Dead End- Stone # 53

somebody just picked up and left
no goodbyes, no farewells


the onus on those left behind
to trudge through the quicksand of life

(image modified from original pic at :https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K7iBiz2tUZUXDRXD_-j9bMz9I1-ys_e5PmkATdVErGupPiDajvs8qijQctytfElBM87fP0Qk9UWYrn8p7wCltk8GWySCXFfOX6z0WhfmNGKT8nyjvTHfTWmgFvaPZVvWgyBgcIfhgmc/s1600/dead-end.jpg)

Lonely Journey- Stone # 52

Lonely Journey


Every person trapped in a bubble
caved in by diaphanous walls
A fleeting illusion of togetherness


(modified image as per original copyright at: http://chrisluck.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/man-in-a-bubble.jpg)

Viscous Time - Stone # 51

Viscous time 


The days did not stop
crawling from one to another
each moment heavier than the last


(image courtesy as per original copyright at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnR1GYU0hNyZDIiY92jdZdnvcVSp-0rKC6XEkdNIQo3e-EdcM1OKdgkQvplA4gP2oU29rANtBOjVHpBG6eYXXQtZ-f-Pr3CbIw6j3WnQnBu34LksovVRHYEYHmzCIx7lKmCLYHsSZOKfU/s320/Hourglass_%2528PSF%2529.png)

Brimming over -Stone # 50

Brimming Over 

Sparkling rivulet
spluttered forth
in unruly candour


(image courtesy as per original copyright at : http://www.treehugger.com/water-splash-in-fountain.jpg)

Kaleidoscope- Stone # 49

Kaleidoscope

Vibrant collage
of coloured wings
holding court mid heavens


( image courtesy as per original copyright at: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/mambots/content/multithumb/thumbs/350.0.1.0.16777215.0.stories.large.2010.09.13.MONARCHS-FLYING-80322715.jpg)

Gift Unwrapped- Stone # 48

Gift Unwrapped 

Wielding scissors
Slashing at cellophane
Mounting expectation
Childish Glee!


(image courtesy as per original copyright at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUosJbYcOoyuEm7_htXvCPAd4H0qjhkh1fl3XHjshOtqthy5jU9wDSZtiFs3To1wS6YFTxa9YaRKMra9Zs8Yk50xlzYSRf3k6qrM6tyIKsXCC1uS63E94l7GyTRp-TSSHI7FkEkLSPvoU/s400/gift.jpg)

Trapped- Stone # 47

Trapped 


Wizened faces
Shrivelled bodies
clutching to vacant souls
seeking to escape

(image courtesy as per original copyright at :http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIT37rk14rTlYA07Lk_pybChRNM_CjYQQXHPP2gIRMJWawhEuxdw)

Pandemonium- Stone # 46

Pandemonium 

A cauldron of crows
circling high in the skies
creating a clamour

(image courtesy:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpGTrRvZKIUdb4JAzTdIIeIhbYmWDjSIdloP3EAlRHxopLhSF6bsRQJqSPoDTJ41xQl8YRsRorTb0ruT60mZKC0enVXssI8EvF5sz63BbbfCA4hQQLZL4HgiU5Jt0EcUvuFq0vW5kYPuA/s400/crows+flying+wqed+org.jpg)

Mar 25th- Stone 45

Stupor

Sitting, waiting, watching
another time, another place
Unbelievable, Unreal...

(pic courtesy: http://inkindle.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/waiting.jpg?w=300&h=183)

Mar 21st- Stone 44

Reverberations


some words,uttered before,
listened to,responded to,
then set aside...
the ripples remain after
the moment is long gone
and the hangover lingers...


(image courtesy: http://www.itsbeach.com/circles.jpg)

Mar 19th- Stone 43

Unavowed

Scattered thoughts, baffled feelings
Was it really so long ago
seemed like just yesterday
Nothings's changed?


