April

2210

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She is all sugar and spice-

flowers and songs-

colors and light-

she is the sun, moon,

sapphire sky,

all the stars

and queen of your heart;

but you should see her

in one of her Nor’westers* moods-

when her thick droopy hair of fronds

so lush green-

go all erect, upright

vehemently nodding,

at your every cajoling word

to calm her down.

This headstrong lassie

will drown you

in her tears;

deafen you

in her squally voice:

gruff, rough,

and thunderous;

don’t you dare cast an angry glance

at her kohl smudged cloudy eye;

what does a good mother like you do then?

Let her be.

Let her howl, growl,

gnash white teeth of lightning;

scratch with nails of icy hails

on your window panes.

No panic, no worries

if she tumbles head over heels

throwing root-y foot upwards

while thumping the grassy floor

with twisted leafy arms.

Let an hour go;

she’ll change; as all children do

after a hell of a tantrum.

All her tresses now pulled back

with a milky-way band

she’ll nudge

your feverish skin

with a sweet cool zephyr

loaded with her patent fragrant touch

and twinkle with a guilty, nightly smile.

Oh bless her, bless her for that

with a word of rhythm and rhyme.

*Nor’westers or the Kalbaishakhi is a local thunderstorm which occurs in India and Bangladesh. Kalbaishakhi occurs, with increasing frequency, from March till monsoon establishes over North-East India in June. Kalbaishakhi is accompanied by strong squalls and sometimes by hail. On extremely rare occasions, tornados may also accompany them too. However, the rainfall in these storms is beneficial for the tea cultivated in Assam and for the jute and rice cultivated in West Bengal: WIKIPEDIA

 

 

Posted for Susan’s Midweek Motif ~ April @ Poets United

22 thoughts on “April

  1. I love this! Spring as a newborn, drawn out and true:
    “No panic, no worries
    if she tumbles head over heels
    throwing root-y foot upwards
    while thumping the grassy floor
    with twisted leafy arms.
    Let an hour go;
    she’ll change; as all children do
    after a hell of a tantrum. . . . ”
    Wow!

  2. Reading this poem, I feel like you’re describing a teenage girl, coming to terms, with life and the limits, that the universe is imposing upon her. A very creative way, to describe the weather, in April, for your part of the world, Sumana. Also, found your informative note, at the end, very education, these weather patterns have such wide-ranging impact upon India’s environment and economy.

  3. Kalbaishakhi is a great word to describe these storms.It has all the ring of that vehemence. Beautiful poem describing the different moods. there is a lot of fury and anger in storms. When I was little I was terrified of storms. My mother used to comfort me by telling me it was just the angels moving all the heavy furniture around up there:)

  4. An invigoratingly energetic description to make us understand that, aside from its more common characteristics that evoke calm, April, in your neck of the woods, can be equally chaotic, a whirlwind of tempers, when the feeling strikes!

    I enjoyed this very much, Sumana, and thanks for the warm welcome!

    Poppy

Thank You :)