Reply to my Birthday Poem

Madeleine Weathers my counterpart, 
Have I told you how great thou art?

My day started with a bike ride down,
To the ocean of pacific renown. 
I waded in till my ankles could no longer take the chill,
And contemplated my fortieth with anticipation and thrill. 
Drinks and cooking ensued in steadfast celebration
And friends and family joined in with singing and satiation 
It's been truly marvellous
an episode to reckon,
A year ago I imagined myself here this very second
The universe has manifested my dreams so fair so true
But none as so majestic as the light that stems from you. 

Love
Harper Leaf

On your fortieth year my dear

Harper of the great Pacific
In lieu of being prolific
I offer this solitary pome
Trust it will find it’s way on home

On your fourth decade in the sun
I wish you the purest light
May it illuminate your pages
And flood you with deepest sight
May it burst through your pigments
and tango with the sounds
That flow from your piano
When you are two whiskeys down

I would wish for you a piece of land
Not too clunky or too grand
But just the right size of gift
Delivered by continental drift
To reach your seaside door,
By the time the harvest moon
Sings her golden lunar tune
So you would not ask for more.

To aid you with your travels
May I suggest a great masseur
Who could cure your spinal sorrows
On a red-oxide coated floor.

Or perhaps you need a poet
Who could throw you a little rhyme
When you are short of haiku
with gin tonic and lime

Then there is the simple matter
of a well built time machine
That could transport you in a jiffy
To a kingdom with no queens
It might suit you better
To roam in princely states
With bearded balladeers
To charm you on a date.

There are various options
For your fortieth birthday spree
It requires just selection
And your royal decree

We’ll pack it and we’ll ship it
To your Pacific door
And barring unforeseen currents
that may drag it to the ocean floor
You could certainly expect it
To arrive in perfect time
For your autumnal adventures
That must begin with rhyme.

Happy birthday Harper Leaf.


Love
Madeleine Weathers

Madeleine of inner worlds

Madeleine of inner worlds

What unfurls within those curls?

Allegorically we speak

While one caresses from cheek to cheek.

Inadvertantly I speak to you

To remind me of all that's true.

Indepth beyond these spurious walls

Unaccustomed to things that fall.

But raindrops do what they must do

To flood the earth with morning dew

And carry leaves upon their flight

Transcending nature both day and night.

My cleanse has begun or so it seems

It's evidently in my dreams

And once again I start anew

To ponder life and love that's true.

Harper

Havelock island

Havelock island

Andamans

March 2013

Dear Madeleine,

These are the mighty shores 

That have opened all my pores

Of sparkling sands and silken seas

There are none such as these

Not to mention those stunning trees

That are truly great Andamanese

I'm here at last after many a year

Travelling both far and near

I may have reached some other ground

For in this space I think I've found

A spot where I'd like to hang my hat

Now what do you think about that?

A forest that's landed into the sea

That's exactly where I'd like to be

Night swimming under the moon

Can only make you swoon

Sparkles of phosphorescence in everything you touched

Life is really made of star dust

I'm bewitched by this enchanted land

To find some solace in sea and sand

Most certainly will be back for more

And hopefully bring you to this shore.

Fulfilled

Harper

Love and feathers

Harper

while I wait for wings
To lift me up and take me home
What lands in my fishing net
Is a lovely leafy pome.

I understand the sabbath days
of solitary solemnness
I understand that nature is
so full of rambling randomness

As the story has unravelled
from through winter until now
We can do nothing but watch and learn
To destiny I bow

Its time a few changes
for a cosmic overhaul
we'll have to work on healing
though summer unto fall

My body has protested
At how I choose to live
She's asking me for things now
That I don't know how to give.

I grab her every morning
When I go to work
And when I am day dreaming
Still gently she does lurk

Its only now I understand
your knees and your aches
How can we keep them happy
For dear heaven's sake!

As of the turbulent waters
That toss our daily boat
I trust you to hang in there
And hold on to your note.

You  must trust me when I tell you
That  these are important times
Its through this turbulence
That words starts to rhyme.
Its through this dangling conversation
That we will find the clues
As to what we must think
And what we must do///

You are living a great learning
That tells me you will know
More and more everyday
But it could be slow..

