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
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
Thursday, 11 February 2016
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
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
Saturday, 26 December 2015
Lapping Waters
From Rome to Venice by plane
Small bodied aircraft in the rain
Taken to hotel by boat
Hotel Columbiana in water floating
Grand Canal waters lapping
100 small islands with small gaps
Stone palaces arising out of water
Water kept out to build let in later
No cars roads just canals and boats
Every building seemed afloat
Grand canal snaking through the city
Maze like alleys squares all looking pretty
St Marks Basilla impressive
Doges Palace equally creative
The Merchant of Venice comes to mind
The Jewish Ghetto not hard to find
Piazza San Marco another attraction
Tourist guide showed us right direction
All kinds Venice wines
Pasta and wine go so fine
Murano Burano Torcello island tour making
A special art Murano glass blowing
Got ourselves a Murano glass cat olive red
Sadly fell and broke its head
The cat done in one single blow
Liquid glass through a tube flows
The blower`s cheeks swelling
Like a big balloon expanding
Another Burano specialty lace making
Intricate patterns and design making
The bridge sighs its legends shady
Such legends fully to
take unready
The Gondola boat ride
A new experience along the tide
Gondola man`s boat tapering and long
Serenaded us with his boat song
He saw we were newly married
With more vigour his boat ferried
Venice has its romantic side
In the moon light feelings can`t hide
In this world so watery
Venetians see their way clearly
Some fine places to eat
Pastas ice creams different kinds all a treat
After three days in Venice
A sinking feeling cannot miss
Back by aircraft to Rome
On our way back home
M P Prabhakar
24. 12 2015
PJ
Saturday, 12 December 2015
The Village Inn
Of France my earliest impressions
Plain tree lined avenues come as a vision
From the Tale of two Cities
An impression created early
In the early fifties
Dover to Calais by ferry
Arriving at Gare du Nord by train
Countryside wet by the rain
Got myself a city map later
Booked a pension at the counter
The Paris Metro got me there faster
Directions to the pension from the counter
Up the stairs to a high floor
Suitcase lugged up to the door
Morning breakfast simple
A bowl of coffee and bread ample
Getting tips from the pension
Covered usual tourist attractions
The Eiffel Tower Montmartre Arc de Triumph
Boat ride on the river
Seine
Museums take one on a history ride
The War Museum a focus on national pride
The French revolution leading to contentment
The national anthem expressing a sentiment
Art galleries for me always take a while
To sit and stare at Mona Liza’s mystic smile
Other French artists also capturing
Monet Van Goh Degas equally alluring
Transition for me to modern art
Difficult for me to take it to heart
Other Paris spots fascinating
Moulin Rouge a pavement café relaxing
Paris in summer for tourists catering
All a romantic dream chasing
Algerian workers everywhere
Menial jobs they take care
To Claremont Ferron on another occasion
Our study station on a hill in a remote location
On a field trip to study
Flora and fauna to take back getting ready
Clear blue sky’s unusual hue
Cloudless a dark shade of blue
The old Renault their workhorse
Horse drawn carts
bicycles still on course
Near a village our research station
Lunch and dinner at the local inn
The best of French country fare
Delicious food prepared with care
Monsieur Olivier in charge of meals
With the innkeeper making deals
Vin Rouge and Vin Blanc at every meal
A must to lift up how he feels
Strasbourg on Frances eastern side
Adjacent Germany`s Black Forest dark and wide
With friends a car drive
Schnapps a drink keeps us warm and alive
Marie Louis Blittersdorf our host full of action
Also John Sale Pascal Monica at the station
In her car visiting places
Meeting many new faces
France to me a relaxing place
The farmer felt capped with a welcoming face
The countryside to me more alluring
Food and good humour everywhere prevailing
During my visits a special allure
Slow paced at leisure
The violence of today
changes everything
Unrest also gives hope for something
The legacy of the revolution
Keeps raising its head with resolution
The past always seems to raise its head
Let them have cake if no bread
M P Prabhakar
10.12.2015
PJ
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