September-3

Fresh cool air, fills the lungs,
butterflies in the stomach, that unexplained joy brings.

Chill in the breeze, clears the head,
delightful morning dew drops, shivering buds.

No more scorching Sun, no more incessant rains.
No need for warm clothes yet, pleasant walks again.

Full canopy of trees, lush carpet rolled out of green,
greenary everywhere, like velvet cape of a queen.

Festivities round the corner, new memories to remember,
best time of the year, the month that is, September.

                            Photo Credits Go To Cdr.Rajesh(Retd)
                             http://www.thetransportjournal.com

Rain

Pre monsoon-4

Monsoon is round the corner, when you can hear peacocks  screaming, first thing in the mornings, instead of cuckoos singing.

When ants work persistently and can be seen rushing to their hills.
When the Sun plays hide and seek throughout the day with the clouds.

When bolt of lightning cracks its whip without any rain.
When winds are stronger and blow away the dark grey clouds.

When all the old leaves have already fallen off and new ones start growing.
When the cracked Earth sizzles upon receiving an abrupt short shower.

When people remember to carry umbrellas to work but forget to bring them back home.

When the farmers scan the sky everyday and hope for the right amount of rain.

Winter Bloom 6

Chrysanthemum

Fall

Leaves, lime green and lemon yellow, waiting patiently for the temperature to drop.

This year September had been unusually warm, delaying the magic show of nature.

But soon the show begins, nature adorns its most vibrant attire.

Appearance of leaves change from sparkling sunshine yellows to bright oranges.

The royal blood red deepen to sophisticated maroons. Finally resting at rusts and browns before they kiss the Earth.

Falling gently to the ground, one leaf over another, one at a time, slowly, meticulously. Leaving the tree bare.

Rising to form heaps of leaves' mountains.

Forests transform into chaos of colours, clear blue water bodies reflecting the magic.

Enhancing the effect.

Leaves breathing their last breaths, trees shedding them, saying goodbyes, letting go!

One of its kind farewell, so amazing, so breathtaking.

               Photography Credits Go To Sapna Veluri Nandakumar.

September

Bunches of red, contrasting with greens of leaves.
Little flower umbrellas, sheltering insects from grieves.

Cool September breeze, giving respite from the heat.
Making flowers blossom, getting ready for Autumn greet.

Veteran leaves turning yellow, saying goodbyes, ready to let go.
Magic of Autumn hiding within each fold, forests waiting to transform in motion slow.

The first Summer rain.

Scorching Sun dries and makes brittle the leaves, Earth starts cracking up like honeycomb.
Birds fly high and low to find  just a few drops of water to quench their thirst. Stray animals find shade under the trees and in  abandoned half built houses. People  try to stay indoors to be safe from the brutal heat.

...and then the clouds are summoned,  vast expanse of sky turns grey, air turns cool, wind picks up speed. Dust swirls make small whirlwinds with dried leaves. The wind chimes start tinkling rhythmically,  trees start swaying to the music of dust filled breeze, eyes are turned towards the sky, in anticipation of that first drop.

...and when the first  drops fall and hit the dried earth, the smell of wet earth intoxicates the senses like thousand  sirens. The drops turn to a gentle shower, a drizzle. Sky makes noise to declare freedom from heat, lightning is like celebration of nature. Dust settles, plants get a well deserved wash. The roads start shining. Dogs in the neighbourhood start barking, going round and round in circles with their tongues sticking out.

People come out of the homes for no reason at all, conversations start budding. Children start dancing, screaming, getting wet, soaked, drenched. Grown ups also stretch their arms to feel the rain on their palms as if they have never touched water before.

The first shower of summer is like magic, magic which leaves us  desiring for more, to experience more, to enjoy more, to feel more, to live more .

The January Rain

Clouds cover the sky, forcing the Sun to hide. Cool becomes cold, chill turns into freeze. The air is like bee stings. Relief, it does not bring. It is sombre, it' s gloomy, it is dark. The drops are like needles piercing the skin.
Yet, the January rain indicates, the end of a harsh season, the rain bringing with it life. Rain, which impregnates the whole Earth to give birth to a new season.

Winter fog