Lets hold on to our dreams
And play with our words
Its just a mater of time before
We soar with 'em birds

Love and feathers
M

Mediary thought

Madeleine

It's as if I'm not there

Filled with hope and then despair

An adequate state of know-not-what

A blank___ a slash/ a dash- a dot.

I lie as if I am awake

And walk with dreams I can't partake

I tarry forth back to and fro

Not knowing whence I came from, or where to go.

I slowly slip into the mist

Question things I can't resist

Scribbling lines upon the fog

Conversations with no dialogue.

This limbo is my winter estate

A solemn entrance to natures gate

I'm waiting for this mist to rise

To drift along with no surprise.

Deriving life from other things

Soaking up what nature brings

And in that mediary thought

I catch a glimpse of all that's naught.

Tonight I sat under the moon

It's getting fuller all too soon

But it was nice to simply rest

And imbibe all that's truly blessed.

These days have been my saving grace

Journeying through life at a steady pace

Planting ideas like little seeds

Hoping someday to eat the fruits of these deeds.

I'm off now to return

To my dreams where I shall learn

Of places been and lives forgot

Lessons learned and soul songs taught.

Solitary on Sabbath,

Harper

Autumn in my Heart

Madeleine,

I'm quite upset

By matters of the heart

I can't quite grasp the nuances

That keeps our worlds apart

What are these intricacies

That follow mind and soul?

And leave the heart in such despair

That questions every goal?

My journey ever seems to take

So many twists and turns

And I am left to lie awake

while quietly it burns

The fire in my heart it seems

Is one such glowing ember

But this is just October yet

What of November and December?

My 37th year I gather

Is full of matter, full of dreams

And my heavy heart is left to wallow

In penetrating silent screams.

I don't know what to do or say

Wait patiently I reckon

For answers to reveal themselves

And surreptitiously beckon.

There is one thing that I do subscribe

to the wandering life I lead

That it takes me everywhere

And fulfills my every need.

Autumn in my heart,

Harper falling leaf

kirke

Comic done in 1998.

In the world of Harper and Madeleine

Sent to me on Jan 25th, 2002. 3:52 am.

Dearest deepest darkest sea

Those nothings which you wrote to me

brought back the smell of salty sun

which the waves had gently spun.

goan greed so bright and pure

goan greed that wants some more

some more of that paradise

and the holiday disguise

the lack of my bikini

in this freezing room

is nature's way of telling me

that I'm back too soon

delhi winter is another fact

the wind has very little tact

but its allowing me to endorse

a new wardrobe for a new cause.

the office looks like a garage

its empty, messy, dead and large

times are changing nervously

and fates are forming purposely.

I wonder what I'm going to do.

I haven't any sort of clue

my future seems too far from now

2 years have passed I don't know how.

the magic beds in my own home

trap me when I am alone

the sun spills onto soft beddings

and the green barbet needs to sing

eucalyptus leaves talk in their sleep

and the wind it sometimes weeps

The guitar has lost its wooden soul

in my heart its left a hole

its strings cut me like a knife

for I am its prodigal wife.

it awaits my uncertain return

meanwhile its useless fire burns.

and harper's gone drunk and tanned

the crowded ship is so unmanned

we'll have to find the secret map

and spread it out upon our laps

find different routes to different lands

but rendezvous on goan sands

your heart, now it must be lighter

and your vision even brighter

i'm glad we caught the setting sun

amidst those days of frantic fun.

I saw the fog lift from your eyes

what doesn't kill you makes you wise

and I can see that you've returned

with battles won and lessons learned.

goodbyes we missed my never mind

another chance we'll have to find.

love and watermelons

skelp

Thirty Seven

Harper

 This is Madeleine
 Once more I have been crowned the Queen
 My paper cups do overflow
 With wine and chatter they do glow.

 How art thou?
 My cups they ask
 Gently nudging your whisky flask
 Thirty seven is a wondrous age
 To write upon an empty page
 Enter the fact in letters bold
I am thirty seven years old. 

