Aadi, aakankshaS, aaronDC, aartiK, aaryaT, abi, aditiK, ajay.gang. akhila,akshayaN, alan.fly, Aneri, angana, anilaV, aninditaS, anishaA, anjuM, ankitaG, ankitaT, annukampa, anthonyD, anuradhaP, anushkaK, Aparajita, aparnaA, Alfredo, alreenaP, anaghaK, anushaK, arpitaN, arshiaK, arshiyaK, ArushiCK, ashikaM, ashwiniM, ayeshaD,
barkhaN,beena, binaiferS, boscoR,
candiceC, carissa, chaitali, chloe, chryslynnDC, clyde, cynara,
deeptiA, denver, deven, divyaD, drushtee, durga,
esha, Euphrecia, evarist,
farinaz, fatemaSh, fayann, fleurDS, gandhaliK,
habiba, Insia, ishaS,
jahnaviDS, jenniferG, jenniferT, jillAnne, jonitaDM, joseLuis, jyotsnaM, judeA, juliaJ,
kanchi, kanicaS, karenD, karenMont, karishmaC, kavithaP, kimM,
lakshikaK, leaC, lilly, lizannF,
Maherra,Manali, manasiP, manasviB,manavikaP, maranna, marietteV, marisaD , mayaS, mayuri, meenakshiG, meganDS, meghanaT, mehekM, merleO,manasviS, michelleF, Mumtaz,
namitaF, namrataS, nanda, nanditaM, nanditaP, Naomi, neelK, nehaB, Neisha, nikhil, nikitaDC, nikitaDe, nimishaB, nirmalaG, nishi,
payalS, pearlDS, poonamB, priyankaB, priyankaSur, pujaG,
rachelK, radhikaA, Rakhee, reema, richaS,riyaK, roshanBala, rosie, ruchiPal, rural2012, rutujaP,
saahilN,sailiB sakshiJ, saloniB, saloniD, samataA, sanjanaM, sanket, saranga, saviera, shalmaliS, Sharvari, shetalL, shireenL, shradaB, shraddhaK, shriyaP, shrutiB, Siddheshwari, siddhiA, simmi, simone, smritiA, smritiJ, Sohini, sophia, sonyaO, Sudha, sujataS, sukantiB, swethaA,
tess, Thaiza, tomK, Trinolda, trisha,
Urvijaa, utsha,
Vabriena, VaidehiChit, Vaishakhee, vaishali, Valerie, vanitaDM, vrushaliK,
wendyD, yashwardhan, zahra, zaver,
I finally did go for the last four days of the rural camp. Lucky to get an air-conditioned Innova lift again. At the camp I was caringly prohibited from any kind of physical activity except the really really personal ones (brushing my teeth and related things).
Once or twice I was allowed restricted supervised work just to justify my presence there.
All overall went “awesome” well and everyone has returned singing alleluias about the rural experience.
Picture and poem souvenir. The poem is long. You may either skip it or read it in instalments.
You might want to read it slowly at one go….. up to you!
Piercing whistle dark dawn wake-up
languorous decision stir
brush-wash wipe and rush rush ready
welcome shown to challenge day
energising yoga-erobics
line-up casual breakfast done
tools distribute group assembled
trudge to worksite horizons.
Misty clouded easy mornings
blazing day stark rising heat
energetic swing and lift up
up-down pick and shovel play
passing carefree flow gamelas
swift air fly full/empty lines
tossed and caught and sometime fallen
team eye-hand coordinate
Mud mud mud more mud keeps passing
wide field spread to level lines
and the rhythm oft repeated
hand to hand gamelas pile
catch and send chain pass and flip dump
interlude brief inbetweens,
glucon-D cool water quenching
welcome comfort restful breaks.
Slow uneven trudge homecoming
conjee limbu sweet refresh
wash-up odds and ends attending
stretch-out then to chill-out time
twang guitar song ..mafia game kill
cat-nap peace surrender some.
expectant drift-in lunch aroma
piping hot yummmmy repast
strewn about again yawn stretch out
supine crouch just rest around
unwillingly resist awakening
tea – then back to work return
five-foot lengths of grassy clearings
rhythm yet repeats along
Over hill sunset sure dusk dip…
Hush and slow diffuse return…
nocturnal shadows playful creeping
another weary day respite..
un-wedged picks and worn out shovels
bruised gamela careless piles
decoratively kept abandon
quiet whisper soft stay still…
hummm-buzzzz insects polyphony
persist curtain chorus drone
convincingly message announce
night-time new shift echo reign…
pilgrim queue-up bathing done in
cleanly space frog sometimes seen
meandering wet-dry return through
dim lit grass uneven paths…
forbidden distant river flows on
lethargic laze unruffled slow
unseen crocodiles sinister
silent slithering snakes in dreams
around in subdued campsite spaces
strewn clustered quiet interlude
deep inhaling camaraderie
warm amity gentle care
pluck string melody strum music
whisper soft lilt chorus voice
weary audience scatter sprawled in
casual fatigue disarray
peaceful prayerful twilight masses
spirit surrender gathering
grateful hearts for blessings lift to
Father’s healing love and care…
welcome dinner unrushed line-up
modest simple served repast
yet eager lavish much indulging
appeal invite for “seconds” take
briskly wash-up time accomplished
soft slip shadow chat-up time
dim-lit random groups relaxing…
sharing stories gentle bliss
evaluation : seriously now…
“awesome” work.. eye-catchers caught
satisfaction clap and cheerful
another well-spent day assessed…
energising entertainment
fun and song and dance around
sparkle laughter run about games
talents confident displayed
sportingly performed spontaneous
appreciation loud unmasked..
strangers to new bonded friendship
comfort aura family now…
affectionately warm embraces
time together “heal the world”
celebrating new connections
growing through together times
beyond religion caste division
or creed..gender..culture …age…
quiet night uplifting prayer break
soothing finish final touch
welcome turning to retirement
hush of needed sleep repose…
at rising dawn of morrow morning
startle whistle siren blown
another day with promise pledges
hands and hearts must need fulfil…
rural camp 2012
pushing boundaries
celebrating challenges
joyfully… yes, joyfully !
terryq: nov. 2012
Strangely enough and somewhat miraculously, my health (the four month cough particularly) has way improved after the camp and I am looking forward to sharing the good news with the doctors when I go for a check-up next week. The other good news is that the whole of next week is Diwali vacation time still. There are a couple of weddings I have but those are fun times and I shall catch up with old friends and relatives.
Otherwise it is just waltzing around with my usual here and there things. No crises, no rush.
Bright colourful lights
and happy quiet noises for Diwali
to you and your family.!!
Take care. Stay well.
Lots of love, Terry