Silence of rain

It's raining here! Not the kind you could sing in or dance
Almost like a mother's tears; Ignored by all and silently shed.

No single bird flies by to wipe the drops of tears that silently roll;

Not even the clouds nor winds to share; there stand the trees still and bare.

Could it be the sun that hides his face or was it the moon overnight;
Whoever caused such pain for the rain, please at once plead her mild.

Whatever happened to the joy she brings? Wherever went the child she thrives?
However hard I try to cheer; shuts down my mind on the silence of rain...

Who was calling?

The phone was ringing

Cooker was whistling

As the cuckoo clock was cooing
Oil in the pan was ready for some frying


Little son was crying
For his throat was sure hurting
Mom to kiss off tears that soon stopped rolling

Laundry load was calling
To shift the clothes for drying
Microwave announcing that coffee was done warming

Mom was not accepting
Little girl strongly claiming
That she sure is an expert when it came to do swimming

"Can you handle swimming
In a wild river flowing?
Only then you are expert", said Mom while explaining

Eyes welled up to rimming
As she went off  for some thinking
"Average swimmer Mommy!" said she finally smiling

With both now agreeing
Mom gladly did the signing
Permission slip for camping that was soon coming.

Another kept on calling
For some help with problem solving
Where the spinner landed when it was done with some spinning?

Halfway through the reading
About probability solving
"Did we ever learn this?" wondered Math brain hard at working

Dad was busy cleaning
Plants that needed trimming
His attention was elsewhere on the Cricket that was playing

Mom was done with serving
And the kids were done with eating
Dad took them upstairs for their much needed resting

All the while...
The phone kept ringing
Was it you calling?

Conversation with the stars

This was originally posted on 28th July 2010.

Star of yonder, Star of night
Twinkling in the night so bright
Tell me what is your sweet name
Jewel of wonder, share with me
What are you upto in your race
To trace the whole earth in one night?

Girl of wonder, Girl so nice
Awake at night with eyes so bright
My name is same as your sweet name
Girl of wonder, with sweetest smile
I'm tracing the earth every night to
Chat with little girls just like you

Star of yonder, Star of night
Traveling with the moon tonight
Tell me how the earth looks from there
Do you see the bluest skies
Lilacs,lillies, the robin nests
And how about the butterflies?

Can I miss such pretty sights of
The mesmerizing earth beneath
Wonder of wonders, next to heavens
Oh how I too wish I was there
Looking up the night sky light
And talking to a star from there?

Count to three and be wide awake as
I get ready to jump from here
Make sure you see me shooting by
Wish your fondest dreams come true
I too will ask the Master to
Grant your wishes soonest soon...

Dearest star that flew by tonight
I am sure you landed safe and sound
My wish came true to have you next door
Let us chat with the stars out there
In the morning, when they all sleep
I will show you some butterflies...

Dream Coming True

End of the day as I reached home last night
Tired and weary after long hours

T'was the coldest of nights or it felt so that hour
As I rushed out of car to get back indoors

In a momentary instinct I glanced up the skies
There stood I still taken aback

In the darkest of night stars shining so bright
Not one of them missing from the wonderful sight

Once more I became my fresh cheery self
Amazed by the breathtaking night sky delight

Stood there me frozen as more time slipped by
Forgetting the chill of the night then & there

My hair dancing over my face with such joy
I happend to wonder if it was just a dream

Slowly I gazed down to look around me
Leaning against the car in full business attire

In front of my home and trees as backdrop
With dinner and children all taken care of

No it's not dream, it is dream coming true
Answered myself as I got lost again...

Do you see what I see?

Do you see what I see
Trees made of only twigs
Leaves dancing on the streets
Swirling snow in the wind
Yet birds cheering on the poles?
If not, tell me what you see...
May be I see what you see too!

Do you hear what I hear
Aeroplanes flying overhead
Billowing winds with such a fright
Whistling cooker in the kitchen
Selling and buying in Monopoly?
If not, tell me what you hear...
May be I hear what you hear too!

Do you feel what I feel
Childhood doesn't last too long but
Memories forever will linger on
Loving the most and being our best
Are the only true treasures we can give away?
If not, tell me what you feel...
May be I feel what you feel too!

Neither prose nor poetry

Neither prose nor poetry it is just
The way my Grandma made puttu...

