As the dawn promises yet another tar melting day I choose an unaesthetic cotton sari to drape myself to sail through this never ending nightmare. My summer saris neither speak in glaring colors nor are they grandiloquent in intricate designs of embroidery or motifs to weigh me down. They are rather humble beings; soft spoken and soothing. Old friends in trying times. In the furnace of a kitchen they would wipe the weariness that trickles in sweating streams with tender caress. Ah, for their feather touch love! The grueling day could have me stifled and make a tawny grass out of me soaking all my greenness but for those six yard drapes. As I embark on the breezy night I let my anchal* fly in the wind.
The day simmers
Street dogs half immerse in ponds
I drape nights in daydream
*one end of the sari draped over the shoulder.
Posted for Haibun Monday # 17 @ dVerse
&
Shared with Poetry Pantry #313 @ Poets United
sumanar/lekha 
Good for you to wear those light cotton sari Sumana. “Old friends in trying times” – I like the comfort of old well worn clothes. keep cool and drape the nights in daydream!
I love saris and spent various summers wearing them, shown how to drape and wear them by a new friend. The soft cotton ones do wondrously cool and comfort one. Now I wear the light cotton yakata – the informal kimono worn by men and women alike. I love how their folds catch breezes and wick off sweat. But I wear them only at home because they are for home and not public wear. I so like this haibun of yours and how the sari is an old comfortable comforting friend.
Oooh I love this! Especially the “in the furnace of my kitchen…” I was privileged to be in India 4 times with my job. I marveled at the shelves of colored cloth stacked on a shop wall – materials to choose from for saris. I am sad when I think of the westernization of India in terms of clothing choice and hope young women hold on to their culture, including the beauty of the sari. This was a lovely read.
I like the images of melting tar and sailing through a nightmare contrasted by the soothing saris offering of friendship and feather touch love. Really lovely haibun!
SMiLes.. my friEnd..
here in the super
hot and humid
Panhandle Summer
on the River nights
even more humid
without a window breeze..
@6.. i listened to the frogs SinG
tHeir swamp SonG and turned
the pillow over and over looking
for a cooler side for a head way
too large in girth for lower latitude
ways of being.. yes.. bigger heads
retain heat in Northern Latitudes..
my head was made for icicles
and snow..
AC brought
so much more
clarity to even think..
but nah.. the heat doesn’t
bother me any more or cold
even in the height of the Summer
hot or 18 degree temperatures of mid-
Winter North Florida cold.. i suppose
i am no longer domesticated..
the Neanderthal
in me
no longer howls
at moon so far from
WiLd and Free in comfort
oF aLL of what Nature BrinGS
in challenge noW.. and it must be
possible at much older ages.. as now
at 56 i am more comfortable in temperature
extremes than ever before.. but the thing is
i train for life like a wild animal now.. and
wild has it’s privilege when
the call of the
wild for
human
is once
again set
free.. no matter
age.. but it does take
work.. grueling work..
and ha.. haven’t seen to0
many Indian folks like the ones
so out of shape they must use carts
to move.. at what they find is an old
age early for them that is still 16 for me at 56..
CAll of the
Wild cures
heat and cold
when heard.. practiced.. for REAL noW..
in neuroplastic and epigenetic human
potential now from head to toe real2
ADAPT TO
CHANGE..:)
Saris are so lovely and so practical for those hot summer days. Here in the US I go for the Hawaiian moo-moos. Same idea and same colorful fabrics.
Saris look so elegant, but I’ve always wondered how practical they are. It’s good to hear they are comfortable and can become old friends.
Well written and love the imagery you created with your words.
Saris are such graceful garments and I like how you describe your summer garb as comforting during your hot months. Even though we have air conditioning, I will sometimes have to turn our overhead fan on that’s in the kitchen…it does get HOT in there while cooking!
Isn’t that bewitching! Had always admired a sari clad lady in colorful drapes. What with the bare midriff purposely left bare! Anyone ever mentioned it is a sexy dress, Sumana?
Hank
This is lovely!!
The sari is a beautiful garment. My Mum, who was part Indian, used to wear one sometimes, but I’ve never tried it – so I had no idea it would be so comfortable as you describe.
Love this one… and I must buy one of those baluchari some time!
I have an image – and it is a lovely one.
I love so many things about this poem–the imagery, the tone, the symbolism, the descriptive power, the beauty of the garment… and the way the speaker relates to it.
With a cold and wet winter here I had a struggle to sympathize. I just have to take your word for it. What a beautiful haibun this is Sumana.
Oh Sumana, this is soo beautiful and tender ❤ I love saris and the way you have described it here 😀
Lots of love,
Sanaa
I hear you. During trying Times (and heat) the comfort of old friends. ..of the tried and true…of the light soft touch…Def is appreciated. ..hope you get a break from the heat.
The sari is a most feminine and elegant garment, and perfect for hot weather, I am sure.
lovely haibun!
the sari, they are certainly “old friends in trying times”. 🙂
drape the nights in daydream, I like that. In my mids eye I can see the anchal flying in the wind
Sometimes, it is not about the fashion it is about comfort. I think you selected from your heart and that will drape the nights in daydream. Love that part.
I can see the anchal flying in the wind…..and especially love “I drape nights in daydream.” Beautiful, Sumana.
A lovely piece! xoxoxoxo
This is very good. You have a great ear (“tar”/”sari,” for example). Also “in glaring” and “grandiloquent” really want to be friends. Nice work. And thanks; now I want to get a bunch of saris. 😛
What a delightful haibun Sumana. I’ve never worn anything like a sari, but I think I would love to feel the hug of that delicate fabric.
(Thanks for letting me know my link entry was wrong. I’ve been trying to delete it but don’t know how. Have gotten no help from blogger or Mister Linky. I’ve asked Sherry and Rosemary to please delete it if they can. But haven’t heard from them. i entered a correct entry, but the first incorrect one is the one most people will open. I’m asking you too to check on this. Can you delete it by going into Mister Linky dashboard if Sherry or Rosemary haven’t already. So sorry to trouble you Sumana. Thank you.
So beautifully written about sari… I can feel how comfortable, cozy your movements and being in this light cloth…nice poetical haibun.
What a wonderful haibun – it simply carries the reader along, with its lovely, spunky “I’m not going to let this heat get to me” vibe that is so fresh and really charming. “As I embark on the breezy night I let my anchal fly in the wind.” is such a happy, spirited line. An awesome bit of writing, Sumana!
pure charm in the imagery – the wonderful contrasts not least “make a tawny grass out of me soaking all my greenness but for those six yard drapes”
A beautiful tropical scene.I am missing sweltering heat. I love wearing sarongs. They look great on both men and women.
There’s an art to draping night in daydreams, an art I have not mastered!