aaqyl, aashimaB, abi, aditiR, Akki, akshayaK, akshayaN, alan/fly, alfie, Ali, Alpa, Alysia, anaitaK, Aneri, Anila,Anita, anjuM, ankitaT, Ann, antaraC, antaraT, anthonyD, Anusha,Apna, Archie, arpitaN, Ashita, Ashu, Audrey, Anaita ,Alysha, Amrita, angana, Anita,Annie, apurvaK, archanaB, ayeshaB,
Beena,Bhavi, biniS,
candiceC, Carol ,Carolyn,Connie, cherylD, Chong, Carl, Chandani, christie, claudette,
Deepa ,Delon, derek.sonia,
Fuzzy,Fatema, Flo, Frazer,Fredella,
Geeta
Ian , insia,
jahnaviDS, Janice,Jasmine, jenniferG, jennyP, jennyT, Joan, joey, joseLuis, josephites, juliaJ,
Kay, KarenPeters ,Karen Mathias,Karishma,Kavya, kenrick, Kim, komal,
Lara Gannon, leahL, lily, Lorna, Lulu, Lee,Latika
Manisha, Maranna, mariette, mary-Ann, Meera, meherM, merle, Marisa ,MarisaD,Menon, ManasiPingle, mayuri, mirabelle, Mits
namrataS, natashaL, Navya, Neenaz, nehaB, NeilM,Neisha, Neetu, Neha Mehta,Neeti,
navyaP, Nicky, nimmi, ninetteP, Nita, Nivedita,
oleen, Oscar, Owen,
Parveen,PayalV, pearlDS, Pervin, peterG, poojaP, Priya Shedde, puneetP,
rakheeP, reema, Renita, RenukaR,Roanna, Rose, roshanBala, Rosie, Roxane,RoxanneN, Ruta, Radhika Butala,Roy,RuchiPal
Sahgal,Sameera,sanchariG, sanjanaM, SaradaR, SaradaB, Sarita, savioCra, Shamsah, sharvariJ, Shaziya, sherlynM, sherna, Shetal, Shireen, Shivangi, Shonali, Shilpa, shrutiG, Simi, Simone, Smriti, snehaT, sohiniM, Sonia ,Sonu, sonya, Soraya, Stanny, SujataM, supriya, Surabhi, Suzanne , Swati
TanyaMunshi, trinjhna,
Vaidehi, valerie, ,Varsha, VibhaIyer, vidhiG, viralT,
wendyC, yashvardhan, Yax , Yogi,
Zaitoon, zen,
Some metaphorical reflections on life…and the time is right for me to be sending them around..
The seasons we have here in India are not as clear-cut as they are in the West…. but despite that confusion and even with a “monsoon” season thrown in, some definition is possible…
The whimsical monsoons were over some time back. The usual thunder and lightning missing for the most part. Then hot-cool weather games began. A token autumn season stealing some of our attention to announce its presence. Not too clear, not too distinct but somewhat hesitatingly present. The two big trees in my backyard have begun shedding their leaves already.
Autumn is a season for sure. It can also be an attitude….. and falling autumn leaves might be something more to us than just an announcement of a seasonal change we have to adjust to externally….
I look out of my window and reflect about what I see unfolding outside….
retreat house, bandra. photo: terryq
They flit by my window sorrow-sadly
Singing silent swan songs
downward drift to dust embrace.
Autumn leaves leave lofty heights
letting go, as I must too, of old.
The new-bare trees now
still silently solid standing
awakening arm branches
outstretched to welcome
as I must too, the new.
Autumn is bad for leaves
but necessary good for the trees.
They stark stand, confirmed
in hope of another spring season
splendour shower returning
new foliage vested
luxuriance dream fulfilled.
But first there must be winter.
Winters must be passed through
on seasonal step to spring.
Not dry desolate disturbing winter
But winter unwithered within –
sap and inner energies
awakening resources new pushed
to edges of awakening.
The first morn of spring.
To every season a first place.
for leaves, for trees, for me.
Spring, summer, autumn, winter.
Summer, autumn, winter, spring.
Autumn, winter, spring, summer.
Winter, spring, summer, autumn.
I celebrate the seasons of my life.
terryq : autumn, 2000
With each new cyclic change there is growth and enrichment and something differently wonderful that happens to us.
Distress and discomfort too… but that is the way life is.
Like the trees we too must take in what helps, shrug off what doesn’t, adjust and grow taller….
The skies are always nearer for those who dare to grow.
More daring and growing to you and nearer skies for all that you are and do!
Take care. Stay well.
Lots of love, Terry