Childhood mornings at Grandma's home

Puttu always came from rice

Soak the rice for hours before,

Tiny hands powder the rice

Roast the flour, sprinkle water

Set aside, then scrape coconut
Add some sugar for taste
Off goes Grandma to collect some twigs
And dried coconut leaves
To lit her mud stove from the scratch

Brings a pot of water to boil
Layers flour and coconut in a tube
That fits perfectly on the pot
Quickly Grandma visits her store room
To fetch some ripe plantains and bananas
Before the tube on the pot starts to steam

Now, it is time to remove the tube
Grandma picks up her ladle turns it around
And sticks the stick end into the tube
That gently pushes the puttu out
Steaming hot with great aroma

With watering mouths we kids watch her do
Fill another puttu in the tube
Nicely set on the boiling pot
Off to fetch some plates for us
While we sit in the short kitchen walls & steps
She gives us puttu and some fruits

Yum so yum the puttu tastes
We finish it quickly and wait around
For the next puttu that cooks along
Even after the second round
We still wait around with hopes for more

Neither prose nor poetry it is just
The way my Grandma made puttu...

Life Cycle

As the day passes
Slow and steady
The mind always races
Of things at home

Clothes to be folded
Sheets to be laundered
Dinner to be made &
Children to be fed

As the night progress
Fast and Fury
The mind always ponders
Of things at work

Follow up discussions
Meetings & deadlines
Alternate logic
For optimal solutions

New day dawns &
New night sets
As the cycle of life
Moves on and on and on...

If only I had...

If I'd had one more Year
I would have stayed with Papa one more year

If I'd had one more Month
I would have visited Papa with my kids

If I'd had one more Day
I would have begged for Papa's longer life

If I'd had one more Hour
I would have talked to Papa little more

If I'd had one more Minute
I would have hugged my Papa really hard

If I'd had one more Second
I would have quickly kissed his fingers once

If only I had...

Rain drops

As we drove
It started to rain
Rain drops falling on car's window sill

A child exclaimed
They are tears
From a crying cloud for whatever it fears

Another took a different look
She claimed these are racing cars
Racing to get to the other side

It also reminded of swarms of flies
That took off just to land again
Once the wiper is done with each swipe

Not tears nor cars nor swarms of flies
If you looked closer you will see
These are mercy drops falling from God's window sill

Rain! Rain! Please Come Again!

Rain, rain please come again;
Bring with you some drops of past
When kids and others rushed to hide
Remember how I hardly budged
Hands & head lifted all the way 
To hug and love you all the more

Remember rain when we all were young
You came outside when we stayed home
With my Papa, Amma, Akka and Delight
Watching you through the windows while
You danced along the pavements and sill
We truly enjoyed the nuts in shell

Soon after you were tired out and gone 
We splashed the streams you'd made
Papa helped us make paper boats
We sailed away with loads of stuff along with "men" of ants & such
Racing our boats all the way; steering them with long sticks from side
We watched it till it was out of sight, either under or away it went...

Thank you rain for being there, for surrounding us with much pleasure
For obeying Papa's answered prayers when it was time for me to be wed
Papa desired not a hall; his wish was for me to be wed at home
It was the season for rain those days
But you were kind and stayed away
While I was married off in such a bliss

Rain, rain please come again;
Thank you for the fresh new drops
Of mercy and grace from my King above
Who sends me gifts of his love and joy
Surely few are from my Papa too
Who is still so very fond of me

Rain, rain please stay a while
Tell me what all my Papa said
Share with me how he likes it there
Enjoying in the presence of Christ
He was such a great friend of God
I am sure he is now so much more...

No, not tears, not tears dear rain
Please tell Papa we are doing fine
We miss him much but know for sure
His earnest prayers do help us here
We will be fine knowing that
He too is fine in the Promised Land!

Rain, rain please come again as often as you are sent our way
Remember to bring the cherished love - God & Papa so fondly send
When you return home back to them, please hug them both tight for me;
Really tight once more for me...
And if it is not too much to ask; can I send some kisses too
For blessing us with such joy & peace from above that keeps us strong...

Days gone by...

New grade days with brand new books
School end days with all old looks

Dancing in the rain on rainy days
Sharing one coke on sunny days

Excursion days to scenic places
Exam days with serious faces

Assembly days singing National Anthem
Inspection days keeping tidy classrooms

Jolly days of the then and there
Dreamy days of distant future

Gleeful hearing church wedding bells
Lost in love of your own Day!

Always happy, Always dreamy
Carefree were those days gone by...

