I smell of sea
fish, salt, spices
and of an old woman
besotted by myriad suitors
laden with memories
of conquests and conversions,
I smell of rusting heap of iron ships
abandoned in my harbours
I smell of rotten coconuts
along the banks of Mandavi and Zuari
of sun creams and skin oils
of bikini babes
bathing on my beaches
under the sun
I smell of fermenting Feni
rare perfumes in casinos
but most of all
I smell of joy
--its in my air
come, breathe it.
The state of Goa, on India's west coast, is famed worldwide for its beautiful tropical beaches. Abhay K has written poems about other such places as well, including poems about Phuket and other beach destinations in Thailand.
The Mandovi and Zuari rivers are the main waterways of Goa.
Some of Abhay K's poetry is available from Amazon: