Paper Cranes

A six hour flight

From K.L. overnight

Food choice of Japanese

Soba soup and lychees

Tokyo Narita airport large sprawling

Immigration customs baggage claiming

Made my way to the Reception Counter

For information on bus departures

Everyone so polite helpful

To the taxi stand made it cheerful

Taxis clean and spotless

Doors drivers open and close

To Shibuya made our way

Using highways and byways

Concrete buildings all over

Using elevated flyovers

Shibuya like an ant`s nest

Flickering signboards for the eyes no rest

Many roads here converge

Pedestrians into all this merge

Nighttime whole place comes alive

Eating shops bars basement dives

A favourite place for me a pizza restaurant

Very much a German establishment

Shibuya station busy morning and evenings

People to work and back travelling

Very good pastry shops at the station

Cakes pastries cookies at strategic locations

In front of Shibuya station a dog`s statue

Hachiko a legend for devotion and virtue

Waiting for his master instead of roaming

This time his master died when home coming

But Hachiko continued waiting

Always at the time of master`s returning

This went on even with master`s absence

People began to notice Hachiko`s presence

Hachiko died heart broken

His faith till the end unshaken

So moved everyone was

Decided on a statue for this loss

                                                                           

Taken to Japanese restaurant

For commuters a favourite haunt

Tempura soba sushi yakitori

Sake rice selecting from such variety

Springtime at the gardens hardly any room

Sakura cherry blossoms in full bloom

Sitting on a bench in a quiet corner

A treat to the eyes as the day gets warmer

To Nagoya by bullet train

Almost like flying even in the rain

Nagoya castle atop a hill

Made my way uphill with strong will

In the castle many nooks and corners

Hiding places for Ninja warriors

An ancient feudal tradition

Intrigue stealth needed in such situations

Visit to Hiroshima for me a sad moment

Shed tears at the children`s monument

By the atomic bomb many children died

Their skins melted as if fried

Today at the children`s monument

Paper Cranes hang in memory of the moment

A soul wrenching experience

The nation never fails in this observance

I stood by the side of the monument

Hung a paper Crane at that moment

My tears unable to stop

Got a photograph from the souvenir shop  

Stayed overnight at a Japanese inn

Inn keeper does everything our hearts to win

Changed into a Yukuta  a cotton kimono

A good night`s sleep refreshed for the morrow

In the morning refreshed and calm

Using a quilt to keep warm

Food served on a low table

Kneeling trying hard to keep stable

For a Japanese bath joined the lot

Stark necked in water piping hot

To scrub my back someone always willing

I do the same with good feelings

                                                                              

One feels at home in such a place

Reluctant to leave routine life to face

The innkeeper makes all the difference

For the traveler a warm friendly presence

Japan for me a special place

Its people humble with kind ways

I often think of Japan

Feel elated every time.

M P Prabhakar

13.5.2016

PJ

Queen of the Night

Green green like a stream

Everything vibrant green

At the corner of our street

Sky and canopy seem to meet

A jackfruit tree along the way

How old the tree can`t really say

Fallen rotten on the wayside

Sweepers collect and put on the aside

Asphalt and tar on the roads

Verging on green shoulders both sides

Grass grows abundant

With rains the heat can withstand

Another tree tall and high

Rising up touching the sky

In spring full of purple flowers

Fallen flowers the floor covers

A little way up a Henna bush

Its leaves spreading and lush

Used for staining hands and feet reddish yellow

Used at marriage ceremonies a tradition to follow

                                                                                  2

A house with many fruit trees

A hive of activity for birds and bees

Occupied only at weekends

To clearing and pruning they attend

House along the way with garden

Plants and trees flowers laden

Carefully tended by owners

Caring so much for their flowers

A house with Asoka trees

Trimmed garden and a feeling of peace it carries

Bush all year round whitish flowers

Flowers used for prayer offerings

A Frangipani tree along the bend

Overpowering scent they send

A Champaka tree by the corner

Its fragrance everyone savours

Queen of the Night gracing

In another house facing

Passers-by dizzy with its fragrance

Slowing down savouring its essence

                                                                          3

Yellowish red Areca nuts on its tree

Fallen to the ground everyone can see

Among broad leaves breadfruit hanging

In the breeze swaying

                                                                     

