Life & Celebrations!

 #DailyFlowers

Here's a shout-out to the awesome folks that make up the #DailyFlowers group. Uncomplainingly, they have continued to share pix of flowers, notwithstanding that the blogger seems to be lost in the desert of Parkinson's & dementia care giving. Mom seems to be getting more and more lost and  befuddled as days go by. And now, my answers don't seem to suffice. It's as if both of us are standing at a precipice, poised but no more movement. And I wonder what compels nature to move ahead with its blooms, seasons, flowers. Although I  strive to keep mention of these issues out of this blog, sometimes they just rush in, like fools do into spaces where angels fear to tread

Rhymes and lines have gone into hiding
As the blogger is busy doing mom's biding
Mom, who routinely asks who am I/are you
Her memories now hold a precious few
Now what to do is her constant refrain
Wish I could cast out that pain
But down for a morning stroll she must go
And watch the flowers put on a show
The varied colors and blooms put a smile on her face
Even as life seems to pass by at its frenetic pace 

The purity of white always delights
Wonder what secrets lie in its light
What stories and glories it could share
As it spreads itself on the day fair
Hearkens at once to the purity of the soul
Subsumes all colors, makes them whole

'Tis the season to be jolly
To deck the halls with mistletoe & holly
To make snowmen and sing carols out loud
Spread cheer, joy and peace all around
Poinsettias mark the onset of winter
Begin the season as the sprinter
Form part of the decorations green & red
Signal Jolly Ole Santa's just ahead

Winter is the season of weddings
With many creating new settings
Whist the rest shower blessings
Flowers, as usual play a central role
They the entire decor control
Sometimes in curtains down the side
At others, scattered in vases along for the ride
They also form the bridal canopy
Add to visions played out in fantasy
The garland for vow taking with them is made
With them best wishes for the couple are prayed

Tales of journeys, of wandering
Of coming and going & some serious pondering
Of flower festivals and birthday presents
Make for times truly pleasant
Lighting up the blog with their beauty
The flower sharers have done their duty
That we do hereby celebrate
And allow the melody therein to reverberate! 

Yep, some images are left over, will try to feature them soon!

My Co-Contributors

Mahesh with beauties from the hills; Shashi, Vivek & Kirti; Vivek, Rachna & Mahesh; Mahesh, Shashi, Shantha & Rina (via Shalini); Ranjona, Rachna, Shashi & Vivek; Shantha, Shalini, Rachna & Vivek; Shantha & Shalini; Shashi & Shalini; Shashi, Ranjona & Vivek

A Flowery Refrain

 #DailyFlowers

 The brain has set up a nagging refrain: put your fingers to keyboard and write the blog post it says! The heart, on the other hand, is massively distracted, worried and refuses to settle down to allow verses to emerge. But, here I am with some free time and fingers dancing on the keyboard. Living with an elderly parent who suffers from Parkinson's and its dementia involves the art of jugglery; at times, you win, others the PD&D does. Mom has taken to going into her yester years more frequently than ever before, sometimes being fixed therein totally. Sometimes, the TV's distraction helps, at times some pictures do. And I wonder at life, at once stagnant & moving, then irritable & calming. And in and around I see flowers, of all kinds, in full blooming glory.

Wonder what lessons these flowers do offer
What gems of wisdom do they proffer
Whether these into our minds and souls do get
Or whether they are transient and so easy to forget
Day after day, nature puts forth colors bright
For us to see, imbibe and in them delight
'Tis the season of lilies and mums
To whose music does their soul strum
To what beats do they march
Left and right in perfect cadence do they spark

The lamppost and flowers are the crown
But this visit in some sorrow is bound
Life begins and it ends
Along the way, the journey it tends
Passage of time is marked by years
Departures marked by tears
To the everlasting One a prayer we raise
Grant the soul peace, shelter and your grace
For those left behind, we seek
Healing, love, connections that speak
Of bonds strong and true
That no sorrow shall rent asunder or hew
Flowers grant amazing grace
Time and again, this place and that place
Through life's cycle do they thrum
A varied bouquet silently drums

Then there was the ignition of the spark
The onset of winter it did seem to mark
Blues & Violets showcased their power
Tales with fervor and imagination empower
What all they must have seen
Majestically they did preen
Bring forth beauty untrammeled
Hues of reds, yellows and pinks did channel
More stories to the panels

Oranges and yellows refused to be left behind
They, you know are of different kinds
Vivid bursts of color do they embody
Their blooming is brilliant and never shoddy
Amidst the reds & pinks, they do chant
Refrains, songs, melodies never do want

Gimme Red, the contributors did say
Many rushed to fill the day
Red in its many hues did merrily swing
Along with the season, joy it did bring
Whites did also this time dominate
As if some did them nominate
Blooms from near, blooms from far
Did join buds, together star
Other glories too did their part
Sometimes to end, others to start
Posts on its own the blog doesn't create
The blogger is sometimes on time, sometimes late!

