Rain sluices down mercilessly,
This once arid kingdom of dust,
Where concrete burnt like glowing charcoal,
Resembles now an island in the midst of floods.
The sewers gurgle painfully,
With the sudden swell of waste,
As mini-whirlpools in the pot-holed streets,
Wash the sludge of the roads away.
The trees around now wear a varnish of green,
The scent of petrichor overcome by the stench of urban rot.
The leaves and flats around me play a deafening percussion,
While a fearful rumbling in the belly of the skies mocks.
In the midst of this watery mayhem,
I stand immobile, imprisoned by the sudden deluge.
Upturned umbrella in hand, my raincoat and hopes flailing,
Like the sails of a fallen ship in the midst of churning blues.
My slushy shoes and besmirched trousers,
Life rafts now for drowning arthropods and slimy crustaceans.
Yet little respite my own bit of nylon canopy offers,
While the blinding rain pellets eclipse the fiery sun in the heavens.
While the rain lays siege to the city, a winged creature,
Flutters into my battered shelter.
Hoping to evade the fury of the storm,
She seeks protection on the hump of my shoulder.
Her wings are flimsier than a wisp of breath,
Her faint fluttering entirely futile.
How she must have braved this manic monsoon hitherto,
When even beasts and birds had escaped to hide?
And when the weather gods have had their fill,
They bid the clouds disperse in one swift move,
And just as suddenly, the rain subsides to a powdery drizzle,
Lo, the sun begins to shine on its favored globe.
When I look back on the shoulder where she rested,
I see naught of those bright, blue-black mariposa feathers,
But on my cheek, she lays a faint, fluttering caress,
As gratitude and farewell, to her friend in foul weather.
Copyright ©2017 Pradita Kapahi.
All rights reserved.
Image Credits: www.pinterest.com
Beautiful imagery indeed Pradita! Loved this piece. You’ve written it so effortlessly. 🙂
Best wishes,
Shambhavi
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My pleasure that you liked it Shambhavi. Thanks a lot for reading and commenting 🙂
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You’re a beautiful writer and your sketches are expressive indeed. Loved your recent piece of poetry and sketch Pradita!😊😊
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Oh, thanks a lot. You’re very kind with your praise 🙂
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You deserve it! 🙂
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Made my day. Thank you so much! 😀
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I’m glad to hear that. 😍
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You’re welcome 😊
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A different one from you…liked it…
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Thanks a lot Sangbad. But different how?
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You generally doesn’t write imagery one…and this one it is…
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Aah I see. I thought you were gonna say ‘you generally write dark and dour poetry’ 😂 Thanks a lot 😊
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I saw some darkness in this poem also…
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Ha ha! Like where?
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Good one pradita. It seems to flow so effortlessly from your pen 👍
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Thanks a lot Deepika. Glad you like it 😊
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Lovely imagery portrayed Pradita !!
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Thanks a lot Radhika Ma’am 🙂
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Beautiful piece. While reading your words.. I could see everything so clearly.. I could even feel the little ones wet feathers. Great imagery through words 👍👍
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Awwww thanks a lot Prajakta. I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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Awesome….
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Thanks a lot 😊 😊
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Beautiful….what a imagine…marvellous…👌👌👌👌
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Thanks a lot Sir 😊 😊
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Well written Pradita
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Thanks a lot. Glad you liked it 😊
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beautiful description of every para.. took me on a imaginary downpour of some old memories.
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Thanks a lot Gurl. I’m so glad you liked it that way 🙂 🙂
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Vocabulary queen !
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Thank you ji 😀 😀 😀
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Brilliantly done Pradita, Vocabulary stands out through the poem.
Special mention to the line ‘Life rafts now for drowning arthropods and slimy crustaceans’ 🙂
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Oh thanks a lot Dilip. This piece is one of my faves too 😊
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Yeah I loved it.. would love to see more of this kind😬
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Hee hee. I wish I were that prolific 😁
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The imagery you painted is beautiful and serves as a strong metaphor. The lyrical words and expression touches the soul like the waft of fresh air,
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Thanks a lot for that equally poetic compliment Vishal. How have you been?
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Things have been good and busy with work and reading 🙂
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