Beautiful Photo :-)

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/EE49/production/_116610016_hi065302958.jpg

Is that a lake or a river?

Keep Guessing.....

And when you've guessed enough, scroll down to see the answer :)


























































It's neither a lake nor a river but school playing fields in Didsbury, Manchester, submerged by River Mersey's floodwaters.

The photo was taken by PA Media and I saw it in a news article of BBC.

Cheers
Aparna

My Favourite Photo :-)

Amongst all the photos I shared with you in my 'Spring Walks' blog, this is my favourite photo.

It shows glimpses of the sea through the branches of a tree.

It was taken by my son on one of his morning walks.

There is something about this mesmerising, soothing, calming, appealing, appeasing photo.....the picture stayed in my mind long after I had viewed it.

Nature in all its splendour and beauty.....and of course, thanks to my son's beautiful photography, he clicked it well....and made an impression on my mind that lasted for a long, long time.

Hope he brings back many more such nice pics and shares with us and of course, if I like any, I'll share it with you for your viewing pleasure.

Now some quotes for your notes, some serious, some humorous :-)

The next time you have a thought... let it go. - Ron White

A woman's mind is cleaner than a man's: She changes it more often. - Oliver Herford

Men should only believe half of what women say. But which half ? - Jean Giraudoux

First the doctor told me the good news: I was going to have a disease named after me. - Steve Martin

I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done. - Steven Wright

You may delay, but time will not. - Benjamin Franklin

Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over. - F. Scott Fitzgerald

If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you, fill her above the brim with love of herself ~ all that runs over will be yours. - Charles Caleb Colton

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them. - Washington Irving

The world is your oyster. It's up to you to find the pearls. - Chris Gardner

That's all my sharing for now.

Take Care,
~ Aparna ~

Hope you like this photo :-)

There'll be many more I'll be sharing with you.

This photo is one of those that I'm now uploading to create a new album.

I took this during my recent trip to Hinckley Island in Leicestershire.

It was so nice, serene and calm with lovely views and I loved walking in the spring sunshine.

That's my sharing for now.

Happy Viewing :-)

Cheers
Aparna


Image © Aparna Chatterjee

Tasveer

Aankh Mein Khamoshi, Labon Pe Sawaal, Rukh Pe Saadgi
Kaise Kaise Rang Hain Is Tasveer Mein

Well, I thought of beginning this new year by dedicating this Blog to the renowned Pakistani poet - Ahmad Faraz

Hope you liked his lines on Tasveer (which means Chitr - Picture / Photo)

I'm gobsmacked by his Superb Shayari :-)

He's the one who wrote Ghazals like

Ranjish Hee Sahi Dil Hee Dukhane Ke Liye Aa
Aa Phir Se Mujhe Chhod Ke Jaane Ke Liye Aa

and also

Ab Ke Hum Bichhde Toh Shayad Kabhi Khwabon Mein Milen
Jis Tarah Sookhe Huwe Phool Kitaabon Mein Milen
__________________________________

He died in August 2008. It's been about 8 years this world has lost him.

Wherever he is, may his soul rest in peace, may he be blessed forever for giving us such immense poetic pleasure :-)

If he has taken rebirth, may his new life be full of blessings and happiness :-)

Here are some samples of his precious gems.

Ungliyan Aaj Bhi Is Soch Mein Gum Hai Faraz
Usney Kaisey Naye Haath Ko Thaama Hoga....

Is Kadar Keemti Toh Na Tha Mera Chaen-O-Sukoon Faraz
Loot Kar Le Gaya Woh Kisi Anmol Khazaney Ki Tarah...

Phir Itne Mayoos Kyun Ho
Uski Bewafayi Par Faraz,
Tum Khud Hi Toh Kehte The
Ke Woh Sab Se Juda Hai?!!!

Kisi Ke Ek Aansoo Par Hazaron Dil Tadapte Hain,
Kisi Ka Umr Bhar Ka Rona Yunhi Bekaar Jata Hai

Suna Hai Zindagi Imtihaan Leti Hai Faraz
Par Yahan Toh Imtihanon Ne Zindagi Leli

Hansi Ko Main Sun Ek Baar Chaunk Utha, Faraz
Yeh Mujh Mein Dukh Chhupaane Ka Kamaal Kaisey Aa Gaya?!

