Echo Park (Sonnet Sequence) Poem by Dipankar Sadhukhan

Sonnet I - Winter Morning

Upon the lake, the pale sun lights the mist,
Its silver fingers touch the water's face;
The frangipani bends, its blooms persist,
While lotus dreams float in a tranquil space.
The marigolds in golden rows appear,
And chrysanthemums adorn the frosty ground;
A small bird's soft call drifts on the cold clear air,
While winter whispers move without a sound.
Here every flower shines against the gray,
The lake reflects the sky in quiet blue;
And in this calm, the heart is led astray,
By fleeting sights and scents forever new.
O Echo Park, thy winter wakes the soul,
Where nature's hush and beauty make it whole.

Sonnet II - Village Charm

Along the grassy paths where children play,
The winter light caresses earth and sky;
The reeds beside the lake in soft array,
Wave gently as the passing breezes sigh.
The frangipani scents the narrow lane,
And hibiscus glows red in morning air;
The winter fields bear no enduring strain,
Yet joy exists in moments soft and rare.
O village charm within the city's fold,
Thy peaceful grace persists through frost and sun;
The winter sun turns leaves to molten gold,
And simple beauty grants the heart its fun.
Here nature thrives, though winter chills the day,
In flowers, birds, and light along the way.

Sonnet III - The Lake's Mirror

The lake reflects the clouds in silver hue,
Its ripples catch the wind in gentle dance;
The lotus floats with colors pale and true,
Its mirrored bloom enchants the fleeting glance.
The reeds beside the water bow and sway,
While kingfishers dart through the sunlit air;
The clouds drift soft to herald coming day,
And birds above weave patterns fine and rare.
O lake, thy calm restores the weary heart,
Thy surface pure as winter's softened light;
Though frost may chill, thy beauty will not part,
Thy gentle mirror turns the dark to bright.
Here nature speaks in silence deep and clear,
And human hearts may find their solace here.

Sonnet IV - Winter Flowers

The marigolds like sparks of morning flame,
The chrysanthemums in quiet rows abide;
The hibiscus drops its petals without shame,
And lotus glows where frozen waters glide.
The amaranth stands dignified and tall,
Its crimson heads like banners in the cold;
Though winter chills, the blooms survive it all,
Their fragile beauty silent, firm, and bold.
O winter flowers, keep your fleeting grace,
Your colors warm the frost-bound, dreary air;
Though seasons change, your glory leaves a trace,
A whispered joy, both delicate and rare.
In Echo Park, your radiance holds the day,
And winter cannot steal your gentle sway.

Sonnet V - Trees and Shadows

The acacias spread their thin, angular shade,
While palms rise tall with leaves against the sky;
The frangipani stands, a bright parade,
Its blooms like stars that never wholly die.
The lake receives their mirrored forms below,
And reeds sway gently in the winter breeze;
The light falls soft upon the paths we go,
And rustling leaves compose a tender tease.
O trees of park, your quiet strength is shown,
Not grand, not mighty, yet serene and true;
Your winter forms inspire the heart alone,
And guide the eye where nature paints its hue.
Amid your calm, the world feels still and free,
A winter refuge for both soul and me.

Sonnet VI - Lotus Dreams

Upon the lake, the lotus lifts its face,
Its petals soft despite the winter air;
The wind moves slow, yet carries gentle grace,
And ripples play with tender, patient care.
The small boats drift along the mirrored tide,
Their nets disturb the water's silent sheet;
Yet nothing mars the peace that here abides,
A moment pure, serene, and soft, and sweet.
O lotus, emblem of serene delight,
Thy winter bloom outshines the sunless sky;
Though frost may bite, thy beauty is alight,
A gentle flame where earth and heaven lie.
In Echo Park, thy calm shall ever stay,
And teach the heart to meet the fleeting day.

Sonnet VII - Winter Birds

The small birds call above the frangipani,
Their voice a silver thread through frozen light;
The crows take flight across the open lawn,
While kingfishers flash bright with sudden might.
Each winged soul bestows the winter scene,
And leaves the heart with joy it cannot fake;
Each fleeting flight, each feathered form between,
A living poem only birds could make.
O winter sky, thy wings lift up the soul,
Their movement swift, yet subtle in the day;
Each note they sing, each shimmer makes us whole,
A fleeting joy that winter cannot sway.
The park awakens through their gentle song,
And hearts feel winter's pulse, serene, yet strong.

Sonnet VIII - Frangipani Glow

The frangipani spreads its scented crown,
A burst of white amid the winter green;
Its tender petals fall, yet do not drown,
But mingle with the light serene, unseen.
The breeze moves soft along the lake's calm edge,
And carries whispers from the distant town;
The sun drifts low behind the garden hedge,
While shadows stretch along the water brown.
O flower pure, thy winter scent remains,
A subtle magic in the frosted day;
Thy quiet grace outshines the sunless plains,
And warms the heart in Echo Park's display.
Though seasons pass, thy image shall endure,
A gentle peace, serene, sublime, and pure.

Sonnet IX - Garden Walks

The paths of Echo Park wind soft and free,
Through marigolds, chrysanthemums, and reeds;
Each step unveils a fleeting melody,
A whispered echo of forgotten deeds.
The lake reflects the sun's last amber glow,
The lotus closes in its gentle sleep;
The palms sway above the path below,
And all the park its quiet vigil keeps.
O winter day, thy charm is subtle, deep,
Thy beauty sings though not in golden tones;
The heart must pause, the soul its secrets reap,
In flowers, reeds, and nature's softest moans.
Here time stands still, yet moves in measured pace,
And fills the wandering soul with calm embrace.

Sonnet X - Twilight on the Lake

The winter sun descends behind the reeds,
Its fading light reflected on the lake;
The lotus rests, the water quiet feeds,
And gentle waves across the surface break.
The frangipani's scent drifts soft and low,
A hint of summer in the chill of night;
The birds withdraw, and shadows deepen slow,
Yet still the scene inspires a tranquil sight.
O lake, thy winter stillness is a gift,
Thy mirrored calm restores the wandering heart;
Through frigid hours, the soul shall softly lift,
And find in thee a beauty set apart.
The park at dusk, a poem in itself,
A quiet treasure for the seeking self.

Sonnet XI - Winter Reflections

The reeds along the edge of water sway,
Their tips like fingers touching sky and wave;
The marigolds bend to the fading day,
And lotus sleeps within its frozen cave.
The kingfisher darts through the chilly air,
Its wings a spark of color in the gloom;
The clouds above in gentle folds declare,
The sun will rise again, and flowers bloom.
O winter park, thy calmness stills the mind,
Each sight and sound a subtle, tender charm;
Here fleeting joy and gentle peace we find,
And nature's hand keeps souls from any harm.
Through Echo Park, my thoughts in silence glide,
Where water, flower, and sky walk side by side.

Sonnet XII - Nightfall in Echo Park

The moon ascends and paints the lake in white,
Its silver gleam reflects on frozen streams;
The lotus sleeps, the frangipani bright,
And stars ignite the sky with scattered beams.
The palms and acacias sway in gentle hush,
Their silhouettes like poems upon the night;
The park exhales a slow and tender crush,
While winter weaves its calm, ethereal light.
O Echo Park, in thee the soul finds rest,
Through flowers, lake, and air both pure and still;
Thy winter heart has warmed my wandering chest,
And filled the mind with subtle, quiet thrill.
Forever may thy beauty softly stay,
A haven where the heart and dreams can play.

By Dipankar Sadhukhan
Kolkata, India.
Copyrights@January 11,2016.