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Friday, November 21, 2008

Sunday Scribblings Grateful

I'm very grateful for my experiences in India

ONE DAY IN NOVEMBER ‘98

Bring a packed lunch, just in case
you don’t catch any fishes.
Sometimes it just doesn’t pay
to be too optimistic.

Coco Beach, where fishing boats
congregate at Picnic Time,
and drifting sounds of Floyd, alight
in brief, windswept appetisers.

Guitar solos, and Gilmour’s song
satisfy our sentiment.
We’re feeling ‘Comfortably Numb.’
All aboard; we’re setting sail.

Another course to navigate.
Headland highlights harder ‘Time;’
Fort Aguada; jailhouse rock,
and airborne roll call backing track.

Candolim comes into view,
where Holy Cows bemuse bathers.
We pass them by, to coax our craft
to Calangute, where we sample

‘twitchers tipple’; darling-bud draughts
of Kingfisher, and Sandpiper.
Bar-bill change repays Rupees.
‘Wish You Were Here;’ Floyd theme thought

pencilled clearly onto postcards.
Smiling Skipper starts her up;
rolling and bouncing to Baga.
Disco, very deserted,

save for daytime beach debris,
remains from beyond the Rave,
and dancers decaying dreams.
“Shine On You Crazy Diamond;”

an apt all-nighter’s epitaph.
Anchoring at Anjuna;
mystic merchant’s marketplace,
we check out the charmers of snakes,

turners of wood, terms of trade,
wholesale prices, hot surprises.
‘Money,’ only the object
of desire for light-fingered,

well travelled, wayward tourists;
takers of well-stocked wallets.
Sunset stop, in time for tea,
al fresco, at Arambol.

Our first sight of fresh caught fish,
waiting to be fired for us,
transforms us to a panting pack
of Pavlov’s ‘Dogs,’ as we become

tempted by Tandoori Kingfish,
with Steamed Rice, and Naan Bread.
Then, ‘The Great Gig In The Sky.’
Leonid Meteorite

display, ignites the heavens.
Kingfisher kick-in playing tricks
on our eyes? Or is it for real?
Have to see it to believe it.

Incredible India,
all just a memory now,
as we fly, sadly homeward,
to ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon.’

26 comments:

  1. What a delightful journey captured in the words of a master

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  2. thank you for the virtual vacation.... oh what a trip it must have been....

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  3. You bring it to life! Wonderful descriptions!

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  4. Thanks to:
    Marja; An unforgettable holiday in Goa.
    Paisley; It really was, and a place I'd love to revisit.
    Sunshine; Everywhere we went seemed to be playing one Pink Floyd track or another.
    There was more to it, and everywhere was alive with memorable sounds, colours activities.

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  5. 'As we fly sadly homeward to the dark side of the moon'!

    I think that's hauntingly beautiful.

    I hope to meet you there!

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  6. Thanks Rinkly Rimes; Credit to Pink Floyd - we'll all meet up there one of these days.

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  7. a rich kaleidescope of images observed in one day... you described so well...

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  8. Thanks Linda Jacobs; Sorry I missed you earlier. Everything just fell into place, making it an experience that will stay with me forever.

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  9. Thanks One More Believer; Kaleidescopic is spot on - it was all so colourful.

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  10. That was beautiful and so visual. And I, too, liked the Floyd theme running throughout.

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  11. Stan: Lovely roll of images, lovely roll, at for the most part seven beats per line (I like the craft in that, too). Fortuitous Floyd and the peacefulness of this gorgeous time spent in "Incredible India" (7 exquisite beats there). Tres bien.

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  12. such beautiful and rich visuals with great rhythm and flow - wow! - you incorporated so much so well!!! - thanks for your visit and feedback - much appreciated!

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  13. great images stan....loved the music in the background too!! :)

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  14. That was awesome! So many pictures and wonderful memories. I love the Pavlov’s dog reference.
    PS. I have a fabulous recipe for Naan—if you need one. :)

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  15. Top one Stan, Nic would love the pink floyd references in this, cleverly done!

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  16. Thanks to:
    Anthony North; Floyd seemed to follow us everywhere - It was around the time of 'Pulse).
    Murat 11; I wanted to create the images, and the non-stop activitirs, without spending too long describing them all.
    Danni; I hope I've done justice to the place.
    *sis*; Often it's the music that reminds us.
    Alisa; Memories I treasure - I wouldn't mind that recipe.

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  17. Thanks Andy; A decade to the day, practically - but still as vivid as if it were only yesterday.

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  18. Ah, what lovely and vivid memories - grateful, indeed!

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  19. Thanks Tumblewords; And that was just one day - there were many more. equally memorable.

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  20. This was beautifully written, a sensory experience.

    Fabulous.

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  21. Thanks Mary; So many amazing things happening all around, every day.

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  22. Music and memories are so intertwined ... what a rich tapestry of both! Peace, JP/deb

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  23. Thanks JP/deb; I always think of India when I listen to Pink Floyd.

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  24. Stan, Thanks for sharing this. It's interesting to see India through another traveler's eyes. You brought back pieces for me.

    I'm also impressed that you've been blogging for so long. I'm only a year in...and only found the prompt sites in April!

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  25. Thanks Brenda; I only began writing shortly before I started to blog, and picking up the propt sites was quite a slow process for me too.

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