the pause
in a dragonfly’s glide—
noon shadows
Author: Kala Ramesh
Kala Ramesh is a performing vocalist in Indian Classical music. Coming from an extremely artistic and culturally rich South Indian family, Kala believes -- as her father is fond of saying -- that "the soil has to be fertile for the plant to bloom" and feels that she owes this poetic streak in her to her mother. A proud mother of two young adults, Kala lives with her husband in Pune, India.
into the night a cuckoo returns the call
bed time…
she asks if her rag doll
can stay up late
cold moon . . .
a rising wave splashes
the taste of salt
running downhill
I fall through
the autumn sky
herbal massage-
I inhale the warm breath
she exhales
spring breeze–
I catch the tune
she leaves behind
daybreak-
the stars abandon
the moon
winter rain-
colder than ever
this bowl of rice
autumn lyrics:
Father talks gently of life
beyond death
passing clouds
he slips glass bangles
over my wrist
down the path
i n b e t w e e n t r e e s
the mango moon
temple gate:
the wind gets in faster
than the devotees
dripping mist–
pulls the sky
into the valley
spring carnival:
after much haggling, I win
the laughing Buddha
mango blossoms:
sprawling at every turn
childhood memories
forest walk–
a spider’s shadow
climbs the tree
raining sunset–
a rainbow fades
into the horizon
fragrant breeze
kids rush in to sell roses
at the traffic signals
darkening sky …
the snake curves
into my path
the butterfly
touches me with
her orange colour
strains of the violin
– the old man walks
to his own rhythm