tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269250822024-03-13T18:23:13.665+05:30Shimla GallimaufryI love travelling.
I love Shimla.
I love travelling to and living in Shimla.
Ergo, this photo-blog is dedicated to Shimla. Mostly.Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.comBlogger315125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-26654809800226865302011-02-15T09:00:00.000+05:302011-02-14T21:09:08.632+05:30Give me one lonely hour to hymn the setting day.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SCOumgHWjQ/TVlLCT0YU8I/AAAAAAAACb4/jP2u62orGgM/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SCOumgHWjQ/TVlLCT0YU8I/AAAAAAAACb4/jP2u62orGgM/s320/DSC_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i>Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">which it passes to a row of ancient trees.</span></i></span></div><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">You look, and soon these two worlds both leave you</span></i></span></span></div><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">one part climbs toward heaven, one sinks to earth.</span></i></span></div></span> <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">leaving you, not really belonging to either,</span></i></span></span></div><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">not so hopelessly dark as that house that is silent,</span></i></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">not so unswervingly given to the eternal as that thing</span></i></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">that turns to a star each night and climbs-</span></i></span></div></span> <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">leaving you (it is impossible to untangle the threads)</span></i></span></span></div><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">your own life, timid and standing high and growing,</span></i></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">so that, sometimes blocked in, sometimes reaching out,</span></i></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">one moment your life is a stone in you, and the next, a star</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i style="font-style: normal;">~ </i>Rainer Maria Rilke ~ </span></span></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">I </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">have heard the sunset song of the birches,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></i></div><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">A white melody in the silence,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></span></div><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">I have seen a quarrel of the pines.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">At nightfall</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">The little grasses have rushed by me</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">With the wind men.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">These things have I lived," quoth the maniac,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">"Possessing only eyes and ears.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">But you --</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">You don green spectacles before you look at roses.</div><div style="text-align: center;">~ Stephen Crane ~ </div></span><br />
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</div></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-631754773895965932011-02-14T13:16:00.000+05:302011-02-14T13:16:49.805+05:30I love you for a hundred thousand reasons But most of all I love you ‘cause you’re you<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udxCCFMHeDk/TVjchLI9-ZI/AAAAAAAACbs/Tr5vxCDdleA/s1600/DSC05427+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udxCCFMHeDk/TVjchLI9-ZI/AAAAAAAACbs/Tr5vxCDdleA/s320/DSC05427+-+Copy.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">14th February. Valentine's Day. What better way to celebrate the day than to tell the one you love how much you love them and why you love them! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In my case, I dedicate this Valentine's Day to my one true love. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shimla, I love you for your-</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Little lanes and roads. Winding, meandering, rambling, zigzagging to no-place-in-particular <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Houses, ramshackle, rickety, tumble-down, rinky-dink ones. Haughty, sumptuous, lofty ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spectacular sunsets: lilac, russet, sylvan, caramel, chartreuse. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">People: poet, painter, author, mother, dreamer, healer. Each one of you teaches so much. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Walking: a joy and a luxury not available in most other towns in India. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Summer storms which bring drama thunder and lightning right outside your window. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Beryl, cerulean, cobalt, indigo, sapphire skies. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Early-morning birdsong. Bulbuls, orioles, thrushes, magpies, parakeets, owls, kites, babblers, tits. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Minerva. Munshiram. Kahanchand. Gaindamull's. Bhuttico. Trishul. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Annadale. Sheogh woods. Dhanu Devta. Glen. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Flowers, wild & domestic: gazania, potentilla, wisteria, fuchsia, orchid, columbine, clematis, daisy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Viceregal Lodge. Yarrows. Gorton Castle. Railway Board Building. GPO. Town Hall. Gaiety. Christ Church. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mehroo. Sher-E-Punjab. Balji’s. Sol Café. Sitaram. The late, lamented Barista. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Clouds. Ashen. Iron. Peppery. Pearly. Silvery. Smoky. Somber. Blithe. Puffy. Light. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Trees: cedar, pine, oak, poplar, dogwood, rose tree.<o:p></o:p></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank you, God, for giving me Shimla. </span></div></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-62776982897155474072011-02-13T19:55:00.002+05:302011-02-13T20:18:03.640+05:30Ik suKhan aur ki phir rang-e-takallum tera... Harf-e-saadaa ko inaayat kare ejaaz ka rang<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today is 13th February, the birthday of my friend <a href="http://reikirhapsody.blogspot.com/">Ranjani</a>. She and I go back a long, long time. What brought us together all those decades ago was a love of poetry. At a time, when our class-mates, giggly teenagers just like us, were devouring romances or action comics, we were poring over Urdu and Hindi poets' books and swapping favourite bits on the last pages of our school-books. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AyaNF4Wbr9o/TVfpu1Up25I/AAAAAAAACbk/XIy4DDSd3A0/s1600/Faiz-Ahmad-Faiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AyaNF4Wbr9o/TVfpu1Up25I/AAAAAAAACbk/XIy4DDSd3A0/s1600/Faiz-Ahmad-Faiz.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">13th February is also the 100th birthday of one of the greatest poets to have walked on South Asian soil: Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Many learned people have said much about Faiz - <a href="http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/3537-from-home-to-the-world.html">this one</a> being a notably learned and non-hagiographic piece. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm only going to quote a small poem which is a great favourite of Ranjani's (and, by corollary, mine), written by Faiz:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Nahin nigaah mein manzil to justajuu hi sahi</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Nahin visaal mayassar toh, aarzuu hi sahi </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Na tan mein khuun faraaham na ashq aankho.n mein</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Namaaz-e-shauq to vaajib hai be-vazuu hi sahi</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Kisi tarah to jame bazm maikade waalo.n </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Nahin jo baada-o-saagar to haa-o-huu hi sahi </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Gar intezaar kathin hai to jab talak ae dil,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Kisii ke vadaa-e-fardaa ki guftaguu hi sahi </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Dayaar-e-ghair mein maharam agar nahin koii </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Toh 'Faiz' Ziqr-e-watan apne ruu-ba-ruu hi sahi</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >I came across a translation of this classic in English. Deeply unsatisfactory, but it may give those who do not follow Urdu an idea of what the poet says:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>Though our journey's end eludes sight, let the quest be; </i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>Though union defies attainment, let the longing be.</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>The body lacks blood, the eyes lack tears; </i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>Yet the prayer of desire is obligatory, without purity though it be.</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>Let the gathering come alive somehow, O those of the tavern; </i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>If not goblets of wine, let light-heartedness and laughter be.</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>If the wait is unbearable, then in the meantime, O heart; </i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>On someone's promise of tomorrow, let conversation be.</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>In this land of strangers, if there be no confidante, </i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>then Faiz! Let the invocation of homeland with yourself be.</i></span></p><p></p></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; white-space: pre;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-77487394042377511432011-02-11T20:53:00.000+05:302011-02-11T20:53:30.550+05:30A feeling of sadness and longing That is not akin to pain, And resembles sorrow only As the mist resembles the rain...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">How serendipitous it is to stumble across these lines by Longfellow!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7EiZWvjbd0/TVVTVv-0laI/AAAAAAAACbU/HE6hu_0UO50/s1600/DSC_4840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7EiZWvjbd0/TVVTVv-0laI/AAAAAAAACbU/HE6hu_0UO50/s320/DSC_4840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">All day it has rained. </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">watch this cloudy evening fall after a day of rain. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Shimla looks especially verdant after rain. As the light increases, I discover around me an ocean of mist, which by chance reached up exactly to the base of the tall Akashvani tower in Chaura Maidan. It shuts out every vestige of our town, leaving me feeling as though I am only a small speckle in cloudland! All around me, as far as the eye can reach, is an undulating country of clouds, answering in the varied swell of its surface to the terrestrial world it veiled. This is Shimla - such a place as we might see in dreams, with all the delights of paradise.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cWEO6eHQ_5M/TVVTXfANdUI/AAAAAAAACbY/DMhty6dYZZU/s1600/DSC_4845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cWEO6eHQ_5M/TVVTXfANdUI/AAAAAAAACbY/DMhty6dYZZU/s320/DSC_4845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The naked eye cannot make out any edges or any boundaries, all forms appear dimly still through a mist; but they have no chemistry to fix them; they fade from the surface of the glass, and the picture which the Divine Painter painted stands out dimly from beneath. The world with which we are commonly acquainted leaves no trace, and it will have no anniversary.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q18gUG-X2Qo/TVVT_2TtJYI/AAAAAAAACbg/DxPeHkuctNI/s1600/DSC_4862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q18gUG-X2Qo/TVVT_2TtJYI/AAAAAAAACbg/DxPeHkuctNI/s320/DSC_4862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Some figures go past me, cloaked.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">They walk cloaked in mist and rain and suddenly I feel a commingling of a contemporary elation, new fervour, old griefs and griefs</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> n</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">ot yet begun.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span>It is as though </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">the pale blue mist</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> has w</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">andered absolvingly past all it touches, yet hangs like bated breath....</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hE68Hwcmyic/TVVTZeHpuuI/AAAAAAAACbc/BpVX3mtFHug/s1600/DSC_4859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hE68Hwcmyic/TVVTZeHpuuI/AAAAAAAACbc/BpVX3mtFHug/s320/DSC_4859.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="apple-style-span">The damp stands on the long green grass</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span">As thick as morning's tears,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></div><span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span">And dreamy scents of fragrance pass</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></div></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="apple-style-span">That breathe of other years.