DIWALI -- THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS.

IN THIS COLD MONTH OF NOVEMBER

COMES A WARM NIGHT TO REMEMBER

THE NIGHT WHICH DECLARES THE TRUIMPH OF GOOD,

SPREADS PEACE, JOY AND MESSAGE OF BROTHERHOOD

IT IS DIWALI, THE ILLUMINOUS NIGHT

WITH LAMPS DEFEATING THE STARS OUTRIGHT

LORD KILLED THE DEMON AND  RESTORED PEACE

PEOPLE CELEBRATE IT WITH A GREAT FEAST

SO GOES THE STORY AS TOLD BY OLD

ABOUT DIWALI FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS BURNING BRIGHT AND BOLD

LOOK ! THERE SHINE THE LAMPS SO BRIGHT

EXPELLING DARKNESS FROM THE CHILLING NIGHT

LIGHT A LAMP AND SEE IT GLOW

IN A SECOND THE DARKNESS GOES

LIGHT YOUR HEART WITH THE LAMP CALLED KIND

SEE HOW HUMANITY COMES CLOSER AND BINDS

LIGHT IN YOUR HEART THE LAMP CALLED HUMBLE

DOWN COMES , I ,THE EGO IN A CRUMBLE

LIGHT IN YOUR HEART LAMP CALLED PEACE

SEE THAT THE EARTH BECOMES A BETTER PLACE

SO MANY LAMPS SHINE BRIGHT , SO BRIGHT,

IT IS FOR US TO CHOOSE THE  PATH RIGHT

THIS DIWALI SHOULD REMIND US ALL

TO SHUN THE BAD IN US BIG OR SMALL

THIS DIWALI SHOULD SPREAD THE MESSAGE

‘LOVE ALL’ IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR CASTE OR AGE

THIS DIWALI SHOULD KILL ‘LAZINESS’ THE MONSTER

AND HELP US TO WORK MORE FASTER

LET US BURN ‘ENEMITY’ THE CRACKER

AND SEE HOW IT WORKS LIKE A ICE BREAKER

LET THE FRIENDSHIP FLOWERPOT RISE HIGH AND HIGH

AND PEACE SPARKLERS GLITTER DAY AND NIGHT

LET US ENJOY VERY SECOND WE FIND

AND ALSO KEEP SOME TIPS IN MIND

DO TRY TO WEAR ONLY CLOTHS OF COTTON

FOR MISTAKES ARE ALWAYS LIKELY TO HAPPEN

NEVER, NEVER WALK WITH BARE FEET

FOR YOU MIGHT STAMP ON A STILL BURNING BIT

BE MORE CAREFUL WHEN YOU ARE IN A GROUP

FOR YOUNGSTERS MANY,  IS A MONKEY’S TROOP

LET YOUR ELDERS BE WITH YOU

AND ANTICIPATE THE FORTHCOMING BLUE

SO LET THIS DIWALI BRING JOY TO ONE AND ALL

HAPPINESS  AND PROSPERITY TO BIG AND SMALL

WHAT A MESS

I HAVE A FOOLISH SERVANT

WHO MESSES THINGS FOR ME

WITH CROOKED LEGS AND HIP BENT

LOOK ! HOW FUNNY IS HE

ONCE I GAVE HIM A RARE PICTURE

TO BE NAILED ON MY CLEAN WALL

THEN STARTED HIS STUPID ADVENTURE

I, NOT PLEASED WITH IT AT ALL

FIRST HE BROUGHT A TINY CHAIR

AND STOOD ON IT TO HANG

HE STRETCHED HIS HANDS AND LEGS IN AIR

AND DROPPED THE PICTURE WITH A BANG

FOR ONCE THE PICTURE WAS FINE

FOR  IT WAS DROPPED FROM LOW

HE THEN STARTED TO WIPE IT SHINE

WITH THE CLOTH HIS NOSE WOULD BLOW

HE THEN DRAGGED THE HEAVY TABLE

AND MADE SCRATCHES ON THE FLOOR

PULLED IT WITH EASE AND ABLE

AND PUT IT ACROSS THE FRONT DOOR

NONE COULD ENTER, NONE COULD  LEAVE

TILL HE DID HIS GIVEN JOB

ALAS1  IT WAS NUISANCE YOU,BELIEVE

FOR ALL THE TIME IT DID ROB

TO CHECK THE NAIL HE PULLED IT OUT

AND TRIED IN VAIN TO REPLACE

AFTER  HITTING AND HAMMERING MUCH ABOUT

 HAD IT CROOKED ON ITS FACE

OH NO ! HE HUNG IT  ON THE WRONG SIDE

AND DROPPED IT AGAIN WITHOUT SHAME

THUD ! FELL THE PICTURE BESIDE

A GLASS TANK WITH  FISH TAME

OUT TORE THE PICTURE FROM THE BENT IVORY FRAME

CRUMPLED INTO A NASTY SHAPED BALL

POOR  FISH STRUGGLED AS THEY CAME

AND THE WATER IN THE TANK SPOILED THE WALL

I ORDERED HIM TO CLEAN THE MESS

SAVE  THE FISH AND SWEEP THE FLOOR

STUPID HE IS, MADE MY WORK NO LESS

CUT HIS FINGER , BLED AND DIRTIED MORE

TO TIE HIS WOUND I ASKED FOR A CLOTH

HE WENT IN AND BROUGHT A PIECE

I RECOGNISED IT AND BEGAN TO LOATHE

FOR  IT WAS THE CHUNNI OF MY NIECE

I  SCOLDED HIM AND GOT A RAG

CHIDED MYSELF FOR GIVING HIM JOB

DISGUSTED I AM , AS WORK WILL LAG

NOW HE WILL NOT CLEAN EVEN A SMALL BOB.

