Rain And Shine

Again a collection of haiku, senryu, haibun and tanka prose by Geethanjali Rajan with illustrations by Dhaatri Venugunad.

Reading haiku is therapeutic.

Though I cannot claim expertise I oscillate… revelling in just exploring. It’s a new kind of adventure. I am intoxicated.

Geethanjali’s longing for sun longing for rain is understated, elegant and very, very Indian. Her conversancy with Japanese perhaps gives her an edge. There is an unmistakable matter-of-fact-ness. A directness which is sharp and fresh.

The book is divided in seven parts –

a flower strewn path

start of a new term –

children in a hurry

to fit in

river of stars

eclipsed sun

the squirrels’ chatter

suddenly goes silent

on the Buddha trail

(A haibun)

Ayutthayya

“The headless Buddha statue sits in Padmasana. What gesture were his hands holding when the marauders had chopped off the arms?

the teacher speaks

of balancing the elements

Dhyana mudra

Centuries later, still exposed to rain, wind and sun, the idol rests in meditation.”

heave of the sea

a homing pigeon

on the temple roof–

I too must return

this stone path

(A tanka from a tanka prose)

streaks of sandal paste

on my ragged prayerbook

this year

I am the chief priest

and the lone devotee

a rippled sky

eclipsing

a night of coal-black…

mud lamps

dots of a kolam

grandma’s prophecy

this year’s harvest

will overflow the granary

tinkling bells

the farm’s only bull

nods assent

A little about the author

Geethanjali discovered haiku in 2003. She has been widely published. Geethanjali edits haiku at Cattails , the journal of Japanese short forms of poetry. She is also a part of the editorial team at Cafe Haiku on WordPress.

Dhaatri is an artist and illustrator. Her illustrations in this book are in shades of grey black and white which heighten the mysticism of the genre.