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></div></span></i><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Emily Jane Brontë</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-40983389712867746362011-02-09T09:59:00.002+05:302011-02-09T11:11:35.964+05:30Poetry - the higher algebra of metaphors.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am an unabashed lover of poetry. I do not remember a time when I have not loved it, even at a time when I was too young to go looking for it, poetry, as with Neruda, came in search of me.... Wherever I turned, there it was: like a gleaming piece of glass found on a vast beach, like a gentle drip-drip on a rainy afternoon, sometimes a bright flame, at others, a warm fire. It fills me with a sense of magic to discover the secret of life in a sudden line, it grabs me by the throat, shakes me up and says "how could you have missed the blindingly obvious?" It has been profound as philosophy, it has brought me the sort of delight a child finds in a picture with bright colours. As William Carlos Williams says, it has helped me close the doors of sense and to roam in other worlds, my anguish mended, my doubts answered, my anxieties borne away on the wings of a page or just a few lines..... It has been my solace in dark hours, soothing, comforting and uplifting me by turns. It has imbued me with ideas, it has spurred me on with heatening tones, made me weep, made me chortle in glee at a recognised discomfort, or delight me with an insight. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TVIYA34Ax-I/AAAAAAAACbM/DpkIgyD5-Uc/s1600/DSC_0005copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TVIYA34Ax-I/AAAAAAAACbM/DpkIgyD5-Uc/s320/DSC_0005copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dylan Thomas says it so well: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">I could never have dreamt that there were such goings-on</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">in the world between the covers of books,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">such sandstorms and ice blasts of words,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">such staggering peace, such enormous laughter,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">such and so many blinding bright lights,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">splashing all over the pages</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">in a million bits and pieces</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">all of which were words, words, words,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">and each of which were alive forever</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">in its own delight and glory and oddity and light.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">And here are two poems on poetry that I love tremendously: </span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"><b>Introduction To Poetry</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;">I </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333;">ask them to take a poem</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #333333;">and hold it up to the light</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-style: italic;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">like a color slide</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">or press an ear against its hive.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">I say drop a mouse into a poem</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">and watch him probe his way out,</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">or walk inside the poem's room</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">and feel the walls for a light switch.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">I want them to water-ski</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">across the surface of a poem</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">waving at the author's name on the shore.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">But all they want to do</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">is tie the poem to a chair with rope</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">and torture a confession out of it.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">They begin beating it with a hose</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">to find out what it really means.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
</span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><b><span style="color: black;">~ </span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"> Billy Collins ~ </span></span></b></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b><span style="color: black;"><br />
<br />
</span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Poetry <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> I, </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333;">too, dislike it: there are things that are important beyond all</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">this fiddle.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Reading it, however, with a perfect contempt for it, one</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">discovers in</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">it after all, a place for the genuine.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Hands that can grasp, eyes</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">that can dilate, hair that can rise</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">if it must, these things are important not because a</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">high-sounding interpretation can be put upon them but because</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">they are</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">useful. When they become so derivative as to become</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">unintelligible,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">the same thing may be said for all of us, that we</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">do not admire what</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">we cannot understand: the bat</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">holding on upside down or in quest of something to</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">eat, elephants pushing, a wild horse taking a roll, a tireless wolf</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">under</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">a tree, the immovable critic twitching his skin like a horse that</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">feels a</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">flea, the base-</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">ball fan, the statistician--</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">nor is it valid</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">to discriminate against 'business documents and</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">school-books'; all these phenomena are important. One must</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">make a distinction</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">however: when dragged into prominence by half poets, the</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">result is not poetry,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">nor till the poets among us can be</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">'literalists of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">the imagination'--above</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">insolence and triviality and can present</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">for inspection, 'imaginary gardens with real toads in them', shall</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">we have</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">it. In the meantime, if you demand on the one hand,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">the raw material of poetry in</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">all its rawness and</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">that which is on the other hand</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">genuine, you are interested in poetry.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333;">~ Marianne Moore ~ </span></span></span></div></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-39459144149365086692011-02-08T21:09:00.001+05:302011-02-08T21:10:44.779+05:30Chaste as the icicle That's curdied by the frost from purest snow....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hiatus </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="prondelim" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">[</span><span class="pron" style="display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">hahy-<span class="boldface" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ey</span>-t<span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">uh</span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" />s</span><span class="prondelim" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">] </span><span class="prondelim" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is a break or interruption in the continuity of a work. Sometimes, it's a natural fissure, other times, a missing part, or lacuna; but if viewed sympathetically, wholly necessary at all times! I've been away too long from Gallimaufry, because I have been away from Shimla, from writing and from photography. But hopefully, with the blessings of the Higher Spirit, the Pledeian High Council or whoever it is that controls thoughts and actions of mere mortals, one shall be back in the creative groove with renewed vigour...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="prondelim" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">January was a cold month for us. But the cold, which preceded and followed the two snowfalls was wholly welcome. Snowfall in Shimla, as elsewhere, is an event much recorded and celebrated. However, another interesting phenomenon unfolds gently and quietly on the sidelines. And that is the formation of icicles. An icicle is a spike of ice formed when dripping water freezes mid-air. Icicles typically form when snow melts in the sunshine and the melted water runs off into an area where the temperature is below</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> 0</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">°C, which causes water to freeze again! The continuous run-off of water helps form icicles. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TVFjDpo73bI/AAAAAAAACbA/7sqPahQhsb8/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TVFjDpo73bI/AAAAAAAACbA/7sqPahQhsb8/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">As a child, I had seen icicles in Srinagar, Kashmir and so I was struck with wonder to see lovely cold tassels decorating the eaves of my roof. They looked like a row of daggers pointed downward, their pointy edges thrown in sharp relief against a cobalt blue sky. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TVFjEezIR9I/AAAAAAAACbE/hARYwuJnomU/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TVFjEezIR9I/AAAAAAAACbE/hARYwuJnomU/s320/DSC_0026.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">I'm reminded of some lines by Shelley: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Oh! take the pure gem to where southerly breezes,</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: normal;">Waft repose to some bosom as faithful as fair,</span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><i><span class="prondelim" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: normal;">In which the warm current of love never freezes,</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal;">As it rises unmingled with selfishness there,</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;">Which, untainted by pride, unpolluted by care,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Might dissolve the dim icedrop, might bid it arise,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Too pure for these regions, to gleam in the skies</div></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="prondelim" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="prondelim" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TVFjFOaRMjI/AAAAAAAACbI/nwjdjlcZi8o/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TVFjFOaRMjI/AAAAAAAACbI/nwjdjlcZi8o/s320/DSC_0033.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
