Cherry Blossoms - 10 sonnets

Cherry Blossom is the local wind of Karnataka that is helpful for the coffee plantation. Rains caused by thunderstorms during the hot weather ... Also known as 'Coffee Showers' These rains normally occur from March to April. 

1.The coffee showers

Oh what a lullaby on fast running wheel

What sweet slumber that passengers from world steel 

with your music's breath you give them mirth

Oh what a lovely experience the train on earth!

You gave me many a friend 

before the journey's  end

I can't see light at the tunnel bend

journey's joy always on you depend

NO tension to travel without reservation

we just see our growing population

I'd with many a friendly traveler relation

who live far and wide across the nation

If I lose them don't blame the train in vain

Because I travel  in train again and again

       2. The Comet 

With burning coal and smoke

Running on rails is not a simple joke

The pistons move stroke after stroke

carrying the luggage and the folk

While on the platform he looks like a giant

Across the  fields he is soft like a saint 

The whistling wind knows for sure 

that  he  always  whistles  de jure 

On the bridge he sounds hallow

many travelers his rhythm follow

During day when the track is straight 

He flies like a kite soon goes out of sight

At night he shines like a comet

and commands travels' respect

 3.The Cuckoo    - AA BB

koo kooo -  he passes while singing like a cuckoo

I sat by the window writing a haiku

While he dashes on the bridge over the river

I looked down and saw the river

That was shining like sheet of silver 

the cold breeze makes me shiver

I saw the young couple in the boat

Through my mind passed a musical note

Morning he pulled me through greenery

and showed me unforgettable scenery 

Bridges and houses and towns and shops

the cattle in the fields and lush green crops 

Moving like a museum on wheels

Beautiful sights he served like meals

          4. The Queen's Ride

 She crawls with wheels of steel  like a huge snake 

 on a bouncing track that  feels like a marshmallow cake

the passengers on board glide soft without any ache 

When she gathers speed the earth do shake

She is the queen without crown 

Hundreds wait for her in every town

She never waits more than her time

If anyone frowns she gives a dime

Rich or poor she doesn't care

Men or women at her stare

Hundreds of men guide her way

slight inconvenience they drive away

The cattle grazing near track are frightened

after her ride the track's bolts are tightened

         

     5. Bihu on Train

January is the colorful season of Bihu

people on train don't know who is who

men and women filled the compartment

colorful clothes show their involvement

Young  women versed in Bihu dances

filled the compartment with romantic glances

group of men and women delighting each other

have brought to the train beautiful Bihu weather

 

with romantic looks they delight each other

with looks  they are pleasure each other

watch and be watched is the pleasure

delight be delighted is the measure

Sometimes festivals are celebrated on train

whose fond memories form heart's sweet pain

                

6. Quarrels with Barrels 

when you must to the small town go

you have the passenger but no other go

The passenger is a train with no attractions

But it is a big hub of social interactions

While the train keeps moving at a slow pace

A child  sleeps in mother's embrace 

A vendor walks with basket in corridor

A man stands smoking at the door

 A woman comes with basket of flowers

 A soldier brings in  beautiful laurels

The man preaches so many  morals  

to the woman who brings barrels

off course  barrels bring quarrels

on passenger quarrels are as sweet as sorrels

*sorrels means Gongura in Telugu

      7.  Ivory chain

 

Oh! metro train, Are you an Ivory chain

You look soft like a plane you are as fast as rain 

Your ride is pride so people your norms abide

Everybody is ransacked before the ride

 

You look like Boeing in the air

For your arrival we stand and stare

Look at the floor what a beautiful decor 

All automatic, even the door

 

You make little noise 

and guide us with sweet voice

You are traveler's first choice

All passengers your icy feel rejoice

 

Oh! metro train, your interior is superior

Your exterior isn’t to plane’s fuselage inferior

 

         8. Masulipatam

 

Oh! Masulipatam, why are the dark circles still

showing up under your eyes like dreadful winter chill

The dab of gloom on your visage though the winter has gone

The mist is still hanging on your skies in the summer noon

 

Oh! Masulipatam the decks are cleared that brings the boon

of business I recount your past while the lustre comes soon

I met the travelers who tell the tales of small fish town

that dealt with diamonds I wonder how the time scaled down

 

Your prosperity of the European trade of 17th century

Diamonds and dyes, textiles and spices made you a treasury

Oh! the great demand melted down! what a time’s treachery

Silence rules your shore what a fate’s butchery!

 

Oh! Kind traveler, my glory never waned my glory is my crown

I still hear rich stories from mouth to mouth passed down

9. Vizianagaram Fort

 

In 1711 the king from Jeypore sought independence

and founded Vizianagaram where there wasn’t a fence

The foundation stone was laid to build the fort

in 1713 when there was no machine of any sort

 

With length and breadth 240 meters each

built of solid stone without a breach

The ten-meter-high mesmerizing and majestic fort

All around the walls runs a seamless moat

 

with two terrifying gates on the east and west

the impregnable walls foil any enemy quest

the east gate saddled the mighty drum tower

At a stone’s throw stands the victory tower

 

What a tower! what a power! Oh Vijaya Rama                                                  

Oh! the enormous fort what a mind-blowing panorama.

10. The Battle of Padmanabham

 

With rank and rifle moved colonel Pendargast

Across the hills his horse galloped fast

Towards the battle field of Padmanabham

For the British, there he sounds the drum

 

Colonel Pendargast provided the crucial command

Stood as the east India company’s right hand

As Vijaya Rama II refused the British demand

Of a huge tax that renders his army less manned

 

They ordered the king’s exile offering him pension

The king knows the British laws, and paid due attention

In the battle field with his sword -wielding troops

Who fought ferociously with British groups

 

The sun in the sky was red, the ground was full blood

The colonel’s gun fired a bullet that left the king dead.

Only God! None can the king command

None can the spirit of the king disband

 

The battle of Padmanabham thus ends

The king of Vizianagaram to heaven sends