HAPPY TEACHERS DAY

TEACHERS   You are the best !!

YOU ARE THE STARS VERY NEAR

RADIATING LIGHT OF WISDOM TO ALL AROUND

YOU ARE THE FLOWER VERY DEAR

SPREADING THE SCENT OF PEACE AT ALL GROUNDS

YOU ARE THE WATERS OF THE RIVER

WASHING OUR MISTAKES  IN YOUR FLOW

YOU’RE THE PLEASANT BREEZE OF SUMMER

RELIEVING US FROM PAIN OF HARD BLOWS

YOU’RE THE BOOK VERY RARE

GIVING SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS IN LIFE

YOU’RE THE PERSON WHO CARES

AND ACCEPT US  AS WE ARE FROM THE AGE OF FIVE

GATE'S ANGUISH

ALL DAY I STAND NO MOMENT I SLEEP

IF I AM NOT ALERT SOMEONE MIGHT CREEP

TO PEEP THROUGH ME IS VERY CHEAP

TO KNOCK AT ME IS A HABIT TO KEEP 

I  STOP A PIG OR A STRAY DOG

 BE IT A GOAT OR A HEDGEHOG

TO LET THE KNOWN IN IS MY JOB

AND TO KEEP AWAY A UNRULY MOB

BUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WORK  I  DO

THERE ARE FEW PARTTIMES  TOO

I WOULD  LIKE TO DO SOMETHING NEW

LET ME SAY ABOUT THE OLD ODDS FEW.

WITH A FOUR YEAR OLD , I SWING AND PLAY

ON MY FEET SHE STANDS AND SWAYS

WHEN HER  SCHOOL CLOSES IN MAY

I BECOME THE BLACK BOARD AND  SHE TEACHES IN GAY

WHEN THE TEN YEAR SON PLAYS CRICKET

HITTING ME IS THE BOUNDARY WICKET

CROSSING ME IS THE SIXER’S TARGET

THAT IS WHEN , I ENJOY THE BEST

WHEN THE MAID IN THIS  HOUSE

HANGS ON ME A SAREE OR A BLOUSE

I BECOME A HANGING LINE , OFCOURSE

FIGHT WITH WIND TO KEEP THE SOCKS AND  GLOVES

WHEN MY MASTER AND HIS MISTRESS,

FEEL BORED OR IN A STATE OF MESS,

PLAY TENNIS TO RELEASE THE STRESS

WHO IS THE NET ? CAN YOU  GUESS?

WHEN I DECORATE FOR A PARTY OR BALL,

I  AM   EXCITED AND STAND TALL ,

BUT WHEN A DOG , ON ME, ANSWERS  NATURE’S CALL

I BECOME FURIOUS AND FEEL SMALL

WITH MY MASTER’S NAME ON MY CHEST

AND ON MY SHOULDERS THE NIGHT LAMPS REST

SUPPORTING A CREEPER WITH ITS NEST

I,  GIVE A PICTURE THE VERY BEST

MADE OF IRON COATED WITH REDOX

ARE THE POST AND THE MILK BOX                     

HUNG IN MY WAIST WITH COVER  AND LOCK

TO KEEP THE THINGS SAFE ROUND THE CLOCK

SO,  I PLAY  SO MANY PARTS

AND KNOW THE INMATES   BYHEART

BUT THESE  HUMANS HAVE NO REGARD

FOR  NOW , ME, THEY WANT TO DISCARD            

PANTHERS

A YELLOW COAT WITH DENSE ROSETTE DARK

SMALL EYES AT NIGHT THAT SPARK

WITH BODY SCENT BOUNDARIES IT MARK

A PANTHER  CAN  GRUNT  ROAR OR BARK

VERSATILE HUNTER IS A FELINE  MATURE

ELUSIVE AND SOLITARY IN NATURE

CLIMBING , SWIMMING OR IN CUB’S NURTURE

ALWAYS GIVES A  GRAND  PICTURE

HIS EYES SHARP AND  LEGS  STRONG

HIS FACE   AND BODY STRETCHED  LONG

FASTEST   RUNNER  IT IS  AMONG

THE  CAT’S  FAMILY  TO  WHICH IT  BELONGS

BE  IT  A  CHITAL,’BOAR,’ OR HERRING

PREY IS  BOTH FOUR LEGGED OR WITH WING

SUDDEN ,  STEALTHY  ATTACKS MAKES IT  KING

UP  THE TREE  IT  DRAGS AND  BRINGS

THERE  IT  CONCEALS  ITS  KILL AWAY

WITH   ITS MATE  IT SHARES ITS PREY

WHEN  JAUGERS  OR  LIONS COME THAT  WAY

IT  READILY  JUMPS  AT THEM  INTO  FRAY

A  PANTHER  IS NEVER  A  MAN’S  THREAT

EXCEPT WHEN  INJURED  OR FINDS , PREY ,HARD TO GET

ITS  EXTINCTION  IS A DANGER TO BE MET

BUT  ZOOS OR SANTUARIES  ARE NOT THE ONLY  BET

HUMAN  MIND  SHOULD  UNDERGO  CHANGE

AT FOREST,  PASTURES  OR  MOUNTAIN  RANGE

STOP HUNTING FOR THEIR SKIN OR CLAWS

BUT  PUNISH  HARD THOSE  WITH  THESE  FLAWS