Our lockdowned long summer days have gradually learnt to find redemption in the ruckus of the government diesel truck, which ventures into our gated community twice a week with the seasonal harvest of mangoes, purple grapes and red and yellow bananas.
As the truck, manned by a couple of masked and gloved attendants veers into our neighborhood, the hustle and bustle of this new activity brings the winged populace of the area, otherwise busy vying for attention with their ceaseless singing, to a sudden attentive halt...Prompted by their unanimous decision as not to waste their precious talent to pure noise, they either eavesdrop on people haggling, or conjure up new melodies to attract more prospective mates.
I think the sudden rise in avian activities is owing to the fact that the lemony yellow, ethereally delicate amaltas (golden shower) flowers are in bloom...A blessing endowed upon us mortals once a year, it allows us to bask in their beauty even as we pick up the fallen blossoms, rich in fiber and vitamin C, to be combined with ginger, green chillies and salt and made into a delicious chutney to be consumed either with savoury pancakes or with rice.
Amaltas is native to the Indian subcontinent and to the Southeast Asian region. In the Ayurvedic school of medicine, it is rightly known as Aragvadha, meaning 'disease killer'. A glance at the innumerable benefits of each and every part of this tree in the National Health Portal's website is enough to justify its ancient Sanskrit name. Right from being a cure for various skin eruptions, eczema and insect bites to an effective remedy for rheumatism, migraines, syphilis, and believe it or not, even malaria and jaundice, amaltas is one of Nature's great elixirs: cooling for the soul, and when everything around is emitting blistering heat, healing for the body.
Growing up with an amaltas tree right in our school courtyard, I remember attempting to encapsulate in words its graceful artistry in our creative writing class. I sat for the whole period in the balmy shade of the tree, trying to listen and understand what it was so eager to convey through this abundance of pure allure, but my ears were not attuned to its language.
However, with an amaltas blooming right next to our place now, I feel the bond between us slowly building. As the boughs bend low with the weighing beauty of its weightless clusters of flowers, I sit in its shade and close my eyes.
1.
As the prowling heat of
summer assails the earth
lapping up life with its
lolling tongue,
and we seek shelter
behind enclosed walls,
in AC rooms and mojitos,
the slender amaltas
braves it all.
Its calm ascetic temper
transforming the leaping
flames of a pitiless sun
into sweet dangling blossoms
soft and delicate
and filled with nectar: ah love,
the alchemist!
2.
The brazen blue
of the summer sky,
squeezes
through
the dense dangles
of amaltas,
to lie huddled
in its gentle shade
3.
Long golden tresses
as that of Rapunzel
so casually undone
to tempt
the passersby.
4.
The koïl
cooing all day
to celebrate
the flowering
amaltas:
sore-throated now.
