The Forgotten Soul

She walked alone

And smiled with grace

Yet few who ventured

A look on her face

Could barley see

The strain in her gaze

Thoughts that tortured

And left her dazed

None could spot

The mist in her eyes

None could fathom

Her silent cries

For who could know

If time doth fly,

Or crawl towards

A bitter demise?

Anguish and pain

In every stride

Eyes rove in earnest

For someone to confide

Who could care

To be by her side?

Alone she walks

Until she dies

SIGNATURE

The legacy that became part of my history.

My college days would not be complete without this A Capella group that I have had the privileged of being part of. More than the vocals and harmonizing with them, they are a part of me, my life, my extended family away from home.

Every single one of them is amazing in their own way. And time spent with them individually has given me valuable insights into their lives and who they are. Aside from me, there are six of them: (for the purpose of keeping their identities hidden I shall refer to them by their initials...)
PJ - Beat-box & Bass
JK - Bass & Lead
JJ - Second Tenor & Lead
VW - First Tenor & Lead
SP - Alto
AP - The Manager

This is the craziest bunch of people I have ever come across. They can be all professional and serious  about making harmony in A Capella, and then suddenly, they can burst into silly comedy and surprisingly dirty humor for a christian vocal group. Each of them has a story to tell, a history to share. They're not perfect, rather far from it. But that's what makes them so special to me. Couple months into joining and already I considered them my very close friends, my family. Everyday I learn more from them and everyday spent with them is a happy day, a day of fun, laughter and good music. And that combination is very hard to come by.

PJ is kind of like the leader of the group. He grills us till we get the right notes. and when we don't, he'll sit us down  and give passionate speeches on the wonders of singing in harmony and at times gets technical about music theory, which I know nothing about. But when he picks up a mic and starts beat-boxing, he's insane. You just feel like dancing to the beats. And fun note, he's also a kick-ass drummer! What's interesting is that while he can be a bit driven during practice, he is in fact the funniest guy in the group. Once he starts off on a humorous line, he can belt out stories after stories that will make you cry with laughter.

The second joker of the group is JK. While PJ can get too stern during practice, "serious" is not in JK's dictionary. He'll split your sides just by smiling at you. He has a face that can brighten your day and you'll want to listen to him, even when he's sprouting nonsense. During my time with Signature, parts of his lingo have seeped into mine. Words like "beggar", "ditcher", "full-on" and adding "like" at the end of every expression to induce a silly atmosphere in a humdrum day. He has the most carefree and happy-go-lucky personality in the whole group, which may seem absurd for he almost always picks a fight with SP, but in a good way. They'll be calling each other names and make faces but that's fun to watch. Their constant banter is the norm when we all get together, and sometime we join in the fun.

SP is the only other girl in the group. She can be very sweet and loving and won't hesitate to support you in a difficult situation. She can also be very crazy and at times get on people's nerves. I cannot explain this phenomenon but cold weather makes her hyper. I have spent a few days with her to experience this. As stated before, she and JK share a special bond of playful banter and ridicule. The rest of us enjoy watching them torment each other.

JJ is the quiet one in the group. However, he can also be very mischievous and the best part is, you won't know it was him, for he is usually the sane one. JJ is our music master. When there's a new song to be learned, he provides the notes for all our parts. He is extremely talented on the keyboard and guitar. He and JK hang out together like brothers in crime and share the same sense of humor. While JK is a radical in comedy, JJ is more sweet in nature and the most amiable person I have had the pleasure of knowing. He just draws you in with his child-like charisma but can also be insightful and more often than not, surprisingly playful in casual conversations. I look up to him as my inspiration. From his life testimony, I learned not to let my difficulties hinder me from praising God.

VW has the same tastes in music as I. We both enjoy listening to David Phelps and Paul Wilbur. He'll even mimic my goofy expressions to pass time during practice. He has the highest full voice among the guys and can sustain the high notes for an impressive amount of time. I always love it when he covers a David Phelps song. I was overjoyed when I first learned that he and I share the same tastes in music. He can sing songs off the top of his head, inducing a sense of praise and worship for all around him. During my time with Signature, he has become a very good friend and brother in Christ.

And then there's AP. Although he doesn't sing with us, he is our manager. He sets up the dates for practice, communicates upcoming events where we have to perform or remind us of important updates; basically handling us so we just have to concentrate on our singing. Throughout my time with Signature, AP has been a mighty pillar of support, guidance and more often than not, the voice of reason in the group. He makes sure to keep us in check and brings us back on track when we deviate from practice. AP has an amazing vocal range. While I would love it if he joined us in song,he specializes in elocution, debate and stage theater. He has an excellent command of the English language and is extremely brilliant and witty. He is the one I can converse with on a more philosophical level.

The more I spend time with with these guys, the more I understand them and in turn, deeply care for them. A common passion for good music brought us together and in one year I've collected so many fond memories of this group that I shall indeed cherish forever!

The Farm

I may boast of having a wild imagination that can spin tales of colorful fables, outlandish Neverlands and completely unrealistic tropical islands where milk and honey actually flow. But all my daydreams combined can never compete with my 'perfect destination'.

The Kolar Gold Fields.

With a name like that you'd think I'm dreaming again. But I'm not. In KGF, there lies a comfortable track of land that has been in the family for generations. For a long time, it was left undeveloped, until recently, where a third of the land is devoted to farming. Wheat and ragi are grown in seasons. The monsoon showers are the land's blessings from above. Each droplet burrows into the rich soil, creating a network of tiny streams as their intensity increases. After the timely shower, the entire land is blanketed in a rich and fresh aroma, similar to that of  Lily of the Valley. The tilled soil, the monsoon rains, the fresh air....they are just a third of what this 'perfect destination' really is.