</div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-74403612446911704332010-10-26T14:49:00.001+05:302010-10-26T15:13:44.239+05:30Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Walk, Shimla, Walk!" exhorted the wise Sushil Tanwar. On 23rd October 2010, We walked from Chaura Maidan to Cecil. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm happy to report that the young in Shimla responded with fervour. This says a lot about their spirit and their foresight. I'm equally disappointed to report the near-absence of older people. This tells me a lot about their indifference and their cynicism. I was chagrined not just because they did not show up, but because so many people came up with excuses for what kept them away... When, dear Shimlaiites, are you going to wake up to the ills that plague our lovely town? Are you ever going to involve yourself in its affais, or must one quote the poet who said:</span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Ay mauj-e-sabaa de inko bhi do-chaar thapedey halk se</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>kuchh log kinaarey par se hii toofan ka nazaaraa karte hai"! </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaYoJchdNI/AAAAAAAACYs/rzVwsX4yyrw/s1600/DSC_5669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaYoJchdNI/AAAAAAAACYs/rzVwsX4yyrw/s320/DSC_5669.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sushil Tanwar who runs <a href="http://ashadeepshimla.com/">Ashadeep</a>. A source of inspiration for all around him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaYalEalwI/AAAAAAAACYk/Y9hvitF8kSg/s1600/DSC_5616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaYalEalwI/AAAAAAAACYk/Y9hvitF8kSg/s320/DSC_5616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Little girls with big ideas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaYalEalwI/AAAAAAAACYk/Y9hvitF8kSg/s1600/DSC_5616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaW0QVtV9I/AAAAAAAACYQ/aZuskM--Ur8/s1600/DSC_5574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaW0QVtV9I/AAAAAAAACYQ/aZuskM--Ur8/s320/DSC_5574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Pollution! Pollution! Trees are the solution!" was a popular slogan that day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaX75StaLI/AAAAAAAACYY/QPI9O0Q8Kco/s1600/DSC_5603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaX75StaLI/AAAAAAAACYY/QPI9O0Q8Kco/s320/DSC_5603.JPG" width="202" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A lovely poster depicting pollution and the damages it causes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaYh_dFhLI/AAAAAAAACYo/rjbAryGVilM/s1600/DSC_5631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMaYh_dFhLI/AAAAAAAACYo/rjbAryGVilM/s320/DSC_5631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Placards which said: "Save the environment". "Plant trees. Make Shimla beautiful". "All is well. Without trees, all is hell"! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMab7weWEJI/AAAAAAAACYw/c_lkZpjKuuA/s1600/DSC_5625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMab7weWEJI/AAAAAAAACYw/c_lkZpjKuuA/s320/DSC_5625.JPG" width="177" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It isn't the size of the placard, but the intention that matters!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMacU0zBtCI/AAAAAAAACY0/Jl7w16F60-U/s1600/DSC_5608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMacU0zBtCI/AAAAAAAACY0/Jl7w16F60-U/s320/DSC_5608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Curious onlookers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMackn-g89I/AAAAAAAACY4/1FUz_Awfpgs/s1600/DSC_5609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMackn-g89I/AAAAAAAACY4/1FUz_Awfpgs/s320/DSC_5609.JPG" width="197" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Curious onlooker #2. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Still, on a day of hope and excitement, we chose to focus on the positive and could only say "<i>Sabko sanmati de bhagwaan</i>"! (May God grant everyone good sense). </span></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-61916820013580064872010-10-23T10:06:00.000+05:302010-10-23T10:06:21.747+05:30The wisdom of age: don't stop walking.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMJkLu5AvqI/AAAAAAAACYI/ZkEOuzwE2ZI/s1600/DSC_5366+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TMJkLu5AvqI/AAAAAAAACYI/ZkEOuzwE2ZI/s320/DSC_5366+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The redoubtable, wonderful Sushil Tanwar of Ashadeep and I are taking Shimla for a walk today. The idea is to remind Shimla of its old tradition of walking. How great was this, how good for the health of its denzins, and for its pure air which never carried anything more than the fragrance of the evergreens and wild flowers growing by its roadsides. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wish us luck, dear reader, that we are at least able to light a flicker of awareness in the residents our beloved town which is so beautiful and so generous. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As always, I cannot leave you without quoting some verse!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I look and look</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Looking's a way of being: one becomes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>sometimes, a pair of walking.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Walking wherever one's looking takes one. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The eyes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>dig and burrow into the world.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>They touch</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>fanfare, howl, madrigal, clamour.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>World and the past of it,not only </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>visible present, solid and shadow</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>that looks at one looking.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>And language? Rhythms</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>of echo and interruption?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>That's a way of breathing</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>breathing</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>to sustain</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>looking</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>walking and looking,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>through the world</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>in it. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~ Denise Levertov ~ </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-25936747027900327762010-10-21T11:40:00.000+05:302010-10-21T11:40:59.411+05:30Solvitur ambulando<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TL_V_p3Ah3I/AAAAAAAACXk/Tl4qu0VXTio/s1600/DSC02845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TL_V_p3Ah3I/AAAAAAAACXk/Tl4qu0VXTio/s320/DSC02845.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">“<i>Solvitur ambulando</i>”. It is solved by walking, goes the Latin saying, and never was a truer word spoken. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Walking is an excellent means to de-stress yourself, to re-energise, to stretch, tone and relax, to acquire poise and focus, and indeed, activate the natural healing energies within yourself. A Zen master was asked, “What is the Tao?”. “Walk on”, he replied. The human body is the ultimate exercise machine, and walking is the easiest, cheapest and safest way to burn away the harmful effects of stress and to bring back energy into your life. People often say to me “But where do I begin?”. Well, you just have to step out of home, go for a walk to the nearest park, or walk around the block. How far you go, or how fast you walk is not relevant. The important thing is to begin. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TL_YU0j_BbI/AAAAAAAACYA/bdasF_H8uqA/s1600/3+ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TL_YU0j_BbI/AAAAAAAACYA/bdasF_H8uqA/s320/3+ladies.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Here are some basic steps to follow:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"></div><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Poor posture is more often than not the culprit behind many a body problem. It saps our body of vitality and puts a stress on all our vital organs. So first off, think tall. Imagine that someone has run a string through you and is gently pulling you upwards. When you walk, keep your back straight, pull in your stomach and tuck in your buttocks. Your shoulders should be pulled gently back, but relaxed, your eyes looking forward.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got the swing”, went an old Irving Mills song. This is true of walking too. Walk tall from your heel upwards. Have a smooth, rolling heel-to-toe motion. Lengthen your stride to as much as is comfortable. Swing your arms in opposite motion. Remember the mantra “heel-toe… heel-toe… heel-toe”!</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you can afford it, invest in an iPod or a mobile phone which can play music. Music adds rhythm, energy and tempo to the walk. Mix the musical pieces to change your stride. However, remember that headphones may block out sounds of traffic and other dangers on the road. Be careful not to use earphones when walking late evening, or in lonely spots as it may make you unmindful of strangers with bad intent.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oxygen is free! Use as much as you can. Energise your walks by gradually increasing the speed. Remember, the speed should not be so high as to spoil your natural rhythm. Walk several paces at normal speed, then pick up speed and gradually reduce speed again. This helps prevent injuries such as pulled muscles. Do not push yourself too hard. A good test to see if you are going too fast: can you have a conversation without getting out of breath.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Your feet carry all your weight. Be kind to them. Buy yourself a good, comfortable pair of shoes. My personal trick for testing comfort is to buy shoes at the end of a day. You see, by evening, feet are tired and sometimes gently swollen. When you try a new pair, always check whether there is enough space around the toes. Don’t fall for sales talk which tells you about how shoes will stretch – they never do! If a shoe is not comfortable, it’s not for you.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Don’t let walking become a chore. “Roamertherapy” is a great way to live a quieter, simpler life. If you have children, or a dog, take them on any weekend for an impromptu walk to a scenic spot. Let Nature work its magic on you, stand and stare, climb up, down, just stand and stare. This does not have to always be about achievement, just about slowly savouring peace and beauty.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I also love ‘’walktalk’’ therapy. In troubled times, it is great to go for a walk with a friend. A walk in the woods, or by the sea, or just about anywhere all the while talking away your troubles can be better than expensive therapy, or drowning your sorrows in alcohol or drugs! Take your partner, your children or a friend out for a walk – and watch your depression evaporate.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Weather or not, just walk! Don’t let the extremes of weather faze you. Observe the changes of the season and prepare accordingly. In summer, set your alarm for early and enjoy the early-morning coolness before heat sets in. Wear light-coloured cotton clothes which reflect the heat. In winter, cover up your extremities and wear light layers which you can add or remove. Follow your inner light. Ignore negative self-talk which says “It’s so much better to catch those 15 minutes of extra sleep”, or “why go out into the cold when you can be comfy at home?”</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I love walking meditation. The idea is to nurture mindfulness and self-awareness. Savour the sights and sounds around you. Open your mind to a beautiful sunrise, to the chirping of birds, to the laughter of children. Consciously empty your mind of all thoughts, focusing only on your stride, your rhythm and on your breathing. Count your paces if you find it hard to focus. Breathe in and out at each pace. If your mind wanders, let it do so. Allow thoughts to come in, welcome their presence, then let them go. Bring your thoughts back to the number of paces you have covered.</span></li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TL_WDGkDMrI/AAAAAAAACXo/Tx5kBIOHSJo/s1600/DSC03327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TL_WDGkDMrI/AAAAAAAACXo/Tx5kBIOHSJo/s320/DSC03327.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">W We lead sluggish lives most of the time. We think that working a lot, or simply rushing about from place to place equals activity. The truth is that our heart<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rarely gets to pump hard. Oxygen rarely courses through us they way it ought to – making us feel alive, energetic and vital. But exercise can change all that. Walking can change all that! </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">T The beauty lies in simply walking without bothering about destinations or goals. Thich Nhat Hanh says “Your steps are the most important thing.” Forget about removing stress, losing weight, finding energy or any of those things. The important thing is to simply focus on your steps. Take one little step at a time, whether on your walk, or in your life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And you will see – <i>solvitur ambulando</i>! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
