Life and Death

As I come out of my shell and explore my surroundings I can’t help but notice a unique seasonal feature around these parts. Spring and fall seem to coexist. Leaves carpet the roads and mounds of leaves dot the sides of the roads until they are carted off to their final resting place. And yet gardens are abloom with a riot of colors – pink purple yellow and magenta. The peepal tree outside my office is a case in point. It is almost bare with a few green leaves determinedly hanging on until they turn yellow and reluctantly make their way down to whence they grew to such dizzying heights. And yet whilst this tussle is on, a new unruly batch has already sprung up gung-ho and eager to make their mark in this world. I have been feeling too inhibited to click this particule tree but I did mix and match some photos in an earlier post – Peepal in Spring.

For this post I have captured a few contrasting images from the world around me. Come scroll with me…

20180331_102923Clutching at straws

20180330_101305Brilliant and defiant in death.

20180330_101433Life towers over and mocks at death – it is not for me!

20180330_101500Yet some die before their time

20180330_101451While others bloom despite all odds

20180401_081112Even when there appears to be no hope or escape

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Only when we accept that ups and downs, life and death will happen can we move on and live life as she deserves to be led – wholly completely, entirely and unabashedly.

Wish you all a wonderful day.

The Song Within

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Photo (c) Marie Gail Stratford

The Song Within

Words 100

She was late. All because of the cook. And so inconsiderate of him to take the car.

The signal turned green and the surging crowd spilled on to the road.

It was just February and already so hot.

Oww her shoes hurt.

Not as much as her piercing barbed comments.

Cursing, she hurried ahead of the riff-raff.

A melodious voice rose above the traffic din. “aaaa~aaaa am the one of happy colors.”

The next winner of Voice India!

She slowed down.

A garish electric blue sweater wearing strange mismatched socks limped past her.

Wait.

Not socks but a prosthetic leg.

***

*Main hoon khush rang Heena – a Hindi movie song.

Written for the Friday Fictioneer – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Marie Gail Stratford for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.

Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts.

 

A Wounded Lioness

This week for Becca’s Sunday Trees photo feature, I bring you one with many layers to her.

T1An impressive tree, I think, a mango tree perhaps. If so she would have been stoned, prodded and climbed all over the entire long summer. But undaunted, unconcerned she has continued her journey to reach for the sky.

T2I come closer. She allows a money plant to drape her like a scarf, even allow a lamp to rest on her curves.

T3Hey wait! That’s no drapery – it’s growing out of her. Just another surrogate mother for one who is not even her kind. My kind? she asks. What’s that? All life is my kind.

T4Just look at those wounds and scars. Don’t they hurt? I ask. No she shakes her branches.

T6Liar. I choke on tears as I walk over to the other side. Her silent howl of despair unheard in this vast preoccupied universe.

The Freeloader

Hello! I am back – anyone miss me? Ah well neither did I – so there! 😉 I have been busy traveling and I did lots of shopping – tree shopping 😀 I saw scores of grand aging graceful and otherwise eye catching trees. But there’s one (or should I say two) that stand out among them all.

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The outer tree is a deodar tree and the inside one is the jarul tree (Lagerstroemia speciosa giant crape-myrtle, Queen’s crape-myrtle, banabá plant for Philippines, or Pride of India). At least that is what a local guide told us. But I am not really convinced, especially about the deodar tree which grows in the Himalayan regions and has needle like leaves. Perhaps it is the sal tree? Do you recognize the trees? Ferdi? Anyone?

But these are technicalities and as the bard said what is in a name? Especially when there is so much to see, marvel and wonder over.

Can you see how the jarul split the mother tree? And that despite being split she continues to nurture her protege? Did you notice how the jarul tree was cut away from its base and roots but yet it continues to grow deriving nourishment, sustenance and support from the parent tree.

A marvelous example of nature’s beauty, tenacity, and capacity to survive against all odds isnt it?

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees

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No one

can save

me

from you

not even

me

#3 of 7 B&W Photo

It’s Day 3 of the no explanation no people 7 day B&W photo challenge. Simple right? But me being me – I had to go and complicate it 😀

I never knew anybody . . . who found life simple. I think a life or a time looks simple when you leave out the details.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin, The Birthday of the World and Other Stories

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Right left

straight

up down

and

sideways

she tried

her hand

at everything

believing

knowing

that one day

even fate

would give in.

Thank you Orange for nominating me – people please do check out her awesome blog and selection although I have to confess this one is my favorite and not just because it breaks the rules 😉

If you are worried and upset at having missed my earlier posts on this challenge here are the links 😀

Day 1

Day 2

Have a great day and see ya tomorrow!

Unfettered

20171104_101031

stripped,

scarred,

battered,

embedded,

shackled

and

enchained

she may be

yet nothing

deters her

from

reaching

for the stars

 

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees – 6th anniversary!