Zest for Life!

Psyche

I see happiness behind your eyes,
A surrendering innocence in your smiles,
Excitement about the road you'll take,
Transcending pride in your enchanting style.

Among the favourite of His proud treasures,
You surpass beauty in every measures.
I feel deep immense poetry everywhere about you,
Wallah.. I am stunned to see what you hold inside you.

Steady feet, pillared legs,
Brilliant bright, beyond pure white,
Carved curves, tender nerves,
Your feet a star, on a festive night.

Carved Creamy Calling Calves,
Strong minarets of a masterpiece,
In obeisance I bow down to them,
Nervously touch the softest tease

Transfixed to the power that lies ahead,
The source of the mother, the energy red,
Where lies the genesis of life,
I surrender unto your love so rife.

An untraveled roadway to purity,
Through untouched snowy mighty paths,
A temple within a 'Jasmine forest' dark,
I worship thee with tremendous spark.

Blessed Blissed Bathed in tranquil,
Climbing the valleys, troughs and streams,
Flawless landscape, the expansive Hills,
A slate behind that fulfils all artistic dreams

I breathe harder clutching the supple, softest slopes,
Nearing destiny, the delectable door to all my hopes,
There lie the koel's neck, about which dark the Ganges run,
Where I get lost repeatedly and salvated emerge again.

Your prowess your elegance your elan,
Your grandeur your substance your command,
Shall set the world's trifling limitations freeing,
For Your Zest to Life is unmatched to humble beings.
                                           *

Psyche in the Bath is a painting by John William Godward, an English painter from the Neo-Clasicist Era. Displayed at the Western Block of the Salar Jung museum, Hyderabad, India it is one of my favorite part of the Museum and a painting that stops time for me.

The other works of JW Godward are as compelling. www.johnwilliamgodward.org. My poem above is a tribute to the most beautiful woman and Godward's vision of Psyche.
An Irony : JW Godward committed suicide at the age of 61.

Lutyen's Sunday!

These pictures are from my pilgrimages to the Mecca of cyclists. 

Pedallers coming from far and near pay a Quixotic obeisance to the monument with a hand on their heart and head held high. The Rajpath connecting to the South and North Blocks become the perfect complexes adorning the Tall Sanctum Santorum. 

Calm, Pride, Honour, Favored, Gratitude, Bedazzled are some of the feelings buzzing in the tunnel connecting the heart and the mind while trudging through the long road on the two wheels.

 Baby Eagle flies high, fends for prey, the early hours of day

Foreboding Foliage 

The Raj'path' to Freedom 

"O kaka.. Haule Haule", the Sardarji roared

Roxanne

Us at the 'Ministry of Magic' 

The spirit of India Gate never sleeps, passionate pilgrims like us thrive in its enigma and ecstasy.

Hyderabad to Harinagar; Himalayas Beckon

Golconda bids a farewell, Coco's Tara wishes me well and The Himalayas await

I fought against the urge to fit Hampi in the Headline. It does bring relief to those who know me well I am sure. (I reckon, apparently almost everyone knows me well.) Hampi had become another Home in Southern India in the four Humble yet Highly Haywire years in Hyderabad. The mysterious land has a major value contribution to my life's learning and is a cherished immeasurable asset which I carried to the North.   

The mighty Hampi (Vithalla Temple campus)

Hunooz Dilli Door Ast (Abhi Dilli Door Hai / Delhi is yet far away) was my state whenever it was the decision making time. While I knew Delhi is going to be as enterprising and enriching, I always shirked to leave Hyderabad. Of course it is the warmth of the city which never wanted me to withdraw the comforts and the contentment. Besides that, it was the humanity in the city which held me. Friendships sprung up to become Families pampering you and not just taking care. The others you met through the day ensured you to maintain a decent emotional quotient emanating through their honest talk (includes small, medium and large) and enchanting smiles. I wouldn't be a racist to say that the Telugus have the most candid and frank smiles, sincere as well. 

Ab Dilli Door Nahi (Delhi is Not Far Anymore) happened so immediately. I had to chose over nostalgia and the existing. There was so much of the present that I had to handle and do justice to. The destined gullible friends and family who's character and nature I share could never have enough of the time I could squeeze out. I owe them a bond forever.

My cycle has taught me to keep pedaling lest I'll fall, lose balance so to say. So is our duty in this world. To keep moving. In my case probably not like the gypsies. Unlike them solitary souls, I'll be held by those who have been generous and touched my life. For I have deep regard and gratitude for every one who has helped me learn or unlearn or teach me or just be there for me, or simply heard me mercilessly sing. 

Now nestled in Delhi's Harinagar, with all enthusiasm and the Wisdom of the South, I ready myself to another set of journeys. To newer meadows and pastures. Among these it excites me the most to scale the Himalayas where I hail from. Who knows where lies a Serendipity! (Chuckles)

PS : I have found myself responding in Telugu, "oka nimisham maa", or Hyderabadi, "Hou ji.. Aatun". I missed my daily quota of Telugu from various sources and saw a reality show on Zee Telugu and Maa TV. Of course I do listen to songs from the recent Rowdy Fellow and my favourite Happy Days. I with fanatic excitement watched Bahubali's first trailer. Super Mama!! And I have made an effort to open my mind and heart to Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift. 

Here's a song I dedicate to everyone at Hyderabad.