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</div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-65748655599579271682010-10-12T10:42:00.001+05:302010-10-12T11:03:35.268+05:30Through the silence shines a stretching light-<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TLPqFBybUOI/AAAAAAAACXc/GSA4b0zMgD0/s1600/DSC_5171c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TLPqFBybUOI/AAAAAAAACXc/GSA4b0zMgD0/s320/DSC_5171c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Living in Shimla, one often takes this humble bush for granted. For all of Septmeber and now, when e are well into October, this pretty blue plant is dotting the road-sides, clinging to hill-sides, creating a veritable sea of blue in the woods. At first glance, I thought these were gentians. But my favourite website on flowers <a href="http://www.flowersofindia.net/">Flowers of India</a> clarifies that this is not so. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These flowers actually bleong to the blue trumpet bush, also known as strobilanthes tomentosa. I've seen it grow in the woody, partially-lit slopes of the Sheogh woods, in Chaura Maidan and also near the United Service Club on Jakhoo Hill. It grows up to almost four feet in height. The leaves appeared very interesting: dark green on top and white on the underside. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The flower, as you can see in the picture, is shaped like a trumpet and stands at a 90-degree angle to its stem. It has a narrow tube which widens a little as it goes upward, finally opening into five round petals. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What a joyous aspect: little trumpets of bright blue, silently blowing the last clarion call of spring even as it is over and autumn steals upon us quietly, with a red melancholy.... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The sight of these flowers brought to mind that wonderful Mary Oliver poem:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Every day</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> I see or hear</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> something </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> that more or less</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>kills me </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> with delight,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> that leaves me </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> like a needle </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>in the haystack</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> of light. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> It was what I was born for - </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> to look, to listen, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>to lose myself</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> inside this soft world -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> to instruct myself </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> over and over</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>in joy,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> and acclamation.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> Nor am I talking,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> about the exceptional.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the fearful, the dreadful, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> the very extravagant -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> but of the ordinary,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> the common, the very drab,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the daily presentations.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> Oh, good scholar, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> I say to myself, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> how can you help</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>but grow wise</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> with such teachings </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> as these -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> the untrimmable light</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>of the world,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> the ocean's shine,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> the prayers that are made</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> out of grass? </i></span></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-89711523883705094582010-10-11T11:31:00.000+05:302010-10-11T11:31:37.313+05:30The pedigree of Honey, Does not concern the Bee.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love Emily Dickinson and am proud to share with her a love of nature and an excessive fondness for bees! Yesterday, while walking in the woods, I came across so many burly dozing ones, honey-heavy, bees fluttering from flower to flower, truly justifying the metaphor busy as a bee. I love the sight of a bee, how cleverly it suspends itself mid-air, its gossamer-thin wings supporting the weight of its body, greedily sipping nectar from a flower and yet never ever trampling the petals or crushing the aroma.... Emerson calls the bee a "zig-zag steerer, desert cheerer". Truly, he's a sailor of the atmosphere, sailing through the air and a yellow-breeched philosopher.... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>His labour is a Chant </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><i>—</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>His Idleness </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><i>— </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A Tune </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Oh, for a Bee's Experience </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Of Clovers, and of Noon! </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TLKic_qXJ2I/AAAAAAAACXM/2MG6WAmN_GQ/s1600/DSC03348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TLKic_qXJ2I/AAAAAAAACXM/2MG6WAmN_GQ/s320/DSC03348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The Bee is not afraid of me.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I know the Butterfly. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The pretty people in the Woods </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>receive me cordially! </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then there is that wonderful haiku by the master himself - Matsuo Basho: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A bee</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>staggers out </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>of the peony.</i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TLKmYHR3s0I/AAAAAAAACXY/0b1HQamef9k/s1600/DSC03392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TLKmYHR3s0I/AAAAAAAACXY/0b1HQamef9k/s320/DSC03392.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-63311097787334349942010-10-03T07:38:00.001+05:302010-10-03T07:43:01.951+05:30The Shimla Class<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Next in the series of guest posts on Shimla Gallimaufry is one by Varsha. </div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Varsha writes a superb, deeply knowledgeable and really useful blog titled <a href="http://wholesomeoptions.blogspot.com/">Wholesome Options</a>. From Varsha, I have learnt to look at wellness as a way of life, learnt that healthy habits and fitness can be incorporated in daily life without any sacrifice or extra effort. Aside of being a full-time mother and wife, a wellness guru and a fitness maniac, Varsha also takes a wonderful <a href="http://poeticbreak.blogspot.com/">Poetic Break</a> from her bureaucratic life every now and then. She speaks here of lessons learnt from our common love, Shimla: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TKdu0FF1faI/AAAAAAAACXI/M4yvaNHRtKI/s1600/DSC_4806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TKdu0FF1faI/AAAAAAAACXI/M4yvaNHRtKI/s320/DSC_4806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The Shimla Class</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Hills have a way of teaching you to slow down.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Of drawing you in the web of alluring sunsets, sun-dappled valleys and mist draped mountains. Of using that oldest means of transportation – your legs. And escaping at least partly from the whizzing world of honking cars and seething road-rage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">When I recall my Shimla days my best memories are about nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I was living with a bunch of strong-willed and rambunctious colleagues in extremely cramped quarters. Tempers frequently got frayed and patience wore thin. Walks were a way of escape-getting away from it all- initially. They became a balm and an addiction soon. A way of tucking in the splendid perfection of the Himalayas in different seasons and moods. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">What did I learn in the Shimla Class (presided over by the old man Himalayas)?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Putting things in perspective</span></u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I was incredibly lucky to be able to see the glorious Himalayas from my window on waking up each morning,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">They always overwhelmed me. They gently reminded me everyday that I was not <i>that</i> important, my petty problems were not that important, nor were the shiny trophies of the rat race that important. The mountains would stand there even if the damned deadline was not met or if I did not ace some silly test.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The art of Appreciating beauty</span></u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">In Shimla, it was so easy to meet the perfect creamy rose-bud or a round, plump wild strawberry, a sudden stream bubbling after the rains, an old friendly tree, clad one fine day in magnificent bloom, a spectacular evening live show of the thrust and parry of the dying sunset and the ascending night. One had to stand and savour it reverentially. I learnt that when you see perfection – you must acknowledge it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">When we move in the bubbles of our own self-importance and obsessions, we become far too busy and blind to beauty around us. We must open our eyes, see it and savour it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The art of inner Quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Shimla also taught me to have a holy communion with nature. To get away from the noise around me I needed an inner quiet. I learnt being quiet with myself, by myself, for myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The art of appreciating History around you</span></u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Any walk around Shimla is full of heritage and History. One keeps coming across rambling cottages with quaint names and distinguished ex-residents. There are majestic buildings scattered over the place. Steeped with tales of a faded era and set against the backdrop of the timeless Himalayas these gems of a bygone age taught me to appreciate History as well as the blip that my small lifetime is in it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div></span><br />
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</span></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-79755366527364104962010-10-02T19:38:00.001+05:302010-10-02T20:11:15.855+05:30Let prayer be fire: admire, re-light, relate, regain.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Victor Hugo once observed that certain thoughts are prayers. There are certain moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees. Today, gentle reader, your blogger turned another year older. Today, I'm praying. Not asking, merely expressing a longing of the soul. Making candid demands of The One Above that I usually don't, when I pray. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The following lines are from M. M. Kaye's "Far Pavilions". This is a prayer uttered by Ash as he looks at Door Khaima, the mountain peaks at a distance which give him solace and hope and heart's ease: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Oh Lord, forgive these sins that are due to my human limitations. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Thou art everywhere, but I worship Thee here; </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Thou art without form, but I worship Thee in this form; </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Thou needest no praise, yet I offer Thee these prayers and salutations. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lord, forgive my sins that are due to my human limitations."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TKc3gCl3WPI/AAAAAAAACXA/_cmbR9kz4z4/s1600/DSC02760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TKc3gCl3WPI/AAAAAAAACXA/_cmbR9kz4z4/s320/DSC02760.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Asha to have a safe journey free of worries. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Phil to recover her health completely. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Hannah, success in her interview.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Prabha, heart's ease. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For A, a visa. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Ranjani, the time to do the things she wants to. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Varsha to have intelligent and sensible people around her.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Naheed, also a visa. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Rani, peace and good health. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Varun, success in all he does. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For H, resolution and closure. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Chinu and Gunjan, success and peace.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For all my family and my friends whom I haven't named here: contentment, good health, joy and abundance. </span></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-75126575659061627752010-09-19T22:13:00.001+05:302010-09-19T23:28:28.041+05:30A languid atmosphere, a lazy breeze, a dreamy day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TJY8JfYZ_FI/AAAAAAAACWo/Ic5Lap9uKTs/s1600/DSC_4952c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TJY8JfYZ_FI/AAAAAAAACWo/Ic5Lap9uKTs/s320/DSC_4952c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Small, shapeless drifts of cloud</span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">Sail slowly northward in the soft-hued sky,</div><span class="apple-style-span"></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">With blur half-tints and rolling summits bright,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">By the late sun caressed; slight hazes shroud</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">All things afar; shineth each leaf anigh</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">With its own warmth and light.</div></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">O'erblown by Southland airs,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">The summer landscape basks in utter peace:</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">In lazy streams the lazy clouds are seen;</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Low hills, broad meadows, and large, clear-cut squares</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Of ripening corn-fields, rippled by the breeze,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">With shifting shade and sheen.</div></span><br />
