Farewell butterfly

For some reason when friends get married
it is associated with a certain kind of going away.
Another butterfly that used to make my life real cozy leaves today:)
Wish you all the happiness there is ....
Hope you do come back though, in whatever new form u plan to take.
-Duck

The stars are falling ....

The stars are falling on my roof,
Some crash in through the window pane
Some like feathers silently
Slide across the milky way.

The stars are falling on my skin
They burn a bit and then dim
The ones I had named some long ago
Perci, Frensh , Love and Kim.

Right before one turns ash
A word it whispers in my ear
'Darling won't you close your eyes,
Darkness will be coming next.'

The stars have fallen
All million one
Sky and me lie face to face
With much grace and quiet charm,
Empty bellied all the way

Safari Jumbo tells me

It was 4'o clock. Before he could blink again, the alarm rang out and Yamboree, the elephant was supposed to be up on his feet and ready for his morning ablutions and his bath. He stretched a little, in a vague attempt to grow out of last night's dream. It was always the same dream. The dream of his family with Yamini. The tiny shed he had to live in hardly allowed him to stretch as much as he needed to shake that dream away. So it remained, lodged in a quite corner of his heart.
Soon he was ready to meet his mahout and begin his first safari of the day. Yamboree worked as the elephant that took excited jungle campers for a safari ride across the jungle. After the morning rounds, mahout sipped his coffee and gobbled his brunch as Yamboree sapped up the plaintains and bananas mahout offerred him. Then began his heavy duty rounds, more and more groups of excited tourists trooped around. Sometimes when mahout was busy negotiating rates, silly kids poked him with twigs. He swung his trunk at them and batted a tired eyelid and off they scampered in fear or maybe mock-fear. Yamboree never believed they actually feared him. Then there were the tourists who wanted to take photographs with him. He never fooled himself into thinking he was a celebrity. But he was a mighty celebrity, his photos often came in tourism brochures and travelogues. Wildlife photographers paid mahout lumpsums to click Yamboree in his varied poses. He had even seen some tourists bear a stunted miniature of him. Sometimes in metal, sometimes in stone, sometimes a vague picture. They seemed to hold that miniature as a God. Maybe they mocked him. How else could he explain why they did snatch him away from everything his life consisted of and throw him into this sub-existence. God, there was none, he seemed convinced. He had been helpless for years now...
Come evening and his loneliness grew to larger amounts. He at times wondered how long he would live like this, live with Yamini only in his mind, live with just pictures of his little sons in his mind, live for ever wondering how they were getting along without him. Was it 10 years now? or maybe 12 years since he last saw them on that evening. They were all out on a stroll to the nearby pool for that family swim when a step of his took him deep deep down into the pit, the pit set to trap an elephant, there was a vacancy for one at that jungle resort close by. He yelped in pain and horror of the suddenness. In a moment it was all over. Yamini was fast, she fled, as fast as an elephant mom with two baby elephants could, deep into the jungle, for in no time the catchers swooped into the pit and chained Yamboree to the life he now led.
Misery, misery, misery, he gave that huge unhappy call, the kinds elephants often give with their trunks all raised. Night it was and he descended into a dreamy sleep, he dreamt of playing cricket with his sons as yamini cooked them steamed banana soup.

PS : As told to me by an elephant I safari-ed upon and took a fancy of whispering into the ear of at the Barur Jungle Resort.

The Bride To Be

She gave those hills a distant look,
Turned and smiled at the trails behind,
For soon she'd lay on the cool green grass,
And let life's soft tune charm her soul.

She watched as people danced around,
Their restless souls, their dreamless lives.
Will they ever know
That soothing calm she held inside?

Friends and loved ones
Circled her, adored her
Held her tight, sang her tunes,
Then whispered softly last goodbyes.

She has been
A precious one,
A star that shines,
The firmest mind, the softest heart.

Darling Shirsha,
Its your turn to sing your song,
To hold your brush and paint this life- bright red, light blue
Or any colour that you please,
The future unfolds in your palm.

Sail ahead,
Sweetest one,
Shine your light,
To you we sing on this starry night,
Our very special Bride to Be.

A welcome party for...?

