Welcome to Poetics. I have a very unique theme in mind this time. This comes with a story as well – an idea that I grew up with in form of stories, poetry, geography, science and what not. This is about monsoon.
As far as I can remember, the very first writing assignment in school began with seasons. In my part of India, I was taught about six seasons – summer, monsoon, autumn, late autumn, winter and spring, even though I could not distinguish autumn or late autumn much. To me both of them and spring were almost same in way that they were close to winter but not that hot as summer. In a close to tropical climate, expecting something more than this was probably not fair either. However, among all the seasons I used to wait, it is the monsoon – there was something special about it. When northern part of India gets hot during summer, it causes the wind from Arabian sea to flow north east and then it rebounds on the Himalayas and it showers heavily on the valley. We were taught how the presence of the mountains to the north is saving us by giving us rain – or else the monsoon wind will flow to Russia and not rain anywhere. Rain of course calms down the plains and plateau; but that is not why the rainy season is a very special – all this story of summer getting hot, when will the monsoon wind arrive is a matter of discussion every year. I remember those days when rain will hit after a terrible summer, sweep away the dust and it is so pleasant to wait next to the window and watch the rain.
The stories I have read about the rainy season are inherently romantic – but when I think about it, I find a lot of mysteries too. This is the time of the year when monsoon hits the city. So I imagine if one had to hide something, I could walk in the heavy rain like the man walking at night in his raincoat, oblivious to falling downpour. Mysteries, romance, the sound of rain, the cloudy sky- all of it blended together tells a tale and it is up to me – how I can weave a story. Now, if you are new to Dversepoets, this is what you got to do.
Write a poem and post it to your site/blog.
Enter a link to your poem and your name by clicking Mr Linky below.
You will find links to other poets. Read and comment on other poet’s work.
If you are promoting your work on social media, use the tag #dversepoets.
Thank you all. Have fun.
A hard prompt for me.. I have no experience of monsoon. I had to do it from my fantasy.. I’m enjoying Murder stories on TV so I will be back later…
Hi Bjorn, I hope you enjoyed the challenge…
Abhra,
What an interesting topic. I wonder how many poets will have actually experienced a monsoon, such as you. This summer has been extremely hot. It was 105 here just a bit ago when I went outside with my son. I would have appreciated a little cloudburst. On the other end of monsoons, I know they can be pretty devastating as well – and I have lived through a few floods, hurricanes – that have devastated the houses of some I hold dear.
I went a bit metaphorically with something that is happening in my life right now.
Here it never get very warm and the rain is rarely more than a drizzle.
Do you have a spare room you would not mind letting?
Ha.
It is beast hot today.
And tonight, a thunderstorm to cool us for bed.
We have a room that is always cool.. Around 16C 😉
I retreat to the basement.
It is always like 15-20 degrees cooler
underground. It feels like heaven.
Basements are heaven..
Thank you – happy to hear that you like the idea 🙂
Oh.. i love the rain.. and in North Florida.. just yesterday i captured a photo of the beginnings of a truly incredible Thunderstorm with a power of rain and wind that stopped a low profile Honda Civic on a bridge.. with winds strong enough to feel the car trying to ‘sway’ off the bridge.. branches of trees everywhere reminiscent of stronger hurricanes.. but the rain and thunder and knee deep water is certainly not something that is rare in North Florida in the Summer days of extreme heat and humidity..:)
Anyway.. off to stores.. with wife duties today.. dance walking.. and picking corn and peas at a relative’s floor disconnecting from the hive of Internet for a while and will be back to read and comment on all.. as this is a great prompt to describe the human condition and interconnecting relationship with the rains of Nature overall from sprinkles to the heaviest monsoon of tears.. in my case today..
And.. only time for a short jaunt of 52 words in chalice way.. two photos including the beginnings of yesterday’s short monsoon.. and the gulls that fly through the greatest of storms with ease.. and confidence in a rainbow new day.. oh and a song too.. as life is a song to me.. always now.. along with poetry and dance of course.. as me.. smiles..:)
My real Monsoon of poetry will follow the next day in full rains of words and feelings.. and many more images of poetic photos to accompany that as well.. totally separate from today’s effort.. as well..:)
Today.. now.. and here.. is the inspiration for THAT.. smiles..:)
Ha. You crack me up man.
I will pass through North Florida here in about 6 weeks.
On the east side though.
I have experienced the monsoon and its not just rain but a downpour, like a deluge, sweeping away trees and streets. The worst part is the flooding of the streets and houses, and dirty water into the food. There is destruction to lives, animals and properties. But we need the rain to cool down the summer heat and moist the fields, so we welcome the rain anyway ~
Thanks for the lovely prompt Abhra ~
It will be interesting to read the poetry from people like you who have experienced it. I’ve wondered about the deluge of all that water and the consequences. You cleared that up for me!
