-Brian Mendonca
This time we enlarged our Summer stint in Mumbai in May. It was a round of get-togethers meeting with family and friends we seldom meet all the year round. The highlight was celebrating Queenie’s birthday in Mumbai and hosting a get-together.
My journey in life writing poetry was shared at three readings, one in Pune at the book cafe, near Symbiosis College; at the residence of a poet in Khar-Vile Parle (organized by Poetry College); and one at Kitaab Khana, Fountain where I read along with poets from Mumbai. (See separate blog posts)
Mutton sheek kebabs at Bhiwandi Darbar
The Uber rides to town from Kharghar where we live, to town did cost a bomb but you get to see the gulmohur, the copper pod and the peepal enroute. The salt pans at Vashi creek reminded me of a poem titled ‘Be’ I had written along the same route while travelling on the Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani: ‘Be all you can . . . / Southwards or centre / Gregorian chant or Medieval Punditz / The limits are your own.’ (2004)
As is our practice, we serve red wine from Goa as the family reunion gets underway, and white wine –Dia - from Nashik (Maharashtra) as a champagne at the end. (This is symbolic of our lives being nurtured by two spaces, viz. Goa and Mumbai. Since Kharghar is a dry area, I sourced the spirits from Bandra and Kurla.
I was moved to write a poem and call it ‘Dia.’ This is because the word means ‘day’ in Portuguese. One has to seize the day and live for all you are worth. Despite one’s challenges in life there should always be a ‘diya’ – a lamp – shining along one’s path. This illumination comes from discerning one’s purpose in life and in trying to make others happy. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life – a book I came across at Phoenix mall, Kurla said it all.
My journey in life writing poetry was shared at three readings, one in Pune at the book cafe, near Symbiosis College; at the residence of a poet in Khar-Vile Parle (organized by Poetry College); and one at Kitaab Khana, Fountain where I read along with poets from Mumbai. (See separate blog posts)
Our Spicejet flight to Mumbai was helmed by Commander Ms. Shameen Karwa. On another occasion we were pleasantly surprised to hear the recorded voice of our friend Debajit Saikia over the public address system asking us to fasten seatbelts. Debajit is based in Mumbai and stays in Kharghar. He studied in Poona University, Pune with me thirty years ago and is now into voicing and voice training.
Dia
-Brian Mendonça
White wine for the table
Friends and family around
A little distance away
The school playground.
Poetry at Kitaab Khana
Khar and Fergusson
The traveller-poet travels once more.
The patriarch presides
Over family settlements
As a gas cylinder is lifted
Through the rafters at Anjuna.
Sali Boti at Sea Springs
Jannat or Mannat
-It’s the Land’s End
Bombil Fry from ViaGoa
Mutton curry at Maratha Samrat
Mutton sheek kebabs at Bhiwandi Darbar
Mutton Kapsa at Mumbai Darbar
Captain Morgan rivals Teacher's.
Romanov is perfect for Summer.
Rummy in the mornings
Chess in the afternoons
Lectio Divina for life.
Gaadi wala aaya, kachra nikal
Gaadi wala aaya, kachra nikal
(Pune-Kharghar
28-30 May 2019)
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Published in Gomantak Times Weekender, Panaji, Goa, on Sunday, 9th June 2019. Pix (clockwise from top) A visit to the Albuquerque family. Santacruz West, on 25th May 2019; Aunty Anne's birthday, Kharghar on 23rd May 2019; Mutton Kapsa at Mumbai Darbar, Mazgaon on 24 May 2019; Dinner at Maratha Samrat, Pune on 19th May 2019.
Published in Gomantak Times Weekender, Panaji, Goa, on Sunday, 9th June 2019. Pix (clockwise from top) A visit to the Albuquerque family. Santacruz West, on 25th May 2019; Aunty Anne's birthday, Kharghar on 23rd May 2019; Mutton Kapsa at Mumbai Darbar, Mazgaon on 24 May 2019; Dinner at Maratha Samrat, Pune on 19th May 2019.
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