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</div><span class="apple-style-span"></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Hark! and you may not hear</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">A sound less soothing than the rustle cool</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Of swaying leaves, the steady wiry drone</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Of unseen crickets, sudden chirpings clear</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Of happy birds, the tinkle of the pool,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Chafed by a single stone.</div></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">What vague, delicious dreams,</div><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Born of this golden hour of afternoon,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">And air balm-freighted, fill the soul with bliss,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Transpierced like yonder clouds with lustrous gleams,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Fantastic, brief as they, and, like them, spun</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Of gilded nothingness!</div></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">All things are well with her.</div><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">'T is good to be alive, to see the light</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">That plays upon the grass, to feel (and sigh</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">With perfect pleasure) the mild breezes stir</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Among the garden roses, red and white,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">With whiffs of fragrancy.</div></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">There is no troublous thought,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">No painful memory, no grave regret,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">To mar the sweet suggestions of the hour:</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">The soul, at peace, reflects the peace without,</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;">Forgetting grief as sunset skies forget</div></span><span class="apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span">The morning's transient shower.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><i>Emma Lazarus</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span></div></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TJY8dYByCUI/AAAAAAAACWs/V7VAcs4tsPg/s1600/DSC_4948c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TJY8dYByCUI/AAAAAAAACWs/V7VAcs4tsPg/s320/DSC_4948c.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com2Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India31.1 77.1731.026506 77.0532705 31.173494 77.2867295tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-34160202267203732862010-09-14T15:58:00.001+05:302010-09-14T16:00:03.776+05:30Bring the pure wine of love and freedom.<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">I sipped some of love's sweet wine,</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">and now I am ill. My body aches,</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">my fever is high.</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">They called in the doctor and he said,</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">drink this tea!</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Ok, time to drink this tea.</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">He said, Take these pills!</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Ok, time to take these pills.</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">The doctor said,</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">And get rid of the sweet wine of love's lips!</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Ok, time to get rid of the doctor. </span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">~ Jalaluddin Rumi ~</span></i></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="color: #993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI9M0ibzWvI/AAAAAAAACWk/481ZCGxym4g/s1600/DSC_4887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI9M0ibzWvI/AAAAAAAACWk/481ZCGxym4g/s400/DSC_4887.JPG" width="227" /></a></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="color: #993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-52194494745052494502010-09-14T11:20:00.001+05:302010-09-14T15:22:00.648+05:30The powerful, fortress'd house...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Gondhla is a pretty little, topsy-turvy village located on the banks of the River Chandra. About 18 kilometres along the way from Keylong to Manali, crane your neck out from the window of your bus or car, and you will spot this gorgeous fort considerably off the right side of the road. </div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI8DYR9ofDI/AAAAAAAACWY/03uxDQOPz0A/s1600/DSC_4485c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI8DYR9ofDI/AAAAAAAACWY/03uxDQOPz0A/s320/DSC_4485c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI8DS4U_PqI/AAAAAAAACWU/m0GQy3RuPPc/s1600/DSC_4478c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI8DS4U_PqI/AAAAAAAACWU/m0GQy3RuPPc/s320/DSC_4478c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A rugged pile, you notice the timber-bonded pattern which is typical of Himachal's forts and castles. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Penelope Chetwode observed that this structure was common to both sacred as well as secular buildings. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stone and timber alternate in layers in these walls and are held together by clay. Experts say that it is this style which protected the tall edifices from seismic shocks. Apparently, the absence of mortar between the dressed stone, according to Chetwode, allowed the walls the chance to quiver with the quake instead of opposing the earthquake's movements. What a simple, yet ingenuous solution! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI4Df2w2GyI/AAAAAAAACWE/Z7SMEkYUAwY/s1600/DSC03122c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI4Df2w2GyI/AAAAAAAACWE/Z7SMEkYUAwY/s320/DSC03122c.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Displaying another typical feature of Himachali forts, a wooden gallery runs around the top floor. I am guessing that this would have served the local ruler to conduct public audience, though what he would have actually<i> heard </i>of his people's grievances is anybody's guess! Certainly, the height of this lovely old building inspires a sense of awe. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The very act of craning one's neck upwards makes one aware of one's small size in relation to the fortress. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are wonderful little windows with intricate bars across them. Great for looking out, but impossible to look into. I am sure they would have served the women who lived there well, considering how little airing women of royal families got in those days! The wooden frames of the windows are delicately carved with geometric and floral motifs. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI4EPuB0XzI/AAAAAAAACWI/b_3O6lGqZ2o/s1600/DSC03139c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI4EPuB0XzI/AAAAAAAACWI/b_3O6lGqZ2o/s320/DSC03139c.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The related page of the <a href="http://hplahaulspiti.nic.in/TouristPlaces.htm#Gondhla">Lahaul & Spiti District Administration</a> describes the interiors and its wonderful contents. But the sad fact is that in the middle of 2010, my friend <a href="http://grantmebookshelves.wordpress.com/">SdS</a> and I found rubble all around the fort, the main door locked with masonry fallen over it. Bits of the little "kharokhas" - the little wooden balconies projecting out of the windows - have crumbled, the wood eaten away by termites and by the ravages of weather. Parts of the roof and the top room are also falling away. It is tragic that this wonderful heritage of our state crumbles away before our eyes and all we can do is mourn its passing. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Through this blog, I appeal to anyone who is reading to suggest a way. If nothing, maybe we should petition the Government to protect this building which is, by sarkari accounts, over four hundred years old. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI4EYpJkIII/AAAAAAAACWM/bEqbj9Kl0qI/s1600/DSC_4446c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TI4EYpJkIII/AAAAAAAACWM/bEqbj9Kl0qI/s320/DSC_4446c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-893175401018848812010-09-10T20:46:00.014+05:302010-09-13T11:02:46.724+05:30Poetry is a matter of life, not just a matter of language.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"An empty mind is the devil's workshop", I have been repeatedly told since I was a child. Yet, it was on one of those very empty evenings that it struck me that I could invite a friend, or maybe even three friends to write a guest post. The one thing that I love about my friends, whom you shall meet by and by, gentle reader, is that they are always game for an adventure. This is Part 1 of that enterprise. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've known Asha for longer than I care to remember. She breezed into my life and stayed back as my rock, my sounding board, and the shoulder on which I would cry on countless times.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Asha is an expert trainer and has worked with some of the world's biggest corporations. Deeply interested in issues relating to the development of self, she writes a wonderfully thought-provoking blog called </span><a href="http://icosahedra.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Self Leadership</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. In her blog, she manages to raise issues that we all need to ponder on, but about which we rarely stop to think systematically. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, here on my blog, she writes not on leadership or decisions or self-awareness, but moves to our common love, poetry. Her thoughts are placed below: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIpMWwTg_jI/AAAAAAAACV8/zNhgY28YUpk/s1600/IMG_1032.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515304647476182578" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIpMWwTg_jI/AAAAAAAACV8/zNhgY28YUpk/s400/IMG_1032.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me start off by saying that poetry is not one of my current ‘can-dos’. Would I like to compose poetry? Yes! Have I attempted it? No! Having said that, I love reading poetry and one volume that I’ve perused a few times ia ‘Ariake’ – a collection of poems of love and longing by the women courtiers of Japan.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The foreword by Lisa Dalby summarises ‘Ariake’ as follows: “Ariake or ‘the waning moon at dawn’ was an image associated foremost with love in the ancient courts of Japan. Few societies integrated poetry into daily life as devotedly as the court of Japan’s Heian era (A.D. 794 – 1192). The most renowned poets of this era were women. They were passionate and demonstrative – a far cry from the typical portraits of passive objects of desire drawn by Westerners.”</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few samples from this rather fascinating collection!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Were you a string of beads<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I would wind you about my arm,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But since you are a man<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of the actual, mortal world,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You are hard in the winding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></o:p></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~ The Elder Maiden of the Otomo of Sakanoue ~</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Look at this keepsake<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And remember me, my love;<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All the gem-bright year,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Long as its thread of shining days,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I too shall think of you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></o:p></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~ Lady Kasa ~</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As night succeeds night,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I seek in vain to decide<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where my pillow should go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How did I sleep on the night<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When you appeared in my dream?