Keep searching...

 

The road moves on in quiet grace,

Like an unfinished journey finding space.

Clouds drape the sky in silver-gray,

As though the heart holds words it cannot say.

Somewhere behind those drifting skies,

Sunlight still waits to softly rise,

Like hope that lingers through troubled air,

A gentle smile still hidden there.

The trees stand still in whispered lines,

Swaying slowly with the hands of time,

Even the bare and weathered trees,

Seem to wait for kinder seasons and breeze.

The roads may seem empty, silent, wide,

Yet every path holds a dream inside.

Beyond the haze, beyond the unknown,

Light still travels, softly shown.

And the sky seems to quietly say—

Keep moving on, come what may.

No matter how heavy the clouds above,

Keep searching for your share of sun.

~ Dawn

A tiny little gardener

 

A tiny little gardener stands with such a cheerful grace,

Pink watering can in hand, dreams blooming on its face.

In this small potted world, it tends its patch of green,

Just a toy perhaps—yet the sweetest gardener ever seen.

With innocence so gentle, like a smile that knows no end,

Too much or too little water—still love is what it sends.

Among pebbles and quiet soil, it builds a garden bright,

As though within its little heart blooms a meadow full of light.

And watching it, one can’t help but smile at such sweet art,

So tiny, yet a royal soul in the world of growing hearts.

~ Dawn

What an evening it was...

 

What an evening it was—so quietly unreal,

I was walking away, and he was leaving too.

To a shore far from me, yet closer to someone else,

Distance held a story I never quite knew.

Silent, almost distant, still he moved ahead,

His lips said nothing, but his heart surely spoke.

And I stood there lost, tangled in that moment,

In thoughts that lingered like words unspoken.

Why must he go, I wondered in that fading light,

When tomorrow would bring him back into sight?

In that misty dusk, questions softly remained,

Every goodbye carrying a promise unnamed.

~ Dawn

O moon !

 

This half-smile of the moon tonight,

Feels like a soul, gently incomplete,

Yet in its silence, it softly speaks,

Whispering truths so tender, so sweet.

Cradled in the arms of the darkened sky,

A glow so pure, so calm, so far,

And still it feels so close to me,

Like a familiar, quiet star.

Just this glimpse of you is enough,

To fill my dreams, to light my way,

O moon—whole or broken in parts,

You make my world shine anyway.

Even your scars feel beautiful to me,

Even your silence sings like a song,

You may not speak, yet every night,

You tell me where I belong.

Perhaps I’m a little like you,

A little unfinished, softly undone,

And maybe in this shared incompleteness,

We become whole—just as one.

~ Dawn

Each heart sings a tale ..

 

Beneath a blanket of endless blue,

The city stands proud in its view,

Amidst the towers rising high,

A river hums its gentle sigh.

In quiet waters, the world reflects,

Like a dream the moment protects,

In whispered waves, soft and deep,

The noise of life is lulled to sleep.

These buildings lining either side,

Hold stories time cannot hide,

Even in life’s relentless pace,

They offer stillness, a breathing space.

Boats drift on like wandering dreams,

Moving ahead in silent streams,

And the bridge—like a bond so true,

Joins two worlds in a single view.

Within this city lives a calm,

A lonely hush in the bustling swarm,

Where every face is strange, unknown,

Yet every gaze holds depths its own.

Between the sky and emerald flow,

Life keeps moving, soft and slow,

In the city’s quiet, steady beat,

Each heart sings a tale unique.

~ Dawn

Moon, My Quiet Companion

Life's longing did something strange to me -

The moon became my friend from childhood days.

Whether I found friendship in people or not,

With the moon, my love sank deep into my soul.

Childhood passed, and youth quietly arrived,

Yet my love for the moon only grew stronger.

With each passing night,

I tucked a little more of it into my heart.

And now—

Why does the moon seem only half in the sky?

Perhaps the other half of its heart

Has stayed behind with me.

I still hope, someday,

It will descend in search of me—

The way I’ve followed it

Through every street, every corner, every night.

