Thursday, June 16, 2011

Alphabe Thursday - "I" Is For India - June 16, 2011


"I" is for India,
The land of my dreams,
It's a country of contrasts,
Of the greatest extremes.

The country is huge,
Seventh land-wise, you see,
But its ranks number two,
In population density.

For all of these people,
With cultures diverse,
They have a democracy,
Working through times adverse.

 
It's the country of Gandhi,
And food wonderfully good,
There's a huge film industry,
They call "Bollywood!"


Women often wear saris,
In bright colored sheens,
They are incredibly beautiful,
As elegant as queens.

A truly breathtaking sight,
Is the magnificent Taj,
Its beauty overwhelms you,
It must be a mirage!

India is ancient,
Yet most modern, too,
From its intricate temples,
And skyscrapers new.

 
Darjeeling and Assam,
The most wonderful teas,
Both come from India,
And are sure to please.

It's a world filled with spices,
And myriad smells,
Horns noisly blaring,
And tinkling temple bells.


Elephants are painted,
In colors so bright,
For festive occasions,
They're a beautiful sight!

This country of my hearrt,
Is one all should see,
For its wonderful people,
Are true treasures to me!

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2011 by Carmen Henesy
All rights reserved.

Dedicated with much affection to my Indian friends world wide!

Thanks to Bing Images for all photos!

I am participating in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday - check out the
site and join in the fun!







31 comments:

  1. One thing about India, I have been watching A LOT, probably every one of the last three I was able to see. They were all fabulous tearjerkers.

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  2. oh Carmen, we always are blessed to enjoy your poetry, hope you enjoy your weekend with Jo and Sony Holland, and you continue to feel better.

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  3. Nice tribute. I can't say that I'm so interested in visiting though.

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  4. that was a beautiful tribute...

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  5. What a wonderful poem. I so would love to visit there someday.

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  6. Truly a masterpiece of expression Carmen! You are a wonder :)

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  7. love your poem and photos! You name some things that come from India that are so wonderful!

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  8. I've always wanted to visit India. It was going to become a reality one year but it was cancelled because of my mother's health at the time, and it never happened again.

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  9. You are a magician of words- so expressive. I can feel your love for India. Thanks for such wonderful lines about our country. I hope that you get someday here and live your dreams. All the best!

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  10. I am sure in India I would find a part of me.

    Regards

    Valery

    Barcelona Daily Photo

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  11. Wow,Thanks carmen ,being an indian i wont be able to portray india the way u have beautifully described.
    regards
    chetan

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  12. Incredibly poetic! ;)

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  13. I always wondered why people can't see the metro's and the new, developing India or its metro...... but then i realized.. tht's not India... India lives in small towns, villages .....ppl in metro and urban areas aren't that grounded....... even we people need to go out and visit other areas to know wats real India........

    Loved your poem and it does reflect your love towards India and us ....... :)

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  14. Carmen, this is a lovely post. You do poetry sooo well!

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  15. I would have loved to visit India too! Looks like you're recovering well, dear girl! *hugs*

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  16. Anonymous6:12 PM

    India is on my list of places to visit. I think I would very much enjoy the layers, colors and textures both in the city and the countryside. I enjoyed your clever presentation.
    Thanks for stopping by.

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  17. Self Sagacity -
    I enjoy Bollywood movies so much. Thank heavens for Netflix because they have an incredible selection of films. I watch a couple a week!

    Shiju Sugunan -
    It is an honor to have a friend from India like my poem about his country.

    betchai -
    I'm on the mend...still have a lot of pain in my left ankle so, yesterday, at the Marin Art and Garden Center, walking wasn't easy - and I wanted to see the flowers. Thankfully, it was small, compared to the SF Botanical Garden. Sony and Jerry were great and Jo and I had a fabulous time ( I did need to take a vicodin! ).

    Sharkbytes (TM) -
    India was one of the last places on my list of where I wanted to visit...until I started cruising and met so many wonderful crew members from that country. Then, it was like I had family all over that place. I am so close to so many of them and, the ten days I spent with the Santos family when I was there in 1997, were so wonderful.

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  18. magiceye -
    It means so much to have an Indian friend like my poem.

    Teresa -
    I do hope you might get to visit there someday. It is a vast country so try to visit several parts of it.

    Bhavesh Chhatbar -
    It makes me happy that this poem was pleasing to you, my good friend, though we have never set eyes on each other.

    Splendid Little Stars -
    Thanks for visiting and appreciating my poem on India. It was very easy to write since I've so long had a love affair with the country.

    Sheila @ A Postcard a Day -
    I am praying that I get back to India. I was there for ten days in 1997, the guest of a Royal Caribbean crew member and his wife. Of course, with 78 cruises ( 88 cruises total ) on Royal
    Caribbean, over the years, I met so many more Indian crew who have become dear friends, several now retired. They have all invited me to stay in their homes - so I won't have such terrible expenses when I do go. I've got enough FF miles for a ticket - problem is finding available seats. I'm hoping to stay six weeks when I go. Pray that I get healthier!!

    Megha Chhatbar -
    That's a lovely statement - "magician of words."
    You are so kind. I pray my visit to India happens. I so want to see my old friends - and new ones such as you and Bhavesh!

    Irredento Urbanita -
    My dear Valery, I know you would certainly delight in the photographic opportunnities in India. It is such an interesting, vibrant place - poor, in many ways but, unbelievably rich, in others.

    chetan -
    I am happy you were pleased with my poem. I wasn't sure my Indian "family" would see things as I do.

    Cathy Kennedy -
    This wasn't a difficult poem to write...I'm in love with this magical country!

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  19. hitesh rawat -
    You are a dear and one of the Indian friends I am anxious to meet when/if I finally make my return visit to your country!

    Judie -
    I appreciate that you like my poetry. One of these days, I think I'll put out a second book.

    Tes -
    I'm still on oral antibiotics ( two kinds ) for a week but I'm on the road to recovery. The pain in my ankle continues, though, and makes walking a bit hard.

    lulumusing -
    You describe India well - "layers" - India does have many layers. It would take eternity to uncover them all.

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  20. For a country as rich and varied and complex as India, you have finely captured some of its essence. Lovely poem. I too have so much of India yet to explore.

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  21. Wow! I am truly impressed.
    What a tribute!
    THANK YOU! :)

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  22. What a nice poem! I hope you will not be disappointed when you visit India. It is in the small towns and villages that the real India can be experienced.

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  23. Beautiful poem. Very well expressed.

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  24. Francisca -
    I am so pleased you feel I have captured some of what makes India so wonderful. I've only spent ten days there but, if my dreams are answered, I will have six months there before my days end.

    Indrani -
    It means a lot to mean that you like my efforts.

    lotus leaf -
    If people are as wonderful when I return - as they were in 1997, I will have more wonderful memories to cherish.

    Rajesh -
    I am so happy you liked my poem.

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  25. Your poetry is lovely and straight from the heart. To love India you have to experience it like its your own.

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  26. You have written a lovely poem capturing the essence of how you feel about India. Well, I hope you can make another trip here.

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  27. Carmen! I've been looking forward to this and hoping you would do India. I thought about you when I made the link last week!

    Hope you're feeling better now.

    I certainly am, now that I've had my vicarious travel to this lovely country!

    Thank you for linking.

    A+

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  28. Amazing photos. Fun poetry, too!
    Thanks for visiting. I have bad news about Batman, though !

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  29. Superb one!!!!
    Hope you will enjoy your upcoming trip to India.

    BTW, which parts are you covering this time???


    Bhupesh

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  30. Beautiful And Fantastic !!

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