As time flows, green shoots appear and pretty soon they grow into rich and vibrant stalks. Seasons change and the emerald spray transforms into dazzling amber that glows under the noonday shine. The stalks are heavy with grain and the harvest begins. All pitch in to help. The reaping, the separating from the chaff, the drying and the pounding, while we all sing about the splendor of God's workmanship in His creation.

The rest of the land is left in its state of natural beauty. The lake, smooth and clear as glass, provides accommodations for animals ranging from the tiniest crustaceans to the most regal water fowls. The branches of the willows sway in the gentle breeze along the edges of the lake. You can hear the winds create a soothing symphony as they rustle among the leaves. Dragonflies race among the reeds, their wings glistening of brilliant green and blue.

Beyond the lake stand little hills of rock, moss, fern and a variety of cacti. If you look hard enough you can spot colorful geckos among the rocks and tiny beetles and snails burrowing in the soil. It is best to climb this hills at dawn where you can relish and appreciate the beautiful sunrise, the gradual warmth on your cheeks after a cool slumber. On these hills you can survey vast stretches of land where endless groves of mango orchards stand, the country road winding between fruited plains and amber waves of grain.

Behind theses hills are old abandoned quarries that were once used in extracting gold. Yes gold. Hence the name Kolar Gold Fields. It's pretty exciting to walk among the old ruins and rubble, thinking of bygone days when mining was the main income for the whole area. Although the quarries are now desolate of gold, life continues to thrive among the rubble.

Its amazing how, through the passage of time, the land transforms to suit the occupier. This is my little piece of heaven.

Triune Blessing

I serve a Triune God.
And while it may be sweet to gift one an exquisite delight or thoughtful, a practical tool, I find it best to write poems on birthdays. Here's one that's a prayer, a wish, a...

TRIUNE BLESSING

I pray The Father grant my prayer

To keep thee well and in His care

That thou may live in peace of mind

New hopes and joys this new year find

I pray The Son, His Blood to cover,

His mercies and grace abundantly shower

On thee this day and year anew

His promises are rich and true

I pray the Spirit that thou may seek

A Comfort when the times are bleak

Delight to know that thou art loved

By The Triune Majesty above

The Lie that is Equality

Racism, prejudice, social classes… they never go out of style. From the monarchs to the lowliest of peasants, from the aristocrats to the store clerks, from the archbishops to the gravediggers, from the bhramans to the untouchables, from the President to the homeless, from the CEO to the janitor...

Sure, the positions have changed over the centuries but the pattern remains the same. Social divisions, they distinguish undeniable truths -  the rich from the poor. Nowadays, the finger of blame points to the Capitalist. Those who can, those who have the resources, will grab at every opportunity to get that extra dime. But that doesn't mean Communism provided a utopia. Sure they say everyone is treated equally, but who makes the laws for others to live by? Do they get the same "rations" as everyone else?

Even airlines have divisions for crying out loud! People in First class get to have their own cubicle, 5 feet breathing space, feasting on caviar and champagne while folks in Economy have to be contented rubbing shoulders with unsavory passengers, eating out of plastic and tin foil. Who gives half a mind about flight comfort? A mere flatulence from the Economy class results in the Captain announcing, "Please return to your seats and fasten your seat belts, we are experiencing a slight turbulence." But anyone from First class drives a sledge hammer through the fuselage, cabin crew reassures the passengers by stating, "That was just a cabin pressure check, part of our on flight procedure."

And lets not forget about concerts and seating arrangements. Performing artist, during the introduction, asks how everyone is, who all are in. Then he asks, "Any Methodists in here?" A small cheer from the balcony and he remarks, "Oh! Up in the cheap seats!" Sure that was meant as a joke but anyone with with half a sensitive ear and a slow sense of humor might take offence.

Why is there division? Why are people willing to be branded so?

In The Beginning...

To write,one must be inspired.

Seems simple enough. Complications, however, arise when grappling for inspiration. I've kept a journal ever since I was a kid, and in all that time, one theme was a reoccurring factor in my never ending search for inspiration. Turns out, it was the only reason that lead me to write in the first place.

Boredom.

In the good old days, a pen and paper were the only things that stood between me and insanity. Now, they are my tools to another dimension, one that mirrors the ordinary universe, only, that it's fitted with my very own custom made kaleidoscope. I still write out of boredom, only now, it's more enjoyable, and oddly enough, soothing to my over-stretched nerves.

If you're reading this because curiosity got the better of you, read on. Hopefully Wandering Nomad makes quite the impression. I find myself unable to put down roots anywhere I go. Coming from a severely over-sized and multiracial family, you'd be surprised how difficult it can be to fully connect with each side, even though it's easy to blend in at any given time. I'd like to pride myself on being a natural chameleon of sorts, but alas, that only adds to the sad fact that, although I have a place anywhere I go, I never truly belong.

There is, however, a wonderful feeling of being a mystery wrapped around an enigma. There is yet more to be discovered, a never-ending string of quirks that have lead people to display a double-take, a side-ways glance, or just a plain and long hard stare.

Yes, I find it most amusing when people realize that I'm not normal as one might think.The very fact that I used to have a python in my home as a pet puts people off. (Oh yes! more on my wonderfully weird choice of pets later.) And they still can't wrap their heads around the fact that I don't follow any of the religious customs and traditions as they do. Religion is man-made, and organised religion just adds to further division and social tension. Your religion won't take you to Heaven, my friend. It's your personal relationship with God that matters. Yeah, I'm a non-denominational Christian. That's my answer to those who still ask. Personally, I'd be a lot happier if they stop asking about the "what" and focus more on the "who". Like I said, there's a lot more to be discovered. And that I think is a lot to take for one entry.

Well, so much for boredom as inspiration.
 Until the next post, Shalom ya'll!