Shuvashree Chowdhury's Blog, page 34

The Chennai Deluge

 

The Chennai Deluge

I awoke to sound of a light drizzle that morning,

Looking ahead to a gorgeous and reflective day;

Leaves outside my bedroom window quivered,

Raindrops slapped their tender, coy, shiny face.

Birds were all quiet, crows tucked in their nests,

The cats, dogs wary of rain over the last month;

But I warmed to the last showers of this season,

Awaiting a green teabag, infuse into a china cup.

But by afternoon when rain still bashed steadily,

Spouting my balcony, drowning streets in front,

I wished desperately, for heaven to stop its play,

Or was it an overflow of its tempestuous wrath?

Beyond evening when the torrent overwhelmed,

Then nightlong its muscular, wild tirade stomped:

Next morning I awoke wary, to yet incessant rain,

A moment of pounding, I could no longer stand.

By now rain streamed amok, in overflowing rivers;

Running havoc on homes, offices, common lives:

Clogging roads knee-high, marooning who hiked;

Raising a storey high, strapping families at home.

The airport turned into a cascade of stranded lives,

For those tired, hungry, yet expectant of their fate:

Where could they turn, when tarmac, streets a sea?

After all, the terminal they huddled in was haven.   

The army, navy, welfare organisations dispatched,

With boats, equipment, food, garments, humanity:

To rescue those who clung on patiently to life posts,

Through social media, TV channels, to resuscitate.

This mayhem, rain wrought as I watched in horror,

On television, over filter coffee along with breakfast;

Could this be destruction of a twenty-four hour rain:

That’s beautiful, nurturing, one of nature’s marvels?

Even as I wondered at the destruction, loss of lives,

My attempt to step out of home, after I surrendered;

I decided to cook a meal, from grocery I had stocked,

But to my dismay, LPG cylinder would not hold up.

I cooked lunch and dinner over an electric hotplate,

But by now, phones lines and internet were all down;

Then as I tried to stay connected on TV to the world,

The power’s off, severing all ties: but I still have HOPE.

 

Poetry with Prakriti 2015 – Schedule

 

The entire schedule is in the link:  Poetry with Prakriti 2015 – Schedule Photo

I Wear My Poet’s Hat Over Again: Am immensely pleased to share with you that in the Prakriti Foundation international poetry festival to be held in Chennai from 2nd to the 11 of December, I will be reading my poetry at the venues enlisted below.

Am honoured to share the dais/platform with all the reputed poets named below in order as on the roster, many of whose work you know well, more than you do mine – except off course for my subjecting you to my poems since I started writing publically in 2007/08.

I take this opportunity to thank each one of you, many of you here who has read and appreciated my poems since my first one, thus encouraged and brought me to this stage of august poets today.

Friends in Chennai please do come by, will be lovely to meet you, (college entries will be for students but please share this with your friends at these colleges) even if you do come primarily to hear your favourite poets read and to say a ‘hello’ to me.

The entire schedule is in the link Poetry with Prakriti 2015 – Schedule Photo so you may go along to hear other poets as well around town and I’ll meet you randomly at many places…So do look out!

2nd Dec: Alliance Francaise (7 Pm) http://madras.afindia.org/

Keki Daruwalla, Bina Sarkar, Charles Stein, Arundathi Subrmaniam, Shuvashree Chowdhury, Prema Revathi & Kalki Subramaniam

3rd Dec: Shilpi Beasant Nagar. (6 Pm) https://web.facebook.com/SHILPI-148058523556/timeline

Ajinkya Sheneva, Kalki Subramaniam & Shuvashree Chowdhry

8th Dec: JBAS 9AM http://www.jbascollege.edu.in/

MGR Janaki (11.30 am) http://www.mgrjanaki.ac.in/

Shuvashree Chowdhury & Parvathy Nayar

9th Dec: WCC (9AM) http://wcc.edu.in/#

Raghavendra Madhu & Shuvashree Chowdhury

Please follow this space/link (will be updated shortly) pertaining to the event, it has details about the dates, poet’s profile, and venue of the readings:http://poetrywithprakriti.in/

 

Walking Through Vulnerability

 

If you’re afraid of vulnerability…you’ll never cross over to strength: This is in love and all things else.

I’ve evolved into the position of courage, from being one of the most timid girls you might have ever met. This is from a lifetime of never shirking a series of risks, both personal and professional.

I’ll give you an example…After a year working with an airline, this is after one year before that with one of the most reputed travel companies, when I thought there was no scope of growth for me, I went and applied to a Bank…This was to prove to myself, that in spite of my grave fear of numbers and apparent weakness in Maths, even though I was a commerce graduate, I could get through.

At the final interview with the Vice President, I was asked some tough mathematical question…Which I obviously felt challenged in answering spontaneously.

So I bravely replied…somewhat like this (I don’t recall the exact question): “You add this to that, multiply that with this, and then divide with this, then you subtract that”. I looked at the VP confidently through the process, even as he looked at me curiously. I assumed he was going to show me the door right thereafter. But to my sheer amazement, he was absolutely charmed and immediately confirmed my appointment at no other than Bank of America…at a rather large and extremely busy branch…No I’m not making up this story. Ha-ha

I looked at him in shock and he said to me: “I like your confidence…and we have calculators to get to the final figure’s anyway…I liked your presence of mind.”

