Wednesday 5 August 2015

Say the Names



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”


19 comments:

  1. 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!

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    1. Mayavati has snow but not Jaisalmer, though in winter it's very cold there.

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  2. Dreams are often termed as a person's inner desires.. this poem has a feeling of such sweet longing.. such heartfelt lines :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  3. 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.

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  4. yes we must keep those important names alive and in living memory..

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  5. Sumana, 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!

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  6. Sonar Kella brings a bunch of memories. What a movie! It was a delight to see how you mentioned it while talking about Jaisalmer.
    A beautiful poem, Sumana. Loved the way you have weaved this poem with the names of the places you love :)

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  7. 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.

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  8. this is lovely Sumana, almost most mythical in mood

    much love...

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  9. Lovely piece.

    Thanks for visiting.

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  10. 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

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  11. Would love to read that book!

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  12. Yes the places we love but cannot go to are always special.

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  13. "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. :)
    I love Jaisalmer ....and have been to that place about three four years back.
    Mayavati robbed my heart, Sumana. Lovely lovely piece of writing.... :)

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  14. I love that picture! It alone is so evocative, mainly because it seems so welcoming in such a cold space. Nicely done.

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  15. I 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!!

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  16. A beautiful post ..."They’ve become my soul". Lovely and evocative.

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  17. Beautiful poem, Sumana. Your evocations of striking images from the wonderful names of your land certainly makes yearn to visit those places...

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