I purchased the Om along with a booklet of Swami Vivekananda's lectures, at a road-side stall in Kanya Kumari. Reading Vivekananda's 1893 lecture to the World Congress of Religions in Chicago, was a pivotal moment in my life. It sparked self-realization and started a life long journey. This "Om" thus graces the top of my home shrine.



As I left home to start my studies, my mother gave me the framed photograph of Shri Ramnath, our family deity in Goa. A tulsi bead rosary is wrapped around the frame. On either side of the frame are antique figurines holding lamps. To the right is a silver 'throne' with two ganapati murthis and a lakshmi. To the left is a baby krishna crawling on both his knees and one hand; the right hand is raised.

On the lower shelf is a sandal wood murthi of Udupi Krishna in a mandap. Three silver medallions with beautifully engraved facsimiles of Venkatesha, Satya Narayana and Sudarshan - memories of the spirituality at the Balaji Temple in Pittsburgh. The round silver ball to the left has a delicately carved peacock on top, and twists open to store vermilion. Silver dabbas on each end contain vibhuti. Hanging off the frame is a Swiss cowbell, with a ring reminiscent of temples bells.

The wood stand is from the Bombay store. The rabbit-motif backdrop was left over from the previous owners and I arranged the shelves accordingly.

Below the stand is a wooden stool on which I light a small oil lamp every morning after I shower. Then I say a small prayer, thanking him 'the knower of all' for all the good that I have been blessed with, recollect the challenges of the day, and ask for her guidance. This is a time to remember my extended family residing all over this planet, and ask blessings for them and to protect them. I pray for wisdom, for us all, so we can carry out our destiny with our heads held high. And then I lower my head to the floor in a namaskar.

Listening to Maya Angelou’s A Song Flung Up To Heaven.

If a case has to be made for audiobooks, it is definitely when authors narrate their own works. Authors ensure tonal changes are exactly as they intend, and the listener need not rely on interpretations of a narrator. And Maya Angeloumakes a superb case for audiobooks.

I just finished listening to Maya Angelou’s “ A Song Flung Up To Heaven.” Listening to Maya narrate her autobiographical work, will convert even the diehard opponent of audiobooks.

I am not reviewing the book here, but stating why listening to Maya was for me an exquisitely memorable experience. Not only is she a talented writer, but also a world class orator. She has a beautifully rich voice, and can control it as nimbly as classical dancers their muscle twitches. Her language and accent are moulded by experiences, in rural Arkansas, San Francisco, numerous US cities and four years in Ghana. Being a renowned poet, her voice has a lyrical ring to it.

Her readings reflect her inner feeling, and in many cases her very deep feelings. This could definitely not be conveyed in the print version, nor for that matter, by another narrator. When she is sad, you hear her vocal chords trembling, and her throat quivering, as each phrase rolls off her tongue. When she hears of her son's accident, you hear the shock in her voice and sense she is going to collapse, … even before she says it.

When she says, "mamma, ..." just the tone and treble conveys masterfully her love and admiration for her mother, without having to elucidate further; which she does anyway as she reads the print version of her book.

When she talks about her love, the joy and ecstasy in her voice mirrors the glint in her eyes, even though she does not say as much. Her admiration for her brother is equally transparent, and words make it superfluous, no - redundant.

In one instance he chastises a fellow African American for calling himself a "Niggah." Her repugnance is evident as she mouths the word “Niggah.” You sense she has bit on to something ghastly, and couldn't wait to spit it out. In this instance as well, her explanation of disgust with that term was completely redundant. Note, I showcase this as an example of the power of her 'voice' in conveying her true feelings, and not a critique of her writing.

A few notes:
She saves her best oratory for the last few minutes. Talking about black women in general, she says, "we had come so far from where we started and weren't nearly approaching where we need to be. But we were on the road to becoming better."

What she wanted to write about next? Something all of us can relate to, and apply in our own lives.
"... examine that quality in the human spirit, that continues to rise despite the slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes.
Rise out of physical pain and psychological cruelty.
Rise from being victims of rape and abuse and abandonment, to the determination to be no victim of any kind.
Rise and be prepared to move on and ever on."
This is a brilliantly recited lyrical piece. Certain to give you goosebumps.

She also refers to a children’s poem she had read long ago, "However low you perceive me now, I am headed for higher ground."

Whats not to love about this book! Listen (or read) and be uplifted.

Mango Madness

Sunday was relaxing and time to try some recipes. We had picked up a box of Mexican mangoes which were surprisingly good. Combine that with a picture of a tart I had seen in the train. Perfect inspiration for a Mango turnover and a Mango tart.



