THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

Sometimes you wonder at the audacity

Setting out our tiny feet to grasp a majesty?

Looks endearing and welcoming once

Tall distant cold mysterious bygone once

Testing every bit of our human tenacity

Biting cold, cracking knees, sore muscles

Missing the warmth of loved ones, comfort of home

Amongst the strange bedfellows

You take on a Himalayan journey

Every ascent your heart comes alive

You are nearer to the peak yet so far

It's a gentle reminder on our final journey

Isn't it???

Himalayas where time stands still

Or stillness of mountains takes us over

Wild flowers bloom endless meadows flourish

Sun rises and sets like a giant clock work

Thunders and showers play and dance as per their will

There is clock, will, chaos, bloom, thrive and flourish all at once!

We tremble, our tiny feet and hands freeze

We belong we own we soak we breathe

We feel every bit of Himalayan Joy

Even if it's for few days

You share a space and time of million years of legacy

We take with us a lifetime of lessons

A flock may be a few hundreds

Sheep sheepishly running around

Grazing all day and a far away shepherd

In a backdrop of gorgeous Snow peaks

A sight to behold in your heart

That's Himalyan Delight!

The Himalayas question

Have you lived once?