~ Dawn

A silent bud blossomed

I brought that pot of flower home with tender care,

Yet seasons passed - no bloom was waiting there.

Months slipped away, then years quietly moved on,

I kept asking why no bud chose to appear.

I played the gardener’s role with patience and grace,

With water and hope, I nurtured it here.

At times it seemed a bud might finally rise,

But dry leaves gathered—nothing but illusion, unclear.

When hope itself had quietly faded away,

A silent bud blossomed, soft and sincere.

Adorned in violet blooms, it healed the waiting heart,

A gentle reminder—faith is always near.

Keep doing your part without longing for reward,

For in time, every effort finds its sphere.

~ Dawn

The feel of spring

 

The colorful and cheerful nature,

With birds chirping, ducklings playing

Geese's honk and the buzzing bees 

The citrous flowers and their scent 

Spreading freshness in the air 

Giving the feel of spring

That nature shares with all

I happen to witness all these and

More with children's art work around

My happy place in the arms of nature!

~ Dawn

Farming is a profession of hope..!

It is said that the profession of farming began around 12,000 years ago with the domestication of livestock as hunters/gatherers settled down and started to plant their own food. In short, farming is one of the oldest jobs around.

This weekend I had the opportunity to visit two different farmer's market at different locations and as always my motto is to support our local farmers and since pandemic supporting location businesses is a norm now.

"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness." ~ Thomas Jefferson

It so happened, that the town where I live, has a farmer's market on a Saturday and I had an early morning flu-shot appointment . While returning from there, I thought to drive around the farmer's market at Niles, Fremont.

It was such a pleasant view with hustle-bustle people in and around the market, just like back home. I know it will sound weird, but since last year life has somehow been turned it's back and everyone is locked up at home due to pandemic. And after that it seems like ages when I saw people around in the market and you could only imagine the vibe, the energy that transformed in that place.

"The discovery of agriculture was the first big step toward a civilized life." ~ Arthur Keith

While browsing around each stall I saw the Niles backing company stall with pastries and bakery items. I am sorry but coming from one of the British colonies, I have always loved my breakfast with some sweets and so I lined up to purchase some pastries. Believe me, I was lucky to be number fifth in line because after that the line got into double digits. Sometimes, when you see the display of fresh bakery items you would want to buy everything and I think that's what happened with the lady who was ahead of me and she brought for $169.00. I was excited to buy couple fruit and cheese danish, sweet potato pie, croissant with ham and cheese and chocolate cookies for my son. Only after that I went to purchase some fresh fruits and vegetables. Believe me, each time we eat those fruits we praise the farmers as it is so sweet and good in taste. I know my kids they love it and I tell them my story as growing up we always went to the local farmers who would sell vegetables and fruits what they produced in their farm. 

"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka

As soon I finished looking around and purchasing from the market, life looked like back to normal for a minute though everyone was wearing mask and keeping safe distance - the new normal!

Here they had local band playing music and that time I kept wondering what's special today? Is it music in the park that has started now?, as due to pandemic I know many artists have been impacted badly. 

I had plans for Sunday hike and hence after a short hike of 4 miles I came home and kids wanted to go for brunch and we thought to go to Livermore which is close our town and hence we went to a restaurant called Monica's. Apparently, this place is so busy that we had an hour wait but we didn't mind it as there was live music, car show and farmer's market. This one is a bit bigger than what we have at Niles.

The fruits that I brought previous day was almost over and we thought while we are here lets buy some more. It's always the thought of the farmers that comes to my mind and strongly feel like supporting them and hence I brought some more vegetables and fruits. One thing I noticed that, its not only vegetables and fruits but also small business such as boba tea shop, locally made honey, salads, dumplings, hummus, flowers, and what not. You can actually come to the farmers market and buy food and eat food as well. 

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways." ~ John F. Kennedy

Yes, I agree things can be expensive since they are organic and fresh and not chemically grown but I feel at least the money you pay for these goes directly to the ones who actually put their hard work into it.

