The Kashmiri Landscape

                                                                                                                 Author: Madhumita Das           

Image: House-boats on Dal Lake, Srinagar (here)

The Wordle of 10 given words:

swim, drink, stories look, bubbly, 

sage, sprinkler, music, broken, violet

The Kashmiri landscape 

it left a fragment in his heart

An experience etched within for a few days

but the memory is sustained forever

Why must the lure of a short span

be carried for a lifetime

Jammu and Kashmir to see is to believe

He touched down a few days ago

He had intended to stay on longer

perhaps a swim in the drink

Bent on seeing his childhood

yearnings fulfilled in this land

of heavenly paradise

He had heard stories told of

abundance of leisurely escapades

like beauty of colours on canvas 

to savour all by himself

He was lucky to stay in a house-boat

the charm of his ideals

Would look good of his bubbly self

A sage of sorts on vacation

Refreshments and meals provided

The house-boat owner saw to that

He was curious of Dal Lake of

Gulmarg and Pahalgam, 

a fascination!

Warned to be wary of political discontent

Marauding groups fighting for a voice

A sprinkler of simmering political scene

Independence separation or whatever

but he did not see any

What he saw were streams of

clear spring waters gushing

down the hill sides shooting colours

of rainbow in the cool breeze

Music to the ear broken only

by sprays glittering in bright sun rays

and peeping over snow-capped mountain tops

Dainty little brooks or expanse of waters

Watering the lush green meandering

around boulders on both sides of

country roads

Spied beautiful maidens with rosy cheeks

Manning little stalls in all innocence

Offering fruits and food to the hungry tourists

Beside them were pelts of leopards and

Bengal tigers and myriads of leather goods

What did he do wrong to be requested home

What was so pressing that his presence was needed

That he could not fathom

He had to leave bidding farewell

To the grand Kashmiri landscape

Of violet blue yellow and maroon

Colours of flowers enhancing the beauty

Though he felt upon ascending

through the clouds he saw Srinagar 

beckoning from below 

wanting for a fragment

of his time again in heaven's name

He is bound to come again

for another visit

That he so decided!

Hank experienced the Kashmiri 

hospitality for a few days a long time ago

MMT with a Wordle at The Whirligig#347

Laura at d'Verse , MTB, picking up the pieces