Snowdon's splash

On the trails, set four in Wales

To catch the sight, from big snow white

Brave in dash, unfazed by splash

But when it fogg'd, the view clouds hogg'd!....

Monuments of the mighty: allusions

The 'restless'
- my mate, Anuj Saigal, who was having trouble sleeping that night













The 'heiress'
- my little sister, Nush, who dragged me out that night









The 'father' - Annapurna 1









The 'gatekeeper' - Annapurna 3









The 'second' - Annapurna 2
















The 'horned prince' - Machhapuchre (trans. Fishtail)

'hapless trysts' - reference to the romantic expeditionary plans of a French couple, who intended to scale the glacier adjacent to Annapurna 1

'the mighty hand' - reference to the Hindu Destroyer God, Shiva

Monuments of the Mighty

Dedicated to my Grandmother, Jayabharathi Patchava, the embodiment of good, purity, and simplicity, who said 'Babu (son, in Telugu), you should write about your travels to all these special places. You used to write well when you were younger'. I hope that her faith is not misplaced, and that youthful talent dies hard:

MONUMENTS OF THE MIGHTY
- stepping out into the night of the Himalayan Annapurna range

Amid the rumble of the restless,
Into darkness, a chase in lumber
Motive: piety to an heiress
Legs resist, desiresome of slumber

But sinews spur forward the follow,
While the heart, pumps for senses un-numb
They awake to a pit of hollow
Within, I'm entranced, seemingly dumb

A show, foreign and silent as mars,
Where performers peer at assembled,
Steeped leaf green in blessings of stars,
They expand the meaning 'feel humbled'

Quartet of anchored protagonists
They grew pre-disposed to encompass,
Intent on ambush of hapless trysts
They, not characters its wise to truss

A father unconcerned yet at helm
His gatekeeper, the third, stands upright
Afar, second's stare brings overwhelm
And yet the horned prince, he draws the light

Often the setting of Hindu myth,
These are the monuments of the land
I relay that belief monolith:
These the abode of the mighty hand!

A fickle flush of feeling

What is this, that brings the beam
Why, from head-to-toe, erupts a stream
Purveys water, it does not
More fitting a warmth, that will cause clot

For a pinch, holds tight, at cheek
As if shine, threatens imminent sneak
Glance above, to reveal source
Mind perplexed, by a matter of course

Lips have savoured, the fine wine
A taste of grace, insight, the divine
Excites, tender in embrace
Why, heart flows, with magic from a face