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.
Amazing write up. I simply love the poem at the end.
ReplyDeleteI think you can totally identify with it, having spent a chunk of your summer here and heard the koïl losing its sweet whistle to the enchanting beauty of the Amaltas tree.
ReplyDeleteAh Seema, the 1st , 2nd and last poem take me to a known and yet unknown place in my heart. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think, Nima, you too can relate to it, and to those long summer days when we were soothed by its quivering yellow dangles...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vali!
DeleteBeautiful and rich in expression--makes one feel as if participating closely in that delight of experiencing the Amaltas Wonder!
ReplyDelete:) And, the Amaltas Wonder is getting more and more exotic with every passing day. Its bright yellow against the blue summer sky is a strange juxtaposition of two primary colours, but yet breathtaking...if it were not for the blossoming Amaltas, our morning constitutionals would be very dull indeed.
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