Hot summer afternoon
Shutters down tight, the fan whirring trying to stir the hot air around
The house silent, everyone is taking a siesta
The young girl, slowly creeps out into the backyard, her anklets making that faint tinkle
She looks up shading her eyes, the hot afternoon sun catching her jhumkas
She looks at the green above, hitches up her skirt and deftly climbs the tree
The green guavas wait for her touch
She plucks the ones that are smooth, green and not ripe yet, caresses them and takes a bite.
The sweetness fills her mouth but no she wants something more
She brings out rock salt and red chilli powder wrapped in a paper from her skirt’s waistband, dips the guavas in it and takes another bite.
Ahhhhhhh, this is bliss, the sweetness balanced with the sharp, hot and salty
Guavas my entry for CLICK : Au Naturel hosted at Jugalbandi to celebrate abundance and elegance in the produce aisle
As we celebrate nature's abundance let us be thankful for the food we bring to the table for the family in the face of the rising grain prices and food shortages. Learn to honor, respect and celebrate food.
Excellent poetry first and the photo next.
ReplyDeletethat is an excellent capture sandeepa! and a beautiful story too:)
ReplyDeletevery nice thought sandeepa.. and a wonderful click .. i so very wanted to grab that pc of gauva with rock salt n red chilli ... i always wondered if i can have a bangla fren in d blogosphere too... u look like a good prospect... keep dropping by... hows d chotu mei doing...
ReplyDeleteHi good to see guava snaps. Reminded me of the ones we got in Kolkata streets.
ReplyDeleteI dont think I missed it, but, in RCI round up, did not find my Knakraar jhaal.
Take care
Sorry found it .... ageing at GP rate
ReplyDeletethe guava looks tempting..!!!!
ReplyDeletelovely click and excellent thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to decide if the thoughts touched me more or the pic! :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent snap and loved the poetry. Reminded me of my childhood days. It was raw mangoes in place of guava
ReplyDeletegreat click..ur poem turns me nostalgic..
ReplyDeleteExcellent photo and loved the poetry!!!
ReplyDeleteSigh! Such a familiar, nostalgic scene. On the funny side - I once gave someone kumkum instead of chilli powder by mistake!
ReplyDeletelovely photo!
ReplyDeleteSandeepa, that's beautiful...both the picture and the words :-)
ReplyDeletemmmm...love guavas..i have never got it in our stores here unless they look darn sad and ugly...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! both the pic and the sentiments!
ReplyDeletethis is beautiful. thank you.
ReplyDeleteLoved the post and the picture! Beautifully captured.
ReplyDeleteLove ur post and picture too
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Sandeepa. I love the composition of the picture and how the color of the chilli stands out.
ReplyDelete@Sra: ROFL, as long as you didn't give chilli instead of kumkum.
Oops, the above commenter is me.
ReplyDeleteMamatha
Thanks everyone I am munching on one of those beauties right now :) Patel Bhai zindabad
ReplyDeleteBWM,
I have not down the RCI round up yet, don't make me feel guilty and where did you see the round up in the first place :-D Is this momnesia :)
Sra
I am never going to meet you in person. You are a danger :-)
Fantastic ....Photo & poem
ReplyDeleteAah. you are making me nostalgic. While you are at it, throw in some cucumbers and green mangoes too :)
ReplyDeletereminds me of the beautiful guava tree in our backyard back home :)
ReplyDeletebeautiful click
ReplyDeleteOh yeah baby, this has the drool prize all over it.
ReplyDeleteNice pic there, San! My grandfather's house in Mysore had 2 guava trees - one white & one red variety and we cousins would always be fighting over guavas and other fruits. And of course, the best way to eat them was with salt & red chilly powder! We also had a gaadiwala outside our school who would sell guavas when in season with the salt & chilly powder. Good ol' days...
ReplyDeleteLovely poetry and the imagery reminded me of Ray's Samapti, only Sen was in a saree. The colours were lovely !
ReplyDeleteRCI roundup kothaye ?
ReplyDeleteOh Sandeepa, don't say that, I'm coming there next year, and one of the persons I hope to meet is you!
ReplyDeleteI won't bring any kumkum or even chilli powder, I promise.
ReplyDeleteThat pic is making me drool... I never liked to put anything on my guava though, it was always au naturel for me... :)
ReplyDeletethank u god, for milk and mommy.
ReplyDelete:-)
Ki shundor chobi? When are the results going to be up dear? I can't wait for all those maacher recipes!!
ReplyDeletethat is a delicious picture sandeepa!
ReplyDeletethanks for dropping by my blog!
hugs,
trupti
I love to eat raw guava with salt and chilli powder. Wonderful picture!
ReplyDeleteoh god sandeepo!..this is too much...that picture looks elegent..but man you do induce some serious thoughts from ppl...our dear friend sra is never short of words to amuse us...
ReplyDeletejust down got off the bursts of roaring!...and yes I came to check what happened to RCI..wondering if I have missed it..well looks like you are taking your sweet time..just remember you got to do a recap..its not enough to just collect and keep to yourself ok...:PPP
btw I hate this jumbled words..can't understand even one!
To All Those who are putting undue pressure on Me
ReplyDeleteHa, ha you don't know me. I hate deadlines and that is why RCI round up did not have a deadline date, if you noticed. The submissions did have a deadline but the round up will be done when the host feels like it ;-)
Threaten me once more and I am keeping all those recipes to myself :-D
On a serious note, it will be done, the time will surely come, have patienece girls
Sandeepa
But I want the recipe for kankraar jhaal ..sob
ReplyDeleteAnd who is Mallika ? You share my name madam - hi .
wow, delicious prose and picture sandeepa!
ReplyDeleteGreat click with guavas. Lucky you to have found some :). Here i sometimes see them in Whole Foods but they don't look very fresh.
ReplyDeleteRock salt and chilli, yes, love guavas like that. Infact guavas and bananas diced and drizzled with some lemon/lime juice and a generous sprinkle of salt and chilli powder, are the yummiest!
brilliant name you have chosen i must say!
ReplyDeleteYour click made your thought more beautiful.....u r my inspiration of making my own blog.....visit ur blog everyday
ReplyDeleteI wish I could write like U !!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture too...Sindoor/kumkum on guava :)and it looks like a bride too :))
That write up brought back so many pleasant memories....nice Click....
ReplyDeleteheheh! You forgot about the gardener shouting at the 'chhoto memsaheb' or 'khuki' about breaking the small branches as she climbs!!
ReplyDeleteGreat poem.... brings back memories!