Poetry
Amongst The Lilies
by INNI KAUR“What a lovely person,” I whisper to my husband as a passer-by offers to take a photograph of the two of us at the New York Botanical Gardens.
“When you are with me, you’ll only meet lovely people,” replies my husband, the epitome of humility.
The man can still make me laugh. After thirty-four years of being together, I guess he’s a keeper.
He holds my hand as we walk the Poetry Walk in the gardens surrounding the Conservatory. Sixteen exquisite poems of Federico Garcia transport me and he knows it.
We enter the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, which is the centerpiece of the Garden. It’s a crystal palace and breathtaking beautiful. Entering through its doors is like entering a new world, ‘A World of Plants.’
The Spanish Paradise: Gardens of the Alhambra exhibit is the latest attraction. Flowing fountains, elegant arches and gorgeous Mediterranean plants transport me to southern Spain. A tiny pomegranate tree tells the story of how it arrived via Syria to Spain in the eighth century. It was a gift to the Sultan from his sister in Syria. The story goes as such, the fruit dried by the time it reached him but the Sultan had its seeds planted and voila! - it bore fruit.
We meander and enter the cactus world. The colors of the blooms remind me of my childhood days in Kuwait. For a week or so in the winter months, the desert would come alive with the rains. It was magical to see the desert in bloom.
Orchids in all shapes size and color delight my senses.
Memories of Hawaii rush in. I cling to my husband.
“Do you remember?” I ask. He nods and smiles.
Going through the tunnel to experience the tropical rain forest can be best described as a Star Trek moment. Husband was not too thrilled. I thought it was exciting.
And then we find ourselves in front of the water lily ponds. Radiant, exotic water lilies serenely floating in their platter-like greenery was astonishing. Seeing the ornamental fish slithering in the pond made me smile. The Universe has a way of showing me that it knows what I am working on. In the next volume of my book, Journey with the Gurus, I am working on this shabad for chapter seven:
O my mind, love God
As the fish loves water.
The more the water,
The happier the fish.
Peacefully and contently she swims.
Without water, she cannot live
Even for a moment.
And God knows her inner pain.
We probably spent the most time at the water lily ponds.
"Please take a photograph of the lilies,” I plead with hubby.
“Go and sit next to them,” he replies.
“Focus on the water lilies, not me,” I instruct.
Just then a woman walking by says, “You are the lily in his life.”
Husband blushes.
I smile.
The Universe is way too good to me.
The sun starts beating down on.
“Let’s go,” says husband.
“Just give me a few minutes to walk around the pond,” I reply.
“Are you doing a parkarma?”
I smile, wave and leave.
A poem I wrote many years ago resounds within:
Make me a lotus in the pond
Make me a rose in full bloom
Make me a stream in Your dream
Make me, Lord, Your everything.
We leave the Conservatory and hop on to a tram and get a narrated tour of the Gardens. Founded in 1891 by a botanist Nathaniel Lord Britton, it is now a National Historic Landmark. The 250-acre site has 27 outdoor gardens and plant collections, an exquisite Victorian conservatory and a 40-acre forest that has remained unmolested since before the area was settled. Dramatic rock outcroppings, a river and cascading waterfall, wetlands, and ponds make the landscape totally spectacular.
There is much to see, much to do but my energy is limited.
It was a picture perfect meditative day and I know I will be back to visit my water lilies.
Conversation about this article
1: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), July 04, 2011, 8:56 AM.
What would come to my mind: "Baliharee kudret vasi-aa/ tayraa ant na jaa-ee lakh-aa" (GGS:469.11)- "I am enchanted with your ever pervading wonder, Your limit cannot be known". To top it, to have 'kanth' hold your hand! Inni, may you be ever blessed. Keep painting these lovely pictures.
2: Gurinder Singh Johal (Amritsar, Punjab), July 04, 2011, 11:51 PM.
It is a great passion; to love nature is akin to loving humanity. A true Sikh is always a nature lover and its caretaker.
3: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), July 05, 2011, 2:54 PM.
A poem from grade 8 came alive as I read your piece. I remember being clearly able to inhale the scent of roses as I read and re-read "My Garden" decades ago. Today, the cool of lilies refreshed me and re-instilled the longing to visit a garden. I think God walks in all of them. "A GARDEN is a lovesome thing, God wot!/ Rose plot,/ Fringed pool,/ Fern'd grot./ The veriest school/ Of peace; and yet the fool/ Contends that God is not/ Not God! in gardens! when the eve is cool?/ Nay, but I have a sign;/ 'Tis very sure God walks in mine." - Thomas Edward Brown