 My Co-Contributors

Shantha, Shalini & Rachna; Shantha & Yash; Vee, Shantha & Karthik; Shantha, Gauri, Rachna & Shashi; Vivek, Shantha, Scharada, & Mahesh; Rachna, Ranjona, Shantha, Shalini & Yash; Gauri, Mahesh & Scharada; Mahesh, Ranjona, Kirti & Vee; Vivek, Shantha, Vee, Scharada, Shalini & @MGNTheTwin; Shantha, Shashi, Yash, SubyT, & Rachna; Shantha, Vivek, Alka & Ranjona.

 

Queenly Blooms

 #DailyFlowers

 Who would have thought that life would go buzzing by so fast
That rhymes that came to mind would dissolve and not last
Words, lines would themselves form
But making it to the page wasn't their norm
Sometime has been gained to hand
And pinks and purples have staked a stand
Playing in abundant colorful glee
It is, my dears, a sight to see!

 Whites radiate a brilliance bright
An all-encompassing color the spectrum's knight
Yellows have always been a cheery sight
Like the sun they offer massive delight

The older refrain has gone for a toss
Maybe it's the blogger's loss
Gentle rhymes do in sway
Theirs was always the right of way
Raindrops on petals bring so much grace
A pink trio does with their beauty amaze
From Morocco, other beauties do come
Roses & Hibiscus do merrily strum

Then there was the play of light
Flowers, vases, and angles fell into sight
Flowering pots arranged in a line
Add in the lotus, a bloom divine

Bloom-laden kachnar trees
Oranges, reds in full glee
Flowers common, uncommon were seen
Violets, blues oranges did preen
Blooms are always the queenly kind
Nature has them uniquely designed
Our gazes they do strongly hold
Their majesty for us to behold

My Co-Contributors

 Shashi, Sai, Rachna & Shantha;  Alka, Shalini, Devlina, Rachna, & Vivek; Rachna, Shantha, Suby, & Ranjona; Rachna, Shantha, Shalini & Vivek; Shalini, Shantha, Vivek & Shashi; VijiV, Shashi, & Scharada; Vivek, VijiV, Shashi, & Shalini; Sai & Yash; Shalini; Suby, Vivek, Shalini, Rachna & Devlina; Vivek, Shashi, Shalini & AnindaM.

Songs of Praise

 #DailyFlowers

The last post had the blogger diverging from the usual flow; this post continues in the same vein. As I said to Shantha earlier today, the refrain refuses to let go, so be it... will explore it further. But many times the words are heavy since the refrain demands an introspection as it were, it wishes to look both back and forward then jump into today and ask the self-same question. Hopefully, the lighter rhymes will return, as if from a long sojourn, refreshed, anew! 

 Till then...

Who would have thought?
Songs of praise
For flowers we'd raise
Appreciate the grace
The bloom-filled path trace
In glorious colors we rejoice
Amble pleasantly in nature's choice
That we would pix-takers become
Some of us puny, real mighty some
Our days with flowers would begin and end
They to our seething souls peace would send
Who would have thought?

Who would've thought
The refrain would still hold
My mind and be so bold
To again appear
Has forced rhymes into repair
Insufficient they are, it says
I have better ways!
Who would have thought?!
Words and letters tumble around
Rhyming lines sometimes are found
Deep thoughts come to the fore
Sometimes single, sometimes more
Who would have thought?
That life's cycles would be so profound
Changing seasons would not be so sound
Climate change would have its way
Onto our seasons cling and sway
And yet flowers would reign
Despite climate's attempt to cause havoc and pain
Who would have thought?

