1) Not famous like the Angel or Victoria falls
Or of far-famed Niagara from lofty heights
Not many know its name, and none recall
In far interior woods, the path not straight--
We ventured to search for the gushing sight
Of silvery sheets of foaming delight.
2) We went through crooked winding ways
Gigantic trees with wide-spread branches made it dim
Whither we go--a dark mysterious place
Not a soul seen, the surroundings grim
Through groves of silver oak and sandal wood
We smelled faint fragrance as we moved.
3) Abundant spicy creepers seen
Of cloves,pepper and herbs so sweet
In mid noon, nightly darkness seen
No sound of bird or beast, no pricking heat
As if in subterranean worlds we lost
No trace of gurgling water but dark jungle vast..
4) A rugged path with twists and turns so hard
Rough rocking jolts-- a risky ride
We can't go back , we dared forward
" Don't move onward " some strangers cried
Too rough to scale--this thorny pathless wood
Better go back--leave it for good.
5) Still doubting we moved with defiant will
Like ghosts through darker worlds in search of prey
An abysmal ravine choked with shrubs and thistle
Made us pause in stony silence and stay---
Not to turn back with a sense of defeat
Let us explore whatever comes or danger greet.
6) Through rocky boulders steep we made our way.
Holding the stumps of twisted shrubs and trees
Tightening our foothold along the slippery clay
Bearing the brunt of stinging thorns and weeds
To sink to the bottom-most ravine with care
A distant rumble of stream we heard somewhere.
7) Some merry sounds and shouts our gaze did draw
Our goal so near -- we sighed with relief
A cluster of black rocky flats we saw;
Like chains of swelling pearls from lofty cliffs
Behold the leaping spouts of water there!
From unknown heights with vibrant mirth somewhere.
8) The ice-cool swirling torrent touched our feet
This unexplored haven not so easily found
Amidst green cover of wild trees this sweet retreat
After laborious search through bushy uneven ground
Far from the reach of common grassy plain
With meandering paths this rocky terrain.
9) As pure as Pierian spring within these forests deep
A surprising picturesque waterfall
A precious gem of Nature amidst mountains steep
The surge of freedom untrammeled by artificial walls
We made our way onward with rapturous delight
No flashing lens can catch this charming sight!
10) In saintly silence of the moon-lit night
A mystic murmur echoes with cheerful beams
What spirits or angels revel with fluttering delight!
What aerial bodies perfume those silver streams!
An awesome sight for common mortals to guess
The charms of gloomy night in such a lonely place.
******************************
August 26th 2013. Gutala Somaseshu
References:
a) Angel Waterfalls -- The world's highest waterfall located in Venezuela.
Its height is 3,212 ft. (979 meters)
b) Victoria Waterfalls -- Located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe
Its height is 355 ft.(108 meters)
c) Niagara Waterfalls-- Located between the Canadian Province of Ontario and
New York State. Its height is 167 feet (51 meters)
d) Pierian Spring --- The famous water spring in Thessaly, said to be the abode of the sacred Muses, goddesses of Knowledge.
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