Ranthambore

Cherry
Pick of the Month

By marandina

Tue, 30 May 2023
  • 3057 reads
21 comments
 

Ranthambore

Morning humidity with rising haze,

sub-continental sun, indigo skies,

arcane land-ship of silent voyeurs,

clicking cameras and stoical stares.

 

An expedition at dawn: rainforest

to ageless banyan, palm and dhok,

where monkey tails on high wires

curl; arboreal acrobats, simian kin.

 

Deer scatters, threatening sounds,

leathery crocs skulk in mud-water,

eyes float like ghosts in the ether,

warthogs drink, oblivious to fate.

 

Rumbling, tumbling, mystery tour,

flat-hands and binoculars seeking

striped Bengali of revered royalty,

sacred icon of savage wilderness.

 

As afternoon shadows grow long,

at last a sighting! Edge of an abyss

where far below on a ravine floor

two tigers pace like caged beasts.

 

Hotel bound we turn homewards,

silent prayers made, Indian Gods,

untouched by fate or Karma until

the forest reveals its roaring king.

 

Monsoon memories of heady days,

sanctuary, reservation of sanctity,

harmony of prowling co-existence,  

Asian dreams etched on my soul.

 

Image free to use at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_tiger#/media/File:Tiger_facial_mark...(T72)_Ranthambhore_India_12.10.2014.jpg

 

https://www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/ranthambore.html

 

Footnote:

This poem is inspired from a holiday to India in 2017. A stay at the Hotel Ranthambore Regency led to a day safari at the nearby Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve. Of all the animals on show that day (monkeys, crocodiles, deer, warthog and many others) a sighting of tigers remained elusive until late afternoon when two were spotted but looked far away at the bottom of a ravine. However, on the journey back to the hotel, a tiger in the wild appeared in nearby forest leading to apprehension from us tourists before making it back safely.

Certificate PG
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Nature

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul, This was like watching one of those nature watch programmes on tv, but in written form. It's wonderful that you can record your experience in a poem. I felt the drama of catching a glimpse of these fine creatures.

I can imagine it's one of those moments you won't forget, and I did enjoy reading.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Hi Jenny. Thanks for reading it. Yes, it was an amazing experience especially the unscripted appearance of tigers in the forest adjacent to the trail we were using to get back to the hotel. It caused quite a stir with tourists and locals alike. India is an incredible place :) 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

What an amazing experience that must have been marandina - thank you for sharing it. I particularly like these lines:

leathery crocs skulk in mud-water,

eyes float like ghosts in the ether,

 

Submitted by marandina on

Oh thank you, insert. The tour to India in 2017 was truly amazing. Saw some stunning sights and the people there are so wonderful. Was meant to go back and tour Kerala in 2019 but had to cancel due to family illness. It remains on my bucket list.. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for the cherries, ABC Eds. Much appreciated. Paul 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

The scenes described vividly. It must be etched on your mind more clearly than any photographs you took. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Rhiannon. I have photos from the game reserve of lots of wildlife and trees =and nearly posted one of a monkey curled in a tree. Ironically, I couldn't get a photo of a tiger hence the stock one from Wiki. Bah..maybe next time.. 

. 

 

Submitted by celticman on

we crave the exotic in our mundane world.  Sometimes we meet as you show, but memory is slippery too. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, CM. Yes, some memories are slippier than others when you get to our age. [Good luck with the last leg of the treble on Saturday. Can't see anything other than a Celtic win against Inverness. Surely.]

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I loved the richness of your descriptions for all the other wildlife, too!

"where monkey tails on high wires

curl; arboreal acrobats, simian kin.

Deers scatter, threatening sounds,

leathery crocs skulk in mud-water,

eyes float like ghosts in the ether,

warthogs drink, oblivious to fate."

ps is the plural of deer like with sheep?

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Di. Glad you liked this one. Yes, I just looked it up and the usual plural of "deer" is "deer" although you can use "deers". I have tweaked the wording. "Deer" works better :) 

 

A footnote I meant to add was that when the jeep/truck thing parked up at the ravine to see tigers, it was perched on the edge of a precipice at an acute angle. Most of the tourists include me wanted to scuttle over to the far side of the seats to stop it tipping over the edge. It was pretty scary. I often wondered whether it was the Hindu belief in reincarnation that desensitised so many locals to danger. Lost count of how many accidents I saw on roads involving cars, bikes and buses.

 

Still, India is a truly stunning country. 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Poem of the Month - Congratulations!

 

Submitted by marandina on

Oh wow. Blimey. Thank you, so much. Humbled and honoured (thanks Di!). Paul :)

 

Submitted by D Marie on

I could picture it all. An amazing experience brought back to life.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Donna Marie. Moments that stay with me always. 

 

Submitted by David Kirtley on

You have packed rich imagery into this poem, which describes the place and animals very well. It did remind me of a safari I once went on in Kenya too!

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, David. A safari in Kenya sounds awesome! Paul 

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Paul

 

Beautifullly written, and what a priiledge to have been able to experience that.

Jean Day

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Jean. And for the lovely comment. Take care. Paul x 

 

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on

Wow - a safari of words, powerfully written. Thanks for the journey, Paul. 

Richard L. Provencher

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading it, Richard. Yes, I guess it was. Paul :)