he was sick of the racing stripes on his automobiles
a modern-day Buddha in his garage full of himself
and vintage cars of classical acclaim and chrome
had become nauseous at the mere site of his Lotus
decided to live like the monk who sold his Ferrari
ascetic instead he would attempt to move mountains
traded his bicycle for begging bowl and orange robe
roamed the streets like a vagrant off his or her trolley
eventually sold his puncture kit for a can full of petrol
and considered his enlightenment by self-immolation
the service station attendant had other plans however
a beautiful woman with olive tanned skin and a bindi
‘you don’t have to emulate Siddhartha to find the path of
the third way between all or nothing greed and starvation’
she whispered and gave him a lotus flower from her heart
29th December 2020
Nelumbo nucifera is the botanical name of the lotus
Blossoming moonlit spirit -
a sea of sacred lotus.
A whole heavenly creation
built up from muddy depths.
Sanctuary in the resurrection -
A beautiful revival.
You are the pride of a nation
revealing the beauty of it's people
you reflect a nation's heart, mind, and soul
more brilliantly than pavo cristatus...
With grace and agility
you embody the power of your people
youthful energy unyielding strength
rivaled only by panthera tigris...
You are the nelumbo nucifera gaertn
the sacred flower of your people
keeper of art, music, mythology
guardian of it culture...
Your thoughts branch out into words
like the branches of the ficus bengalensis
which re-root themselves into fertile soil
those words take root in the hearts of your people
and become immortal...
You are more than the pride of a nation
Mundaka Upanishad scripture said
satyameva jayate
you are proof that truth alone triumphs...
Water-lily,
Floating on the ice-blue sea,
Away from your homeland.
Leaving thin, red, trails as you go.
Steering among the foreign, black-seal-dotted icebergs.
Electric-white lightening flashing,
And the chill of the Arctic winds,
Bombarding from all directions.
As you long for,
The lily-pad life,
Its comfort and kinship,
Now, but a past possession.
I, do, too.
Let us stiffen our lips,
Tighten our collars,
And dream.
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