Summer holidays

Hostelers in a residential school

all excited on the approaching summer

"We are going for the summer holidays"

"We are going for the summer holidays"

they sang in unison, visualizing their own holiday


The common thread in each mind was

Back to “Home sweet home!"

some would go to the city, regale in its charm

others to ancestral home in a village

engage with parents, cousins, other relatives


Summer time, a warm and vibrant time

when the birds, the bees, all of creation

come out of hibernation to regale

in the warmth, the vibrancy of the season


Parents of each child came to fetch the children

who rushed into their arms in excitement

after all, it was summer time, holiday time

time to rejoice, fun, frolic


Everyone was thrilled and elated, except

for one puny boy who remained in his room

knowing no one was coming for him this day

may be the next day or the day after that

a servant would come to fetch him


Then it happened- best friend entered room with parents

they hugged him, gave him chocolates

and home-made goodies to eat

Dazzling Summer had arrived

a time to say good bye to misery, sad thoughts

 

The best friends danced with abandon

to the tune of the warm scintillating season

 
to the encouragement and delight of the adults!

NB: This Poem was written for the "Summer Sashay's - Breeze In " Anthology published by Soul Scribers society Salem and released on 11th July during the poetry fest at Panchgani, Maharashtra, India.

Summer Breeze has arrived

Losing one's job can be painful 

particularly when everything was looking good

Five years of work, a good designation, salary 

the girl friend eager and ready for the tying of knot 

he only had to say, give the green signal   

The tragedy came from out of the blue 

had him devastated, to the extent he stopped

talking, interacting with parents, friends 

even to sweetheart, one who mattered the most 

one who'd wowed to spend rest of life with him 

It was as if all energy, drive had deserted him 

all confidence had flown away , felt it wasn't right

to jeopardize the life of beloved 

ask her to wait for many more years 

"Move on" he messaged, "build your nest 

sans me a loser!" 

She was stunned, flabbergasted by behaviour

of one she knew like the back of her hand 

and now, this rejection, this avoidance

proved the most painful, unbearable 

From the last days of autumn and the whole of winter 

he spent days thus- beaten, drained

shorn of all confidence! 

mind had become blank, unable to take 

next step to beat the odds     

One day from his bedroom he heard

sounds of birds chirping happily 

he looked out and saw flowering trees 

squirrels running about, the sun shining in all glory 

Suddenly, it struck him that winter had left 

 and summer was back! was reminded of past summers 

when they had taken carefree strolls under smiling sun 

suddenly he longed to meet his girl, apologize 

beg her forgiveness for the cold period ! 

Before noon, there he was bouquet in hand 

surprising. shocking, yet enthusing his beloved

she rubbed her eyes slipped into a half belief smile 

Then stared and stared before falling into his arms!

Together they made plans for hunting and securing 

means of living- He was back to the old guy she knew

full of confidence and drive to meet all of life's challenges 

Yes, the summer breeze had arrived to bring along 

bright opportunities and self confidence to boot! 

NB: This Poem was written for the "Summer Sashay's - Breeze In " Anthology published by Soul Scribers society Salem and released on 11th July during the poetry fest at Panchgani, Maharashtra, India.