(image courtesy: http://blogs.sun.com/factotum/resource/confusion.jpg)

Mar 17th- Stone 42

Survival

Precious voices
Beyond seas
Across continents
sustenance ensured


(image courtesy: http://www.whatistruth.info/blessings332.jpg)

Mar 13th- Stone 41

Fury Incarnate 


The earth moved, 
the ocean in a frenzy,
surged forth to swallow land
A nation ravaged...

Mar 11th- Stone 40

Metal in Bloom

Round and round the electric wires
leaves, buds and flowers sprouted!

(pic courtesy: http://www.holoweb.net/~liam/pictures/2007-04-raleigh/pages/img_1813/img_1813-333x500.jpg)

Mar 10th- Stone 39

Fine tuning

Tuning in and tuning out 
the static grating on the ears
And then at a precise frequency
clear as a bell!

Mar 8th- Stone 38

Nimble feet


The striped squirrel sprinted sprightly 
dodging the jagged glass edges 
of the compound wall.




(image pic courtesy:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zO3wJwNFWroyVAZc8TuDfrjhSmSbxyMY8Oi1bd73XQxbTRELjfb6JdP7Z1hjC8WY8FSDXcKKBevedryDgM4QuGArgmro3qFSSvDCd94rPbNWTKktQ8biHxREc2T_WBSKQnhgN90JjyU/s400/DEL+Apr10+3-striped+Squirrel+01.jpg)

Mar 7th- Stone 37

Salangai Oli
( Rapture, Blessings )


Quivering bells on 
poised feet
waiting in the wings
for the music to begin...

(image courtesy: http://www.indian-instruments.com/percussion/images/bharatnatyam_ghungroos_k4.jpg)

Mar 6th- Stone 36

Peek-a-boo

The evening sun peering through the 
gossamer strands of the cobweb drapery

(image courtesy:http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/328397259_9c64045e96.jpg)

Mar 5th- Stone 35

Once Upon a Time... 

Lines creasing the face
sparse greys adorning the pate
knees bent, unsteady gait
teeth stained and broken
Eyes misty in past glory...

Mar 3rd- Stone 34

Looking at the larger picture- Mar 3rd



 Zoom in and you get enmeshed in
 the intricate warps , wefts and hues
Stand afar and the image emerges with clarity!


(image courtesy: http://www.absoluterugs.com/pics-rugs/tapestry-antique/antique-wall-tapestry-28064.jpg)

Mar 2nd- Stone 33

If Only- Mar 2nd


For a glimpse of  Lost Souls in
The star spangled sapphire silk 
stretching endlessly...


(image courtesy: http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/125279/fairy-starry-night-sky.gif)

Mar 1st- Stone 32

Reflected Glory- Mar 1st


On the wall, behind the cloth rack, was a round slice of golden light!
The mirror on the opposite wall shimmered in reflected Glory!

Feb 28th- Stone 31

Tongue tantaliser- Feb 28th

the savoury was first crushed,
sprayed with sizzling chickpea gravy
topped with green, brown and red sauces
garnished with finely chopped tomatoes,onions,
sev and coriander sprigs...

(image courtesy:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jBBWyKGaBGQ/TCGib704JHI/AAAAAAAAAeA/v7-xhT-Vt6Y/s400/Samosa+Chaat+Ingredients.gif)

Feb 27th- Stone 30

Homeward bound- Feb 27th


Flapping wings, their paths intersecting, 
they bound home wards,
far into the Twilight Orange mist...

(image courtesy:http://www.hopnews.com/geese_sunset.jpg)

Feb 26th- Stone 29

Magic of Sewing- Feb 26th

Fabric, thread, needle
Measuring, drawing,cutting, sewing
Hand on wheel, 
feet on treadle
from whole to bits and then whole again...





(image courtesy: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgom61-ORlMUdNhbbWyl2lVUKo8WHV9iLdsM9HT31svFTfF0gjg11vrTduYpJA0iRMTATKr-49Lsv5_H1QasP7fJaeaoEA9eWjTNMrdvv8pfpTATkbQ-O-o2H9LBuvhGGG_UyDN8cUivc8/s1600/At_the_sewing_machine-765932_49105755.jpg)

Feb 25th- Stone 28

Scaffolding- Feb 25th


Today under the blazing sun 
with cement and dust all around, 
some romping about, between wobbly planks and thin air 
and some perched precariously between land and the skies...
to create inviolable fenced in spaces 
for strangers Tomorrow...


