Category Archives: Seasonal Ponderings

Ye Soft Pipes, Play On…

  ” Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter ; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; “ ~ Keats-Ode on a Grecian Urn~ The orange-bearded musician is playing the wind instrument alghoza that consists of a pair of flutes. One of them produces heavy notes and the other low notes. Music experts callContinue reading “Ye Soft Pipes, Play On…”

“Boys and girls come out to play, The moon doth shine as bright as day…”

“Boys and girls come out to play The moon doth shine as bright as day; Leave your supper and leave your sleep, And come with your playfellows into the street” Come with a whoop, come with a call,Come with a good will or not at all.Up the ladder and down the wall,A halfpenny roll willContinue reading ““Boys and girls come out to play, The moon doth shine as bright as day…””

FAN`’TACHE~TIC!

Some of those  fan~’tashe~tic Rajasthani men, donning their handlebars, walrus, imperial, painter’s brush moustaches… A few clicks from my pre-covid Rajasthan trip. In India the bristling history of moustache dates back to the 16th century . Flauntinghis ‘handlebar moustache’ Imperial meesha! English ‘tache Painter’s brush       There was a Veerappan look alike too!Continue reading “FAN`’TACHE~TIC!”

The Cup That Cheers!

‘The cups that cheer but not inebriate’ would be one of the best lines extolling the virtues of TEA. During my college days I was never a great fan of William Cowper, even though later in life I have often borrowed his phrase many a time to caption my photos of steaming cups of tea.Continue reading “The Cup That Cheers!”

Elegy to an old sentinel

Before the next floods hit him or the storm fell him our Ungu tree (The Indian Birch tree) was called to sleep a few months back. Nature would have taken his thousand emerald leaves to her bosom, his strong sturdy trunk and bark would have lit someone’s hearth. “Now that I have opened that bottleContinue reading “Elegy to an old sentinel”

Gorgeously Generous January!

It has been seven days and January seems to be kind and generous so far, lavishly gifting splendid dawns and sunrises. Everyday dawns with a vibrant and cheerful note, unlike the grim, gloomy mornings of last year.. It is believed that January is named after Janus the Roman God of beginnings and transitions. The godContinue reading “Gorgeously Generous January!”

Fairies’ sweepers, so says the poet!

“Peacocks sweep the fairies’ rooms; They use their folded tails for brooms; But fairy dust is brighter far Than any mortal colours are; And all about their tails it clings In strange designs of rounds and rings; And that’s why they strut about And proudly spread their feathers out“ ~Rose Fyleman Isn’t that a lovelyContinue reading “Fairies’ sweepers, so says the poet!”