Beyond the Woods
It would be quite a thrill
To venture beyond this towering hill
I’ve heard so much of the plains
They must lie beyond the hill range
So much I seek but little I’ve strived
Much procrastination, many a sighs
Let not my frame discredit my quest
My untiring wings will stand the test
So let me boldly launch myself
The sky beckons, I’ll begin my ascent
*****
Auli* In Spring
Joyous green stirring to life
Moist now the once frozen blade of grass
The trace of snow will breathe its last.
Distant barks of sheep dogs
announce expectant herds en route
Wild boars have returned to burrow for choicest roots
That dancing yellow is the first butterfly
Not for long for many more will arrive
To witness a flower bed come alive
A new season, a new endeavor
As skier I sped down a glistening slope
Now, as trekker, I trudge up a meadow
I pause to submit to the spring caress
And for one rare moment, feel at ease
Like a lover’s perfume is the reigning breeze
*Auli, Chamoli District, Garhwal, Uttarakhand
******
Clouds
The first signs of monsoon
Summer bids adieu too soon
Look, there emerge at a leisurely pace
Enveloping the landscape
From a corner of the blue frame
Inevitable clouds of grey
Its not that I dislike rains
I’m not the one to refrain
From frolic in a good shower
But I rue the end of a glorious summer…
****
Vantage Point
I survey the country side
Perched atop my vantage point
Under a canopy of gentle blue
My brown is a tranquil hue
And the gentle breeze eggs me to
Touch a cruising altitude
Rest assured, unsuspecting preys
Today is not a predatory day
For all my worldly worries lie
Beyond this speck of time
*******
Cupid Exults:
My bowstring’s twang is yet to die,
Still distant, the first lovelorn sigh
But I’m sure the flèche lodged in her heart
Will embellish her, will set her apart
Behold her eyes, their promise of love
This will be my masterwork
Photo - Ajay S Nabial
Spring
The garden revels in a merry breeze
Flora and fauna are at ease
The gardener appears content
At the splendid flower beds
A pageant of impressive hues
As many more colors brew
Ready to surface one fine morning
To dazzle, without a warning
To blue, green and such hues mellow
I add a whiff of yellow
***
The Window
That’s a familiar face at the door
Going about his daily chores
I see him often at the window at sunrise
And he has a sharp eye
I remain suspicious of an object he wields
Raising it to his eye frequently
Though my observation and analysis
Confirm it to be harmless
Glimpses of the life within those walls
Keeps me enthralled
This branch is thus a favored spot
When such moments are sought
I’ve risked sorties on the other side
Dodging ambushes by the wily canine
But every adventure further stokes in me
The irrepressible curiosity
*******