Thirty Seven years old
Thirty seven years young
Thirty seven years
 Together strung

 Today, a birthday wish I grant
A birthday pome I lightly chant

 Harper this has got to be
A glorious year, for all to see
 Filled with great unravellings
Filled with greater happenings
Filled with love and filled with light
Filled with joy and beauty bright.

 May your coming year
Bring you near
To all that you ever seek
May it carry you closer
Giving you a peek
Of the larger mysteries
That constantly unfold
And the cosmic ramblings
That every seashell holds

 I wish for this year of yours to be
The Greatest yet in history...

Love and magic
M.Weathers

From 2003

Madeleine my heart was heavy

it's slowly getting light

I think I am quite ready

To take that long awaited flight

I'm leaving all my troubles

and other troubles too

The baggage is too heavy

For just me and you.

I question not the answers

they find me when the time is right

For a tad bit too early, or a tinge too late

And I wouldn't put up a fight.

So let's sing and be merry

And help out where we can

I think by helping others

We'll be carrying out our plan.

Harper

Nov 2004.

Summer Solstice

MW

Harper and Madeleine in the Sunday Guardian

www.sunday-guardian.com/technologic/artists-defy-electronic-age-with-verses-snail-mail

Harper and Madeleine, Volume 2

This Harper and Madeleine volume contains letters from 2001 to 2007.

Madeleine my ancient Quest,

Our singing has not reached it's best

But upon some Goan climes

A beach, a star, a moon that mimes

I do hope we'll reach our peak

Of lazy afternoon songs we seek.

My God, I think of Canada

My home has shifted rather far

It's strange to think that two years hence

My life will lead to some suspense

But until then if I'm alive

Tomorrow we leave at half past five.

H

Bombay, 2001

Harper hail once more to you

What smoke these ugly cities spew.

Illicit joy that no one buys

While cities scream into the skies.

Tomorrow is a promised land

Sinful sea and stardust sand

I beg to wake in solitude

At the risk of sounding rude.

Fond agendas of Bombay type

Are tiresome and too much of hype

I'll trade all plans for a NOTHING NEW

If Goan grass and sand comes true.

Weary with the want for want

Is the sacred land a tempting haunt

Is the clever sea a wishful theme

Or part of an insomniac's dream?

I still have to pack.

(Madeleine Weathers)

2001. Bombay.

Madeleine with the bottomless pit,

It's in a blue train that I sit

While you sleep in the top most bunker

My thoughts at the window are left to wander.

The rhythmic motion of the train

Makes my writing quite insane

Good day biscuits and a sip of chai

Misty morning landscapes pass my eye.

A man sits atop a pipe

Reading a book like a Godly Stipe

A hijda clapped his/her hands at me

Stared waiting for some money.

Mother sleeps on her camera bag

Where oh where is my jet lag?

A little boy on a winding road

A bunch of sticks his only load.

Beauty comes with perfect bliss.....

This is what I used to miss.

Harpendra

On the train from Bombay to Goa. 2001.

Madelle

Usually when I take a pee

My life gets sorted out immediately

It's a release of questions I've thought about

And I pass onto the next without a doubt

Vodka and watermelon juice

To swim in the sea not much to lose

A trip to Bourbon island and back

There's really not much that we lack.

I hope your lunar mistress wishes you well

Four hours and your tampon might ring a bell

But the ocean beckons and so must you

Be welcomed by the sea to leave a clue.

Harpooned.

Palolem beach, Goa. 2001.

I hate the....

magic blot

that killed my page

magic blot you grabbed the stage.

Magic blot you chose to die

where my magic drawings lie.

M

Palolem beach, Goa. 2001.

Prash it's 6:30 now and  you're just not here somehow

Are you pursing noble cause 

At which time it's hard to pause

I wonder if your inhaling things

Or orchestrating little flings

I'm here at the circle bar

And I met Dean

He'll play us music 

And that he means.

Don't stand me up on a perfect date

Perhaps we shouldn't challenge fate

Did you drop in here before

Then that would make me worry more.

Palolem beach, Goa. 2001.