I feel happy because when the hands that grow the food that we eat are happy then definitely the crop they raise is also happy, healthy and tasty too.

Buy from your local farmers, support them and stay healthy by eating fresh and healthy produce.

"To make agriculture sustainable, the grower has got to be able to make a profit." ~ Sam Farr

~ Dawn

Note: Now you can listen to the audio version of my blogs in Hindi on the UshaDawn Hindi Podcast on Google, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Check it out and new episodes uploaded every day 3 AM Pacific Standard Time

Keep love in your heart..!

 

How many of you do gardening? I do gardening as a hobby and as a kid I started first with indoor plants. We had huge garden in the house in front and in the backyard. 

The backyard was not very spacious for gardening since we had huge mango trees which used to give immense of shade that other plants didn't had much hope to get sunlight.

"Who loves a garden loves a greenhouse too." ~ William Cowper

My front yard and my living room was always filled with greenery as I used to love to decorate the interior with real plants. And the garden had all kinds of flowers such as jasmine, rose, trees such as cashew, papaya, guava, mango, jackfruit and tapioca, yam and many more..! 

I have a green thumb as they say, because the plants that people would say is dead and throw away, I used to bring them home and bring them to life. 

It's a great feeling when a plant is revived and you see they are flowering and spreading the fragrance of joy, it soothes you.

Lately, I see lot of people took gardening as a hobby during this pandemic and I think this is the best thing to do because it not only gives you, vegetables, flowers but it also helps with your mental and physical wellness.

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." ~ Marcus Cicero

Gardening, planting trees is not only for your individual health but it also helps to resolve with air pollution and the climate change issues.

These days with national health services also, gardening is considered as a therapeutical because many times our health doesn't need medicine but therapeutic and nurturing is what we need. Everyone is in the rat race and they forget that this is impacting their health at such time medicine can help you temporarily but the medicines also have side effects. When you are young your body may cope but as you age things are tough because medicine can also be harmful for that age and gardening for health is what is recommended. A regular dose of gardening is what we all need, a green care or therapy by exposure to plants and gardening.

"The flower that smells the sweetest is shy and lowly" ~ William Wordsworth 

Many studies in UK and around the world has proven that looking at a green space is much less depression, anxiety and stress.

I remember reading once about therapeutical gardens near hospitals for patients mental health wellness, even at prison gardening has always helped.

Nature has its own way to take care of us mentally and physically. Sunlight as it lowers the blood pressure so does it gives Vitamin D, the fruits and vegetables have a positive impact on the diet and working in the garden is like aerobic exercise and guess what these are not expensive like some of the medical treatments.

Love nature and be with nature you will see the positive change in you!

"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair" ~ Khalil Gibran

~ Dawn

Attachments !

 

Its been a long journey

Once I was born from a seed

Living in the middle of chaos

Life has taught me to face 

The ups and downs of weather

Be it for bugs or even animals

I have given shelter to all of them

The only sacrifice that I did in life

Not to move and create chaos around

I have the freedom to grow anywhere 

And spread my branch my space along

Yet, I am stuck here with attachments

Life can become a journey only to some!!!

~ Dawn

A visitor came home

The day started a bit early today,

Can't keep a track of day or date,

When I look at the computer for time,

It's always afternoon or evening time,

When someone says 'lunch' at home,

Its time for lunch I remember then,

Since, everyone staying home for safety,

Everyone eating healthy too is a game,

With fruits and vegetables as smoothie,

I was enjoying the lunch and meeting,

When a little grey pigeon showed up,

They sat, cleaned, tried to get my attention,

As soon I looked at, they said to me:

"Hello, neighbor how are you?

I don't see you around these days!"

Tears rolled out of my eyes on that question,

A visitor came home and asked about me?

Isn't that amazing on such a corona times?

If it's social distancing then here we are,

The pigeon gave company through lunch time,

I am blessed for the visitor to come home,

And show some empathy and gala time!

