Fire and Resilience

Fire and Resilience In the Lockdown

I hear me walk

Measuring  my pace on the crunchy leaves.

I look over my shoulder

To see this eerie ,empty street

Bereft of people’s stream.

In a brick and mortar jungle

Tutoring my thoughts to be in

A + frame of mind

A difficult proposition indeed!

I trudge along in the midst

Of silence, dead leaves and mistrust.

Suddenly my nose through the secure mask

Smells something cooking and coaxes

My forlorn, woebegone being to be alive

And sure smell takes a happy dive.

I toss off the mask that has made me nose-blind

Spells freedom to the nostrils

to take in  the whiffs of gulp full of aromas that thrills !

the tummy juices growl

hungrily I inhale

it whets my greed

what a treat!

My prying nose deciphered every simmering dish

Be it the curried fish

Potatoes with onions frying

Zukini with garlic and ginger

In jiffy I catch the

Unmistakable sizzling of omelet’s!

Every few paces the

Wafting aroma changes

Happily I relish the culinary skills

In a  variety of curries

The freshly made Rotis, Parathas, Puris.

Beverages brewing

Teas …ginger, cinnamon, clove ,Tulsi

The intoxicating coffee ,hot chocolate

Boiling milk, rice lentils

Such delicacies assail my senses!

I feel I’m in a Royal Banquet

Sampling out of surfeit of exotic dishes!

Each aroma buttered

 My mind  with memories

Of people that mattered.

Strains of ‘Fires burning bright’

By the ‘Brotherhood of man’

Brings me back to my walk.

I salute the resilience  of the lady of the  house

Who measures up to the recurring demand

Of the taste buds and stomach.

No matter what

Day in and day out

Always keep the fires on

Even in the lockdown!