“In Hindu tradition, Triveni refers to the confluence of three major rivers, the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Saraswati, at a place called Prayag. But here at Muse India, it signifies the coming together of Japan, India, and the rest of the world in poetry.” Kala Ramesh
Kala Ramesh is an acknowledged exponent of Japanese short form poetry and teacher of haiku, senryu, tanka, haibun and renka at the Symbiosis International University in Pune, India. For several years, I have been enjoying her work on Jane Reichold’s international online poetry forum, AHA, of which Kala and I are both active members.
Last October I noticed a submission call on AHA for short form poetry for a feature Kala was compiling in her role as Contributing Editor to the literary e-journal Muse India. She was seeking work from Indians that drew upon their ‘cultural memory’, inspired by childhood experiences and traditions, as well as influential figures such as Mahatma Gandhi. From the rest of us in the world she requested poetry that dealt with any experience of India such as a visit to the country or exposure to festivals, music or Indian film.
I have been fortunate enough to have made trips to Mumbai and Delhi back in 2009 for a holiday and a wedding. The sights, sounds, smells and tastes of India have stayed with me ever since, so I wrote some haiku and hagia (art/photography & haiku) which I submitted for consideration.
I was delighted when Kala accepted some of this work, which is featured here in Triveni. I produced the haiga above (also published) using a photograph taken at sunset on Juhu beach, Mumbai. The senryu below was inspired by a moment in the gardens of the Lotus Temple in Delhi, where we spotted a beautiful girl accompanied by an armed guard. She looked like a princess or a film star and stopped to chat to my six-year old daughter, Taryn.
wedding celebration
my daughter asks
is this Bollywood?
seaviewwarrenpoint 
I’ve just read your poems on Muse India, Marion. They’re fabulous!
Thank you so much, Susan 🙂
marion
congratulations, off there to read now!
Thank you, Rach.
There’s some lovely work over there that gives a real flavour of India, like the following two, for example. You know right away that these were inspired by somewhere very different to our part of the world.
barren highlands
a cow’s skull marks the road
to my mother’s village
Ajaya Mahala, Pune
morning sunrays
in the long temple corridor …
sound of her anklet
K. Ramesh, Chennai
Congratulations, Marion.
Thank you, Patsy. I’m such a fan of everything Indian. 🙂
marion
This is heartening to read not just because I’m an Indian too but because you’ve captured the details so beautifully. I do hope you’ll check out my blog too. 🙂
Thank you for dropping by and commenting. I’m pleased you think I have captured something of the essence of your beautiful country. I will of course have a look at your blog. 🙂
marion
Thank you so very much. I’ll be awaiting your visit. 🙂