Language can be a beautiful thing. You can stack up phrases and bite into them like a sandwich of plump shrimp. You can twirl sentences like I curl hair around my fingers, gazing absently at its tensile brownness against my skin. You can dip into it like the soothing jasmine green tea I have recently discovered. It bubbles and warbles in a kettle and the words spill over as you lie on your back, high on the sound they make. Language is the quiet of California rain. The cacophony of Bhendi Bazaar. The little shiver that tingles down your back when he looks at you that way.
Language is a new chaise lounge from Ikea. I’ve been curled up on it and refuse to vacate. Language makes me reach for grey skies and wrap them snugly around the shoulders. Eat a doughy chocolate cookie for breakfast and warm tortillas for lunch. Language makes me unrecognizable to him. I prefer you, he says simply. And OJ bristles. Shifts uncomfortably on her cushion for a while, then goes back to watching steam fog up the window. The landscape shuts itself out and she turns inward again.
Wisdom Wears Neon Pyjamas 
See how skilfully she weaves her words
We can picture every scene under her blurbs
As delicious as toffee
As refreshing as coffee
She makes us soar in the sky like happy birds!
sigh… write more, OJ
Lovely Post OJ:) I second and salute Aunty G’s comment. Thanks.
This post makes me want to lie down in a field of red clover and look at the ash blue sky and think about all the things, language has made me feel – and not feel:)
Beautiful language is the goosebumps that prick my arm, when you write *this* way.
Wowww.
Arrgghh. I meant goosebump that pricks my arm. Bad grammer alert!
you, you …wordsmith…i envy your writing…your talent. this was just beautiful.
Evocative as ever!
Tiramisu.Waterfall.Dewdrop.That’s just how beautiful this post is.Also,I believe congratulations are in order,OJ.I visited your blog after quite a while and I see that you are now married and in San Francisco? 🙂 Keep writing.Cheers.
beautifully written OJ (your hair curls in california- really???)…back on your continent, will call soon for proper (or improper;) catch up xoxox
i am ashamed to say that this is the zillionth time i am reading this post of yours…just cant keep myself away…it is THAT beautiful. so need this distraction now.
thank you.
Aunty G: Toffee. I heart toffee.
the mad momma: I’ve always been ambivalent about that and I’m not completely sure why.
dezann: 🙂 Good to hear from you.
Roxana: Oh wow. Thanks!
sukanya: Now I’m all embarrassed. 😳 And hey, don’t be ashamed. Do what it takes to feel better.
dipali: 🙂
Vidya: Yes, thank you. Come back before I have a baby. 😛
girlfriend: You’re back! You’re back! 😀 *does a complicated twirl* *And lands on her nose*
Lovely Post.
Though do you really have to talk about food? I mean, I rarely missed Indian food while I was there (given I was in NJ), but suddenly I am missing the obnoxious Thai aunty, the handsome Greek boy, the lovable Gujju uncle( who always up-sized the coffee and gave me free donuts),…
sigh
Love every word you write! Its like scenes strung together like pearls on a string. Write some more 🙂
M…: Oh yes I do. 🙂 Food, my friend, is the stuff of life. And don’t let anybody ever tell you otherwise.
Vaani: Thanks, Vaani!