Celestial Games

by Priya Mahadevan

[box]At a time when the Sun is reigning supreme and the day is humid, the dark clouds and cool winds arrive, setting the stage for summer showers. Priya Mahadevan writes a poem.[/box]

 

The humid day stretches languidly
Not a single sign of things to come
As the Sun beats down full force –
But this scenario changes in a flash
Of lightning yonder
Heralding the storm
His blaze gets feeble
As the Sun beats a quick retreat
Hiding from the onslaught
Of dark and ominous clouds
Revving from the distance
Setting the stage
Let the games begin!
The wind arrives unannounced too
Blowing with reckless abandon
Tress sway, and leaves tremble
People run for cover
Birds calling to each other
Flying frantically
Faster and relentless, the clouds roll
Until they’ve canopied the sky
In entirety
Bringing with them
Their gaming equipment –
Luminous lightning
A blinding bolt
Harkens to the sound that follows
Deafening thunder
The lights flicker
Electronics around the house beep
The pungent smell of phosphorous wafts
As people light their candles
Their armour of defense against darkness
The first drop is sharp and loud
The second and third follow fervently
Like belligerent soldiers they surge
Ahead of the millions that follow
Pulverizing the earth with sharp arrows
Culminating the celestial games
Like a thunderous applause
Long raining ovation
Thins out like the crowds
Until the last of them is gone
The Sun reappears to reign supreme
Summer Shower’s come and gone
Leaving blades of grass glistening
And sagging blossoms
Kissing the ground
A rainbow appears
Seven ribbons of honour
One each for Sun, Wind and Clouds
Lightning, Thunder and Rain
All victorious
The last ribbon for the Earth
That not just survives the celestial combat
But basks in it, in gloriously fragrant renewal.

Priya Mahadevan is a writer and food blogger with a background in Journalism. She was a political and feature correspondent for a prominent Indian newspaper in the 90s before moving to the U.S. She lives in Virginia with her husband and 3 beautiful children.  She now dabbles in poetry writing, travelogues and is currently working on a series of children’s picture books. You can find her world of vegetarian recipes athttp://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com.  

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