Copyright © 2021, Shrikant MishraAll rights reserved.

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Published in India by Prowess Publishing,YRK Towers, Thadikara Swamy Koil St, Alandur,

Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600016

ISBN: 978-1-5457-5352-1eISBN: 978-1-5457-5353-8

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication

CONTENTS

PrefaceTo Matilda with LoveThe Angry DonkeySchool Cleaning DaySting like a BeeBambooNestlingsJustin SniderThe Tea Estate GirlsBrick by BrickMy KeeperBase CampSprintersMorning SafariAlienAvalancheThe Duck in my classFlowers by the WindowJail’s a Scary PlaceBuild a HouseStaggering in the Exam Hall

Way to Go TomSam Loves French ToastsTiger AttackSuch a BuddySilence of HeritageDoll HouseMonkeys at Notordale SchoolLaugh or CryRodeo-FestMango CartGeek HouseMy Turn to CookFalcon Air ShowHoney BeesPing Pong HailSprinkled in DisdainBapu’s FootstepsHow Dan Scorpion ManBuster Cherry’s FlightSinging the DanceHomework under a Willow TreeGame ChangersWater PlaneRenaissance SaintHouse of Tribal CultureA Lamp Post Supports a Drunken ManCoralsMelodyCobra ManMessiahMen of GrapesJolt in ClassTen and Counting

UnsinkableDazzling DischargePunctuated SurvivalA Boy from WapakonetaDelbert’s Christmas SurpriseManic FantasiesPicnic EncounterDoor Bell to RescueHelplessnessTo DinosaursSnorkelersSea Shore ViewYearnThe Laughing DogHomecomingDalibungaSleeping on a Guava treeGraceful in ExamsSurviving the changeJarred from SleepSimply AstoundedAt the ZooThe CaféThe Cat on the CouchWakeful GoalsSwingDesert RoseBulbul NestMiss by a Hair, Miss by a MilePossible impossibilityDeath of a clownTouch downInner Voice of a Team Player

Methuselah PineWedlock DinnerSignatures of LifeHanging WorldPlant em’ treesLaze not LazyBlast from The PastBewitching GrinCommitted to Small ThingsPleasures can’t be mineFragranceAn Onion a Day Keeps Everyone AwayEye in Night SkyFrom Cheque to CoinsLove TornYounglingLovunicateForfeitedKeys on Garden ChairBeatitudeCasablancaMarch PastFlamingo’s DareSubmissionThe Thinking GorillaCopollaBaby Time

About the Title

TO MATILDA WITH LOVE

It came to me as two months oldA fearless pet one ever did holdYou were my company, and my loveHope you miss me from Angels above.

When you were so busy digging the soilI knew you were fitful and adored your toilWhen you were panting and stretched your body spreadYou felt very hot; I put you in the shed.

When you coddled between my legsYou would be so anxious in your headWhen you were placid and looked straight at me tooYou were resting and I would never disturb you.

When you snarled with all your canine teethTom cat was on the wall, you ran briskly to meetIf you were growling from under the bedI would know the mischief that went in your head.

You were so dependable, trusted, genuine loveForced to accept God’s will, as you rest aboveYou were so funny, greeted me at the door

Matilda, you were a gift, I miss your aura galore.

Planted a Willow tree, in your memory Matilda dearKeep looking at your photo, my eyes filled with tearYou taught me love, kindness and gratitude, and to be happyYou will always remain in my heart, as my retriever puppy.

The void in my heart, thoughts and emotions so wildYou were my company, my friend, my sibling, and my childMy morning routine not complete without thinking of youI go for a walk alone, I will always miss you.

THE ANGRY DONKEY

The poodle came wagging its tail in greetingsThe little kid came by jumping and bleatingTied but donkey to the tether was sweatingThe three decided to hold a gourmet meeting.

The dog had in mouth yesterday’s tibia boneThe kid had grass tender saved tombstoneNo food had donkey it brayed low toneThe rope couldn’t snap, donkey moaned and groaned.

The owner of the ranch a potbelly bratSwaggered carefree blue cowboy hatPoodle and kid jumped the stealth bob catHe hopped and saddled with a classy pat.

