Green Afternoon

Dark masses rest on my shoulders
I do not

know of it

and yet I carry the heavy burden


Fusillade of leaves and

chips and twigs and

cries of birds, yet

the body moves
unknowing of its slouch

its droop, its collapse nigh.

Why? The answer is not in

the air but

in the heart, unheeded.


Light which shimmered at

the far end

has gone, the clouds
roll has stopped, it is a
death
everywhere

but for a moment

when an eagle's shrill cry

brings the soul home

and

lends weight to my burden

The earth smells

of its vapors

Grudgingly as it gives

release to my oppression

The drab monotony
of grey clouds and

black skies

liberates
and it is then I

know of the weight I carry

A thousand murmurs
Rippling brooks, running rivulets
Muted rooks, swishing leaves
Blades of grass

taking all my weight

Life is alive,

is kicking,

The light is not far

was never far

It was only

the fear of the grey

But now I bathe in it

I take a step to

embrace it

And

it does not flinch

But takes two steps

to meet me halfway

I realize 'tis a green afternoon.

Ashes 2006-07: Review

There's nothing much left to say. England had lost before the start of the series itself - in its own mind. When a team can think of Ashley Giles as a batsman, it indicates how woe begone is the team. Right through the series, Flintoff's captaincy was defensive and pathetic, to say the least. Wrong field placings for Monty so many times, wrong bowling selections at the wrong time, strange team selections (starting from the squad itself), and careless profligacy from many batsmen.
Strauss - it's time he, the great player he is, matures himself, curbs his tendency to slash outside the off stump everytime, and takes up the responsibility of being an opener. Bell - he cannot afford to go into his shell every now and then; the game is to score runs, not to simply stay there, boringly. Cook - the only one who didn't used to get out in a profligate manner, and showed maturity always. He has to work on his game when it comes to the corridor of uncertainty. Collingwood - is maturing, and playing beyond his abilities. So, cannot find fault with him. Pietersen - he was easily the best batsman and player for England in this Ashes, but he is a god. Don't think gods are expected to make 70s and 80s. Flintoff - the big let-down both with bat and ball, and captaincy. He bowled well, but didn't get enough support from other end, and luck from above. And battingwise, I thought he lacked some match practice, and that in Australia, he and Collingwood should have swapped their batting numbers. Geraint Jones and Chris Read - both the wicketkeepers - were dismal. The bowling was only good in patches, with Hoggard and Monty shining occasionally. Australia didn't have to do much except play their natural hard, aggressive game, and they were the winners. Besides Ponting, Hussey and Stuart Clark were the stars for them - and future matchwinners.
Hats off to Australia for winning it 5-0!