I feel that since I’ve never experienced a Monsoon I had to use my fantasy, but I’m no fan of heat, so I used that.
I do not like the heat but I do like very much the cold and snow of winter. The hotter it gets, the more I dream of snow.
Interesting prompt and one that makes us put on our Imagination Hats! thanks for this exercise. I’ve been thinking about a prompt about rain but not specific. The Japanese have 50 words for rain. I have experienced the rainy season in Japan but never monsoons. Here in the south, we have sudden brief torrential rais that build up due to the heat. they do not happen daily but sporadically. They can be pretty fierce or just a lot of hard fast rain. It will cool the heat for a bit but not long. today is heat index of 105F. I’ve based my monsoon poem on those torrents and from what I’ve read about monsoons. I hope it will meet the prompt. I’ m not sure about “sinful” monsoon but this has some mystery and some romance. Catch you all later to read and comment on poems.
Didn’t you have torrential rain just a short while ago… ?
And a huge hug and thanks to the person who linked me to Mr. Linky! Now I know it will be done correctly because I didn’t do it! 🙂
🙂
Hug….grin!!!!!
I’ve never experienced this — it sounds almost like a rebirth – a confirmation of the cycles of life.
I like this thought.
I like this prompt – just vague enough to accommodate what I wanted to write about today. 🙂 Now I’m going to go read some other monsoon poems. Peace, Linda
good evening everyone!
just back from a business dinner and about to hit the trail to do a bit of reading before i collapse into bed…smiles
Enjoy and rest well! I had a strenuous workout earlier so I will be retiring early tonight!
Hey Claudia – I was so tired last night, that I couldn’t stay up till the opening of the prompt. How have you been?
What a well written post, and interesting prompt!
ok – bedtime for me – will be back in the morning to catch up with the overnites…
Bedtime here as well.. 😉
See you tomorrow 🙂
This is right on time as it just started to rain here in NY. It’s in the 90’s today and balmy. I invite the rain and this prompt! 🙂
A haiku today at my side of the world hoping to give you a hint what monsoon is like in the Philippines. Thank you for the prompt, Abhra!
You know. When I read this, I thought of you kelvin.
Hey everyone,
Hope you’re all having a wonderful week 🙂 sharing my poem “Monsoon” hope you guys like it 😀
Thank you Abhra for this wonderful opportunity 🙂
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Hi All….it was too late for me when the prompt opened yesterday (my time)….I logged in just now, early morning in here….
Good morning abhra.
About to go to bed myself – catch up in the AM
with those that drop in.
Hey thanks…mid day here now 🙂
Early morning here.. Soon of to work
I have never been in a monsoon, but I have felt the monsoon of emotions . Thought I would give it a whirl.
I’m over my nap, had dinner and now back from Cranky Land….I can hardly wait to read the poems.
nice – just finished my reading round…and off to work now
First time here and not sure how I would get by Monsoon..so I just shared something about storms in my own genre..hope that is good. I have resided in the desert climate of Arizona, US and remember well the Monsoon season but the words for a poem just was not coming to me. Perhaps I will try that another time. I remember most the amazingly beautiful skies just before the rains came and the sweet cleansing of the earth.
I love monsoon season….there’s something so refreshing and hopeful about it. Great prompt idea Abhra…hope you’re doing well 🙂
I am good thanks – very very busy lately 😦 I wrote something almost after a month. I am glad you like the idea.
A wonderful prompt – So much exotic imagery, and wilness to choose from.
Thank you…
I am well acquainted with monsoons and not just because northern Australia is monsoonal.
I lived in Bombay for more than four years and loved the monsoon season in India because most of the expats left and things were quieter and less busy.
I lived in Angola, Western Africa for more than four years where we also had monsoon season and now in Malawi, while it is not quite monsoonal in the same sense, we do have a Wet season which is similar.
I will find a poem I wrote many years ago after a cyclone hit Bombay during the monsoon season and did enormous damage, mainly to those who were most vulnerable. Bodies were washing up on the beach for weeks afterwards.
Awake. Reading.
Did not sleep well at all last night.
Will do my best to visit as many of you as I can – monsoon sounds so exotic to me!
But I can’t make any promises, as it’s my birthday today and lots of things to do…
Wow, many happy returns of the day!! Have fun. It’s okay if you can’t join.
Hey. Happy Birthday Marina!
Happy Birthday MarinaSofia!
I just read the most beautiful, tender, sensual poem for the Monsoon prompt called ‘Sinful Monsoon’ under Tinker. Unfortunately I cannot comment or like because the page is with something other than own hosting, blogger and word press and requires I join yet another social site that connects. I am leaving social sites, not joining more..lol but do read his lovely poem