(image courtesy: http://www.aluminiumscaffold.net/wp-content/themes/thesis_17/custom/rotator/scaffolding%20header.jpg)

Feb 24th- Stone 27

In the classroom- Feb 24th 

Edifying synergy, Ebullient creativity

Vivacious voices, tethered down by timidity

waiting for that gentle nudge of encouragement and succour

to surge forth in abandon...

(picture courtesy: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/25/images/2008112557730201.jpg)

Feb 23rd- Stone 26

Playing Truant? -Feb 23rd

Yesterday the sun was blazing,today nowhere to be seen
the wind is blowing chill,the clouds have rallied
will it rain or won't it?

(image courtesy-http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/375518699_bf2d7ea0df.jpg)

Feb 22nd- Stone 25

Chock-a-block- Feb 22nd

The yellow and black giant bug
bursting at the seams 
with its precious cargo
tottered into the precincts
chuckles and screams heard from afar
one by one they spilled onto the outside...

(picture courtesy:http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/14/images/2008061461320301.jpg)

Feb 21st- Stone 24

Tidal wave- Feb 21st

some days the waters are still, no ripples , placid and calm
easy to watch from the shore
some days there are small ripples, causing hardly any flutter
easy to remain ashore watching

and then there are those days

its windy, there are eddies

swirling and turbulent

and now sucked into the vortex

struggling to stay afloat...

(pictures courtesy: http://cdn.webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Moskstraumen.jpg
http://cdn.webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Naruto.jpg)

Feb 20th- Stone 23

Illusion -Feb 20th

During some random moment
My vacant gaze falls upon the mosaic tiles 
shapes and colours emerge swimming languidly 
creating a splattered collage...


(photo courtesy:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUbB7GgukBYUKc2lJnUP92MKiUGqSMvofwteDxUUCT84X2Mv292EEzUVwxo9iEGLSWGemm44mYcHTKuNpfrF5Uz-fsCcOAGVHOQJg7X64dGaW1LkOZtZxxKavTpwKR-nF_mFFPWO-Wdok/s400/pompeii+mosaic+tile+floor.JPG)

Feb 19th- Stone 22

The Train- Feb 19th


The rumbling gets nearer
There is a slight tremor
A fleeting vision of windows,doors and faces
Yet another cargo of humanity
racing to reach somewhere...

( picture courtesy: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uae-pHpqdaQ/0.jpg)

Feb 18th- Stone 21

Lull - Feb 18th

The night is still
The trees and leaves are still
Even the air is still
Has somebody pressed the Pause button of Life? 

Feb 17th- Stone 20

Reach of the Sun Blades - Feb 17th

Blades of sunshine
searing through the coconut fronds 
in the distant grove...
scorching the doorstep...

( photo courtesy : http://coastcaribbeanimages.com/photographs/473/disp_473.jpg)

Feb 16th- Stone 19

Whats Brewing!- Feb 16th

The spatula slicing through the  splattering stew 

a pinch of this, a dash of that... 

simmering low

the aroma just right

not too pungent, not too bland...

Feb 15th- Stone 18

Strangers- Feb 15th

For a brief slice of time
Two people share the same space
No glances exchanged
No words uttered
The bus comes
And they part forever... 

Feb 14- Stone 17

Seeking Warmth- Feb 14th 

The sun tracing geometric patterns 
on the floor through the lattice of the windows...
making it just a tad bit warmer...

(photo courtesy : original copyright :http://admin2.clikpic.com/stevepcox/images/window_shadow01jpg.jpg)

Feb 13- Stone 16

All that remains- Feb 13th

Memories trapped in the mind
Tears trapped in the eyes
Sobs choked in the throat...

