THE OLD SILK ROUTE.

The echoes of the mountains,

still resound with the travellers’ tales

of a bygone era.

The mystical  forces of Nature recreate

Memories where the past, present, future

merge simultaneously into one.

 The Spirit of the babbling rivers speak.

The earth reverberates with the  rhythm

of the horses’ galloping beat -

haunting phantoms of the mystical nomadic riders’

The wind carries soul stirring musical pathos,

Subtle divine Strings of Kyrgyz komuz,

Songs of the wandering minstrels -

All alive in the ghost whispers

of the dessert winds.

The vast space gathers

all the poignant images,  

a slide show of life times  that come alive!

A boat moored in an oasis

of blue waters in the valley

of sand dunes, an apparition…

Yonder in the cloud dust,

Caravans heaving though

the haze of  beige sandy waves.

thirsty camels with their precious cargo

 of silk strapped on their backs,

Sacks of jade, Lopez lazuli

tiny dots of twinkling lights

In the fading dusk.

Flowing white robes, red blue turbans

A splash of vivid colours -

A bouquet of blossoms

in sharp contrast to the neutral  landscape.

Distant silhouette of a Serai

The hustle and bustle of weary traders –

a  melting pot of varied cultures, fascinating stories

of Samarkand - women with their coiled chignons and style,

laced with the appetising fragrance of Indian spices, subtle aroma of mixed cuisine.

Incessant chatter of mixed languages,

Whirling dervishes

Buddhist prayer wheels.

Somewhere stifled sobs of young  veiled women to be sold….

What fate and master awaited them!

Unknown and dismal destinies…

Dawn, the Caravans move on

to their destinations.

The Serai silent

Footprints erased by the sands of time . But

The mountains ever alive

The spirits still whisper the poignant melodies

on quiet days If you listen intently, you can see

The stories etched in everyday grain of sand

 to  replay gain and again!

Bio

Shalini Nandkeolyar is multitalented!  She has a diploma in acting from the New York Academy of Theatrical Arts and has acted in a number of plays. She studied English Literature and Philosophy and has a degree in Business Management. She is gifted singer and has a music album of Bhajans called, Arpanam. She enjoys writing poetry. Her poems are exquisite, full of beautiful imagery and dripping with wisdom. Some of her poems have been published in a literary journal, ‘Rainbow’ and various other magazines. She is a Reiki Master, an evolved and committed seeker on a path of deep surrender.