Waiting

O, Kingfisher, how

Patiently you wait, in winter

 Sun for fish to leap!

This is how we celebrated Republic Day at School

All of us, staff, family, and children alike braved the morning fog and blustery winds and headed to school for the flag-hoisting event and the get-together afterwards. It was also, 'Family Day'  an event that all of us look forward to. It is an occasion when staff members bring their family members and we all get to meet the family. School incidentally is one big family and it is all about having one day of sangati togetherness. What can be a better day than Republic Day to celebrate communion! Without saying more, I would like to share a few snaps of the event.

The Staff School choir regaled us with some lively patriotical numbers that reminded us of the sacrifices and the joy of the freedom fighters who laid down their lives while fighting for the country's freedom.

But then, 26th of January was also about getting together and having our photographs clicked even as we celebrated the Republic Day with great joy and enthusiasm.

Manit Sir's dynamism and energy could be seen even as he delivered a speech on the importance of Republic Day.

Nishchint Sir made an important announcement that made everyone jump with joy! The announcement was a Christmas gift for everyone present.

Happy times indeed, memories are made of these!

It was all about Family!

And I came across a wonderful and amazing couple!

It was also about food, amazing food it was too!

And Food.

And more food!

But then the together time could not be missed out and with the sun coming out it was great!

And that selfie, folks were vying to get one of those famous selfies. I will get one shared too!

Each time we drive in through the gates he is there to greet us with a smile and a wave of hands!

Ever smiling enough to light up the day, could one miss them?

And of the power of folk music, who can deny its potency!

In the melee were great people even as they melded into one rhythm...

Mmmm...I don't have more words... though I do have a few more photographs. I fear lest Google Baba should shut me down for posting too many snaps on the blog. Anyway, I guess I will risk it and share a few more snaps and a few lines in verse!

And he led them in the dance,

Each group playing its own tune,

In a Jugalbandi that drove the

Gathered ones in a frenzy

That was borne out of a joy

Of celebrating the Republic Day

Grateful people of a Nation of

Great thinkers, Mathematicians

And Doctors, and Economists

Who drafted their own constitution

A Document worthy of appreciation!

A Guru's disappearing Wetland - A Poem

In the land of the Guru,

People sell off their wetlands for money,

If he were to live again, how angry he'd be!

Dawn approaches - a herder drives

His flock to pastures (green?) even as

 The two click a shrinking lake.

Have we forgotten lessons

Of yore, to save and conserve, ponds

And lakes for dry times?

But a golden greed does

Drive away, eyes, from shrinking lakes

And rearing concrete structures!

Ugly concrete blocks,

Stand, dark, empty; haunted with souls

Of displaced trees and birds.

And each day he wakes,

And finds less water, to drink! Alas,

 He sold the pond for shekels!

For this poem a tribute is
To a Garden of Eden that once was,
Where Man drove himself out.

Sights such as these
Will but dreamy memories please,
Even as the desert advances.

Face Off - A Poem

I see you, I pause,

Why have you come to my home?

Is it to steal mine?

I see you, I pause,

Why have you come to my home?

Is it to steal mine?

A Farewell Post

Farewells are an emotional moment for teachers, students, and parents. It was an emotional moment for teachers who have seen students grow from grade eight to grade twelve. Seeing them grow taller, statelier and take up the grace of adults is a testimony to life itself! The farewell function hosted for students of grade twelve took place yesterday, the twentieth of January, 2018.

But wait, it was also a day when the teachers, leaders, and laity wore their Sunday best in honour of the occasion! It was a day when Teachers performed a skit on stage mirroring parents' experiences of seeing their children grow, although of course, the baby was real!

It was also a day of awards and title and walking the walk, it was 'their day' for the twelfth graders and the grade eleventh students got a glimpse of what they would experience the next year!

And to sit back and enjoy the performances of the grade eleven students was most refreshing especially in the warm winter sun.

The wearing of the gowns did pose some risks, but then they all got the straps right and the caps were secure despite the mild wind. It was with a sense of achievement that they stood before me for a photograph, the 'Men in Black' of the Humanities section!

Searching for Grubs

Searching for food you

Ne'er look up the sky, lest grubs

 Costly, your beak escape!

Flight

You thought to fly,

But took too long to leap!

Second thoughts?

A Little Thought

From one tree they were

But colours different they were!

At the end lay together.

Of fish bees and grubs - A Poem

Hop, hop, hop goes the fly-catcher,

If not a fly, then a grub will do!

A dance here and a step there,

If not a fly then a grub will do!

Perched on a string, stare the Bee-eaters, (with 

Intent Kohl-painted eyes) into the wind

For a bee to eat. If not a bee then a fly with

Zest will do, even as they flit into the wind.

A knock here and a poke there, wonder

What a Hoopoe is doing on the ground!

Drill n hammer balanced well, as under

A tree it hops, if not worm a fly to pound.

A dive here, a jump there, snap goes

The beak on a lazy fish, the Kingfisher

Sits back to eat its fish! If a fish won't

Do, a frog will do for a change of taste!