Back to School

 Looking out of the window I see, on green

Turf, a file of Peacocks march across in a single

File like soldiers on a drill, the air, fresh on my

Face, memories of the pandemic driven away!

A Hornbill calls out in a raucous tone, out of

Sight, but all the more there, like a bugler 

Announcing the end of the hostilities. But the

Birds were always free, unlike us, unaffected.

A Kingfisher calls out insistently away in the

Distance, its insistent call like an urgent alarm

Marking the end of  hostilities by a viral enemy

That had relented from its onslaught on humanity.

Children play on green turf, bowling and batting

Calling out loudly like real teams fighting for the

Trophy. It all seems like the new normal has given

Way to the old one, as old times might once be!

And in the corridors you meet children flowing

Down, calling out, "Good Morning, Sir," and

It looks like School again, not some boxed up

Gizmo of virtual sounds and pictures to look at!

It feels nice to to hear the corridors echo with

The sounds of children, like lambs rushing to

Lush feeding grounds eager to learn, hear and

See rather than watch from a flickering screen.

It feels good to be back at school, for once

dressed up, marching up and down corridors

And staircases, greeting each other, looking at

Real smiling faces. glad to be back at school.