December 21, 2010

The Open Road



Kankavli, Maharashtra. 2008.


Trust the road you walk on
To lead you along,
So you’re never lonely
When you’ve to walk it alone.

Should you return the same way
Lend your ear to the grass on the margins,
So you may hear it whisper
The song of the open road.


26 comments:

Grannymar said...

Nice picture, it makes a change from our very white and icy world right now.

Ugich Konitari said...

Centuries ago,
no road,
but an open minded land;
so many
trudged so long,
across
green
heavily forested terrains,
to board
the stormy seas
at Jaigad
for life
in the big city.....

So that,
one day,
we,
the descendants,
can return,
future secured,
four wheeled,
on paved roads,
admire the wadis
and the green,
and wonder,
why there is no network ?

Riot Kitty said...

Beautiful!

Gauri Gharpure said...

If I am not wrong, Kankavali is one of the last stations in Maharashtra while going to Goa, isn't it? tht's a lovely train journey, but i have always wanted to get out at unknown stations and walk, just walk.. this poem captures everything wanderlust so well.

Anil P said...

Grannymar: Thank you. From the reports I've been reading it appears this has been a particularly 'snowed in' year in Europe.

The warmth of the paddy fields and winding roads must seem very inviting at this point in time.

Ugich Konitari: Disconnected from the land our forefathers came from usually disconnects one from their way of life, and more importantly their way of thinking as well, at least to a large extent.

And each such return will only serve as a window in time, long gone, long past.

Riot Kitty: Thank you.

Gauri Gharpure: Thank you.

That's right, along with Kudal, and Sawantwadi, it is among the last ones approaching Goa.

Pradeep Nair said...

Very nice, simple, meaningful poem, an a photo to go along with it. I liked it very much. Conveys a lot.

Anonymous said...

You have wonderfully combined a great poem and a great picture and made me itch for the open road.

Pinku said...

very beautiful...very evocative...

Rajlakshmi said...

a brilliant write ... wonderfully penned.

dr.antony said...

I don't have to tell you Anil.
You are much better than many self declared poets.Lovely picture.Where was it taken?Are they paddy fields?Reminds me of Kerala.

Anil P said...

Pradeep: Thank you.

Lgsquirrel: Thank you. Always a good time to take to the open road.

Pinku: Thank you.

Rajlakshmi: Thanks.

Dr. Antony: That's a big compliment :-) Thank you.

Yes, paddy fields in Kankavli. It's in Sindhudurg.

Anuradha Shankar said...

Beautiful pic and beautiful poem too!

Indian Bazaars said...

Nice poem, nice picture...

What About The Girl? said...

That is truly a gorgeous image.

As discouraging as this may sound, the truth is,
there are
and there will be
moments
when we walk on roads
alone....

PallSin said...

This IS beautiful. A lovely poem with a great message. I also liked what you wrote about generalizations on my blog. Gives a new insight. Love your blog. cheers, pallavi.

Anil P said...

Anu: Thank you.

Indian Bazaars: Thank you.

TGF Cherry Blossom Street: Thank you.

True. That's as inevitable as the glories of the open road.

Possibly it's those moments that'll add a new perspective as well.

Pal Sin: Thank you. Always nice to learn you liked the post.

Amidst diversity, the differences will often make sense in a generalised way. Like with cliches, 'generalisations' are a constant in understanding 'key' attributes.

Meena Venkataraman said...

Love the Poetry :)

Anil P said...

Meena Venkataraman: Thank you.

Prutha Raithatha said...

nicely written

lovely picture too

Ms.N said...

Just came back from malwan and had a very similar scene laid out in front of me from malwan to Sawantwadi!!! I now know why you write so much of life in this belt - truly a beautiful region.

trust the road....very true. becoming a part of the place is a sure way to leave loneliness behind. else, carry books?

Happy new year Anil!

Anil P said...

Prutha: Thank you.

Ms. N: Thank you. Books'll help to an extent, but better still if one can identify with the road and trust the bends to provide newer perspectives.

The stretch you mention is picture pretty, and if you can speak their language, even better. Now there's the danger of beaches on the stretch going the Goa way.

PallSin said...

Agree. And, so very thankful that you read and shared :)

Anil P said...

Pal Sin: Thank you. A pleasure to know you liked the verse. After being witness to these scenes year after year the verse will come naturally to any eye blessed with such opportunities.

radha said...

Lovely poem and a beautiful picture to match.

bluemountainmama said...

look who is getting the poetry bug! the photo itself is poetry. the problem sometimes is there are too many tempting roads...luring us to explore and see what's around the bend.

Anil P said...

Radha: Thank you.

Bluemountainmama: Thanks. If one is sufficiently bitten by the travel bug one will explore each tempting road for there's no knowing what might lie around the bend.

Too often we forgo a road we might've otherwise taken.