She was a fleeting vision
of translucent iridescence
as she strolled in silence
under the colored heavens.

Grey ribbons that tamed
her shoulder-length hair
beautifully complemented
her long, flowing dress.

And bell-shaped sleeves
billowing with the breeze
were matched by the wave
of the sash on her waist.

Her head leaned towards
a book held in her hands;
she was totally oblivious
of all the curious glances.

Then a gust hurried by-
She gazed up just a while,
gave a small, courteous bow,
and suddenly, she was gone.

Merging into all the shades
like water-drops on wet paint.
“Marvellous!” I thought aloud,
of the girl I saw in the clouds.

The sunlight bouncing off
the leaves on the trees
leaves bright motifs on
the floor through the grills.

The whispering wind
blowing ever so slowly
makes every moving thing
rejoice in joyous dancing.

The koel singing softly –
Songs floating in the breeze.
What could the notes mean?
Maybe love’s sweet melody.

The sun looking handsome
rising in the eastern skies
frowns glaringly by noon
like a lover tired of waiting.

The hills turning brown
with their sun burnt faces
tell stories of their own
to anyone who listens.

The sky showing its colors
without any cloudy specks
is that Eternal Artist’s canvas
with Art that can’t be imitated.

The beautiful summer day then
bids adieu as evening creeps
with the sun setting in the west,
its tete-a-tete a complete mystery.

These days, these golden days
in beauty are truly unparalleled.
O sands of time – pray stop and stay!
These summer days are all I crave!

The night was dark.
The wind did howl.
The streets were empty.
The tramps didn’t prowl.
The sea was wild
with waves so high.
And in the fields
the flowers died.
The sky showered
great big drops
that filled the streets
and lashed tree tops.
The children wailed.
The mothers prayed,
“O Lord save us all
from this rainy hell!”

Pitter patter fall the drops
from the skies non-stop.
Swift and fast comes the rain.
Clouds are overhead again.

Out come raincoats.
Out come umbrellas.
Out come the gumboots
and brandy from cellars.

Little children on the roads
shout and jump with the toads.
And worried mothers everywhere
cry out, “Come here! Come here!”

An earthy smell is in the air
as snakes and bugs give a scare.
Rivers and waterfalls overflow
and the sky is lit with a rainbow.

Peacocks dance and sing aloud.
All around the mist does shroud.
Brooding hearts sing out again.
Rainy days are here to stay!

Listen to the raindrops as they’re falling
from the grey skies on the window panes.
A chit chit chattering in the pitter pattering,
I can hear them calling out my name.

“Come outside and play,” they sing loudly.
“Get your friends ‘n brothers ‘n sisters too.
Splashing around in the rain is exciting,
and don’t forget to put on your gumboots.”

Trying to catch the raindrops in our hands,
feeling them run down our hair and faces,
jumping in puddles of water and sand,
shouting, we play with the frogs and snails.

Now the fire burning in the hearth is warm,
And a spot of brandy is inviting, too.
The evening skies turn cloudy and dark
While the rain is still falling on the roof.

A chit chit chattering in the pitter pattering,
can you hear them calling out your name?
“Come outside and play,” they sing loudly.
“Come outside and play…till we go away.”

Little white roses
growing by the road.
Little white roses
with hearts made of gold.

Little white roses
though they cannot speak,
say much more than anyone
with feelings twice as sweet.

Little white roses
spreading love and peace.
Innocent white roses
never causing grief.

Little white roses
give the fragrance of life.
O erring, hurting humans!
May they be your guide.

Clouds in the twilight
Hid the Sun’s last rays.
Thundering gunmetal
with flashy electric trails.
Flanked with darkness,
Sudden came the rain.
Unpredictably, like tears
from eyes awash in pain.
Drops splashed all around
in the directionless breeze.
Cold, they hit the ground
pitter pattering mindlessly.
Racing together to form
streams of water and dirt,
uprooting great trees from
the bowels of the earth.
As Winds cried out loudly
making time stand still,
Night swallowed the light.
Only shadows were seen
That seemed to join in the
Dance of destruction
orchestrated by nature
in the cycle of creation.

The ocean is deep and vast.

Its beauty is unsurpassed.

Loved by everyone, feared by all,

a treasure house it is called.

Crowned by silvery, glistening waves,

adorned with pearls of all types,

its colossal womb gave birth to life,

the tiny cell that bore mankind.

Forever creating and destroying,

it itself is indestructible,

unpredictable, unconquerable,

a turbulent, tempestuous cradle.

It is a witness, undoubtedly,

of revolutions that made history

with secrets locked in its recesses,

and many of the world’s mysteries.

From time immemorial it remained

and will remain as it remained.

Revered and honoured by each one,

Be it bird, beast, or man.

The night has passed.

A quiet night.

Its dark velvet cover

yielding to light.

A night of prayer;

A night of hope;

A night full of care;

This night of snow.

Then as softly

comes the dawn,

then so surely,

the day has won.