Duniya Mein Mat Dhoondh Naam-E-Wafa, Faraz
Dilon Se Khelte Hain Log Bana Ke Humsafar Apna

Shayari, Aawargi, Khushbu, Wafaa, Lazzat, Sharaab,
Mukhtalif Shaklon Mein Shehzaade Ko Aurat Chahiye

Ab Usey Roz Na Sochun Toh Badan Tootta Hai, Faraz
Ek Umar Ho Gayi Hai Uski Yaad Ka Nasha Karte Karte

Na Jaane Kab Se Ho Gaye Itney Shiddat Pasand Hum, Faraz
Jab Tak Zakhm Na Khayein Tasalli Nahin Hoti

Intoxicating lines that make you feel tipsy.

Who needs wine? I don't ;-)

Faraz's magical way of saying so much in so few lines....reminds me of the Shakespearean Quote:

Brevity is the soul of wit

Hum Zamane Mein Yunhi Bewafa Mashhoor Ho Gaye Faraz
Hazaaron Chaahne Waley The, Kis Kis Se Wafa Kartey !!!

Kaun Pareshan Hota Hai Tere Ghum Se, Faraz
Woh Apni Hee Kisi Baat Pe Roya Hoga....

Usey Taraash Ke Heera Bana Diya Humne Faraz
Magar Ab Yeh Sochte Hain Usey Kharidein Kaise

Tu Kisi Aur Ke Liye Hoga Samundar-E-Ishq
Hum Toh Roz Tere Saahil Se Pyase Guzar Jaate Hain

Apni Nakaami Ka Ek Yeh Bhi Sabab Hai Faraz
Cheez Jo Mangte Hain Sab Se Juda Mangte Hain

Kahin Tanha Na Kar De Tujhe Munfrid Rehne Ka Shauq, Faraz
Jab Din Dhaley Tu Kisi Se Haal-E-Dil Keh Diya Kar....

Kaat Kar Zubaan Meri Keh Raha Tha Woh Faraz
Ab Tumhe Ijaazat Hai Haal-E-Dil Sunane Ki

Ab Jis Ke Jee Mein Aaye Wohi Pa Le Raushni,
Humne Toh Dil Jala Kar Sar-E-Raah Rakh Diya

Aa Ke Ab Tasleem Karlein Tu Nahin Toh Main Sahi,
Kaun Maanega Ke Hum Mein Se Bewafa Koi Nahi...

Ab Neend Se Kaho Hum Se Sulah Kar Le Faraz,
Woh Daur Chala Gaya Hai Jis Ke Liye Hum Jaaga Karte The
___________________________________________

And here is an excellent triad of 3 great poets - Ghalib, Iqbal and Faraz

Zara Gaur Farmaiye :-)

Zaahid Sharaab Peene De Masjid Mein Baith Kar,
Ya Woh Jagah Bata Jahan Khuda Nahin...
(Mirza Ghalib)

Masjid Khuda Ka Ghar Hai, Peeney Ki Jagah Nahin,
Kaafir Ke Dil Mein Ja, Wahan Khuda Nahin...
(Allama Iqbal)

Kaafir Ke Dil Se Aaya Hoon Main Yeh Dekh Kar,
Khuda Maujood Hai Wahan, Par Usey Pata Nahin...
(Ahmad Faraz)

Happy Pondering and Happy New Year to all of you :-)

Love,
AC :)

Tasveer taken from Getty Images dot Com / Courtesy: Boloji

Spreading

Spreading
Smiles :-)
Wherever
You go

The world
Is yours :-)
Before you
Know

(I cropped this photo from my Kochi's school banner :)







Is It Me?

Is it me
Who
Writes
On those
Sites?

Could be
Me ;-)

'Cause
Even
I don't
Know
The
Person
Who
Writes
On those
Sites ;-)

(seeing my poems on PH and Boloji and trying to know the poetess in me as it seems she's another part of me, hence reading my poems often amazes me ;-)







Realise

As the
Years
Go by
You'll
Realise
That
You
Need
Nobody
Else
Except
Yourself
To realise
Your true
Self

(Theme: Realisation)


Image + Poems © Aparna Chatterjee 2014

You can read more Poems here

It Seems

It seems
You didn't
Like the way
He read the
News for us

That's why
You took him
Away from us

(addressed to God, this poem is dedicated to all the news bulletins given to us by George Alagiah who's now battling Bowel Cancer. He's one of my favourite news readers on BBC. My best wishes are always with him for a full and speedy recovery.)





Seeing

Seeing
The
Bleak
Ending
That
Life has
Who
Would
Want to
Make
Every day
A new
Beginning?

(my thoughts on seeing Shashi Kapoor's wheelchair photo at age 76)

The above poems © Aparna Chatterjee 2014