After my piano lessons, I told gran'ma that I was off to the princess place for the play practise, but the truth was that we, that is the princess and myself, were off to our secret hideout by the bamboo bridge across the narrow river that flowed by the eastern portion of the jungle. As soon as I reached there, I took out the bottle of tequila that the princess had managed to hide in her jacket and bring out from the cellar at the palace, and a measuring cup. Then I went up on the stool and brought down the big blender which we use at the parties. I checked in the refriegerator's freezer. Sure we had ice and lots of it! And the strawberries seemed fine too. I let them be as they were and took out the jar of strawberry puree which I'd made last evening. That went in first into the blender. Then went in the little content of liquor that's flavoured with sour oranges, I think they call it triple sec. I had to be very careful with the amounts I added. It wouldn't do to tipsy-turvy back home tonight, gran'ma would know all about the play practise!
Last week, gran'ma was teaching them how to make jam at the Ladies Club and I collected the thick pomegranate flavouring syrup noone used and noone noticed. Three tablespoonfuls of it now went into the blender too. Finally the sour mix splash went in. I was anxious that we must not have any less amounts of this favourite drink tonight, so lots of extra was added when I was measuring out the tequila! With all this, finally I ran the blender once before I opened the lid again and added the crushed ice. I ran the blender coupla times more and then just put the blender jar into the refriegerator to remain chill until the party began! My Strawberry Margharita was ready!
The princess was late again. I wasn't surprised a bit, she must be busy dressing herself up for tonight. I just hoped she wouldn't forget to get the pizzas on her way here. Pizzas and Strawberry Margharita... purrrfect! So you still haven't guessed what the party is all about? Well, welcome back to the jungle dear Griz!

She wins :)

He said you are just Crazy
She said you are just lazy
He said but I dont want to
She said I really want you to

He said Don' be a kid
She said so am being the kid
He said no u being the boss
She said ok lets toss

He said tails u lose
She said heads i chose
He said what if i win
She said then we toss again

He said and if i win again
She said then we toss again
He said How long do we toss
She said As long as am the boss

He said you are just Crazy
She said you are just lazy
He said Do I have to change
She said yes your pants must be beige

This Years Love

sing with me ....
David G

This years love had better last
Heaven knows it's high time
And I've been waiting on my own too long
But when you hold me like you do
It feels so right
I start to forget
How my heart gets torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Feeling like you can't go on

Turning circles when time again
It cuts like a knife oh yeah
If you love me got to know for sure
Cos it takes something more this time
Than sweet sweet lies
Before I open up my arms and fall
Losing all control
Every dream inside my soul
And when you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain't this life so sweet

This years love had better last
This years love had better last

So whose to worry
If our hearts get torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Don't you know this life goes on
And won't you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain't this life so sweet

This years love had better last
This years love had better last
This years love had better last
This years love had better last

My seven wonders...

Ok, Where do I begin? From the center? The one in the center was the biggest. He stood upright and alert and ready to tackle and blazing in glory! He was the champion, the mighty emperor of the rest. He would answer for all of them and yet let them have their share of the glory. Yes, that best describes him. On his left was a big one. He fell short of the mighty emperor in his glamour but he still possessed a charm. He held on to his left for support and thrust forward his best foot! The one on the mighty emperor's right might seem a weakling to an unobservant eye. But he had his strength too and he held his shine too. He fell a little overshadowed by the mighty emperor and held to his right for support but it seemed more like he wanted to lend all his shine to the mighty emperor.
On the top left of the emperor, rested a child, a very brillaint child. A child who was too brilliant for his age, a child whom the teachers would say a child only in size. 'Cause his brilliance was quite similar to the rest. The top right was dominated by a superb plump one. His sparkle spoke of a challenge to the rest. When I watched him closely for a long time, I got this feeling that at times he wanted to equal the mighty emperor and set about to challenge him as well.
On the bottom left was the petite beauty. She was perfect in size and structure. Her charm enamoured all and left them wanting more of her. But she seemed wanting to do her very best in her support of the mighty emperor. And finally the bottom right one, oh he, he was a brother of the top right. Plump and cherubic. But there was less of a challenge marked on his self. Here one could sense more of confidence and shine that none dared to challenge. Yeah, I guess that completes all of them. Now what do you say about the diamonds on my engagement ring?

Gif and Diff sing

We hopped and we skipped
We played rounds of chess and scrabble
We got wet in the rains and dripped
We discussed my new orange dress

We ate alu-tikkis and sipped tea
We bought her jute skirt
We went on slides and slipped
We baked less of cake and more of mess

We made castles by the sea
We walked along the bunglows
We ate corn and pressed-chick-peas
We window-shopped for jewellery

We sang melodies in chorus
We danced to many tunes
We took photos together
We prayed for peace and happiness

We went on tonga rides
We sat up for late night movies
We put night-outs just talking
We bought christmas gifts for each other

We hugged and we cried
We joked and we laughed
We parted ways two years back
We never ever met after that

