Tie Dye in July
Like Phulkari women in July
I dye the plain days
then stitch gold flowers where the sun burned me
Like dyeing fabric with turmeric indigo and madder root
I carved yellow joy under the amaltas bench forever
Singing while embroidering with messy thread on the floor
Summer heat reminds me of sorrow
curved in black thread of thorn
With wounded fingers I make the woman
who wore burning coal on her feet
The vibrant red reflects my emotions
and love for my past life
Then I turn to another phase
when shibori binds me in July heat
sashiko mends me with white thread
tie the chaos stitch the light back in
Every color blends and comes together
like a rainbow after rain
Memories are crafted with grey ash
and sometimes with vibrant amber
Healing and wounded
like a storm stuck in a heaven star
golden shower bloom
aromatic, beautiful~
Indian native
ornate amaltas~
medicinally acclaimed
nature's gift to us
yellow amaltas
and crimson red goldmohur~
spring continuum
3.6.2020
Notes:
'Amaltas' is Indian name for golden shower bloom.
'goldmohur' is Indian name for royal poinciana.
Both of them bloom after spring in May and June in North India.
The flame of the forests blushing
In the dewy cool of the morning air.
Peach blossoms hearken spring’s arrival.
Comes summer, Amaltas golden bells ringing.
Forget me not, Magnolia’s lover.
Yesterday today tomorrow’s, bloom.
Together with the clouds, lightening
Thunder, eating away the blue skies.
O! Maulsari, it is you,
In your full grown majesty,
Bestowing those white star
Aromas, on my wee little world.
Chorosia, You naked white barked Mexican.
Have you no fear of winter charmers?
The fascinating ornaments you throw up,
Will wither as seasons change.
Alas , the birds have flown away.
The crusty leaves flutter in silence.
Masquerading Sarus, standing in defiance.
Waiting the deep winter calls.
Lord ! let me hibernate, till,
The springs bloom again.
Ref:
1. Butea Frondosa (flame of the forests)
2. Peach Dr. Hogg (Peach blossoms)
3. Cassia Fistula (Amaltas)
4. Myostis Palustris (Forget me not)
5. Magnolia Grandiflora (Magnolia)
6. Francesia Latifolia (Yesterday today tomorrow)
7. Mimusops Elengi (Maulsari)
8. Chorosia Specosia (Chorosia)
9. Cupressus Sempervirens (Sarus)
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