The Agony

All of the fingers are pointing at me  

I'm well aware of this, and 

I'm doing my best to avoid accusations, 

However, fate has chosen me as prey. 

I'm at a loss for words to describe this

How deep are the emotional wounds?

Behind my blooming smile,

The agony draws up to the roots.

It's nothing new to me.

Even though I pretend to be numb,

It still hurts, as it does most of the time, 

and stymies my lighthearted demeanor.

It may well even be an illusion.

But my emotions are real,  

And due to my inability, 

It surges and subsides immediately.

Nap Time

The cheerful child becomes grumpy 

when sleep catches up;

He rubs his eyes and nose 

Whine, uninterested in anything. 

The wailing child becomes silent 

When placed in the cradle to sway; 

To sing a lullaby, the baby sleeps. 

The entire house falls silent.

Amid the outer world's din, 

The tinkling chimes at intervals 

Make the baby feel calm. 

An hour and a half passed that way.

Before an alarm blares, 

The child begins to cry and moan,

With all chors come to an end.

(my nephew Kavin quietly sleeps in the cradle)

Signs2: Tea County and WVS

Tea County, I believe, does not require a description because anyone can guess it's a tea/coffee shop, and if someone wanted to know anything else, it would simply be its location. Of course, the area has a relation to the word "Tea" because the shop is in Kotagiri, in Nilgiri county (district), one of India's major tea-growing areas. 

I captured the shop when driving back from Ooty through Kotagiri but could not stop for a cuppa. Perhaps next time. 

WVS stands for Worldwide Veterinary Service, an international training center for veterinary students, and a hospital on the Ooty Coonoor main road near Ketty.  Maya, our companion dog, developed breathing problems during our vacation in Ooty in 2017, so my brother took her there for treatment. He later appreciated their service and told us that they took care of our dog very kindly and treated her like a baby at no cost. They also refused to accept money for medicine. I am pleased to hear it and wish them the best. 

On our way to and from Coonoor, my brother slowed the car to show us where Maya was treated, so I snapped this for memory. 

Haiku: Shadow

 

Signs2: Hilltop

When we first traveled to Kodaikanal in 1999, we had our dinner at this restaurant after arriving at and checking into a guesthouse managed by a friend. It was around 10 p.m., unlike today when practically every restaurant was closed, and only Hilltop was open. I recall what we had; it was chappati and green pea masala at its spicier peak, and I was hissing after two mouthfuls. The cold temperature contributed to the increase in alkali.  

The hilltop seems to be the only cozy restaurant then.

The Kodaikanal I saw then was far different now; there was no traffic, even though it was the end of summer vacation; the air was pristinely pure, and all of the views weren't blocked by the shops that line all of the tourist attractions, and visiting any viewpoint required walking between the gaps of shops. 

My physiotherapist, as well as the renter at my grandfather's house, guided us on the trip, and his assistance was invaluable since he carried me at several locations on his back when I sprained my ankle. I feel grateful when I think of them. And I'm still in contact with him, and none of our phone talks have ended without us discussing the trip.