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~ Anonymous ~</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></span></div></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIpMWg2B1JI/AAAAAAAACV0/vdUMqTEaSyE/s1600/DSC00456.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515304643325973650" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIpMWg2B1JI/AAAAAAAACV0/vdUMqTEaSyE/s400/DSC00456.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My favourite Indian poet is Sahir Ludhianvi. A deeply passionate man, he lived and died a tortured soul. A genius with words, he demonstrated how a lot could be said with very few words. There are so many of his poems I love, and here is one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maine jo geet tere pyar ki khatir likhe<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aaj un geeton ko bazaar mein le aaya hoon<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aaj dukan mein neelam uthega unka<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tu ne jin geeton pe rakhi thi mohabbat ki asaas<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aaj chandi ki taraazu mein tulegi har cheez<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mere afkaar, meri shaayari, mera ehsaas<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jo teri zaatse mansoob the un geeton ko<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Muflisi jins banaane pe uthar aayi hai<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bhookh, tere rookh-e-rangeen ke fasaano ke ivaz<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chand ashiya-e-zaroorat ki tamannai hai<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dekh is arsaagahe-mehnaton-sarmaaya mein<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mere naghme bhi mere paas nahin reh sakte<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tere jalve kisi zardaar ki meeras sahi<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tere khaake bhi mer paas nahin reh sakte<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aaj un geeton ko bazaar mein le aaya hoon<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maine jo geet tere pyar ki khatir likhe<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIpMWGHGbkI/AAAAAAAACVs/ON_tkxmvDxY/s1600/DSC00504.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515304636149820994" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIpMWGHGbkI/AAAAAAAACVs/ON_tkxmvDxY/s400/DSC00504.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ast but not the least is a piece from Harold Monro on ‘Solitude’. I know Geetali has done a post on ‘Solitude’ earlier. I picked this out of An Anthology of Modern Verse that was gifted by my friend Irene Hawkins. If you ever come across this post my friend, know that you are in my mind and that I miss you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When you have tidied all things for the night,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And while your thoughts are fading to their sleep,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You’ll pause a moment in the late firelight,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Too sorrowful to weep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The large and gentle furniture has stood<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In sympathetic silence all the day<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With that old kindness of domestic wood;<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nevertheless the haunted room will say:<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Some one must be away”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The little dog rolls over half awake,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stretches his paws, yawns, looking up at you,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wags his tail very slightly for your sake,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That you may feel he is unhappy too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A distant engine whistles, or the floor<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Creaks, or the wandering night-wind bangs a door;<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Silence is scattered like a broken glass.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The minutes prick their ears and run about,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then one by one subside again and pass<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sedately in, monotonously out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You bend your head and wipe away a tear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Solitude walks one heavy step more near.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIpMV8dZeAI/AAAAAAAACVk/BuIMErOW3Rk/s1600/DSC00401.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515304633558988802" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIpMV8dZeAI/AAAAAAAACVk/BuIMErOW3Rk/s400/DSC00401.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></div></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-67139763555599201302010-09-09T23:18:00.008+05:302010-09-10T13:09:14.648+05:30Now that I have your heart by heart, I see.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TInI2gTuN9I/AAAAAAAACVc/yLrG-HcQ9Aw/s1600/DSC03178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TInI2gTuN9I/AAAAAAAACVc/yLrG-HcQ9Aw/s400/DSC03178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515160057403029458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIkefFX6K4I/AAAAAAAACVM/yC7XHST9lxI/s1600/DSC03155copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIkefFX6K4I/AAAAAAAACVM/yC7XHST9lxI/s400/DSC03155copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514972738059119490" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI">What the heart of the young man said to the psalmist<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tell me not, in mournful numbers,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Life is but an empty dream! --<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For the soul is dead that slumbers,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And things are not what they seem.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Life is real!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Life is earnest!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And the grave is not its goal;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Dust thou art, to dust returnest,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Was not spoken of the soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Is our destined end or way;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But to act, that each to-morrow<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Find us farther than to-day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Art is long, and Time is fleeting,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And our hearts, though stout and brave,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Still, like muffled drums, are beating<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Funeral marches to the grave.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the world's broad field of battle,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the bivouac of Life,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Be not like dumb, driven cattle!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Be a hero in the strife!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let the dead Past bury its dead!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Act, -- act in the living Present!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Heart within, and God o'erhead!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Lives of great men all remind us<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We can make our lives sublime,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And, departing, leave behind us<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Footprints on the sands of time;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Footprints, that perhaps another,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sailing o'er life's solemn main,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Seeing, shall take heart again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let us, then, be up and doing,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With a heart for any fate;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Still achieving, still pursuing,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Learn to labor and to wait.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 14.4pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI"><i>~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Luxi Mono', FreeMono, monospace; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><pre class="poembox" style="font-family: 'Luxi Mono', FreeMono, monospace; line-height: 1.2em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; white-space: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></pre></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIkeeQEz-kI/AAAAAAAACVE/kOgsdWP2yvQ/s1600/DSC03170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIkeeQEz-kI/AAAAAAAACVE/kOgsdWP2yvQ/s400/DSC03170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514972723751942722" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIkec2SKCAI/AAAAAAAACUs/a1cTehNqtt0/s1600/DSC03234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIkec2SKCAI/AAAAAAAACUs/a1cTehNqtt0/s400/DSC03234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514972699648722946" /></a><br /></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-47744217802881669402010-09-03T16:29:00.003+05:302010-09-03T16:41:47.177+05:30Small, contained, fragile, intent.That is how I would describe my friend the snail, met in a leaf in Sheogh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIDWDA3Lh4I/AAAAAAAACUc/V88RQgUKjGA/s1600/DSC03296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TIDWDA3Lh4I/AAAAAAAACUc/V88RQgUKjGA/s400/DSC03296.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512641291160881026" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>And on seeing her, I was reminded of this John Bunyan poem: <div style="text-align: center;"><i>She goes but softly, but she goeth sure,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>She stumbles not, as stronger creatures do.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Her journey's shorter, so she may endure</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Better than they ehich do much farther go. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>She makes no noise, but stilly seizeth on</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The flower or herb appointed for her food,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>That which she quietly doth feed upon </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>While others range and glare, but find no good.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And though she doth but very softly go,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>However, 'tis not fast nor slow, but sure;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And certainly they that do travel so, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The prize they do aim at they do procure. </i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-43026863853370698922010-08-23T07:59:00.004+05:302010-08-23T08:29:04.243+05:30For through my lips may breathe adieu, I cannot think the thing farewell.<div style="text-align: justify;">Those of you live in Shimla, or have visited it will have no trouble recognising this place: the Barista on the Mall. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">How many friends have we met in this our most favourite of watering-holes in our little town? How many cups of cappuccino, hot chocolate and ginger tea did we down while waiting for someone to arrive, or someone else to leave before we could get cracking with the important business at hand: of catching up with friends? How many happy moments have we had doing the one thing our town excels at and which the world, in its hurry to win the rat race has forgotten, watching the world go by? </div><div><div style="text-align: justify; ">From here we gathered important tid-bits of what went on in town. Here we sat and wrote post-cards to people in a faraway places. Here it was that we read a book desultorily. This was the perfect place when you wanted to be alone but not alone. You need not have anyone sitting at your table: it was enough that there were people around: giving you that semblance of company without actually intruding. Barista was the pits-top before you walked on your way across town. </div><div style="text-align: justify; ">It was here that you first nodded to someone you had seen as a fellow Barista-addict. It was not about the coffee. It was <i>never</i> about the coffee! It was here that nodding acquaintance turned into introductions and sometimes, serendipitously, into firm friendship. It was here you escaped for a quick respite when the goings of the day got much and you needed a friendly face to smile at or a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. This was the place you headed to when you wanted to meet someone but felt too lazy to walk to wherever it was that they lived and the sentiment was reciprocated. It was here that you did the Peyton Place thing" "Hmm, did you see who is walking with who?"