Tuesday, July 10, 2012

My Light Reflections By Monita Soni

Foreword:

To read Dr. Monita Soni's My Light Reflections, is to try and take the measure of light in its myriad illuminations, the shifting rays that color a landscape stretching from Huntsville, Alabama to Mumbai, Jaipur, the Aravalli hills, to a garden, a wilderness, a "reflection pond," a kitchen, an artist's studio, and a pathology lab. Her book is lesson, a lexicon, a legend, story, journey, travelogue, a gift of laugher and exquisite joy. Dr. Soni's reflections are illuminations; they are moonlight and sunlight, science, and art and "a trajectory of life," to borrow the title of her initial poem. To read her poetry is to truly "step out in pure awe."

Dr. Soni's kaleidoscope nourishes the creative spirit as the myriad reflections that bring to view family relationships-the love for a father who quotes the Bhagavad Gita, Arabic poetry, Charles Dickens, and Mark Twain, for a son who lives in Jaipur, a daughter who is described as a moon-maiden. The book is savory  "parathas" (griddle-flaky flat bread) and mangos. It is stories of sisters, the very "keepers of each other's identity": it is bed tea, and "butterscotch laughter."  My Light Reflections traces the soul's journey to that place within where the "thousand petal lotus blooms."

Dr. Soni reminds us as loving earthly beings  that "our body is precious; it is our vehicle for awakening." A painter, poet, physician and philosopher, her words are prescriptions for how to live both fully and well.

Excerpt from the book (Courtesy of Dr. Monita Soni):

I am very thankful all eighty six thousand four hundred seconds of the day for one gift. That is my daughter "Abha". The moment this angelic being came into my being, I was blessed. I had a wonderful busy, happy time carrying her. I was doing my residency in pathology and managing a family practice clinic in Jaipur, Rajasthan. I remember distinctly it was a very hot day in June. The sun was beating down mercilessly. I had seen about fifty patients and started IV drips on five dehydrated women and children. Late afternoon I was exhausted and felt my own uterine contractions. I immediately called my mother to catch a flight from Mumbai and checked myself into Santokhba Durlabhji Hospital. My mother came straight to the hospital. She had that excited look of an expectant grandmother. But she was equally satisfied to hug a very pregnant daughter. Obviously it had been a false alarm. Suhasini, my obgyn wanted to discharge me but I persuaded her to keep me at the hospital for observation. (actually more to rest) Five days went by, lots of visitors but no baby. I just relaxed with my mother and ate all the goodies they brought me. My mother-in-law was particularly incensed by my eating almost all the almonds and makhaanas lightly fried in clarified butter. This was supposed to be for after the baby was born to encourage lactation, she frowned. Well, too bad (I thought) they are in my tummy now, I am sure the baby sampled them too because she has been expressing her appreciation with happy little kicks.  My daughter was born at 8.51 AM on a bright sunny 29th of June 1985. "-My Divine Light, My Abha -my dad named her, and since then this slender girl with astonishingly beautiful big brown eyes is my source of inspiration, joy and gratitude! The moral of her story is "You should be happy for what you have". And guess what she is addicted to fried almonds. Here's a poem for her.

 Moon Flower

Out side my bedroom window

Is a slender shrub

It has medium green leaves

Growing alternately

It does not attract too much attention

Next to the bold hibiscus

 

As the sun sets, the shrub stretches

Now it is 5 foot 7 inches tall

The branches are covered

With soft white

Five petal blooms

A discreet perfume beguiles the air

 

The door opens

She stands there in her

White Shirt, stars twinkling

At her neck line

Her sweet smile tugs at my heart

My moon maiden is home        

          

Monita Soni

About Monita Soni:

A pathologist in Huntsville, Alabama, diagnosing cancer in her day job. Reading and writing poetry is a passion that splashes her literally with a sparkling abundance. She is inspired by great twentieth century poets (Robert Frost, Keats, Browning and Tagore) and ancient Sufi poet like Hafiz, Rumi and Faiz. Her writing style weaves eastern and western cultures and creates organic rhythms. You can hear her commentaries on WLRH Sundial Writer's corner.

 

Copyright 2009-2013 Pravasi Herald All Rights Reserved