Sunday, August 14, 2005

City Of Reflections

You don’t see eye to eye in the city. Everything is a reflection. But not an ordinary reflection. A distorted one. And you need to look at these reflections to figure out what’s going on, going through and where it is going to take you.



No one looks you in the eye. They just pass by and go on. With their lives. Their own lives. And you should go on with yours. But a poet pauses. A poet creates that awkward moment to see more. That little bit more. Through the glass beyond the reflection.

And that is when the city bares her soul.



For her soul lies beyond her reflection. Beyond the mirrors, behind the glass. Her soul breathes and stirs the emotions that run through. Millions come and go through her. Whether they leave intoxicated or abstemious, they leave with an experience they will remember. Because in her they see their reflections. Their distorted reflections. But sometimes what may seem distorted, is the truth here.

No one really comes here to find the truth, but they are surprised when they do. Right next to the buzz, is the calm of the oceans and the mountains. The oasis of thought. The taste of fusion. Have you ever looked down into a volcano? And then turned around to look behind?



The clatter and chaos thrives on the tranquility of the reflections that her soul creates.

And as you walk by looking up and marveling, you don’t see yourself in the reflections but something else. Something deeper. Something with more meaning. But you can’t put your finger on it. But you can feel it. It’s there.



You don’t see it eye to eye. It is a reflection. Just like the city. That is the way you have to experience it. There is no other way.


51 comments:

atomicvelvetsigh said...

A Masterpiece!
the lines lingering in me... "The clatter and chaos thrives on the tranquility of the reflections that her soul creates. " Beautifully written!

Gypsynan said...

I see what you meant about being a fan of reflections! Nice!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous !

I know people who are creative with their words - literary creativity I call it. And I know people who are visually creative, coming up with great paintings and sketches and photographs.

It amazes me how you straddle both world, integrading your literary and visual creativity so seamlessly !

Miss A said...

This is amazing. I have a love hate relationship with cities, but this is speaking to something else. Really quite moving.

KJ said...

Fantastic. Very well written
"For her soul lies beyond her reflection". Cheers

gulnaz said...

am awed!!!

saurav said...

simply great.....
very well written.....
pictures are wonderful....

tussand said...

Nicely said, dear sir. For one living in an urban jungle, I can empathise with it...

I have much to learn from you :)

Extempore said...

The oasis of thought. The taste of fusion. Have you ever looked down into a volcano? And then turned around to look behind?

What images... both in words and visual. You have such exquisite balance, such harmony. :)

G Shrivastava said...

I know that is very obviously not Bombay, not even remotely Indian for that matter...but I read the text first, before I saw the images...and I couldn't help but see Bombay with my mind's eye! Fits so perfectly - sp in light of the recent floods and chaos...

Very insightful and thought-provoking text August...

Btw what city is this?

venus said...

beautiful pictures!
Reflection may not be the truth though, as you say, if could be distorted. Distortion through a poet's eye is not harmful, but distortion of truth is illusion, in other words, it is 'Maya'.

Renee Wagemans said...

Great reflections in words and in in pictures
This post rocks!!

Bonatellis said...

which city is this? Shanghai?

jaded said...

simply breathtakingly gorgeous!!

i am "looking up and marvelling"...

Loved this:

"Have you ever looked down into a volcano? And then turned around to look behind?

The clatter and chaos thrives on the tranquility of the reflections that her soul creates."

iamnasra said...

This how I feel as exact. Just returned from Dubai..the city life its how you describe it and there I was in my mind a poetic clouds that been living within me..Many reflection that my had captured but my soul had sand deeper beyond the glance of the eyes...

VERY CREATIVE BEYOND MY WORDS CAN DESCRIBE

Paul said...

Great. Never read/saw anything like this. You've really stated something original, true, and hard to articulate - an aspect of cities you don't hear mentioned or discussed although everyone feels it.

Lorena said...

what a beautiful reflection of thoughts. i was intrigued through it all. i'm one of those who pauses as i'm walking down the streets in my city. i see everything you write off.

this was amazing A :)

Anonymous said...

I'm always fascinated by clouds in the reflections on buildings....makes them so much closer, even more beautiful sometimes...

Hope said...

Nothing but a reflection. what kind is it? It all depends on your very own reflection.