Out of Egypt

Merry & Cheer they left
Out of Egypt with their clan

Gold & Silver as gifts
Slaves no more but free

Away they traveled with dance
Much singing & chatting as they fled

Few days & few nights into their trek
Oh lo! Red sea in the front

As they looked back to check
Oh lo! the army behind

Their hearts all ached with fear
Nowhere to flee from both

They looked to their leader with prayer
He begged to the Father in Heaven

As they watched with so much fear
An amazing event occured

The sea parted in half giving way
They hurried by foot all the way

All Grannnies, the young and the sick
All Mommies, the babies and kids

With Daddies, the animals, and all
With fear and trembling and hope

The sea stood as high walls you see
On both sides, it was a great sight

The wind was so harsh to the sea
Yet so gentle to the folks as they walked

Armies behind them to chase
In charriots and fast running horse

As the last person put out his feet
Out of the parted red sea

While the army was still in mid way
The sea came back with such force

Whole army was killed in no time
While People rejoiced with glea

Not one of them lost in the sea
It's a constant reminder to us

No matter how big is our sea
No matter how fast is the foe

God opens a way for us out
For sure as He is true!

Click here to read the passage from the Bible: Exodus 14

Honey! Where is the moon?

Night Sky is here;
Bright stars are near - but
Honey! Where is the moon?

Nice breeze is here
Much love I do hear - but
Honey! Where is the moon?

Cool night is here;
Sweet dreams for sure; - but
Honey! Where is the moon?

Pretty flowers have bloomed
Red cherries abound - but
Honey! Where is the moon?

Green grass is all cut
Fresh food is all set - but
Honey! Where is the moon?

House is all clean,
Our nest is all calm - but
Honey! Where is the moon?

Kids are not near
We miss them so dear - so
Honey! I sent them the moon!

When the kids return home
Our house becomes home - then
Honey! the moon will be back!

When the moon returns back;
With our kids around us - Honey
It will be Honey Moon!

Tirunelveli Junction

Tirunelveli Junction as I recall at the start of my journey...

Freshly smelling jasmines, marigolds and roses, little girls selling them with fresh smiling faces
Cheerful welcomes, tearful send offs as people rotate the phases

Uniformed porters, trolley men claiming weary passengers

Taxi drivers, auto owners so annoying with their offers

Water coolers & coffee shops rimmed with passing travelers

Magazine stalls & sweet vendors stacking local favorites
Young and old of different kinds, makes and models

Men and women of varying age, height and sizes

Freshly made local snacks igniting new appetite
Fathers rushing to pack some for the onward bound journey
Little lads selling hot tea,coffee and water
Loud speakers announcing trains arriving & departing

Little girl begging with a baby as her back pack

Her healthy mom at a distance with keen eyes on her daughters
The poor and needy homeless little far off from the platforms

Local cops chasing them to move on from their comforts
The round and wealthy politician with supporters at his service
His golden fingers gleaming with rubies, emeralds & diamonds
The clean and crispy TTR with whistle, red & green flags
Big clocks from business owners, showing the minutes flying

Little kids crying for plastic watch, goggles and balloons
Their moms & dads ignoring their tearful pleas for pleasures

Loving uncles rushing off to buy them the tempting treasures

Brighten kids with smiley faces fondly hugging uncles

Quick to show off new found joy to not so lucky seat mate

Poor kid wishes for such an uncle who could buy him gifts too

The early birds settled at leisure soaking in the scenes around

The late comers huzzle buzzling to load their many belongings

Newly weds off to start their own dreamy journey

Forever weds back home to rest from hard & weary races
All along the name board says it is Tirunelveli Junction
Exactly where my journey started with my charming Mr.Handsome

This is from my memory lane a dozen or so years ago
Will check again in my next visit to compare the scenes right now
Could have changed with better scenes but my love remains constant
For the familiar place dear to my heart is Tirunelveli Junction.

Epic Nature

Epic Nature - Spring

Poem by Rachel Israel

In Spring I hear water trickle down the stream sparkling like a crystal sea

In Spring I see the fruitful trees, healthy trees, so many bees

In Spring I sit on dew covered grass, short and long grass

In Spring I see beautiful flowers, roses like rubies and lilacs like diamonds

In Spring I look at tall snow capped mountains from a distance

In Spring I see the hills genuinely and beautifully touched with sunshine

In Spring the sky looks baby blue meeting with the bright yellow sun

In Spring the clouds look like giant, white, fluffy cotton balls

Poem by Rachel Israel

Following poem by Rachel has been selected for the State level competition.

The Circus
by Rachel Israel

Tell me a story about the circus
before I go to bed
I want to listen to something more
before I rest my head.

When I go to the circus
I see a lot of clowns
They have colors on their faces
and I rarely see them frown.

What colors are on their faces,
what colors are there?
Red is on their noses,
do they have color on their hair?

When I go to the circus
I go on elephant rides.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen
if on the back of him were slides!

Tell me more about circuses
please tell me more!
I can find these in books and things
but those are in the store.

Well that's another adventure
I'll leave that for different times
You better go to bed now
I'm thinking of more rhymes