DATURAS (Rhythmic Verse)

                        Daturas densely grown

                     Gaily dressed in their velvet gowns

                     Each fairy dancing above the tip

                     Of her long-stalked round stem

                     Gleamed like a cup of full flowing joy.

                      A tangled multitude

                      So closely clustered beside the stream

                      That no prying eye can intrude

                      To see the dark flowing rill beneath

                       Flowing with calm, cool laving tread

                       Like a black serpent of Cicily

                       Stretched behind a dark mossy boulder hidden;

                       Nourishing each stem with fertile-fingered touch

                       With silent motherly touch.

                                            

                                             

                       A dome of impenetrable delight

                       With curved branches and dense green leaves

                       Daturas dangling with dimpled glossy cheeks

                       Daturas swinging with their bright dreaming eyes

                       Daturas dancing with their light floating bodies

                       Like sylvan virgins of the woods with sleek lithe limbs.                                             

                                                                                 

                       Their rich luxuriant growth near mossy banks

                        In countless clusters spreading like umbrellas fine

                        Flecked with silver dew like angels they shine;

                        Not because of their sweet fragrance I love.                                        

                        Their swelling merry violet colors catch my eyes

                         Like children’s spotless spontaneous smiles;

                         No bird or bee goes to touch their silky cheeks

                         Yet they smile and smile like stars till twilight fades;

                         Protruding like trumpets unfolding their bosoms full

                         A fount of perpetual thick-clustered bouquet of bliss ;

                         Beside the rugged path beckons me every day;

                         Whenever I feel a pall of lonely gloom

                         The lovely faces of smiling daturas bloom

                         Transporting me to their world of purple delight

                         Free from noisy rush under their moon-lit leaves

                Daturas, everlaughing humble souls with no flashing glow.

                                 

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        28th January, 2019                                  Somaseshu Gutala

       Note :

Daturas (Datura Stramonium) belong to species of wild flowers that grow in damp places. They are generally white, violet and yellow in color. The tubular trumpet –shaped flowers grow in dense clusters with dark green leaves around them. They are used in medicines and in rituals. In India they are used in worship of Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha. They are called by various names like Jimson weed, thorn apple, devil’s weed, and moon-flower.

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