Journey By A Cable Car (Badrinath) Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

Why the pines are pining
when the Auli Bugyal is smiling
with pollen strewing blossoms
in the diffused rays of the sun?
Before the snowy slabs
get paved over the sloping hills,
the whole grassy stretch gleams
with newly sprung up shoots
and waves in joy in the cool breeze
that steels into the telpher
and brings cheer to us all.
“On whom to swoop down
the vulture is soaring? ”

When we were out of the car,
we sauntered towards the hilltop,
and lay on its lush green lap,
Looking at the sailing clouds
which hit on the sky high peaks,
tumble, trundle and dash at the vapour clouds
rising above the slush.
Scared they are, always running
when the bombs are on the plains around.

The snow-garbed Nandha Devi
signalled to us the agile Chinese
who loot the gold in Olympics,
and the grieving Tibetans are nearer.
The dulcet sounds of some throstles
Filled our ears with lilting music
and we dropped off in a drowse.