Dreams

Bush moves out

'Careful, now u be very careful with that, that has my wall hangings, all in expensive antique frames...'
'Aha, I knew it, I had totally forgotten to label that box. Now put this label of 'Sandals' over it will you?'
'Ok, this one, this one has six, six beautiful sets of wine glasses, each collected on a special occassion. You know how important that is right?'
'That huge thing is not nothing you know, its my darling sweetie pie, its my night-night baby, its my pink teddy bear, please put in the TLC while you handle him.'
'Look at that arrow please, have the right side up, its my little television. Very expensive to get its parts replaced you know?'
'Now now those suitcases, they have my clothes, you could roll them by the wheels.'
'I think you could take that blue-white bag next, it wont be too heavy, but just dont drop it too hard. Its got paints and stuff.'
'Hey hey, you'll need more hands dragging that big box. Its got my book colection.'
'Hmm yes, stop staring at it, I do intend taking that chair with me, no matter how old and torn out it looks.'
'Yeah, the pots too need to be cleared. Be careful now, the rose plants could be very mean to you if you are rough with them.'
'No leave the fish bowl as it is, I'll take it with me. Just that box from the kitchen left.'
Having completed all her instructions for the packers, she finally latched her room and gave the whole scene one last devouring glance, trying to take in as much as she could, remember as much as she could. Bush was moving out of her home, out of her parents' home to her boyfriend Mash's place and was glad that it took this much effort and thinking, so as to totally avoid those moments of reminiscence and nostalgia. She turned her head to leave as a single tear drop fell into the fish bowl in her hand.

Is that your shoe there?

She had a weird habit, she weaved a story about anything she painted. For instance, there was this shoe, a high heeled black, patent leather shoe, left behind on a dirty staircase. She grew really excited as she neared the painting's completion, for it was time to stare at it from her rocking chair and weave a beautiful story about it, one which noone would ever think of on looking at it. She gave it the final touches, left it to dry and took her seat on the rocking char facing the easel. Hmm... so it looks like Cinderella's shoe left behind, naaawh, Cinderella couldn't have worn black leather to her fancy ball. So it had to be a.... a countess? A countess with very severe looks, very austere. But what now was she doing by the staircase, this dirty staircase. Oh no, the Countess would never have stepped here. It could be her maid, one of her attendants who had a habit of robbing the countess of little things which the countess disregarded and the maid felt they deserved better! Funny eh? So that was it, the Countess's maid robbed her pair of black leather shoes because the Countess kicked them out of her feet after the horrid shoe bite she sufferred when she wore them and the maid felt sure that the shoes deserved only to be taken out gently. So she tucked them into her skirt that evening on her way out and took them home. But her little playful son, thought of them as funny shaped toys and thus playing with one, threw it out of the window and there it now lay on the dirty staircase below the window.
Aaah... she gave out a satisfied gasp and fell asleep.

Tsumi's story

Tsumi, the frog led a solitary existence by the edge of the forest that bordered that little village on its one side. Her typical day began at 11 in the late morning, she hopped out of her bed and trudged slowly, yawning and rubbing her eyes, to the wash basin. After that much delayed shower, followed by a prayer before the tiny idol of the forest Goddess, the lighting of the incense sticks, the ringing of the bells and playing the flute to delight the Goddess, Tsumi set about to clean her home. She kept it really clean, not a thing out of place, not a speck anywhere to be seen, always the odour of strong coffee brewing. Oh yes, thats something Tsumi made really well, strong coffee, her skills especially honed in this regard by her old iranian duck pal. All the garbage dumped by the backyard, so as to attract the flys that could be licked off for lunch and dinner. She had few friends, not too close, not too distant either, just right to share that cuppa coffee and ghost stories with on chill winter evenings and iced tea and recipes with on hot summer afternoons. By the evening she would read her newly purchased book or draw that picture she'd been dreaming of the past few nights or stitch herself a neat, fashionable gown or simply set about shopping. Night time and they would telecast some good play or movie to be watched on television or maybe she would read herself to sleep. Such was Tsumi's life, such was her daily routine. She loved life in this routine, every single day so very similar to the one before, nothing changed. No havoc, no brooding, no change and no feeling. Perfect. She didn't miss anything too. Never had she yearned for that family with whom she would croak together with or for that family to whom she could read bedtime-tales to or for that family who celebrated every birthday with joyful celebrations and games.
All the other frogs had warm families to lick flys together with, families that played hop scotch and families that mated and multiplied. They all had problems and irritations and celebrations and feelings. Tsumi was satisfied with the sheer security of this routine and predictability, she was devoid of all that and yet complete. Strange you would say? Maybe impossible you would say? And yet that was how it was, smooth and rhythmic and absolute routine-like and predictable and appropriate and perfect until... one fine day when a long green snake called Ka swallowed her as she stepped out to lick her lunch-time fly!