#WorldPoetryDay

Like the final page of a book is the toughest to turn,

Like the path a child chooses away from the comfort zone,

Like the wave that leaves the ocean stretching towards the coast,

Like the dead leaf that falls off its branch slayed alone,

Like the sunlight disappearing into the dusky terrain,

Like the moonlight withdrawing into the dawn's spell dazed,

Like the soul that departs the body bellowing to the world,

Like the tear that imprints the skin on its way to the floor,

Like the hold that you let go in a moment’s breath,

Like the love that swiftly renounced the core and wept,

All these metaphors sound so astonishing and impressive,

You think this is how I feel but do you know that this is just what I've seen.

@Image Courtesy Google

Locution!

T.S Eliot once said 'You write because you feel the need to free yourself of something' and he totally gets me! 

It isn't necessary that any learned person can be a writer. The way how you translate your feelings into words that flow from your heart via your fingers, with all that you feel as your ink, is almost a spiritual activity that you participate in. It takes a lot of courage and brevity to reveal your inner most thoughts and stand naked in front of the world. Thoughts of love, pain or divinity are abstract and don't usually fit into the concrete structure of the world. 

Words can be superficial, yet they can be everything you need at some point in your life. This is a matter which is always up for debate but what we really get out of anything scripted is a connection. A connection that helps us reconnect, helps us face the truth, breaks us or maybe one day heal all the wounds that words of others inflicted upon us. As I stare at a blank space, I wonder that it's only when what we think and feel gets inscribed on a sheet of paper, without any dilution, without any trimmings is when we really write. When the emotions of contentment, intimacy or intense pain that only the one who feel gets is written, it may just strike a match but imagine the intensity of that emotion felt by that person for them to be capable of effectively putting it into words and then just putting it out there. 

This world is fake but then you find people who are real, that's the kind of connection you want to hold on to. At that point words don't matter. That depth is what we all seek, what we all need. Funny how in a materialistic world all we need and look for are intangible things that matter. It's like they are two sides of the same coin. On one side words cage you and when you turn sides that's when they free you and that liberation my dear friends is more precious than anything money can buy. It isn't everyday that you are gifted with the depth of words and have that translated into actions that will eventually lead you to establish faith in all the things that have failed you in life. Is that the beginning of happiness? Maybe not or maybe just maybe yes.

Pipe Dream!

Like a hope that pours from the core,

A little lick that illuminates the soul,

Eyes shut screaming in anticipation,

Tension builds and so does exhilaration.

Just a simple taste of skin,

That leads to a whole lot of trouble within,

The need to inch a little bit closer,

Hearts meld and bodies mingle.

It’s a bliss to find a heart they say,

One that give yours a start again,

So, you end up kissing a million lips,

Just to find that one which brings you eternal bliss.

The Grapple!

Who has more power? Mind or Emotions?

I guess that I’ll never know,

For some days, my heart rules,

And some days, my mind blows.

Every day I wake and think,

The path I walk on or run in,

Often when I overthink,

I dig another layer of my grave yet I live.

My heart speaks in whispers sometimes,

When my mind shouts and yells,

My heart whimpers in silence,

While my mind takes charge of life again.

But I didn’t know they really are friends,

Not the enemies I thought, so I’ll stop belittling them,

Because my mind heeds warning to my heart,

To be careful or I'll fall apart.

Image courtesy Illustrarts

A Heart's Voyage!

The heart wields like a sword,

From left to right it wings,

How it crusades into stone,

Only to be lured by desires into sin.

The heart is like that thundering cloud,

Aching with the need to let out,

Onto the earth and create mayhem,

Instead ends up breathing life into barren.

The heart is like that floret in spring,

Ready to blossom and caress your skin,

Till the day it withers covered by silt,

Blooms bright till it falls into ruin.

 The heart is like a quiescent volcano,

Spurts or hisses with each rumble,

All that inferno seeking the ocean,

To unearth tranquility whirling in surrender.

Sula Fest!

"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it a rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven and to the soul." ~ Angela Monet

Nestled among the valleys of Nashik, located approximately 230 kms from Mumbai, Sula Vineyards present you with the perfect opportunity to celebrate life in all its glory. The ride from Mumbai to Nashik is really smooth and beautiful, once you are out of the hustle bustle of crazy town, you find yourself in the arms of nature. 

The drive to Sula Vineyards is very picturesque and the route is pretty well marked and hence should not present any challenges. The only thing you need to keep in mind is not to miss the service lane for Ambad MIDC exit, if you skip that then you get into town and delay your arrival. From this exit, the vineyards are about 7kms into the village countryside which gives you a divine scene with fishing ponds, cute street kids, cows and all that Indian jazz.

