Bangalore diary
(1)
How terrible is this loneliness
An azure sky and me
For whom are these terraces
And the empty chairs
For whom?
An eagle, however, hovering
My companion in the sky
Looking down always
In search of food
Still a friend I find in the sky.
Pigeons throng the terrace
near the lifeless veranda
In search of water
Cooing after quenching their thirst
Suddenly, to my delight
I found
Myself
Amongst my friends from
the time Immemorial.
(2)
Passing Marthahalli
Thorough watching of the colourful shops
And the upmarket spas
Thai and Korean
Through the old airport road
I arrive at my destination.
Soham temple
A replica of Kailash and Manas Sarovar
In the heart of the city.
A circle is complete with
Shiva Darshan always.
(3)
Dwindling number of Coconut trees
Near my abode of Bengaluru upsets me.
I watched the sun rising over concrete
Searched for a song
Near the vanishing lakes
Instead I heard noise of the traffic.
Some aquatic birds
Near the rainbow reflecting waters
Of the lake, tried to swim
As the beautiful rains started pouring down
There! The rainbow in the sky.
(4)
I watch a throbbing city
With intellect that is a marvel
And overwhelming intelligence
Together
Took a nation
To this present height
Bangalore doesn’t sleep at night.
It sleeps during the day, sometimes
With eyes wide open.
Awake till the mind needs some rest
Awake till
The dawn blossoms.
The dews on the grass are now not felt or seen
And Silicon Valley has taken over the green.
***
Mandira Ghosh
Secretary, the Poetry Society India, Educator, 27 books in wide-ranging titles
Bharat Nirman award in literature, Dr Radhakrishnan and Sarojini Naidu awards for working women and Woman Achiever in literature (2020) by the Asian Literary Society, Author of the Year Award, 2023, Senior Fellowship, Ministry of Culture, Government of India and is also the Guest Editor, Special Indian edition of the Seventh Quarry Swansea Magazine from Wales.
EXCELLENT POEM .