Ram said...

beautiful .:a:., your writing about the city is layered over a very personal introspection.. and its so true..

a parallel thought.. can we say, great cities are not built with brick and mortar...

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J said...

u know wot? i cant ree those images u've got in this post :(

i wonder if the words sans the visuals wud have a different meaning?

Anonymous said...

Fan-amazing-tastic!!

rusty said...

This is hauntingly familiar ....yet not quite clear....I personally feel that it is the clatter and chaos on the inside that reflects what the eyes see on the outside...

livinghigh said...

city = mirror, eh? nice connection.. n great pics.
ps: thanx for de wishes. yep, had a good blast. n how've u been?

Anonymous Poet said...

Interesting meditation.

Anonymous Poet said...

Thanks for sharing!

Sonia said...

how different from India! India bares Her soul to all! Everything's there for you to see, the beauty and the ugliness, all alike in their nakedness.

~*. D E E P A .* ~ said...

FOUNTAIN HEAD !!!!!

Martin said...

Very nice :-)

I also think that cities are more ghosts and mirrors. They distort and twist the things that are real. They pave over the Earth and subvert your soul. They make you rush rush and forget the sky and the rhythm of the moon.

- Martin

Brood Mode said...

awesome pics. understood every word, for i've leived in a city all my life

Itineranting said...
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Anonymous said...

Awesome photos.. even more beautiful thoughts. never thought of the city to be this alluring as you made her appear to be. why her...? need time to read deep stuffs and reread! and i say there are too many of that kind on your blog.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous as ever....fantastic pictures to go with the words. I am awed.

-Poison- said...

awesome fotos.

the city doesnt have a soul on its own.

the people in the city give it life.

nibujohn said...

oh, the city, the soul-less whore,
high are though doors,
and ha, they arrive in scores.

full of dreams they come,
lot to be, they say,
and bright are their eyes.

quench thy thirst with their hopes,
drain them of all joy,
and show them your tricky mirror.

look anyone in there,
it is not you that you see,
cause here truth is just the reverse.

Anonymous said...

hi im back by a contrived accident
and im glad i was there to read that
it will give me something to hold on to today
its more so beautiful because its more so difficult to find beauty in a city no?
-tilt vs pan

Anonymous said...

uv got a great 'eye' thru the camera hole. the pics r stunningly beautiful. & so are the words. but i dont agree that noone looks you in the eye. are you amongst blind men or squint ones?!

Adrian Neibauer said...

so true, so true. The bigger the city, the colder the people. AT least it seems that way to me.

. : A : . said...

atomicvelvetsigh, gypsynan, Ash, Anne, KJ, gulnaz, avik, Aristocrat, Extempore, venus, Poems and Writings, jaded, iamnasra, Paul, Lorena, the woman, ~*. D E E P A .* ~, yvaine, Brood Mode, Wbix, Sudarshan - *bows* Thanks for your wonderful words! It means a lot.

Geetanjali, Bonatellis - The photographs are of Hong Kong. But I guess the text could span across other cities too.

vAgue - It definitely does.

Hope - Could be.

Ram - Yes we can.

J - Check now. Maybe the sever was overloaded earlier.

rusty - Thanks for dropping by and commenting.

finnegan, Sonia, luz de la luna, Poison - Thanks for sharing your perspective.

livinghigh - Thanks. Have been good.

Anonymous Poet - Glad you liked it.

manu - Thanks for the poem.

tilt vs pan - Welcome back.

sneha - Neither. I am the poet. ;-)

stan laurel - :-)

La Louve said...

if it hadnt been for the people who clean and make these windows shine, your pics would have been no gud! :)) actually, was having breakfast this morning and boom these two guys with rotten teeth smile appear next to me--seperated by a window.... remembered your blog and your photos...
wbix

. : A : . said...

Weetabix - Interesting thought!

Anonymous said...

somehow knew u were writing from hong kong. n im not bragging.

. : A : . said...

sneha - I guess the pictures give it away!

Ubermensch said...

lovely snaps....quite futuristic, liked the angles,post more .
Uber

. : A : . said...

Ubermensch - Thanks. Will try and get some more for later posts.

Itineranting said...
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. : A : . said...

Itineranting - Yes, the second one is.

Itineranting said...
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