The spider and the fly is by Mary Howitt. A poem-fable which talks about how a spider sweet talks and traps a fly. Lucid poem, strong characterization and vivid description of the spider’s parlour. And, highly relevant event today – when young minds get caught in the web. Simple and strong moral. A must read for your child!

Footprints I create, carefully.

Starts small, few seeds, and lots of hope.

Hoping to green my little world.

Vertical, Horizontal, in and out.

The first shoots, the first buds, the first flower,

My first love.

Dotted greens in brown soil.

Joy unparalleled.

As welcoming as a pet,

My sanctum – Sanctorum in this huge mad world.

In the wild I grew,

Bursting with the sun,

Dancing to the rain gods,

Rushing with wind ,

Laughing with the breeze.

Oh ! What a lovely life.

In a pot I am now stuck.

Peering for the sun.

Crying for water.

Cocking to hear the wind and the breeze.

I am not me, master between the grills and behind the steel structures.

Do you realize? I am not me.

Do you realize? Are you yourself? Are you?

The gentle sway of leaves,

By the gentle breeze.

The huge imposing coconut tree.

I stand even taller.

Puny me.

In a tall apartment.

Both of us are pensive, this morning.

Me with my hands crossed.

The tree – handsome and tall.

Wants to say something ????

I heard

Take life as it comes.

Never be sure of anything.

Just stay and let the life go by.

It is easy that way.

I stepped up,

And looked out.

Maids in a circle,

Bantering their daily woes.

It feels good. Early in the morning

To find the world rushing past.

The milkman arrives.

The bus takes a turn. The glass gleaming in the sun.

It takes a U-turn and crawls away.

Some go straight, no matter what.

Some take a U-turn.

Do we all reach our destination ?

Are some meant to travel

A long, long way.

Are some meant to stay?

Amongst the concrete jungle

Life fades away.

I rush and I wait.

I talk and I hear.

I laugh and I cry.

I smile and I frown.

I hold and I leave.

I step-up and I step-down.

I act and I watch .

I am thin and I am cry.

I am tall and I am short.

I run and I walk.

I am ying and I am yang.

I am curious and I discover.

I am a master and I am a slave.

I am a circus and I am a clown.

I am what you see.

I am a teacher.

Always loved I was; At home, tall buildings, monuments,

temples, railway stations, a hangout for kids;

cosy comfort for young loves; Gossip arena for the neighbours;

Who wouldn’t? love my curves, count their steps;

Gone are those days,

Oh! Gone are those days,

To a corner, I am relegated –  dark alley, I have almost turned.

In malls, In airports,

I am made to move, not that I mind.

Name changed to escalators – not comfortable am I with my new name;

nor my job profile. But who chares?

Strange is the liking of the men folk to my new friend sitting next to me; 

clinging and clanging – she goes – up and down with her people

‘oh ! how I envy her – the elevator- how I envy her ‘

The shower and attention she gets. ‘Strange  World’, I cried,

‘forget me not.’

‘I am all glitz and glamour. But, you are sought after in emergency.

An immense contribution you have always made – Its I who envy you,’ she smiled.

 

 

SHE GIVES ME ALL……..

She floats, when I yearn.

She listens, when I weep.

She’s wicked, when I am bitchy.

She’s tender, when I am soft.

She glimmers,   with every look.

There; she is pale and white.

Not a stranger in no- man’s land.

She talks, in the chillness.

Clinging to myself,

Her warmth, I feel.

In the stillness of night life,

A constant companion.

Ecstasy, Ennui, Elegance,

Rue…..

She gives me all.

The Moon .

In my finer moments,

I never needed to be a part of you,

I never had to be in you.

You were there

I was there.

Hoping to

Hold your hand

Walk through your dreams

Listen to your vision.

Hold you when you slide,

Be there

When it materializes

Not with you, at the peak

But, In the crowd

Clapping that you go ahead,

In your moments of glory

If you realize, for a second –

I understood your need to grow,

Your map of ambition,

Heard those slow but deep throttled laughter,

Squirmed in those glare of yours,

Listened to your reprimands,

Fueled your drive,

I have lived for eternity.