Mad Lennox,

What a day for me my dear

I walked to Bourbon island without a beer

And there upon I crossed the strait

That took me there by mister fate.

Once on the island I traversed the rocks

Cut my toes, no concept of clocks

I walked around as the story goes

And came to a rock with the pointed nose

There I jumped into the sea

With a school of fish around me

While drying off I waved aloud

To fishermen who picked me up like a cloud

And brought me back to the beach

And to Ticano's I did reach

(John at the bar is a friend of mine

He get's me my drinks for free

And he's quick with a joke or to light up your smoke

But there's some place that he'd rather be)

(Thank you Billy Joel)

At half past four I took a nap

And jumped into the sea perhaps

'cause later on at our circular space

Be introduced me to our grassy chase

And a whole lot of other people too

All this happened while waiting for you.

Harpinned.

Harpendra,

Unwinding may be deemed complete

Since my debut swimming feat

I feel the tampon days recede

And a lightness which is all I need.

Walked down the beach about 10 miles

Since PMS it's been a while

Inspite of the Calangute killer

I reached Valentino feeling sillier.

Franc lost his way wanted a cab

And yes I work in a media lab

My stunning sense of composition

Made us take the right decisions

The perfect turns and deft navigation

Allowed us to find our destination.

The wounded ship and the deceptive lighthouse

Gave us the useful points

That we could refer to incase

We ran out of joints.

Notice how my handwriting 

changes drastically

Which part is true

I'd like to ask

emphatically.

To be con't - M

Baga to Calangute, Goa. 2001.

Holy Harper

Valentino's native curse

Couldn't have turned out any worse.

Gross ill luck with any food

Goa is turning a little rude.

Garlic in the watermelon juice.

They must think we've nothing to lose.

Evil men in no disguise

Beg to judge bikini size.

But somewhere inspite o f this routine

Some pleasant instances were seen.

A choppy ride upon the seas

That swung to the midday breeze

We swam upon unconquered shores

Not certain of what lay in store.

A pool of blessed perfection

Lies waiting for your inspection

On Butterfly island's quiet skin

Where butterflies are known to sin.

And night swimming as of yesterday

When the sea is like a blind man's prayer.

On your back you float like a sheet

The waters and the skies they meet.

Skinny dipping in the night

Is the most delicious sight

For mortal eyes that never knew

All the things that night could do.

....I'll continue my chronicles, in a little while,

In between there's breakfast, and a sun that doesn't smile.

Cloudy day,

Madeleine

Palolem, Goa.2001

Queen Madeleine,

Where hast thou been?

Across the oceans like a conquering dream?

Today has been a day without food

An unsatisfying discontent wherever I stood

The colour palette was blue and grey

A melancholy mix for a mellow day

It lasted mostly all day long,

which somehow seemed to be all wrong

How can we redeem tonight?

What is to be our plight?

Harper

Leaf

Harper of the following page,

My consciousness you do engage

The gallery of modern art,

is playing my film in parts

And at Leopold we dine again

with memories of our days in Spain.

Bangalore I trust was good for you

Now once more you return to what is true.

My charcoal tan is my only reminder

To my body the beach was kinder

Exhilarating for no reason

And it helps if it's the season

Cool wind and watermelon juice

The brain just wanders a little loose.

.8 's aren't good for me

I do prefer the .3's

So there,

M

Bombay.2001.

Harper of the oldest kind,

Holidays are hard to find

So in the splendor of these days

Let us bow to nature's ways

Of reuniting fondest friends

And letting sunshine make amends.

Your travels have brought you back to where

Blind men see and babies dare

Beaches roll and bluebells toll

And festivities steal your soul.

As you prepare to fly again

And I recoil into my den

I think of all the stories

that need to be written

And all the films that need to be made

And pledge solemnly to no one

That these visions shall not fade.

Moonboy and Kirke lurk in the backfield of my mind

And the purpose of this poem is the ensure that we find

Time in the coming days

That we could leave to chance

From where we'll continue

The correspondence dance.....

'Loves

Madeleine

Bombay. 2001.

