Mundane Musings

Pic Courtesy: Telegraph India. Almost dry Chembarabakkam lake Water, water where have you gone? We search for you in deep wells and dried up lakes. Through hard, unyielding sand and tough rocks, Our searching pumps come up coughing dusty air. Water, water where have you gone? We see you tumbling against our coastline In a joyful profusion of frothy waves and forgotten litter, But not a drop can we drink, thanks to your salty disposition. Water, water where have you gone? Leaving us sinners bemoaning our fates Our thrones are wobbly without you to flush The refuse begotten by excessive tastes. It is now a luxury to wash our sorry asses. Water, water where have you gone? Our lakes are dry, the birds long gone, All that is left are buildings and houses standing tall. Drink that you fools, see how it quenches your thirst, This edifice you have built out of brick and stone. Is it too late to change ourselves? To look beyond our selfish gains? To spare a though...

We are at the fag end of the year. The Christmas plum cake with its rich, fruity taste and texture has been savoured and toasts have been made for the New Year too, which of course still a few days off. There is something magical in this month. I love this month and after much deliberation I concluded that it was mostly because of the prevailing climate. After a harsh summer and chaotic rains, Chennai settles down to a cool, tender climate which begs the pulling out of moth eaten sweaters that smell of naphthalene balls (not always a bad thing), the crisp, beautiful silks and the thick woollen tops which are generally reserved for travels abroad or to cooler climes. The cool air is redolent with smell of cinnamon and chai and of hot crispy vadas and filter coffee (which of course is a staple the whole year too). In other words, it is the closest we come to sharing the white, snowy, cold Christmas setting that prevails over the parts of the world where it is celebrated. ...