For the turnover, I patted a central square of a pastry sheet, ladled two teaspoons of mango pulp (alphonso), skinned slices of mango, folded over and pressed the edges. I wish I could find my edge cutter. Lightly sprayed butter. Placed in the oven along with the tart below.



For the tart, I spread out the pastry sheet, cut strips and pressed on the edges, creating sort of a tray. Patted and poked holes in the center with a fork to prevent the pastry from rising and spooned copious amounts of mango pulp. Placed on a cookie sheet and in the oven for 20 minutes (400 deg). Taking it out of the oven, I placed the mango slices and allowed to cool.

Surprisingly very simple. No added sugar, or any other thing. Just pastry sheet, and mango. Ate (and shared) while slightly warm. The turnover was delicious. The pulp had thickened in the oven and was not runny. The edges could have been sealed better. The tart was just superb. The mango slices had become warm. A scoop of vanilla icecream would have been heavenly - but we didn't have the icecream at home and I could not wait to dig in.

All in all a culinary delight!

Meet Gafar, on Colaba Causeway

My earliest memory of Gafar is either in the first or second standard, running on the foot-path in front of our home in Colaba. He would grab and hurl me up in the air. As I screamed, he would gently let me down. Tentatively I would ask him to do it again, ... and again.

Gafar tends this little hosiery stall in front of our building. At the start of every school year, all of us cousins would buy our socks, handkerchiefs, banyans and underwear at his stall. Even though his stall appears tiny, he had everything any of us needed. He knew our sizes, and would reach up and pull out a box from the shelves. It was always the right box with the correct things we needed. As we moved away to College, every visit home included a trip to his stall to stock up on necessities. Even now when I visit India, I stop by his stall and buy banyans and handkerchiefs. Now I don't lose my handkerchiefs as often, but I still pick up a dozen of the finest on every visit. I probably have 3 or 4 doz sitting in my closet drawer. Its become a tradition now!

If you walk around Colaba Causeway, you may see him standing in front of his stall. Or maybe sitting on the wooden stool in front, or maybe sipping a chai. Give him my Salaam, and buy a few handkerchiefs.

dopi

The alabaster skin was cool to the touch. As the bulbous tip of my index finger glided gently down the delicate curve, a warm sensation filled me. This was the moment I had been waiting for since I first laid eyes on her.

I caressed my finger around the rim and again marveled at the silky softness. As if attracted by a higher force, my finger tip slipped to the raised center and paused. Every cell in my body eager with anticipation, I pressed lightly. Instantly, the delicious sound in my ears confirmed I had hit the spot. My eyes lit up. ... Its going to be a looooong night.





Thank you Dada for this gift!

Family Time

My parents were visiting from India on their annual trip. So I took a few days off and just lazed around the house. Caught up on general gossip from Mumbai; what each cousin, nephew or niece is up to; as well as the recent elections, lazy garbage collectors, casual attitude of BMC corruption, and other such stuff.

With my brothers visiting as well, we caught up on the really important things such as the latest computer software, cameras, gadgets and toys. Wait till you see what my brother got me for my b’day! :)) Shopping is as always a pleasant distraction, particularly an outdoor outlet mall in Maine.

The initial concerns of ‘invasion of privacy’ were given away to a relaxing family time. Food represented the only occasional, minor source of irritation. It is no secret that I love food. But I am very finicky about what, and how much I eat. Breakfast is usually two slices of heavy whole wheat, or sourdough bread (with nutella of course), a piece of fruit serves as a snack, a cup of soup and a quick fruit yogurt for lunch and a decent dinner early in the evening. That too after a nice workout. Weekends we splurge on extending our culinary horizons. My parents were used to a large sit-down breakfast, a full-lunch and a proper dinner. While we all enjoy traditional konkani cuisine, I am just not used to eating constantly. With a house full of folks, I did not get a chance to go running or workout, so there was a constant feeling of being bloated.

But it was fun to just spend time with my family. Yesterday they left to visit my other brother in NJ and then on to the Las Vegas and Grand Canyon. Now that is life!

For me it was tough getting back to work, but I relished by bread and nutella this morning and picked up the fruit for later in the day. As I packed gym clothes in my bag, I looked forward to indulging in my other love affair later this evening!

