Renhai Studio Archives

A Collection of Renhai by members of The Renhai Studio

Another Beginning

A Renhai by Vaughn Seward (vs) & Dr. Vidur Jyoti (vj)

Summer clouds —
monks beneath a tree
mutter prayers. /vj

A grove of Margosa trees — /vs
stirrings under fallen leaves. /vj

Silk sheets —
the clock radio comes on
with sounds of Bach. /vs

Archive Id: 153
Vaughn Seward: Canada
Dr. Vidur Jyoti: India
Written:: May 20 - June 7, 2009

Theme: Underneath; Morning
Season: Summer
Kigo: Fallen Margosa leaves
Verse Form: 2-3-2, 3-3, 2-3-2 (Rhythm)
Process: Forward

Links 1/2: Under a tree(s); Stirrings / Prayers.
Links 2/3: Blanket of leaves / Sheets; Stirrings / Awakening.
Links 3/1: Religious sounds (Bach / Prayers).

Notes: Typically one associates fallen leaves with the autumn season but some trees in India are seen shedding their leaves with the onset of summer. Most noticeable is the Margosa tree (called 'neem' in Hindi) and hibiscus shrubs. When this is observed summer has set in and with it comes squalls. Even if the leaves are not shriveled yet one sees them lying in heaps especially in the morning after a storm. The margosa tree sheds its yellowed leaves by the thousands by this time. These trees grow in abundance by the road side in Delhi and the leaves accumulate at the side of the curb. Vidur saw a squirrel coming out from under such a heap one morning while walking in a large public garden.

A group of monks collectively saying prayers or reading their scriptures from a distance sounds muffled, as if they are muttering or mumbling; human beings speaking collectively but nothing clearly discernible. This is invariably reminiscent of clouds gathering in the summer Indian sky before the monsoon sets in. There is a distant rumble of the clouds but yet nothing is clearly visible in the sky. It gives rise to a hope of the ensuing rains.

In each verse creature(s) are beneath two things: monks under a tree and clouds; creatures under leaves and trees; a sleeping person under sheets and the sound of the radio.