I then worked at BankAm for 6 months and came back to the airline, as over and above getting bored at the Bank, there was a bigger opportunity I was offered at the airline. The VP at the Bank gave me a month to think over whether I’d like to return, but I didn’t, I stayed with the airline.

But those 6 months changed my life forever…it took away my fear of numbers, gave me so much confidence. This is just one of a series of crazy things I’ve done and each time I did them I could jump a higher hurdle next time.

So if you think I was crazy to quit my career and start writing a book…You have no idea what else I’ve done to build this courage. It’s like lifting weights…you build strength/courage with every increase in weight.

 

PS-This post (in the link) will elaborate my fear of numbers and how deep rooted it was: https://shuvashreeghosh.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/what-emotional-strength-means-to-me/

 

Also, if you keep searching for happiness, you will miss all of it on the way: It’s like when you’re driving up to a hill station…It’s usually the drive up there that is more beautiful, has the most amazing sights, than the final destination which is just another town.

Truly At Home – The Essence Of Durga Puja

Durga Puja is soon coming along,

Bringing with it cheer and song;

My heart’s been craving for long

for festivities: Oh! I’ve been forlorn.

New clothes I’ll wear on all four days,

Changing twice, maybe thrice a day;

With family and friends I’ll hang out,

visiting pandals, eating throughout.

The sound of dhaak awakening in me,

Reverence for the strength of Ma Chandi;

The smell of dhuno through my senses,

wafting in with the dhunuchi dances.

Shakha, paula, kangan on my wrists,

with sindoor, my long hair I’ll rift;

Bangla rock bands and Rabindra Sangeet,

will be the music, to which I’ll retreat.

Mughlai parathas, tele bhaja, and kathi rolls

are staples along with the pandal’s khichuri bhog;

The Mahabhoj I might have at my puja pandal,

but it’s Chelo Kebab of Petercat I’ll fondly recall.

Kishore Kumar, Hemanta Mukherjee, Manna Dey

Will be the backdrop when the pandals I parade;

Sandhya and Arati Mukhopadhyay too will sing,

A true Bengali spirit in me once again to bring.

They’ll soon be here, those happy days now,

As I’ll again be so much a part of this town;

Kolkata has always meant home to me,

Where Ma Durga is truly at home, like me.

  

The Ex-Factor

The Ex-Factor

He will remember you fondly,

When from his life you’ve gone.

She might call you when blue,

When her current love isn’t true.

He will think of all you did for him,

As peace from his life has slipped.

She will find you the most appealing,

When with tantrums she is dealing.

He will once again desire only you,

When you’ve no such suicidal whim.

Once you have walked out their door,

They might see your worth once more.

If I were you, I’d never walk in reverse:

Nostalgia’s fragrant, picking-up a shrew

PS: This poem is inspired by this old song (in the link below) that I heard recently on radio, after long :) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfJDT97bXHs&feature=youtu.be

The Thorn In My Heart

The Thorn In My Heart

There’s a thorn stuck in my heart,

It’s seeping my life’s blood away;

Yet I allow it inside of me to stay,

As pulling it out will augment pain.

With every breath, blood it splays,

Blinding me from my true vocation;

Yet I let the thorn inside me remain,

Till courage to pull it out I may gain.

Then one day you walk past again,

It’s destiny, only a glimpse we gain-

Of each other, as we strain in vain;

The thorn in my heart pricks again.

On purpose did you avoid my gaze?

Was it so your heart wouldn’t race?

From time we had with god’s grace:

Lost now to new lives with no trace?

I must pluck the thorn fast as I can,

Free my heart and mind over again;

I’d find a new love faster, wouldn’t I:

Only if I get rid of that thorn insane? 

PS – This poem is inspired by the beautiful thought and the words above…I liked the idea so much, I mean – the kite string one, that I reread it several times…it resulted in these lines of my own, which also take into account the thoughts below :)

By The Ganges

By The Ganges.

In driving down the winding mud road,

An endless yellow carpet, as if, I strode;

Sun glistened on me through tall trees,

Lining the slim avenues I crisscrossed.

Here cattle grazed, wiry men with spades ambled,

Their tanned women drew water from earthen wells;

As bare bodied children played in happy abandon-

Inside of the bare brick houses I curiously gazed.

The yellow carpet swayed in the soft warm breeze,

As bountiful ripe mustard plantations they were;

Though life seemed peaceful and picturesque here,

Yet, tailors, grocers, bazaars, all here there were.

The red patches visible over saffron expanses,

Were rose plantations amidst the mustard fields;

Tall trees above them, as gallant soldiers stood-

Shielding roses, as their ladies, from rain and sun.

Just as in this village, one’s life is so well guarded,

From the complexities of the stealthy human mind;

Food, clothe, shelter, and love, the only wants here,

Were interwoven, even if crudely, into life and time.