!</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; "> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/THHdWb5D1MI/AAAAAAAACUI/lP_Fn7AP8a4/s1600/DSC_4768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/THHdWb5D1MI/AAAAAAAACUI/lP_Fn7AP8a4/s400/DSC_4768.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508427196764771522" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a Bombayite, you understood the commercial maxim of ''location, location, location". Yet it was not just that. It was a whole package of friendliness, openness and warmth that brought people back over and over again. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oasis. Asylum. Hideaway. Resting place. Retreat. Watering hole. Barista, you were many things to many people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They say all good things must come to an end. And so it will be with Barista. Going by yet unconfirmed information (only about the date, not the event itself), as on November, this most friendly of coffee-shops will be downing its shutters. Its place will be taken, we are told, by some international clothing chain, selling stuff that we in Shimla neither patronise nor need, but such is the way of all flesh....</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Farewell, dear little place. We shall miss you.</div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-48977137581063532412010-08-21T19:13:00.006+05:302010-08-22T00:47:06.182+05:30Pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flow'r, its bloom is shed...<div style="text-align: justify;">The road which leads from Bairagarh to Satrundi and onwards to Sach Pass in Himachal's Chamba district is a truly magical one. Early morning mist renders the scenery like a scene out of a Basho haiku. Other times, it feels like an expertly-etched sumi-e painting. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The velvety grey of the sky is relieved by the chartreuse, the moss, the viridian and the beryl of the trees which line both sides and dot the hillside. The true delight for me came from the innumerable species of wild flowers which spring up in the rainy season. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I spotted a blue poppy! </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TG_ZDSu7FVI/AAAAAAAACTs/RjQBnTvriAY/s1600/DSC02671.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TG_ZDSu7FVI/AAAAAAAACTs/RjQBnTvriAY/s400/DSC02671.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507859519888889170" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Flowers of the <i>meconopsis</i> genus of the <i>Papaveraceae</i> species are often mistakenly lumped by the common name of blue Himalayan poppy. However, like the holy Roman empire which was neither holy, nor Roman, nor completely an empire, a blue Himalayan poppy is not always blue and certainly not found in the Himalayas alone. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The one that I found would probably fall in the <i>meconopsis</i> <i>acculeata </i>category, being the only one of its family to be found at such a high altitude. Legend has it that the legendary climber Mallory first spotted it in Bhutan and carried a plant back to the United Kingdom after his famous failed attempt to climb the Mount Everest. It is therefore appropriate to mention that this is the national flower of Bhutan. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TG_ZC4ufFmI/AAAAAAAACTk/wevQVq1tCYM/s1600/DSC02656.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TG_ZC4ufFmI/AAAAAAAACTk/wevQVq1tCYM/s400/DSC02656.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507859512907732578" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The genus comprises of 45 to 50 known species and almost all are native to the Himalayan region. Some may occur in lower but nonetheless montane altitudes. They are found from central Nepal to the Tibetan plateau, from China to Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The flowers were about 5 to 7 centimetres across, with four almost rounded petals. I found the golden yellow stamen-filaments to be a wonderful contrast to the pale blue petals. The petals were paper thin, water seemed to run off them speedily, which was just as well, considering how heavily it rains in the Pangi region. The leaves (not visible in these photographs) grow in a sort of rosette, and are widely-spaced and pinnate in shape. The stem of this herbaceous perennial has bristly hair. The blue poppy was found growing in well-drained, but sunny spots and rocky crevices. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">This wonderful, show-stopper of a flower is commonly known as <i>Vanita</i> (वनिता) in Hindi and as <i>gul-e-neelam</i> ( गुल-ए-नीलम) in Urdu. So rare has it become that I feel it was a divine blessing to have been able to see it with my own eyes. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TG_ZCa4Bo4I/AAAAAAAACTc/BOYXQA4Q_Ig/s1600/DSC02674.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TG_ZCa4Bo4I/AAAAAAAACTc/BOYXQA4Q_Ig/s400/DSC02674.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507859504894681986" /></a><br /></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-83291589743515767612010-08-17T19:21:00.004+05:302010-08-19T22:54:39.380+05:30Loneliness is solitude with a problem!<div style="text-align: justify;">I have in the past written on <a href="http://olio-gallimaufry.blogspot.com/2009/10/panegyric-to-solitude.html">solitude</a>. I have treated mine, as Collette says, like "heady wine". Octavio Paz sums it up so well when he says "Solitude is the profoundest fact of human condition. Man is the only being who knows he is alone". I have found my mind to sharper and keener when subjected to uninterrupted solitude. And I love Sandburg for saying that solitude is creative if you are strong, for that's what has been revealed to me! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today, I came across a gem of a video made by Andrea Dorfman based on a wonderful piece written by <a href="http://tanyadavis.ca/index.html">Tanya Davis</a>. I hope I am not infringing any copyright laws by posting this video, but it is just too beautiful not to be shared. It is called "How To Be Alone". </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The text is placed below the video. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k7X7sZzSXYs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k7X7sZzSXYs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 20px; font-family:'Trebuchet MS', 'Nimbus Sans L', 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>If you are at first lonely, be patient.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>If you’ve not been alone much, or if when you were, you weren’t okay with it, then just wait. You’ll find it’s fine to be alone once you’re embracing it.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>We can start with the acceptable places, the bathroom, the coffee shop, the library, where you can stall and read the paper, where you can get your caffeine fix and sit and stay there. Where you can browse the stacks and smell the books; you’re not supposed to talk much anyway so it’s safe there.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>There is also the gym, if you’re shy, you can hang out with yourself and mirrors, you can put headphones in.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Then there’s public transportation, because we all gotta go places.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>And there’s prayer and mediation, no one will think less if your hanging with your breath seeking peace and salvation.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Start simple. Things you may have previously avoided based on your avoid being alone principles.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>The lunch counter, where you will be surrounded by “chow downers”, employees who only have an hour and their spouses work across town, and they, like you, will be alone.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Resist the urge to hang out with your cell phone.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>When you are comfortable with “eat lunch and run”, take yourself out for dinner; a restaurant with linen and Silverware. You’re no less an intriguing a person when you are eating solo desert and cleaning the whip cream from the dish with your finger. In fact, some people at full tables will wish they were where you were.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Go to the movies. Where it’s dark and soothing, alone in your seat amidst a fleeting community.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>And then take yourself out dancing, to a club where no one knows you, stand on the outside of the floor until the lights convince you more and more and the music shows you. Dance like no one’s watching because they’re probably not. And if they are, assume it is with best human intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats, is after-all, gorgeous and affecting. Dance until you’re sweating. And beads of perspiration remind you of life’s best things. Down your back, like a book of blessings.</i></span></span></p><strong style="font-weight: bold; "><center style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Go to the woods alone, and the trees and squirrels will watch for you. Go to an unfamiliar city, roam the streets, they are always statues to talk to, and benches made for sitting gives strangers a shared existence if only for a minute, and these moments can be so uplifting and the conversation you get in by sitting alone on benches, might of never happened had you not been there by yourself. </i></span></span></span></center></strong><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Society is afraid of alone though. Like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements. Like people must have problems if after awhile nobody is dating them.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>But lonely is a freedom that breathes easy and weightless, and lonely is healing if you make it.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>You can stand swathed by groups and mobs or hands with your partner, look both further and farther in the endless quest for company.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>But no one is in your head. And by the time you translate your thoughts an essence of them maybe lost or perhaps it is just kept. Perhaps in the interest of loving oneself, perhaps all those “sappy slogans” from pre-school over to high school groaning, we’re tokens for holding the lonely at bay.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Cause if you’re happy in your head, then solitude is blessed, and alone is okay.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>It’s okay if no one believes like you, all experiences unique, no one has the same synapses, can’t think like you, for this be relived, keeps things interesting, </i></span></span><strong style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>life’s magic things in reach</i></span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>, and it doesn’t mean you aren’t connected, and the community is not present, just take the perspective you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Take silence and respect it.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>If you have an art that needs a practice, stop neglecting it, if your family doesn’t get you or a religious sect is not meant for you, don’t obsess about it.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>You could be in an instant surrounded if you need it.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>If your heart is bleeding, make the best of it.</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>There is heat in freezing, be a testament.</i></span></span></p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~ <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 20px; font-family:'Trebuchet MS', 'Nimbus Sans L', 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; "><center style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Tanya Davis ~</span></span></strong></span></center></strong></span></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-13215857204243805262010-08-15T22:02:00.002+05:302010-08-15T22:36:19.644+05:30There is flattery in friendship.Not my words, this is what the Bard observed. <div style="text-align: justify;">So this post is not about Shimla, or about its author whose not-so-occasional rambles readers have been so tolerant of. I just want to talk about my friends and the wonderful ideas they're thinking up and sharing with the world. Here they are:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meet SdS, she writes a great little blog <a href="http://grantmebookshelves.wordpress.com/">Grant Me Bookshelves</a>. Book-mad noone quite reads books the way she does, her perspective is always amazing and her impressions and insights deep and astounding. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Asha has only just begun to work on <a href="http://icosahedra.blogspot.com/">Self Leadership</a>. I look forward to being with her on this journey of examining beliefs and values related to leadership. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Autar Mota is a deeply sensitive, poetic soul. His photographs and words on <a href="http://autarmota.blogspot.com/">Chinar Shade</a> sear the reader and leave you numb and joyous by turn. