March 30, 2020 – Cherry Blossoms

Published in Virtual Haiku

amid cherry blossoms
smell of India ink
in my drawing

© Milan Rajkumar

.first cherry blossoms
opening petals
in a haiku
the smell of Indian ink
stimulating
© gsk

Dawn Thoughts – July 21, 2014

I read a lovely haiku by Milan Rajkumar about a deer …

brow antlered Sangai
drive for saving the lost herd
oh ! their soulful cry

In my corner of Italy, I imagine India … land of the sitar, incense, spices, sari dressed ladies and hot shimmering sun.  The usual stereotype I’m sure we all know and love, but I also know that India is a vast nation and this is only part of the story.

In Manipur, a Northeastern India, live the Sangai.

Sangai, dancing deer
binding soul of men to nature
Lives in Manipur
A gift of Torbung Lamja
Living only on Loktak Lake

They were believed to be extinct in the 1950s but six head were discovered and soon a program to preserve them was put into action and in 2000 a census showed the population had grown to 162 head.  However these deer are once again menaced by mankind as their habitat degenerates due to among other things a hydroelectric plant built in the wild life reserve and poachers.

Read here for more information and Milan’s post of course.

§§§§

sparrows and swallows
singing at dawn
bind me to nature

a sliver of moon
bids the world goodbye
until August