The Valley's Wings Poem by Padmanabhan Ananth

Long drive by a middle-aged Toyota
Took us from the famed lion-rock, Sigiriya
To the Royal City up in the hill country
The cultural capital of Lanka - Kandy

Night at the hill resort rather uneventful
Weary from long day of highway travel
French windows, heavy-drawn curtains
Concealed the beauty that lay outdoors

With cups of steaming fresh Lankan tea
We stepped at dawn out to the balcony
Instantly wonder struck by view of valley
Miles around nothing at all but greenery

The deep vale filled with heavy foliage, flora
Mist slowly rose and inaugurated the panorama
Faraway blue hills still shrouded mistily
Far view of Polgolla dam over River Mahaweli

Glided amidst gorge the river from the dam
Like a huge water python reddish-brown
From recent torrential rains and flood
In grandeur she meandered and flowed

That's when a dozen white-winged beauties
Flew in formation over the forest, flawless
The endless enchanting flight of migrating geese
Long timeless moments, transfixed in our eyes

Forgotten was our tea, and breakfast buffet
By this unforgettable view of bird-flight
One that after four years, still remains etched
One that gave to our vacation, it's essence.