Notes ~

Nandiaarvattom ~ a white five petalled white flower gently scented considered auspicious for Pooja [Ritualistic Prayer and Worship] especially for Shiva in Temples and homes ~ The plant grows to about ten to fifteen feet height and flowers throughout the year abundantly ~ The name Nandiaarvattom has deep etymological and mythological associations ~ It is also an Ayurvedic medicinal plant ~

Chethi ~ A plant that grows clusters of red flowers with a delicate scent also considered auspicious for Pooja in Temples and homes ~ It also flowers perennially and the plant is about ten to fifteen feet tall when fully grown ~ Chethi is also an Ayurvedic medicinal plant and the name has vast etymological and mythological associations too ~

LUNAR MAGIC ~

Rainy evening fades gently into the ambiguous calmness of a grey mist arising from emptiness ~ nandiaarvattom abloom sprawls in vast splendour resonates luminous mantras in blue neon light ~ white incandescent jasmines throb in tender green splashes ~ the coconut tree erupts halfway from the nandiarvattom clusters ~ invisible the coconut head ~ the radiant saffron chethi is invisible too ~ the wall entangled with the wild creepers and yellow flowers is turning almost invisible ~ the giant mango tree far away sways in subtle spasms closes into the ageless sky ~ cool breeze punctuates a solemn stillness ~ a distant film song delicately tunes in ~ tiled roofs pile on in erratic architecture ageing in mossy growth etchings of lightnings thundering monsoon radiances in aquatic parables ~ the starless sky looms solitary all empty vast ancient ~ suddenly on the side of a distant tree my lucky eyes chance into an exotic lunar skyscape ~ a night painter’s impeccable dream come true in pristine moonlight ~

I had seen the moon in myriad wonder manifestations so many times, clouds in innumerable personifications embedding engulfing it in fairy tale passions ~ but this one was beyond all I saw in exquisite perfection ~

clouds etch

lyrics on the moon

in cool silences ~

I was watching from a first floor window spellbound muttering joyous mantras of delight ~ I felt an intense desire to share this wonder vision with someone ~ my brother Anand was sitting downstairs watching news or slapstick on the television ~ I ran to the staircase and shouted ”Anand come here immediately ~ I will show you something wonderful ~ Please come fast ~ “ I am coming” he responded ~ I called him like this only very rarely ~ I ran back to the window to watch the moon again ~ A slight brightening and I saw an ominous electric wire visible between the sky and my sacred vision ~

an electric wire

divides the moon

into two halves ~

But still the sight was beautiful enough ~ The wire became visible only if you stared too much with an unaesthetic greed ~ I ran back to the staircase once again and shouted desperately to beckon Anand and he said “I am coming” ~ I went back to my window ~ The scene was slowly shifting and the beauty was evanescently nullifying itself ~ Soon the moon was fully concealed in vague dreams of sad clouds ~ I went back to the staircase when Anand had actually reached the bottom stair and I muttered to him sadly ~

friend you’re late ~

the moon did not

wait for you ~