Kelana Jaya where I live

Has so much to give

In such glory one can bask

Not much more one can ask

M P Prabhakar

18.3.16

PJ

The Eros Hub

Piccadilly Circus in the fifties at night
Blazing in bright lights
Billboards catching the eye
Pan Am, Coca Cola, Bovril flickering high

Of an evening there standing
' I ave 'orse loudly calling
Prince Monolulu's robes flashy feathers
High Wellington boots of leather

A popular racing tipster
Crowds flocking to hear better
Endeared because of his London accent
People wanting to make a punt

The Eros statue fountain round
Double deckers and London taxis go around
Restaurants all kinds around
Verasinghams in Regent street can be found

A popular hotdog stand
Genuine American brand
For US airmen a favourite
To the stand I often made it

Close by the Windmill Theatre
Similar to the Paris Follie Brige
A sleazy part on a side road
People come to stand and stare

By the Circus commerce and fun meet
Elegant shops on Regent Street
The P&O office not far away
High ceiling fans a colonial outlay

Quite an experience for someone new
People of all races looking at the view
The Circus has seen everything
If it could speak would leave out nothing

Not far from the Circus art galleries
The worlds best paintings they carry
Many an afternoon there I spent
For the inspiration they send

In this way my London days lightened
My focus and concentration heightened
Is Eros then the heart of London
With its good vibes one can live with abandon


MPP
17.02.16
PJ

Looking for Nessie

Fast train to Hull Paragon station

Direct ride in the north easterly direction

Reserved seats from London comfortable ride

British Rail`s punctual trains a national pride

A taxi to place of stay

To the university not far away

Westbourne Ave a walking distance

Finding my way needing no assistance

A walk after breakfast

Brisk walking to keep warm a must

Short cuts to Cottingham Road

Thirty minutes` walk all told

University buildings some ivy covered

In spring almost red

For students the cafeteria a gathering place

With meals and drinks sit and gaze

Dancing on a Saturday night

Drinks from the bar people getting tight

A real Saturday night fever

For the young every moment to savor

A bus ride to Hull city centre

For shopping and a jolly night`s venture

The young for a few drinks and dance

Hoping for a meeting of chance

 The Avenue a quiet area residential

Some of the houses large palatial

Reminder of an affluent past

With time its ambiance lost

Unlike London Hull a quiet place

A suburban life one must face

To a house in Cranbrook Avenue shifted

When Sarojini came our lives got lifted

Playing fields seen from bedroom window

In winter covered in snow

In spring birds seen foraging

Moving about in daring

My studies quite demanding

Long hours at the library requiring

A home lunch simple

Usually a sandwich and an apple

Scottish holiday during term break

A leisurely drive we make

With a road map drinking water

Sarojini a good navigator

At Edinburgh overnight stay

To the castle the next day

To the Edinburgh festival everyone making

Lighting bag pipe music fireworks dancing

To Aberdeen made our way

Spring leaves sparkling green in the sun`s rays

A golden green canopy the road covering

An experience so bracing

A long drive to Oban

Through Inverness Fort William

At Loch Ness looking for Nessie

Oban at last picturesque nice

To the Isle of Mull a visit

Basking walruses a sight can`t resist

Polished pebbles a specialty

A clever way for an industry

At Glasgow another overnights stay

In those days some buildings black and grey

Back to Hull through Newcastle

A pleasant drive without much hassle

For us a trip memorable

With the time we had available

The Scottish resolve and determination

 Prudence and work earning our admiration

After two weeks to Hull returned

By Miss Harvey Jet the cat warmly welcomed

Back to my studies in earnest

Not the time for any rest.

MPP

18.1.16

PJ