Poetry: Reflections in Poetry

Poetry Amaltash

Vimla Prakash’s collection of poems entitled Reflections in Poetry reflect a wide ranges of interests, emotions and style. Five of her poems are presented here. The sketches are by her daughter, Shalini Agarwal.

Lying in the Sun


Lying in the sun
Gazing at the sky
A white wedge of moon
Clouds drifting by.

A cool crisp breeze
Eagles soaring high

My thoughts turn to you
I close my eyes.

Egrets Flying

Egrets flying

Rugged mango trees
dark leafed
swamped by monsoon rain

Dull cloud reflections

Look
Egrets flying

Reflections in Poetry: Awaiting the Post

Awaiting the post

how the hours drag.

I listen to conversation
not comprehending
a word.

My attention is riveted to the gate
for the sound of wheels on gravel.

What has delayed the chowkidar?

The post arrives at eleven.

It is now past noon.

So much heartache

And then
your letter arrives.

Nainital

China Peak
stately solitary steep
greets the passing parade of clouds
paying homage at its feet.

Nainital lake
reflecting at Dawn
its green surroundings
still sloped in deep shade.

Now look
Gold touched mountain heights
mirrored
as gold brushed mountain depths

Higher yet
and deeper still
the clear blue sky.

amaltash painting shalini agarwal

Calcutta

Amaltash racemes
silently shedding petals
in the midday heat.

Gul Mohur Masses
of cool scarlet rest the eyes
from the dust filled glare.

Rude raucous crows caw
on branches of frail yellow
Amaltash flowers.

Careless crows piling
twigs on forks of bare branches
Will their eggs be safe?
Pink Bougainvillea
flowers Paper crisp lie wind strewn
on rain-swept grass.

About Shalini Agarwal 1 Article
Shalini Agarwal sketches a self-portrait in words in explaining the influences and inspiration for her art: Having grownup in boarding schools in Darjeeling and Mussoorie since I was six, I remember coming home for the long winter vacations and bothering my mother with the standard phrase "I'm bored". My parents at the time lived in Khongea, a tea estate in the Assam Valley. This being a fairly secluded and remote place, my mother would often paint and sketch to occupy herself. To keep my sister and me from whining, she would come up with simple art projects for us to do as well. I remember spending many afternoons in the sunny back veranda painstakingly working alongside my mother on my "masterpiece". To encourage our artistic endeavours, our paintings would be framed and hung - along side hers. This early exposure greatly influenced my interest in art, though I didn't realize it at the time. While in High School in Woodstock, I had the opportunity to learn Japanese brush painting with Frank Wellesley, a renowned artist. This style of painting requires total control of the medium - amount of water in brush, intensity of ink, and how the brush stroke is put on the absorbant rice paper. There is no room for mistakes or corrections. Only when one attempts to paint in this manner does one realize the simplicity and perfection of the Japanese paintings is attained after years of practice. After completing my Bachelors in Economics from Delhi University, I got married and migrated to Southern California, where I have resided ever since. I spent several years working in the insurance and staffing business. Once my kids, Sheena and Dhruv, were born, I stayed home to be with them. At this time I was able to pursue my interest in art by taking courses in the local community colleges. I learned life drawing, watercolor, oil painting and plein-air painting from some excellent artists. Most of my work is done directly from life. One has to learn to 'see' first - the more one observes the richer our vision becomes - contrast, color, hue- all meld together to give life its beauty. The constantly changing vibrancy of life is a challenge to try and capture on paper. Besides art, my other main interest is trekking in the mountains. Having lived most of my childhood years in the hills, I have a special affinity for the mountains. I love the crisp cool air, the pines and deodars, smell of wood burning fires, the simplicity of the mountain folk and life and never tire of being in the mountains. Published work: Graphite portrait in "The Elephant Ear", Published by the School of Humanities and Languages, Irvine Valley College, 1995. Nature pen and ink sketches in "Reflections in Poetry" by Vimla Prakash, self published book of poetry. 1997 Pen and Ink sketches of Mussoorie for "Rerun at Rialto" by Tom Alter published by Penguin India. Series of watercolor botanicals: for renovation of old British tea plantation bungalow in Darjeeling.

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