Image trapped in a frame!

Feb 12 - Stone 15

Aflame - Feb 12th

Crackling sounds
Blinding smoke
Licking flames
Burning leaves...

(image courtesy: http://www.deforestationaroundtheworld.com/uploads/5/7/2/3/5723602/1293683.jpg?390)

Feb 11th- Stone 14

Blessed Oblivion- Feb 11th


Under the skies, below the over bridge
covered by a tattered sheet, feet sticking out
flies hovering...
blissfully asleep.

Feb 10th Stone 13

The Day After-Feb 10th

The wedding is over

The Day after is also gone

The bride has left

All that remains is the withered festoon

and some scattered rice and turmeric on the floor...

(Right from the beginning of the project we've been encouraging you to really look, and listen and so on and record what you discover. The best of the stones are ones that put us straight in touch with the world, often in a fresh way. In the best small stones, the writer is almost invisible.

In a good poem the poet disappears. That's what the struggle with language is all about. The point is that in the finished poem you don't lay yourself bare. 

Reading the above, I stopped short! I went back to look at my stones...and there in almost every single stone, 'I' loomed large! It was all about me...I was hardly 'invisible'. My writing has always been about laying myself bare!! Where do I conceal myself as I look, listen and perceive? Interesting, challenging...)

Feb 9th Stone 12

Aliment - Feb 9th

She had her child on her lap, chattering to her about birds and trees, 
distracting her, so that another mouthful is swallowed...

  ( image courtesy: http://www.exoticindiaart.com/oils/mother_yasoda_feeding_butter_to_kanhaiya_or78.jpg)

Feb 8th - Stone 11

Stumped- Feb 8th

The whiteness of the page
taunting me with its emptiness
I strive to colour it with 
letters, words, phrases
The page is no longer empty for sure,
But now its shallowness 
persists on mocking me...

Feb 7th Stone 10

Fragility Of Humor- Feb 7th

Grains of irritation
Grating the mind
Patience wearing thin
Edges getting frayed
leaving the visage threadbare

Feb 6th Stone 9

Bonded/Bound?- Feb 6th


The bride looked visibly nervous clutching somebody's arm . 
All eyes were on her, everyone eager to see how she looked, what she wore...
The ceremonies progressed solemnly.
The priest said that today was a Blessed occasion, 
Because here was a bond being forged with family sanction!?  
May the couple be happy together
The veterans smiled wearily...
The feast was delicious
For now, that's enough. 


( image courtesy: http://www.newdelhirestaurant.com/images/wedding_hands.jpg)

Feb 5th Stone 8

Growing up- Feb 5th

He leaned up from the seat in front
looking at us unabashedly
Ah! the pleasures of childhood innocence!
Soon he'll learn to mask his curiosity...
And learn to look through veiled  glances...

Feb 4th- Stone 7

Timely Awakening- Feb 4th

The breeze lashed harshly 
On came the ear plugs
The song in the bus was now a pleasant muffle.
The eyes drooping, The head  nodding, The lips half open
Welcome daze... 
Suddenly startled awake!
Time to alight! 

Feb- 3rd- Stone 6

Fever Ravaged Face


Her sunken  cheeks
flushed an angry red
burning with fever
Her swollen eyes struggled to flicker open..

Feb 2nd- Stone 5

The Silver line- Feb 2nd


The mercury crawls up the 
tube along the calibrated walls
of the glass thermometer...
I await judgement...

February 1st. Stone # 4

Looking or Seeing?

Paying attention to One Thing?
 I look at one thing, 
a hundred thoughts come traipsing in
 through the window of my eyes into my mind. 
I begin at one point an end up elsewhere. 
Sometimes the eyes, they perform 
the biological function of looking 
but seeing happens with my mind, 
and sometimes the thought falls 
deeper into the soul.  
The thoughts get stirred in words and language
 and the clamour of mute voices silence the world outside.
 Then they die an unknown death 
without having sought to be expressed ...
I keep looking without seeing...