Monday 16 January 2017

At the Corniche







They are far out, walking the promenade;
and returning flamingos group in the bay -
the pulsing reflections of pink and grey
are an echo from sunsets past, the mud
exposed at low tide, shimmery with facades


of buildings and a too early neon ad.
A woman runs, the winds billows her robes,
tugs her scarf askew, the last sunlight probes
contours of waves and time, breathes and shreds
itself on lampposts, glow-in-the-dark keypads,


headlights, taillights, sodium yellow and red.
There are small spaces carved for fluorescent
twilight shades, the impossibly transient.
The father and son, small figures are dotted
on the grey paved concrete thread far ahead.


Content isn’t concrete, corniches, rooms;
it’s just a minute to feel the continuum.




Still trying to pin down definitions of happy and happiness. I know it when I see it - unmistakeable. Have a happy week ahead.



16 comments:

  1. Happiness is such an individual and ephemeral thing.
    I am more likely to find it on the mudflats with the flamingoes than in the neon-lighted city though.
    Yes another beautiful, thought provoking work. Thank you as always.

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    1. Me too at the mudflats for sure. Not a fan of city lights generally. Except for some very special cities, of course.

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  2. Nila, that picture and your words breathed happiness to me. Just seeing a flamingo is a happy experience...seeing a flamboyance (I looked it up) with their pulsing reflections of pink and grey, is beyond happiness. :-)

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    1. Yup, flamboyance and flamingos are such an excellent fit. Seeing a few flying is a happy experience too.

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  3. the colors and word paintings here are glorious

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    1. Flamingos are such pretty, colourful birds, aren't they?

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  4. Hi Nila - the flamingoes and the colours ... those pinks, greys and salmon colours are glorious ... happiness is just it is ... that moment, a longer period, peace in oneself ...

    Your use of the word 'corniche' threw me - I learnt something - I thought it was a Rolls Royce - and it is .. but never knew it was a road, where one side rose up, and the other rushed down ... I think I'll stay with the flamingoes ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary, I never knew corniche was a Rolls Royce! All through the ME, in each city that I have travelled/lived where there's water - Bahrain, Dubai, Cairo, Muscat, have a 'Corniche,' an ornamental waterside walkway. In Cairo it's Corniche al Nil, elsewhere it's the sea. Bahrain actually has multiple 'Corniches.'

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  5. Happiness is where one finds it. Hopefully we can all find it in the place where we are right now.

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    1. Yup. and often it's found in the little unremarkable things rather than grand events.

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  6. Clue - "Content isn’t concrete...". Amazing isn't it?
    Just like the rest of your thoughts.

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  7. Happiness can be fleeting. Hold it tight. Nice poem.

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    1. Happiness is like sand, the tighter you hold it, the quicker it slips through your fingers :)

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  8. HI my name is Elliott, and I was wondering if maybe I could make a deal with you. if I add a link on my blog for your blog would you be willing to do the same for mine? if not its ok

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    1. Hi Elliot, nice to meet you. Blogging is really about reciprocation!

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