~ Dawn 

The window with a restriction

The sky is blue and glee

The trees look fresh, green

Water is sleepy in the canyon

Flowing in its own direction

The birds chirping and playing

The sun coloring the sky

Everyone has their freedom 

And I am privileged to see them

For me staying at home looking at

The window with a restriction

One can feel and be rebel too

But then think of the one 

That is inside four walls yet 

Has no window to see this all

Sometimes, nature as its way to tell

It's time to reflect upon self!

~ Dawn 

Things changed

In a very short moment,

things changed for me,

and for you!

The wind that touched 

me and you are now 

keeping us away,

They don't want us to touch

neither they want to touch us

The sunset and sunrise

I used to see across 

The mountains and 

rivers on hikes are 

now only through 

my windows!

I can see but can't touch

I can see but can't feel

A game that nature 

playing with all of us

either to tease or 

teach us about us 

our deeds and our styles

Can we change?

When calendar changes

Nature changes to the season

But can we change 

To keep the earth healthy?

Or even to keep ourselves 

healthy?

~ Dawn

Spread love like those clouds

Spread love like those clouds,
Show compassion like the Sun,
Nature gives you so the time

Why not we learn and be like one

The tough times are always there

But you and me can make it through

Only if we stand together and fight it

Love one and love all is the motto

Spread love like those clouds

Show compassion like the Sun!

~ Dawn 

Let's be one with nature...

Give yourself to nature...

Let's be one with nature...

Walk on the roads paved by...

You and me and mother nature...

Let yourself free in the arms of nature...

When we don't remember to look around...

They come to us and remind us to live...

Beyond all the materialistic distractions...

Come to me ...

Come to me ... and let yourself free...

You come through me and so come to me...

~Dawn #naturethebestplayer 

Adios to this day...!

As the day is setting in,

So is the poetry month,

Been a ridiculously fun,

Yet a challenging turn in,

It was good to wind up here,

Than carrying it along inside,

Enjoyed the journey of poetry,

Thanks for supporting,

From Sun to Moon to the nature

Inspiring to keep up the game,

Sometimes it was for them and

Sometimes they were for me

A beautiful relation we live together,

Adios to this day with the hope,

For many more Dawns to come 😉

~ Dawn

#poetrymonth

#aprilthepoetrymonth #lastdayofpoetrymonth

Happy Earth Day!

Celebrate the greenery my friend,

As it gives the freshness of colors

To the eyes, heart and mind,

Please add more of them and cut less,

They are needed not only for beauty

But also for our survival,

We all are dependent on each other

Let's help each other and nourish,

For living or dead we all will perish,

But without them we indeed will be dead,

Let's bring our life to this planet,

By adding value and love in raising them,

Happy Earth Day!

~ Dawn

#Happypoetrymonth

#aprilthepoetrymonth

#Happyearthday

The good old botany days..

A beautiful flower with mesmerizing fragrance,

You just don't want to leave the flower,

But then they are so important to the tree

They're reproductive portion of any tree

As I take a closer look at it, botany kicked in

Since it was visible to eyes, started looking at them

The petals, sepals, the carpel and stamen

Even there we have genders that define functions,

With a stigma where pistil, pollen germinates,

That's the powerful female which carries style and overies

Reminded of my botany class and the labs

Where hours were spent to look and study them

Beautiful days with beautiful research,

A simple flower complicated all our lives,

When the exams used to come with questions on flowers!

The good old botany days 😍💕

~ Dawn #happypoetrymonth

#aprilthepoetrymonth

A Beautiful Day!

Beautiful day and beautiful plan,

Meeting and eating was so fun,

Exploring the place, food and people,

Yet walking carelessly along the stores,

Looking and admiring calling history,

So much to cherish and relate with,

The day carried on from place to home,

Sharing stories being with nature as one,

Until the clouds came together telling,

Dusk is here so Dawn can come again 😉

After #got we said adios to the day!

~ Dawn

#happypoetrymonth #aprilthepoetrymonth