An Accidental Life

Nothing works out as I plan; Everything turns out different, totally unexpected, beautiful and just perfect. Better than even I could have imagined, or planned. My whole life, this has been the story. Like if there is an invisible hand guiding me to do its bidding. I just do everything with my heart and soul. Where I end up is anyone's guess. But you can be very sure, its going to be just perfect. A blessed life! Lucky me!

Do you feel that way?

Novels people are reading in Boston, June 2004

A few months ago, I posted my observations on the reading preferences of commuters in Boston. With a new summer upon us, the trees have dressed up, the grass grown taller and the skirts shorter. To match pansies in bloom, toes captured for the winter in heavy boots, are finally jumping with joy, free in sandals, in bright hues and occasionally toe-rings. ***arun! focus on the topic*** My earlier observations (on the reading preferences, that is) still hold, and I further emphasize that more women appear to read novels on the train than guys. The novels appearing now are very different from a few months ago.

Here is a quick list of what people were reading on the Red-Line in Boston over the last few days. As before, this is a random sampling. Any from this list you like? The novella seemed interesting to me.

Arranged Alphabetically by title:

• Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy, (L Volokhonsky & R Pevear, Translators)
  
• The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger (Two)
  
• Dirt Music, Tim Winton
  
• Four Past Midnight, Stephen King
  
• The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices, Xinran Xue
  
• Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, Jared Diamond
  
• In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences, Truman Capote
  
• Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden
  
• The Middle East and Islamic World Reader, Marvin E. Gettleman & Stuart Schaar (Editors)
  
• One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
  
• Ruby River, Lynn Pruett
  
• The Runelords, David Farland
  
• Seabiscuit: An American Legend, Laura Hillenbrand
  
• Shopgirl: A Novella, Steve Martin & Martin Steve
  
• The Stranger, Albert Camus,
  
• Sword of Shannara: In the Shadow of the Warlock Lord, Terry Brooks
  
• To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf
  

Blue Skies: Breakfast with a View; Spartanburg, SC

Visiting my uncle in South Carolina, we had breakfast with this view outside the window. Much to everyone's consternation, I had pulled the grills off the window and stepped out onto the deck to take the picture. As I tried to convince my uncle that it really was a beautiful view (and worth the antics), he was probably thinking that I needed to get my head examined. What do you think?


Nov 2003; Nikon FM3a, ISO 200 Velvia Slide

Have you listened to a book lately?

Seeing many here and on LJ discuss their book lists has gotten me feeling a bit down. I was a voracious reader of fiction through college. Now my interests are primarily non-fiction (science, macroeconomics, spirituality, art, government, etc). While I can speed-read fiction, good non-fiction needs to be savoured. Enjoy well written sentences, re-read certain paragraphs, and look-up difficult words. Then I sit back, test and absorb the concepts before moving on. No doubt I only read a few pages each day. There are at least eight books around the house with bookmarks sticking out. During my daily train rides I usually read any of about a dozen magazine subscriptions. When then do I squeeze in fiction and keep the rest of my life going?

So last week I joined an online service for audio books, Audible.com, and downloaded the near 16 hours unabridged rendition of Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code.

I see some obvious advantages and disadvantages. Considering printing presses were only invented in the late 16th century, and millenia old oral traditions, does listening make more sense? What say you?

Ragda Pattis at Kailash Parbat

Ragda Pattis and Meetha Lassi at Kailash Parbat, Colaba



Aug 2002; Canon Elan II, ISO 200 Velvia Slide
cross posted on

Devotion

The heart can think of no devotion
Greater than being shore to the ocean
Holding the curve of one position
Counting an endless repetition


Robert Frost

Don't dither! Take Vienna!

If you are going to take Vienna,
TAKE VIENNA!


attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte

Langston Hughes

Because my mouth
Is wide with laughter
And my throat
Is deep with song
You do not think
I suffer after
I have held my pain
So long.

Because my mouth
Is wide with laughter
You do not hear
My inner cry
Because my feet
Are gay with dancing
You do not know
I die


in Maya Angelou's Even the Stars Look Lonesome

Amorous 3

Magnolias burst thro' buds
with luscious pink blooms

Cupid shoots for our hearts
with crimson tips
of quivering maiden lips

Amorous 2

Pink dogwood blooms
tipped in red
weaving in the morning breeze

Chirping bluejays
bouncing gaily
on japanese maple boughs

Beads of sweat
ride tender breasts
dashing for the coach

Arun's World on LJ

Please follow Arun's World on LJ. I use LJ for most of my posts.

Shukriya

The Beginning

Wow! This was easy. Now I actually have to think.

Do politicians actually think of the consequences of their policies? Lets leave that for a different day.