Sprawling water bodies, amidst thatched huts here,

Are fed by the Ganges flowing quietly peacefully by;

It’s five kilometres away from Kanpur I’ve driven,

To the quaint ‘Dhori Ghat’ – village, by the Ganges.

The loud gong of a bell now goes off in the distance,

Pronouncing the river temple must be somewhat near:

The monkeys clamouring over trees that abounded –

As I stood by the river, notified me their feed was near.

The temple priest performed the daily elaborate rituals,

As I bowed in complete obeisance with the local people;

The simple folk looked at me with assertive side glances:

As dressed different, was I also amongst God’s people?

Staring into the Ganges later I solemnly wondered,

Why wasn’t city life as peaceful and simple as here?

Everything we need, we have aplenty and still more,

Yet do we sleep sound, as do simple people here?

A Morning Walk

A Morning Walk 

As I strolled the rain-drenched beach,

With varied seashells strewing my feet;

They prickled my jute-sandaled heels,

Awakening my intellect to sight and feel.

 

The waves, they crashed loud on my right,

Frothy they were, the sea looked as white;

Coconut, palm trees, rustled to my left side,

Birds manifested them, chirping loud, wild.

 

The sun, yet didn’t seem remotely to show,

But awaiting it, the sky did lay out its glow;

As fissures developed through dark clouds,

Light crept on me slowly, it was dainty now.

 

Then suddenly there came a burst of light,

As I looked in awe, I was suffused in dawn;

The birds, now flew wild, chirped in delight,

Waves crashed noisily, as sun then arrived.

 

I walked on still – a steady, slow pace now,

Digging my feet into limp, wet, steady sand;

For I wanted to reach far, as sight would go,

Curious to view what lay behind nature’s fore.

 

When suddenly I reached an L shaped curve,

There the beach came to an abrupt, sharp halt.

I walked on further, towards the big boulders,

To there, whereupon the sea flowed sideward.

 

It was here, in flowing through green woods,

An elegant river kissed the dandy sea’s lips;

Together they stood in earnest, tight embrace,

Even though from them differences emanate.

 

The sea gurgled, playfully wild waves lashed,

As serene, the river flanked by woods, gushed;

I stood above, watching their copious spree:

The river blushed, as stroking it was the sea.

 

Yet they both retained their distinctive charm,

One rough, the other tender: both so in love.

As I walked back leisurely in the soft sunlight-

Nature’s lovemaking was intense on my mind.

 

It’s possible to love profusely, be free, distinct,

Two people in love needn’t lose individuality.

The sea by now was calm, the birds gone quiet;

 Uniqueness in love: from nature I’d surmised.

 

      

On A Morning Walk

On A Morning Walk

As I strolled the rain-drenched beach,

With varied seashells strewing my feet;

They prickled on my jute-sandaled heels,

Awakened my intellect to sight and feel.

The waves, they crashed loud on my right,

Frothy they were, the sea looked as white;

Coconut, palm trees, rustled to my left side,

Birds manifested them, chirping loud, wild.

The sun, yet didn’t seem remotely to show,

But awaiting it, the sky did lay out its glow;

As fissures developed through dark clouds,

Light crept on me slowly, was dainty now.

Then suddenly there came a burst of light,

As I looked on in awe, I was bathed in dawn;

The birds, they flew wild, chirped in delight,

Waves crashed noisily, as sun then arrived.

I walked on still – a steady, slow pace now,

Digging my feet into limp, wet, steady sand;

For I wanted to reach far, as sight would go,

Curious to view what lay behind nature’s fore.

When suddenly I reached an L shaped curve,

There beach came to an abrupt, sharp halt;

I walked on further, towards the boulders,

To there, whereupon sea flowed sideward.

It was here, flowing through green woods,

An elegant river kissed the dandy sea’s lips;

Together they stood in warm tight embrace,

Even though from them differences emanate.

The sea gurgled, playfully wild waves lashed,

As serene, the river flanked by woods gushed;

I stood above, watching their copious spree,

The river blushed, as stroking it was the sea.

Yet they both retained their distinct charms,

One rough, other tender: but both so in love.

As I walked back leisurely in the soft sunlight-

Nature’s lovemaking was intense on my mind.

It’s possible to love profusely, be free, distinct,  

Two people deeply in love needn’t lose identity.

The sea was by now calm, the birds gone quiet;

Uniqueness in love: from nature I’d surmised.

      

A New Rain.

The clouds gently glided,

As tender leaves dripped;

Ruffled wet crows shook,

Mynas crooned transfixed.

A pigeon hopped my balcony-

Over the railing dripping wet;

Streaks of soft lightning tinted-

Leaves in varied green shades.

The sky again turned all grey,

Fresh clouds floated, a haze;

Then came a torrent of rain,

In the breeze leaves regaled.

I took in all the varied sights,

Yet not a drop of rain have I felt.

I’m shielded well from the damp,

On my senses a canvas I draped.

As early tomorrow I’ll go away,

This rain I won’t long see again;

As a fresh life cajoles me now,

So a different rain I must crave.

PS: Just wrote this on the balcony of my mother’s house in Calcutta, and in conclusion was the sight of this rainbow in the picture above…that I’m viewing even as I post this :)