Madeleine

That was quite a jive indeed

One that I must say was much in need

You twirl like a cycle rickshaw's spokes

And can be quite light when you're out of jokes.

The crossings project just crossed my head

which you had done it all instead.

Parts of it were really nice.

Some films I'll never watch twice.

For now our cosmic jive hath ended

A dance that simply must be commended

So now I sit in a Paris port

Waiting for my flight to float.....

And think of all that has been done

And yet to do....webs to be spun

India is such a magical space

And I'll be back to see her/your face.

Harper.

Paris, en route to Toronto. 2001.

Big apple

Madeleine
We have witnessed
Some spectacular delights
Inspiration added
Into our days and nights

We've explored the big apple
As seasoned travellers do
Navigating the grid
Between streets and avenue

Seurat has demonstrated
a particular skill
Of using conte crayons
to consequently thrill

At halloween you might have noticed
the creatures who appeared
And paraded the sidewalks
As it was normal to be weird

And sipping good ol' brandy's
in a gay piano bar
Singing with a bunch
Of happy broadway stars

you've managed to fill your boxes
with curiosities and such
So I'll scribe the details later
If I don't sleep too much

zzzz....
Harper

9 11 2007

New year 2012

New year Madeleine
It's twenty twelve!
It's time to make the cosmic delve
into simple magical states
Of circus rum and elephant plates.

So let me start off with Shillong,
Being there for new years can't be wrong,
Pine trees, pork roasts and winter cuddles
Private concerts and natures puddles.

We traversed down 2000 steps
To this mystical secret a tree has kept,
whose entwined roots and branches carried me
Across a river - this enchanted tree
became a bridge and not just one!
A double decker bridge, just for fun.

On new years day we stepped into,
A sacred forest there are just a few.
I can't tell you how I felt
Time before time and my heart did melt.
Those trees covered in a soft green moss,
Leaves and rocks and seeds to cross.
Mystical air of a druid's playground
Things thought lost were suddenly found.
All this as my body sang
In the sacred grove of Lawkyntang.

I'm in Calcutta now laying low,
Soaking it in flowing with the go.
Mother's being a perfect host
And now perhaps it's time to toast
To a glorious year ahead,
Now it's time to go to bed.

Dreamily,
Harper

Published letter

Illustrated letter....

An illustrated letter from Harper to Madeleine will be published in the Jan 2012 issue of Tehelka magazine. Here is a sneak preview.

Red book

Autumn Madeleine,
The mystique today has been,
A gathering of souls
Amidst many bowls.
A soup party it was
with rightful classic cause....
Of autumnal climes
And colder wintry times.

Comfy food and comfy beer,
In autumnal atmosphere
I'm glad I've resumed this book
So glad to have taken a look
Into this magic phase
Of long forgotten days.

Love,
Harper

Log entry: 5th nov 2011. Autumn Madeleine, Toronto


O how lovely to beget a note
in the middle of a frazzled day
as I sit blurry eyed before my screen
Not sure of what to say

Surrounded by official things
meetings, mails, and phones that ring
Lots of things to do as such
But nothing that amounts to much

So its quite nice to switch off a bit
Take a deep breath and sit
to write a little verse or two
To communicate my point of view
Which in particular
is nothing too curricular
But means to underline
My scarce respect for time.

On that note, I must slip back
Into my frazzled day
I plan not to work at all
And see if they still pay.

love
M

Harper Birthday 2011

Dearest Harper

It is the 13th of September
And it's not that I didn't remember...
But excuses I can't make
So the reasons I shan't fake!

Happy birthday my dearest friend
Welcome thirty six from 'round the bend
Hasten it with open arms
Put aside your daily qualms

Another year for you to greet
Full of magic, raw and sweet
May it ply you with such affairs
That disperse your worldly cares

May it bring you sunny days anew
May wintery ones be rare and few
I wish for you a noodle soup
And an enchanted cantaloupe
A journey on a flying spoon
To the craters of the fullest moon
Travels to the strangest lands
Where stories hide in grains of sand

I raise a toast
A merry brew
of joy
of peace
of love
to you..

Happy Birthday
Madeleine