NANDITA DE NEE CHATTERJEE

NANDITA DE NEE CHATTERJEE

A Tiny Dot

I wished...

I was a desert flower,

blooming under a star-studded night,

my soft fragrance scenting the sandy breeze...

I wished I was a coral reef,

multihued, breathing life into large waves,

breaking their wrath with gentle grace...

I wished I was the Indian 3-leaf Durva grass,

a humble part of temple proceedings...

Alas! I am a woman born.

Strive as I must, pitfalls pave my path.

Try as I do, failure is written.

Hope all I want, it'll be snuffed again.

But my Dad's term of endearment for me

crushes to smithereens

every antagonistic force.

For I am Kumkum,

a sacred vermilion used on holy occasions.

I don't need to be much else.

The Rhapsody Of Love

Flickering candles arousing ardour,

evening breeze fanning desire.

Scarlet buds unfolding

love so tender.

Hearts beating out a new story,

another unending saga.

Ardour Of Nature

Into the bleak and cold earth, spring marches in.

A cascade of colours shoots through grey skies.

The bashful vegetation bursts forth in a chorus of exuberance.

New buds spring forth from hardened soils,

flushed with the fragrance of hope, dreams and its delineations -

the eternal story of rebirth, rejuvenation and renewal.

Persephone, bestowing her infinite grace and glory on Planet Earth.

The cyclical journey of nature's triumph against adversity,

splendour of sunshot marigold, revered red lotuses, elegant lilies,

pretty petunias and pansies plastering the pathways in a zillion shade,

red hibiscus and musk roses adorning altars and consoles,

proud zinnias nodding in the zephyr breeze of gentle spring...

Nowhere is Spring celebrated more gloriously...

India throws its arms out in swirls of red, yellow and green.

Fuchsia paints people pink and

Holi is celebrated as the ultimate evocation of the Goddess of Spring.

The nation exults in the festival of renewal,

tender mangoes scent the air.

Life springs back in full form, again.

The Reflection

Hold up a mirror to society.

See the ugly deeds minutely.

Examine the rabid faces.

There could be kindness, laughter and happiness too.

A universal Brotherhood.

NANDITA DE NEE CHATTERJEE

NANDITA DE NEE CHATTERJEE: Writer, freelance      journalist/housewife. Formerly with Economic Times. Cover stories and Feature Writer with Statesman, Illustrated Weekly of India, Economic Times, Telegraph, Times of India, Femina, Filmfare, Voix Meets Mode, UK, FrontierWeekly.com. Was Part Time Lecturer at Calcutta University Journalism department, PG for 7 months. Was Consulting Editor, Environ. Launched Economic Times Marketplace for ET. Editing experience. Co Author, Big Bang of Non- Fiction, Life in Reverse; 30 Best Poets; Sea; Coffee and Echos; Wrapped Up Feelings; Christmas in my Heart in 2019, Moonlight: Writers' Haven in Feb-Mar 2020. Have a digital magazine and group, Studio Quaintrelle. Participate in major digital literary forums Poetry Planet, Asian Literary Society, Literature Lovers Association, Realistic Poetry International, AllPoetry.com, Let's Make Stories, Our Poetry Archive, Plethora Blogazine, Wonder Women World Writers, English Literature, Significant League, Gully Writers, Beyond the Box, Women's Web etc.