Who would have thought?
That travels to far hills
Would beauties bring
That their presence would make us sing
That colors vibrant, vivid and bold
Would come along and take hold
Of imagination, willing tales to be told
Lyrics to be penned, songs to be hummed
While life stoically its beats did thrum
Who would have thought?
That nature with its immense power
Would still tarry awhile to shower
Blessings and grace on us that do defy
Her graciousness we selfishly deny
More, more, and ever more
Higher and higher goes the score
Who would have thought?

Who would have thought?
Of the magic of blooms
Tall, short, radiant plumes
That merrily rule the day
Carry conversations along the way
Who would have thought?
That nature succor would provide
Even as its fury ranged far and wide
That man would so willfully destroy
That which hath taken millions of years to fully deploy
Beauty & the powerful beast would walk hand in hand
Guardians and gatekeepers, they would stand
Against, yet with the humanity they would cradle
Even as the pandemic poured out misery ladle by ladle
Who would have thought?

Who would have thought?
Where twinkling fairy lights added their charm
Millions of bursting crackers did the environment harm
'Tis the season of festivals, of greetings
Of lights, sweets and poignant meetings
Of flowers, rangoli and artistic endeavors
Seeking the Goddess of wealth's favors
Of incoming shorter days and longer nights
Of snow and winter delights
Yet, it is fall that currently rules the roost
Leaves have gained their autumnal boost
The oranges, browns and deep rusts
Speak of changing amid color bursts
And life meanders on
Who would have thought?

Who would have thought?
That flowers a backstory would have
A tale that round the bun would go
Even as it stepped up the adorning flow
That flowers in many hues would be seen
Each would joyfully preen
Attract us with their tiny might
Blooms with power of extreme delight
From far and near they would range
Sometimes bring in stories strange
From valley, dell, garden and farm
Their beauty our hearts would warm
Their songs this blog would write
Offering tired minds manifold respite
From vigors of routine life
Who would have thought?

 My Co-Contributors
Scharada, Shashi & Shantha; Ranjona, Rachna, Shashi & Shantha; Mahesh, Karthik & Sai; Shalini; Shashi, Karthik, Vivek & Rachna; Shalini, Shantha & Vivek; Shantha, SukiF, Vivek & Shalini; Shantha, Vivek & Shalini; Shalini, Shantha & Vivek

Who would have thought...?

 #DailyFlowers

As I sit here looking out of the window at the lights, I wonder how come time just slipped by. Wasn't it just now that we were ringing another year in, and here we almost at the end again! Yes, life is cyclical, years end, years start! Months come in and go past. And time just flies, even when it seems to be going slow, it just slides past. This blog post departs a little from the older ones, since a refrain has established itself in my head and won't let go... Hope you'll bear with it?

Who would have thought:
Life would turn out the way it is
We would find succor in flowers
A group of people would images share
Those images would come to mean so much care
That colors vibrant, radiant, shy and serene
Would come together to make memorable scenes
Who, just who could have thought?
That blooms from far and wide
Would come along to this blog for a ride

Who could have thought
Of life's strange intersections
Varied and diverse combinations
Who could have taught
That nature would have such healing power
That it would rent asunder dark and blessings shower
Who would have thought that the world would to a standstill come
With people locked in place, no travel, holidays and then some
Who would have thought that recovery would be slow
And yet the light of friendship would continue to grow
Spanning oceans, continents, worlds, connections
Who would have thought that we would be where we're today

Who would have thought:
What life to us did bring
Songs it taught us, songs we did sing
Events, occasions, get-togethers and more
Playing catch up to even the score
Travels to homelands more precious did become
On blessings from parents did our hearts thrum
And the outpouring of color-filled blooms did continue
Rejuvenate us, breathe in us a life anew
Who would have thought
That a strange thought would send rhymes tumbling
Scatter them hither & thither, their letters a-bumbling
 Who would have thought?
Not me? Did you?
Was perhaps this controlling the flow
But what this is I still do not know
And yet, who could have thought...

 Who would have thought
That songs of praise would go and hide
Despite the blogger casting far and wide
The group's patience she does desire
For time for more rhymes to acquire
Till then, Lady June's praise shall hold the spot
Hoping to carry this blog aloft

 Flowering accompaniments courtesy:

Shantha & Shalini; Shantha; Shalini; Shalini, Mahesh, Ranjona, Scharada & Richard; Vivek, Devlina, Ranjona & Shalini; Vivek & Shantha; Vivek, UdayBaxiji, & SukiF; Shashi; Vivek; Shashi; Shalini, June & Shantha