The Rebelle blog

I woke up today morning smelling the sickly sweet fragrance of Champa. Perhaps it was but a dream. I sprang up as quickly as I could and walked through the house to see where the illusionary fragrance of flowers was drawing me. The house was dark and the faint light that crept from the curtained windows made me sit in the dark for nothing. I sat down on the floor in a yogic pose, drew in deep breaths of air and sat still, waiting for some feeling to flood me over. All I felt at that moment was a sombre sigh at the darkness that engulfed me. I drew the curtains and peered out at the morning glow. It left me with an awakened sense of belonging. I thought of the rising sun and my heart was awash with joy for some unknown reason. I slowly opened the windows and the gust of cold wind gave me a rare pleasure. While growing up there had been umpteen times when I stood by these windows and looked outside at the sky and the Jamun tree with its fruits squashed and spread underneath its huge l...

THE trees along this city street Save for the traffic and the trains, Would make a sound as thin and sweet As trees in country lanes. And people standing in their shade Out of a shower, undoubtedly Would hear such music as is made Upon a country tree. Oh, little leaves that are so dumb Against the shrieking city air, I watch you when the wind has come,-- I know what sound is there. - Edna St. Vincent Millay Some of my most favourite illustrations that accompany certain poems happen to feature trees in them. Cassia Fistula also known as Amaltaas in India, Copper Pod, Laburnum with its golden shower is also described in a lot of novels written by C.S.Lewis, Oscar Wilde, even J.R.R.Tolkien. In urban spaces, increasingly as there is a shortage of space for housing, on-site trees are often cut by builders and property developers to build a concrete community. We don't even feel the lack ...

I visited Pune last week. My cousin, "P" shifted to her new residence recently and my brother-in-law invited me to stay. How could I refuse?! We are a laugh-o-riot whenever we meet. Since her marriage two years ago, now we only get to meet during summer holidays or Diwali (Winter holidays). She Lives in a quiet housing society with small lanes that are lined with lots of trees. I loved the peace and calm that greeted me every morning and the evening solace, as well. The living room window overlooks Tall Palm trees where some pigeons have made a temporary nest. I loved to sit idle on the sofa, dreaming, sipping cocoa and staring out of the window. Lazy Summer Bliss! Here are a few pictures from my stay, of these trees that include Blue Jacaranda, and White & Pink Bougainvilleas. Those were picture-postcard scenarios.