The Houseboat on the Backwaters

It is late afternoon in Kerala. We are on a wooden houseboat. Its round roof is woven from palm leaves. The boat is wide and slow, like a sleepy elephant on the water.

We sit on a soft cushion at the front. A cool breeze touches our face. Under us, the water is calm and green.

Lap... lap... lap... Little waves touch the sides of the boat. The boatman dips his long pole into the water. Slowly, slowly, we glide on.

Drift and rest... the water carries us.

At first, our mind feels busy. It wants to hurry, like a fast little boat. But the houseboat does not hurry. So, little by little, we stop hurrying too.

On both sides, tall coconut palms lean over the water. Their long leaves sway in the breeze... swish... swish. Their shadows make soft patterns on the water.

We pass a little village. A temple bell rings softly, far away. Ding... ding... Children wave from the bank, and we wave back. A row of ducks paddles past. Quack, quack... busy and happy.

Drift and rest... the water carries us.

There is nothing to do here. Nowhere to rush. We let our shoulders drop. We let our hands rest in our lap. We breathe in... and out.

Now the sun begins to go down. It turns from gold... to orange... to soft pink. The whole sky glows. The still water shows it all back, like a big, shiny mirror. Two skies... one above, one below.

A white heron flies low over the water. Its wings move slowly. It lands on a branch and folds them in, ready for the night.

The palm trees turn into dark shapes against the pink sky. The first star comes out. Then another.

In the village, small lamps glow in the windows. Someone sings a slow song, far away. We cannot hear the words. But the tune is soft, like a lullaby.

Drift and rest... the water carries us.

The boatman brings the boat close to the bank. He ties it to a palm tree. Now the boat only rocks... gently... gently. Lap... lap... lap...

We lie down on the soft bed inside. Through the window, we see stars on the water. The night is warm and quiet. Our eyes close. Our breath is slow. And we rest.