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Imran's a seeker. He may choose to describe himself differently, but I am yet to come across a person like him who combines his sense of adventure with his spirituality with such grace and felicity. Imran's pictures, worth more than a thousand words can be seen on his photoblog <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/imranthetrekker/">Imran The Trekker</a> on Flickr. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ranjani has been a healer and empath for as long as I can remember. In her blog <a href="http://reikirhapsody.blogspot.com/">Reiki Rhapsody</a>, Ranjani is trying to help us, her readers, regain and hold on to the precious rhythm of life through music. </div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/krishnan_kaushik/">Kaushik</a> is young. His perspective, fresh and innocent like his mind. Looking at his photographs, I just know it in my bones that this young lad will go very far in life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Vinayak's take on things, like his blog <a href="http://8ate.blogspot.com/">At The Edge</a>, is sharp and sapient. Just when my ideas begin to feel stale, I go look at his blog and am blown away once again. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">GP is witty, wicked and utterly irreverent. I totally wouldn't like to be at the receiving end of the bon mots he comes with on <a href="http://noiseofindia.com/">Noise Of India</a> which claims to, and succeeds in, "putting the mock back in democracy". </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Varsha is my wellness Guru. Through her blog, <a href="http://wholesomeoptions.blogspot.com/">Wholesome Options</a>, as also through fortuitous personal acquaintance, I have picked many easy tips and tricks and have had many a health myth shattered. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you, each one of you, for sharing your perspectives and insights. My life, as indeed that of all those who visit your blogs, is richer because of you. </div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-89849490778302044302010-08-14T11:59:00.008+05:302010-08-14T23:47:25.264+05:30That foolish fort, a heart...<div style="text-align: justify;">Some of the best things in life happen unexpectedly. <a href="http://grantmebookshelves.wordpress.com/">SdS</a> and I had wandered up into the polychromatic gompa at Ghemur. It was one of those days you just know will be magical. You just don't know how... The sun had been playing hide and seek and shadows of the clouds overhead dappled the mountainsides. The monastery was closed and all the Lamas had left for Khardang where they were celebrating special prayers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">But an unpredicted bonus awaited us in the form of a little old man. We met Nyema Dhondup. By having wandered around the gompa open-mouthed and ooh-ed and aah-ed over an amazing collection of carvings on stone which represented various incarnations of Buddha, somehow, SdS and I had managed to unbend the old gentleman. "Would you like to see a fort?", he asked. Being old hands at fort-spotting, yes, yes, we almost babbled in excitement. Follow me, he said. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">So up, up, up we went. This was a narrow overgrown path, leading up from Ghemur. Thick bushes of primroses, harebells and buttercups leaned onto it. We were out of breath in no time at all. But could not decide: was it the steep climb? The sheer variety, colour and fragrance of the wild flowers? Or the stunning vistas all around? It was hard not to fall to one's knees and thank the Almighty for letting us be here. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">We followed a village trail. Women were bent over, harvesting peas. A man lazily chewed a stick of grass. A big brown cow looked up inquiringly from its grazing. The narrow mountain path had abruptly widened into a valley, sometimes skirting the river Chandra, other times going farther afield from it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY5vyvBfwI/AAAAAAAACTU/Pltg47pLLmQ/s1600/DSC_4234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY5vyvBfwI/AAAAAAAACTU/Pltg47pLLmQ/s400/DSC_4234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505151087742648066" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There, rising towards the mountains, with lines as straight and precise as to gladden an engineer's heart, lay the stupendous fort of Khangsar. The shape of fort makes an enchanting vision: its glacis into the river below counterpoised by its linearity. The solitude of the scenery was unbroken, except for a tier of house here and a chain of chortens there. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY5vihOrvI/AAAAAAAACTM/jnvDlNqutzs/s1600/DSC_4243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY5vihOrvI/AAAAAAAACTM/jnvDlNqutzs/s400/DSC_4243.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505151083389824754" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Made of mud and wood, its walls smoothened by age, it sat in the midst of the little village like an old soldier, tired and resting after a long war. The thing I love most about old structures, particularly those made natural materials is their colours: chestnut, terracotta, auburn, sorrel, ochre, puce, ginger, burnt sienna... they are a delight of browns! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY5vTBA6RI/AAAAAAAACTE/RzlcsLcBfW4/s1600/DSC_4261.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY5vTBA6RI/AAAAAAAACTE/RzlcsLcBfW4/s400/DSC_4261.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505151079228172562" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The inside of the fort is every bit as awe-inspiring as the ramparts viewed externally. It is hard to tell from outside that this little building contains one hundred and eight rooms. Interestingly, all rooms are built around a sort of atrium. However, unlike the classical atrium design, the roof does not open into the sky, or is covered with glass. It is just a normal roof, covered with mud and thatch and wood. There were, however, a number of small windows which let in a sufficient quantity of light. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">To me, the most interesting aspect of the fort were the little well-like structures in each room. You will notice one in the photograph above. It is a small square arrangement with wooden slats all around, perhaps to prevent the curious from falling in! The interesting thing is that looking down you find yourself staring into a giant kitchen. In the old days, big fires were lit in the cooking area. These were used not only for cooking, but also for heating water. More importantly, following the well known theory of physics, the warm air rose and managed to warm the entire castle. What an ingenuous system! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY5u3w06VI/AAAAAAAACS8/-1djupRmAj0/s1600/DSC_4264.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY5u3w06VI/AAAAAAAACS8/-1djupRmAj0/s1600/DSC_4264.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 400px; " src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY5u3w06VI/AAAAAAAACS8/-1djupRmAj0/s400/DSC_4264.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505151071912520018" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY4sOC-wYI/AAAAAAAACS0/S-28Hz4ZNNQ/s400/DSC_4288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505149926843007362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY4r3tqhfI/AAAAAAAACSs/Ur2QXZBVPN4/s400/DSC_4284.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505149920848020978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ask me about the one feature that struck me about the Khangsar fort, and I will say it was the carving on the wood. The patterns were incredibly delicate, so finely-wrought in their detail. It is like seeing lace on wood. The motifs, interestingly, find resonance in many gompas around Lahaul. The dragons, the inverted flower buds, the lotuses, the waves and the pearls in flames. You also notice the typical and incredibly lovely chequered pattern hewed out of the wood and then embellished in bright cobalt blues and forest greens. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY4rmNx2rI/AAAAAAAACSk/OZ4DlAgm9TI/s1600/DSC_4276.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY4rmNx2rI/AAAAAAAACSk/OZ4DlAgm9TI/s400/DSC_4276.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505149916150880946" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY4rb4f9cI/AAAAAAAACSc/OPztTH9ABEI/s400/DSC_4283.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505149913377273282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Entering the sanctum sanctorum of the fort, one finds the usual spot designated for the deities of the family. Now here is an intriguing aspect. An ageing sepia photograph reveals the Rana to be a gentleman of distinctively Indian features. He looks as though he could belong to anywhere in Himachal and is probably a Hindu. His face is unlike the people he would have ruled, whose features are Monogoloid. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Juxtaposed with this is the fact that the area of worship is completely Buddhist - whether it is the religious texts, swaddled in colourful silk, the deities, mainly Avalokiteswara and Padmasambhava, and all other accoutrements of devotion: the offering bowls, the butter lamps, the prayer wheels, the drilbu (the bell, rung during prayer), the kapala (in this case the skull was that of a goat!) and the dorje, the small sceptre which represents Buddha's compassion. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The little fort, standing up valiantly against the rampage of weather and time, betokens an age of grace, of tolerance and a culture that was urbane while existing happily in the midst of wilderness. The deliciously straight lines, the sumptuous colours, the projecting terraces topped with a pillar in turn embellished with rams' horns. One never gets tired of uttering exclamations of joy! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY4sOC-wYI/AAAAAAAACS0/S-28Hz4ZNNQ/s1600/DSC_4288.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGY4rb4f9cI/AAAAAAAACSc/OPztTH9ABEI/s1600/DSC_4283.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></a></div></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26925082.post-22513246222140018852010-08-11T08:59:00.005+05:302010-08-12T10:38:12.826+05:30Dogs got personality. Personality goes a long way.<div style="text-align: justify; ">I have loved dogs for as long as I can remember. Couldn't have been otherwise, since this is a genetic predisposition, inherited from dog-mad parental units, one of whom has the penchant for kissing any dogs which happen to cross her path and bringing waifs home ever so often. </div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ-jL125I/AAAAAAAACSU/2jUsBMEEdqU/s1600/DSC02867.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ-jL125I/AAAAAAAACSU/2jUsBMEEdqU/s400/DSC02867.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503990256987659154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ9y43-ZI/AAAAAAAACSM/A4vhuDz-90k/s1600/DSC_3153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ9y43-ZI/AAAAAAAACSM/A4vhuDz-90k/s400/DSC_3153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503990244023204242" /></a><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Unlike cats, dogs aren't narcissists. You won't find a dog wasting time grooming himself. He would rather roll in dead fish, and emerge - like Botticelli's Venus - with a triumphant grin and a distinctly ripe air. I could swear there are dogs which lie awake at night thinking up good deeds to do the next day! They just want to please! Call a dog, and it will run to you helter-skelter, even at the risk of breaking its own neck. Call a cat and what you will get is a look which says "What's in it for me?" I like dogs because, like humans, they understand ladder-like social arrangements. Cats, on the other hand, see themselves as the hub surrounded by spokes of human minions, all reluctantly acknowledging the superiority of the despot! </div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ9dy6oMI/AAAAAAAACSE/EAFaiJTfbfY/s1600/DSC_4311.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ9dy6oMI/AAAAAAAACSE/EAFaiJTfbfY/s400/DSC_4311.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503990238361067714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ88yRwYI/AAAAAAAACR8/FkCyOcKCxHQ/s1600/DSC03034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ88yRwYI/AAAAAAAACR8/FkCyOcKCxHQ/s400/DSC03034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503990229500019074" /></a><br /><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">I find the first encounters between dogs highly entertaining. These are thrilling and pregnant with possibility. There is a curiosity, tempered by constraint. An atavistic canniness stops them fro going utterly overboard even at the whiff of future friendship. The mutual reluctance to pass each other is amusing to watch. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ8VwkwbI/AAAAAAAACR0/Tv8sEW2bhSA/s1600/DSC_4436.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R7FE2xbZpzU/TGIZ8VwkwbI/AAAAAAAACR0/Tv8sEW2bhSA/s400/DSC_4436.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503990219023892914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shimla's strays have afforded me the opportunity of petting and playing with dogs at a time when I am, thanks to my itinerant habits, unable to keep a pet. They have given me the warm affection of close acquaintance which stops short of a familial relationship. Shorn of any mutual responsibility, our meetings are joyous, but free of expectation. If only these could be replicated with some two-legged creatures I know! </div></div></div></div>Geetalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058285302290050058noreply@blogger.com7