Letter from Kalametiya - Fathoms more..

A short drive from Tangalle to Kalametiya

Where a tiny boat awaits.

It glides gently into the cool morning

And the lagoon unfolds –

Vast and silent.

Our guide, Chamila

Of the quiet voice and fathomless knowledge

Of the wild,

Points out, ceaselessly –

Starling, Ibis, Heron..

Sunbird, swallow, Egret..

Fathoms more.

The lagoon gently coaxes us

Further inwards

And – with startled joy

We see a giant squirrel,

Water Buffalo -in scores,

Cooling off in the shallows.

Paradise Flycatcher, Golden Oriole,

Eurasian Spoonbill, Jacana

Fathoms more.

Mahinda, the silent boatman

Stops.

We get down and wade.

The water, cool and squelchy – heaven.

We walk – and then climb

A small hill.

And gaze, time forgotten

At the splendour around us.

Chamila points below –

 a strange rock-like formation

in the waters.

What?

Stupefied, we learn that it is

A great flock of wild ducks.

Back to the boat –

Kingfisher, Bee-eater…

Kite, Tern…

Cormorant, Dove..

Our watery journey ends

But I wish it had lasted

Fathoms more.

(If you enjoyed this, you may like my Letter from Arugam Bay

From the island’s heat and hush — until the next letter,

- N