Lulling Symphonies of My Land

Guarded by towering hills on the East 
And flanked by the Arabian Sea on the West
With its easterly shore of stretching sandy swell 
That lulls the restless waves to sleep, 
There is a land, my land of green vegetation
Nestled among palm trees and paddy fields.

Oh! I am in love with this narrow strip of land
Of rugged hills and meandering rivers
Of placid backwaters and blue skies
Of gibbering monkeys and singing cuckoos

What rich diversity you graciously provide 
A land dotted with temples, churches and mosques
Where Hindus, Christians and Muslims cohabit
Where diversity flows through her arteries
And unity beats through her throbbing heart

Here souls dance to the timeless rhythm of music 
Of diverse genres, vocal and instrumental
Classical and folk, sung either as solo or in groups
With the accompaniment of (2) 'veena',(3) 'tanpura' and violin
Their varying pitches beautifully synchronized!

In the serene dawns and dusky evenings
The atmosphere gets abuzz with the soft strains 
Of (1) ‘Sopana Sangeetham’, the ethnic music of Kerala,
It comes floating from inside the Hindu shrines 
Flooding soul’s enchanted shores, 
And opening the floodgates of piety
 
In healing murmurs and throbbing notes,
As the symphony builds up its circuitous round
It descends down as a stream of blessing 
Drenching devotees in its moistening sweetness
Like the drizzle of dew drops from heaven
Making hearts ride in the palanquin of joy!

May.21.2023

If your Birthplace- Country was a Poem Poetry Contest
Sponsor - Anoucheka Gangabissoon



This poem is about Kerala, a small state in India, which is my birthplace and its geography and culture.

1.Sopana Sangeetham is a form of Indian Classical music, developed in the temples of Kerala. It is sung, sitting by the holy steps leading to the sanctum sanctorum of a shrine. 

2.Veena- a stringed musical instrument, one of the oldest of Indian musical tradition, played sitting cross legged, capable of producing all oscillations of Carnatic music

3. Tanpura- a drone instrument of Indian origin used mainly in a concert of classical music, creating a melodic background, but not a melody.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2023



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Date: 7/10/2023 8:47:00 AM
Valsa: Your love of your birthplace flows so beautifully from these melodious lines. Congratulations on your top win. SuZ
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Date: 7/8/2023 10:40:00 AM
Nice tribute to Kerala and India, I was in Kerarla on a tour in 2019. It is God's own country in reality, Congrats on your win.
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Date: 5/24/2023 12:23:00 AM
this is both wonderful and amazing, you painted with great hamony and savoir faire, this beautiful land, you seem to lve it with your deep heart, very touching poem yann
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Date: 5/23/2023 11:02:00 AM
Wow, what an amazing place you have described, sounds beautiful ,it's great to learn from other cultures, love it
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Date: 5/23/2023 6:33:00 AM
What a gorgeous setting you paint, Valsa. I can almost taste the praise for the coast as I read it. Excellent depiction of several cultures. A surefire triumph! I appreciate the end notes, as well. Added to my fave. Best of luck with the contest
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Date: 5/22/2023 6:55:00 AM
To some, this is paradise... To the over-urbanized, it is a 'rustic backwater' To me, it is the former. Bravo! ~ Villager at heart! (although I left my village forever, I fear, in late 1978).
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Date: 5/22/2023 5:17:00 AM
O, what a beautiful place you describe, Valsa! I can feel the joy exuding through every line--extolling the land by the sea. Lovely capture of cultures. No doubt a winner!
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Date: 5/22/2023 4:16:00 AM
Thanks for sharing a bit of your culture! God bless you, Valsa!
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Date: 5/22/2023 1:42:00 AM
Superlative beautiful description of your country. Alas Malta ia become just one huge building. Great poem, great imagery.
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Date: 5/21/2023 5:46:00 PM
Beyond beautiful, Valsa..thank you for the notes at the conclusion, as well. You live in a. Heavenly space. Hope this is a POTD. In either case, your poem rates a Fave Plus! Terrific imagery. Thank you. Pangie
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George Avatar
Valsa George
Date: 5/21/2023 9:29:00 PM
Thank you so much Pangie for your lovely words of encouragement. I feel so delighted. Stay Blessed.
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