A poem on the most beautiful place

O Dear Alibaug

--Vaibhav M Varkhedkar

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

Resting next to the jade-green waters of the Arabian Sea with beige sandy beaches and palm trees in the millions and a warm afternoon breeze make thou a quintessential coastal region. The sound of the swaying palms in sync with the rising waves unites a melody with nature’s harmony.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

In the Summer, a mesmerizing sunrise beckons, approaching from behind the rugged Sahyadri peaks. The morning mist settles as dew on the tender petals of champa blossoms. A crowing rooster awakens the citizens, and the koel, with its heavenly calls, fills the hearts with joy.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

Afternoons though, hot and humid, offer a perfect excuse to lie on a hammock in the shade, listening to the hammering of nails on railroad tracks by the coppersmith barbet bird, whose rhythmic notes confer tranquility to the environment and deliver the true spirit of country living. Fluttering on wildflowers are the butterflies and dragonflies who buzz like bees. A raw mango, a few green tamarinds, or violet karvandas offer a guilty pleasure treat.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

The rustling of palms signals the start of afternoon sea-breeze a few hours before sundown. A gecko snickers from the cracks and crevices during dusk. A did-he-do-it bird (titwi) flies past the horizon, asking the same question repeatedly as the crows return to their nest, just like workers returning from their grueling day.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

A whistle is often heard at night from the ships docking in the Mumbai harbor, several nautical miles away. The howling wolves, the barking dogs, and the occasional hiss of Russel’s viper add an eerie charisma to the night. An eclipse of moths circumnavigates the lantern, like planets orbiting a star. Meanwhile, every breeze brings the fragrance of night-blooming jasmine nearby.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

The monsoon adorns you with a green saree, with multiple shades, washed every day with the torrential pour. The slithering earthworms wiggle on concrete, and croaking frogs flood every stream, pond, and lake. Egrets and cranes flock to grub in the watering holes. Cascading waterfalls erupt from every knoll.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

Gathering clouds and grey skies render a melancholic charm with the soothing music of the waves battering the coast. Lighting and thunder reverberate as Lord Indra’s fury from the heavens. The pitter-patter rhythm of raindrops and ruckus from dozens of green rose-ringed parakeets releases sporadic bursts of energy into the environment.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

October brings hot weather, with golden rice grain ready for harvesting. Spectacled cobras snake through the fields, looking for their favorite prey. The Milky Way arches through the night sky like an illuminated path across the heavens. The morning star shines bright during the dawn, and Jupiter is seen throughout the night. Sometimes a hare is seen peeking through the grass, momentarily enjoying fresh chew.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

Cold weather seeps through the dawn as winter approaches, rendering a pinkish hue to our skins. The bulbul calls for its mate amidst the perfume of the elusive coco magnolia (kauti chapha). As February arrives, the mango blossoms erupt into a fragrant inflorescence. The neera so refreshing is often consumed before noon. The hunter appears in the sky as one gazes at the constellation lying next to a bonfire in an open patch.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine

Evenings are for bargaining with the fishers to trade their catch for currency. The aroma of fried fish and spicy curry is one for the ages. Tandoori chicken roasted on an open flame gives a satisfaction true to its name. Watching the eternal embryo submerge in the sea is a delight for every soul as the golden-saffron shades mingle with the azure.

So, here I told thee the tale of the most enchanting place on the earth.

Alibaug, O Dear Alibaug

Thy beauty is divine