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Mayavati, Advaita Ashram source
As I utter Jaisalmer
I find
A little girl
Springing from my heart
Running with deer feet on the golden sand
Towards a gorgeously decorated camel
To take her to the medieval golden fort,
Sonar Kella*
Alas! It’s only a dream.
When I say Mayavati
I find
A woman
Stepping out from my heart
Slowly trekking the snowy Himalayan path
Towards a monastery nestled in the lofty
height
Beckoning her with a smile of renunciation
Advaita Ashram**
Alas! It’s only a dream.
I say the names
I listen to myself
I dream
They’ve become my soul
I’ll see them one day
I say the names
Till the heart stops beating
Fort at Jaisalmer source
*A book written by Satyajit Ray, the noted Indian film director. The book, meaning, Golden Fort is a detective story based in Jaisalmer, a place in Rajasthan, the largest state of India. It was also made into a film by Ray. We as kids simply adored the book and also the film.
**It is a monastery of the Ramakrishna Order.
In both the places I could not go in spite of
all the arrangements.
Posted for Sherry’s Midweek Motif ~ Saying the Names With Love @ PoetsUnited & I used a few lines from Al Purdy’s poem “Say the Names”
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Wednesday, 5 August 2015
Say the Names
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I think oftentimes yearnings are expressed in dreams, and this poem feels to me like a poem of such yearning. Beautiful pictures of these two places, Sumana. Interesting that Jaisalmer has snow. In my mind I really never picture India with snow....or cold!
ReplyDeleteMayavati has snow but not Jaisalmer, though in winter it's very cold there.
DeleteDreams are often termed as a person's inner desires.. this poem has a feeling of such sweet longing.. such heartfelt lines :D
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
Deep within us memories sometimes clear sometimes just a feeling that we are connected with a place, a river or mountain and we know that is a part of us forever. Beautiful writing Sumana.
ReplyDeleteyes we must keep those important names alive and in living memory..
ReplyDeleteSumana, your poem is especially gorgeous this morning. What a delight, the little girl on her deer feet, and then the woman in the snowy Himalayas. My heart slowed as I read, imbued in the utter peace and beauty of the place names. Sigh. I so loved this poem!
ReplyDeleteSonar Kella brings a bunch of memories. What a movie! It was a delight to see how you mentioned it while talking about Jaisalmer.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful poem, Sumana. Loved the way you have weaved this poem with the names of the places you love :)
Aw. I guess some things are meant to remain dreams and turn into beautiful poems. What lovely places. But, who knows, you might still go one day Sumana.
ReplyDeletethis is lovely Sumana, almost most mythical in mood
ReplyDeletemuch love...
Beautiful names to dream on.
ReplyDeleteLovely piece.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting.
Ahhh, yes -an avid reader and dreamer has lived a thousand lives or more and has an imagination that is far more well travelled than any body ever could be! Just lovely x
ReplyDeleteWould love to read that book!
ReplyDeleteYes the places we love but cannot go to are always special.
ReplyDelete"Sonar Kella" is one of the all-time best sellers. I have seen the film innumerable times and what fascinated me is how Ray changed the whole structure of the book while making this film. :)
ReplyDeleteI love Jaisalmer ....and have been to that place about three four years back.
Mayavati robbed my heart, Sumana. Lovely lovely piece of writing.... :)
I love that picture! It alone is so evocative, mainly because it seems so welcoming in such a cold space. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the way that you've employed the effect of the echo with repetition and the idea of running on deer feet was such a thrill...a really beautiful poem!!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post ..."They’ve become my soul". Lovely and evocative.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem, Sumana. Your evocations of striking images from the wonderful names of your land certainly makes yearn to visit those places...
ReplyDelete