The hungry donkey nudged and briskly whippedSoaked and stubborn the animal slippedSplashing water was not in steps and scriptThe screaming and braying it worthlessly dipped.

The tormented jaws exposed sideways cheekThe dog and the kid did gingerly peekThe donkey azimuth on its hind to seekIt gave the master a double legged kick.

Owner bled, rolled on his limbs and kneesAngrily he fetched a stick from a treeThe donkey did badly now heave and peeGood heavens! It had set itself free.

The donkey ran, chased the chief aheadThe kid and the dog abruptly fledHat was out of range by a threadOwner onto safety, the asbestos shed.

Brisk did hooves to the distant barnTo find its fodder, straw, and the cornThe joyless master limped home be darned!The bloody shirt, souvenir chief kept lifelong.

SCHOOL CLEANING DAY

Meeting on the beach prattle Sunday mornSwipes and broom buckets and them spongePrincipal suggested pert, we clean the garden firstCleaning our campus is an encomium blast.

We broom it; we mop it, and swipe it with soapCleaning the walls by climbing the ropesThe class rooms’ ready to be vacuumed and cleanedThe sparkling auditorium is so proudly seen.

Kids who didn’t like white washing quietly sneaked outWent to the movie hall with an innocent poutHall security smelled a fish seeing school uniformsDejected back to school as the manager was a storm.

Our class teacher came harangue, her apotheosis harshShe took on the brush for the white washOne student whispered, “She’s white washing the school, nation, and

world.”She came down with a stick, when racisms hurled.

Moping non-stop and busy painting the wallWe are very tired post cleaning the hall

The library is cathartic, so is swimming poolMuffin, anodyne juice at Earth Friendly School.

School’s a place we daily learnIt prepares us for college mornThe school new look we revere and beamSchool, in history, would our future dream.

STING LIKE A BEE

Big fight in gymnasia, ropes, and posts setAt square raised platform providence Ali and Joe metReferee, cut man, trainers have now finally comeAli will win betted spectators some.

Gloves, head gear, teeth cover opponents woreOn the steel, ply, canvas spat and sworeThe round one began with the referee’s handJoe on the ground, Ali looked jumping grand.

Slipping, bobbing, clinching, blocking cover-upFoot work, jab, hook, upper cut at the ropeFor three tense rounds the combat wentThousands of bees hovered on the platform ascend.

The boxers danced with the bees like in a balletReferee in center, couldn’t much keep bees at bayGot a fruit punch, first vertical and then horizontalThe tin can blead impact periodontal.

The cut man moved to stop the fightStinging bees massive with all their mightBoxers vanished with the camera, from where they cameBees ended the bout, what a shame.

The gym was smoked for the bees to goThe referee threw the towel with a disgusted bow“This gym will see Ali, Joe fight, some other day.”Hands wild at the door ahead they all firmly said.

BAMBOO

Bamboo antediluvian as crafty weaponTied hunting staff pithy deadens the venomMade decorous flute filled enchant musicCowboy’s lithe stick goads them elusive.

Bamboo shoot used rife fermented foodsTasty delicious when it’s chewedUses medicine man as mortar pestleAs also often a cooking vessel.

Bamboo used burgeon a writing penBy the aristocratic, the princely menNo longer need them fossil gruelFermented bamboo rampant gives alcohol fuel.

From bamboo sheets fecund make them clothesGentle to skin, fashion showsPoetic and novel writing surfacePurposeful style when written cursive.

Bamboo often used choleric teacher firmTalkative class apathetic noisy shamBam assail the weapon, boo capricious the child

Aphorism soft control for the student’s hides.

Curtains, racks, flutes, fence, garden furnitureComputers, watches, paintings, jewellery box, expenditureBoats and rafts for joy are also made from bambooTribal bamboo soup is fun, so amazing to chew.

Bamboo friendship clemency made in craftCreative generous compose love filled heartPatchy strong suave when networkedFor the poor man’s rustic, bountiful, construction work.

Bamboo walking stick blind man’s comrade for lifeIt sticks by him during all his strifeFriends may ditch but not bamboo stickWithout it he’s anxious, helpless and meek.

                  

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