Swim

“This summer I went swimming,
This summer I might have drowned
But I held my breath and I kicked my feet
And I moved my arms around…”

–Loudon Wainwright III, Swimming Song 

The Street

The dawn rose and my eyes adjusted to the view, from bokeh to bright, as the sun sprinkled a golden filter across the street. Who were these people, so immersed in their preoccupations, chasing life, their hopes and anxieties all closed to me?
Do they have a special pocket in their briefcases, one in which they ensconce their dreams? Do they ever think about home, or are they happy to get by just like me, meeting new people, gleaning stories?
Who live in the thatched cottages on the mountaintop? Do they savour the sunrise and sunset as much as the tourists? Do they ever look out their windows and watch me on this bench where I sleep?
Who is the owner of the antique trinket shop? Does he know who carved the wooden camel so painstakingly?
What is the tale of this bustling anecdotal street?

I started from home with little more than an intrepid spirit and a guitar. Today, I have a bag full of memories; they can’t be distilled into a single photograph or diary entry. 

My Recent ‘Feels’ Playlist

When it comes to music, my song picks end with anything that has strong lyrics. A song that marries the sensation it evokes with the emotion it comes from sticks to my playlist for a long time. This may be because of that thing about music – it connects, makes you feel less lonely. So, today I decided to list down a few such songs; I call it my ‘feels playlist’ as it has the power to soothe my melancholy and elevate my joy.

Nostalgia: The songs that disinter the sweet moments.

• Old Pine by Ben Howard
• Middle of My Mind  by Tom Rosenthal
• Promise by Ben Howard

Journey: Companions for when the going gets tough.

• Step You Can’t Take Back by Kiera Knightley (Begin Again)
•  This Road is Long by Tom Rosenthal
• Sleep on the Floor by The Lumineers
•  All We Do by Oh Wonder

Perseverance: For me, these songs are like anthems that obviate the blues.

• Plans by Oh Wonder (An alt-pop duo, and one of my favourites.)
•  Keep Your Head Up by Ben Howard
• All of them Dreams by Tom Rosenthal

The Rationals: These songs can work wonders to kill the din and clutter of a bad day from your mind.

•  Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales
•  Fill in the Blank(From Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest, an indie rock band)

Happy listening!

for you.

 

                                                                                                     

That lonely stump in the park

those ringing sounds of the dark

lifeless leaves on the bottom of your shoe

make up a song of fright and gloom

a rant, and maybe a terminal note

that spiral the tiny ball in your throat

that burrow far from the good-natured sky

like slouched soldiers on the sly.

 

Oh, rip that piece of paper

and don’t let those hands waver

for the fledglings of joy will soon stop by

cancel the noise like the songs that got you by.

 

I know you’ll rise from under this rock

pick up your head and walk

give me a list of all the things you like

and I’ll give you one of mine

if it is the conversations that you crave

if it will bring a smile to your face

we’ll talk about the bits and bobs you want to buy

heckle and joke, watch the time fly.