A Mariachi & A Philosopher On Wheels ~ A Poem

By Mallikarjun B. Mulimani

What do you get when there is a philosopher who loves to gain a better understanding of
his true inner self by involving himself in the outer world to its fullest, whose brain is at its
sharpest when he is experiencing the best while driving his car, and a musician who loves to
celebrate every moment of life by singing and playing his guitar—both of whom are flatmates
and the best of buddies with down to earth attitudes and charming personalities.
One fine day, out of the blue, the musician confides in his chum his heart is yearning to
desperately leave the metro and go to his village in another State which is quite far away, for a
family reunion and the only option is by road but he doesn’t want to take a taxi.
The default result is a purely fantastic road trip with outward sensory, but most
importantly, soul searching and soul satisfying experiences and rewards for both the philosopher
and the mariachi on wheels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Point Six Technologies Pvt Ltd
• Release date: Jun 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9789352019199

Mallikarjun B. Mulimani

MALLIKARJUN B. MULIMANI is a versatile writer. He writes novellas, novels, and long and short poems including haikus. His books and style of writing, where brevity is the hallmark, influenced by his engineering background, are unique and highly acclaimed. His writings are crisp, carrying a theme and a message making them highly readable. So far, he has twenty-five books to his credit. They revolve around diverse themes: the psychology of humans and their milieu, God, love, sex, religion, the realization of self, life and death. They often touch the metaphysical domain.

Book preview

Preface

This book is all about motion, in which life always is, in rhyme.

Needing a break from the source and heading for a destination on wheels.

The thrill of being on the road and the kilometers you kill.

Foot pressing hard on the accelerator and the feel of control while holding the steering wheel.

A rush of fresh air washing your face and playing with your hair.

The pit stops you make, the people you meet, the experiences you have, and the thoughts you think while on the move.

Two dear buddies on the go.

One, a driver who philosophizes as he races, and the other who sings as his guitar he plays.

The source, a metro in one State, and the destination, a village in another.

Two nights’ stay in a village estate with orchards, for a family reunion of the musician, but forced by circumstances to be mostly on the road.

Understanding more about life but particularly mostly about oneself.

Finally back home with a head bowed to God after being in ‘God’s Own Country’.

1

Brunch of Champions

Sunday morning in the Garden City

French windows, slim sunrays warming me

Inside and outside with their dainty beauty

Woke up with another day thanks to the deities.

Nothing like caffeine to welcome sunshine,

Excited to hear coffee beans being ground at the right time

By my pal closer to me than my heart.

Then immediately on a mission I embark.

First, in the elevator I make my descent

From the topmost sixth floor apartment

To the ground floor for a precious event

Making sure there is no broken appointment.

I’m not late

Apollo has been kind with my fate

The dew drop on the fresh rose is still there

In the garden to soften my harsh hand which is bare.

So much love,

By plucking the rose, to destroy I chose.

A tear falls on my hand,

The dew drop could not the violence withstand.

The simple yet subtle rose is placed in a shapely vase

Between two dull mugs on the coffee table

So incongruous a base

Yet deep down basic and hence formidable.

The mariachi took a sip of the espresso he had made

And with a brilliant smile said, Good morning, mate.

I gestured that I would taste the coffee first,

Greetings could wait and come next.

Both of us laughed heartily

Relished the espressos slowly and steadily

With a special warmth inside us that beat

One which even Apollo brought to a heartbeat.

The mariachi

Finished his coffee,

Picked