HAIKU

IN

COLOURS

It was a wet day, unusual in Chennai in the month of July. I was in the company

of a few pigeons that landed not so gracefully on my earthen tiled terrace and

walked inquisitively peeping between pots of plants.

I sketched a corner of my garden that in the

early evening light appeared

like a luminous emerald

The blue wrapped my feet

in the warm pool of sunshine

where I sat reading.

Under a large raintree between a crop of rocks

where a fountain flows I saw this

glorious cluster of cosmos,

wild asters and sunflowers.

When the sky blushes magenta and butterflies in the garden settle

down for the night, I float flowers, light aromatic cones and meditate.

Yesterday I meditated on the tantalising green bottle

and the brick hued gerbera.

I celebrate new year by buying lamps. I got a little adventurous this year,

wanted to bring drama to a corner of my house with the green lamp shades.

Placed on a polished teak surface the lamps throw reflections in the depths

of the wood.

There is nothing like coming home to an empty house after a busy day at

office. Such an evening, when silence hangs in the drapes of the curtains,

urges me to parenthesize my day in quietness. I make a cup of milky tea,

read Pamuk or just do nothing at all.

The dragon fly that visited my room carried rainbow on its glassy wings.

Did the world go dark when I hosted her?

Today morning as I had my tea I meditated on this tree.

Earth tilts slumberously,

the sun lands first on my terrace

among the flowers, bees and butterflies.

Indifferent to the glow that licks the wall,

the night tosses in purple dreams.

Dawn flounces her rosy breast,

spreads on the earth her ruby encrusted skirt.

Day mesmerised forgets to ride his blue chariot.

Ushas, the Dawn is the beautiful daughter of Prajapati. The rishis have

turned poets galvanised by the beauty of dawn in the Indian subcontinent.

They use sensuous images to describe this tantalising maiden who is

desired by all gods.

Inspired by the Vedic hymns I call the pink candle holder Ushas, I light the

candle in the early hours of the day. The blue candle holder is her silent

lover.