It is just a glorious place to hold a music festival! Sula festivals is held annually in the month of February and is a must visit if you are a music freak. A celebration full of music, wine, food and fashion is what a perfect day cradled in the lap of nature feels like and Sula fest brings that experience right to you.  

This luxurious property is built in over 30 acres and house amphitheater, large grounds which provide an excellent open space, some great restaurants especially their rooftop restaurant, lush green grape plantations, a factory as well as a tasting room. If you are there what you must do is take a tour of the wine making. There are a lot of options available so you can choose whatever you feel is good for you. We took the entire tour and boy were we glad that we did. 

The passion that emanates from the employees who work here rubs off on you or maybe it's just the wine. The logo of Sula itself is the epitome of amalgamating the beautiful sun ripened grapes with a Rajputani Moustache and a tilak on the forehead just to bring some Indian culture to it. The guided tour is brief but covers mostly everything there is to know about the wine making process as it takes you move along from the winery, to the barrel room and finally to the Tasting room.

The wine tasting involves a brief explanation of all the varieties that Sula has to offer as well as discussion on wine etiquette, temperature, aromas, swirls and combinations of food each goes well with the range of Sula. I'm personally quite fond of Shiraz but it was amazing to see that India is catching up to the wine culture.

Do yourself a favour and load up on the wines that Sula has to offer and head upstairs to the roof top restaurant that gifts you a scenic view, the memory of which that you will cherish for the rest of your life. The vast expanse of grape plantation with murmurs of people all around you is the apt place to chill and kick your heels for a bit to relax.

The place is full of memorabilia and great food that you can enjoy as you browse through the numerous food buses, kiosks as you swim through the crowd. It being an event, we were lucky to taste some of the best food and alcohol around. You can pick up some unique presents for loved ones which may be slightly heavy on the pocket but very light on the heart. 

Of the activities that Sula fest has to offer like tarot reading, foot massages, caricature artists etc. you must try the grape stomping or "Pigage", the traditional Roman wine making method of macerating the grapes by foot. Just carry soap. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

Now comes the best part - M.U.S.I.C! Okay so I'm not going to get into the who's and the what's..I'm just gonna say enjoy the clips as you do let me reminisce a little here myself. 

This first group - Kabir Cafe sing the poems of Kabir and they do a fabulous job of it. I officially am a fan!

The thing with music festivals is that crazy and sometimes obnoxious people like us get enough chances to capture moments which make you laugh for the rest of your lives. So, here are some... (not trying to me mean Ok!)

 

Anyway the groups came coming and going and the energy was insane!

The fillers were okay but everyone of us were waiting for Raghu (just heard the group for the first time and kept cheering so loud that people thought we were their groupies..he he he) anyways, these guys were so amazing and totally left us wanting more.

Since we were only there for a day we couldn't wait till the end and we regretted it but that's how music influences you. It always leaves you wanting more like lust of the skin. It becomes a language we all speak, we all read and we all breathe. Music helps you speak your heart without even uttering a word from your lips. It brings tears when you are hurt, or it makes you feel jubilant. Music gives you life, it charges every cell in your body. It helps reunite you, or give you company when you feel alone. Music is the best companion you will ever have and anything that helps commemorate how grateful we are towards music must be celebrated. What better way to appreciate music and that too with people who indulge in it, revel in the joy it brings along with a whole lot of alcohol.

As you leave with that experience, music fills your heart, sometimes in place of love!

Grasp!

The pitter-patter of ponderous raindrops, softly tapping on her glass door early morning is what woke her. 

Limbs tangled with him, she looked at his contour through her sleepy eyes, sheet draped just underneath his waist. She moved in to get a whiff of him, clinging to get warm just as the weather was turning cold. Not wanting to wake him from his slumber, she inched a little bit closer still and kissed his neck softly when she felt his hands caressing her thigh. He turned to her and snuggled into her warmth, each craving a little more of each other. There wasn't a more perfect time as they lay as together deeply inhaling the scent of each other. All that she felt at that very moment was peace. That's when she felt him inch closer to her ear, she snuggled in to take his weight and just then he whispered "I Love You", in the wee hours of the morning. Nothing was more perfect, nothing more was needed except a declaration in return at that very moment. She smiled and replied "I Love You too"bringing his lips closer to hers as they celebrated each other!

That's the power of rain, how a long lost memory became a story for her to remember on this very similar day.