Ode to Fall

What is it about an October Maple ?
Competing against the crisp fall sky
It stands tall and confident and glorious

It knows it will soon lose all its leaves
And yet it happily sheds the lazy green of summer
To reveal a deeper, more striking color.....
Its inner core that has always been there
A warning of the upcoming winter
The October maple should fill our hearts with dread and sadness
And yet we bow to it in awe and wonder

What is it about the October Maple ?
We see it shed its youth and playfulness
And emerge as a mature and seasoned adult
Ready to step into the cold and dark of winter
And yet it makes us happy ?

Is it the knowledge of a battle won ?
Is it the knowledge of a life lived to the fullest ?
Is it optimism, hope or simple faith
that the leaves will return again
And the tree will be stronger
and even more beautiful in the spring ?

Its all that and more, she said. 
It comes from knowing its purpose  
and its role in Mother Nature's world.

Ode to the Mumbai Monsoon

oh how i love the promise of the Arabian sea

waves madly dashing ashore

dark storm clouds on the horizon

the rumble of thunder,

and the pouring rain. 

yes, I know. this storm too shall pass and nothing

nothing will ever be the same again

i love the prospect of new possibilities

the seeds of hope enclosed in every drop of precious rain

i love the promise of the phoenix
and knowing that it will rise again

yes i love a mumbai monsoon

yes i love walking in the rain

i love the cool refreshing feel of raindrops 

on my parched and fevered face

i love the sound of children thrash and giggle

as they engage in a futile race 

but mostly i love just sitting on that retaining wall

staring into the Arabian Sea

and fantasizing about all
 the wondrous things life holds in store for me.