Body Rhythms

So my body feels like a musical instrument shop

However this is not an organised op

Tummy can rumble like a base drum

Or like the sitar being strum

The wind can grumble away

Like a brook bubbling on its way

The odd muscle flutters gently

Akin to breeze shifting sand finely

Then the spine creaked when I turned

A crackle of large joints is like piano badly tuned

While small ones just snap like a rifle shot

Making others jump a lot

The rash itches and I scratch like mad

Sounds like using a rasp that is bad

Pain in the muscles and bones can throb

Often this drumming my breath does rob

The prickling of the eye like a triangle struck

By all the Duracell bunnies in the truck

Headaches that feel like a constant drumming

Ears that make their own buzzing

I am sure the rest of the organs in the shop

Would like to and might join in this op

I am my own musical shop from midnight to noon

But I am damned if I can change the music anytime soon

The Oath of the Vayuputras by Amish Tripathi

This is the final book in the Shiva trilogy. A much awaited book I think and probably was having high expectation of the story as well. The last book ended with an apt cliff-hanger where Shiva comes face to face with someone he thought was dead in the blast which destroyed the somras factory.

The trek through the forest and up river in ships have brought the main characters to the land of the Nagas and meeting his old friend Shiva is wanting to know what had happened? He needs to know this before he can let the others in the accompanying entourage to know Brahaspati is alive and hear his story. Brahaspati explains that he was researching the impact of manufacturing the somras and if there were side effects from taking it. He had come to the conclusion that it was a dangerous medicine and being unable to convince King Daksh or the ministers he chose to sabotage the factory and disappear.

Shiva wants more proof of this than just the word of his friend and wants to see himself the evidence that exists. It appears we have come a full circle in the search for the enemy. For now it appears that the Mehluans are the common enemy of the Chandravanshis and the Nagas. The side effect of the somras has given rise to the Naga clan as they are the offspring of people who have been taking the somras. The waste from the manufacturing of the somras is found to be polluting the waters that flow into the land of the Brangas. The Chandravanshis were not all party to partaking the somras. The Maharishi Bhrigu, one of the most powerful sages, is convinced that somras is good and informs Daksh that there is a second secret factory that will keep the somras flowing.

In trying to stop Shiva and his allies from turning on the Melhuans he organises the attack we read about, in the last book. What comes across clearly is that humans fear what they do not know and so view the unknown as the enemy. Shiva goes to Kashi to meet the Vasudevs and find out what is the truth about the somras and all the information he has. There is also finds out about the clan of Vayuputras who have sworn to bring forth Neelkanth when times need him, just as Vasudevs are bound to support the Neelkanth in his fight against evil. For this Shiva has to undertake the long journey to the land of Vayuputras and find out the truth about himself and about the somras. He needs the weapons that will allow him the lever to stop the production of somras and save the people from all-out war.

The story does give some wonderful descriptions and explanations of the strategies and counter strategies of the different factions and alliances. The imagination has been let loose when it comes to the achievements of each clan. The small battles are fought while setting up to win the final war. These are bloody and shows lose on all sides. It is a story that follows my own thinking (for I can always see the other person’s point of view) in that it forces you to see both sides of the coin. It forces you to face both sides of the issue of somras and the positions taken by people. What is to be held in esteem by people, their country, the truth or their God? Therefore, you are forced to acknowledge that nothing is purely good or purely evil. Also that nothing can always be only good or only evil. Both evil and good are necessary to have a balance in nature.

The ending was unexpected but seemed to come too quickly. However, it was a good point to end as it leaves you in a thoughtful mood and anything further would just belabour the point.

Moods of Rain

The earth is parched and dry

Clouds gather in the sky

The breeze picks up

And the dust kicks up

Clouds crash and thunder flashes

Rain comes and thirst quenches

The raindrops dance on the earth

Filling me with joy and mirth

The wet earth smells sweet

From the gentle drizzle it meets

I lift my face to feel the rain

The gentle caress of the rain

It soothes and comforts me

It cools and caressess me

There is mixed mood in a monsoon storm

The energy that sizzles through the storm

Electricity crackles and lightening flashes bright

Raises the hair as if in fright

The thunder provides the drum roll

A wonderful orchestra seems to be nature’s goal

Then you feel the fury in the storm

The pounding rain that comes with the storm

With the strength of a rushing waterfall

Threatening to sweep away all

Driving the rain is gale force wind

Tearing through the rain both lightening and wind

The moods of rain are moods of nature

Often reflecting human nature

Changing Season

Here comes the rain

Autumn is setting in with the rain

The grass is still growing fast

How long is that going to last?

Some plants are flowering

Some leaves are browning

The rain makes everything greener

The wind is that much keener

The cold seems meaner

Making all the effort to be warmer

The birds are huddling under the eaves

The wind rustles through the leaves

The clouds gathered all grey

Where is the sun pray?

I want the skies again blue

So that I can stop being blue

The cold makes my muscles hurt

Which makes my speech curt

Heat helps the muscles warm

But makes the rash buzz like a swarm

I need to balance the heat needed

Just as nature balances the cyclical renewal needed

For most the growing season is done

The propagation is done

The time has come to slow down

Hunker up and bed down

The time to hibernate is soon due

So that it can rest and come anew

Time to reflect on the done

Prepare on what will need to be done

Time to dream and hope

Just time to dream and hope