My Shore of Wonderment
Out I stood on the carpet of purple jacaranda blooms
Gazing at the flight of uneven steps beneath,
Just to glance the never-ending beauty of my wonderland
The spot we call the Junior School
The haven we leisurely walked and talked
The site where little melodious voices sang,
The paradise where tiny footsteps romped
The place we adore and call the Triveni
The tyre swings in random odd motion
With their lengthy, rusted iron chains.
One sees the little ones with their warm smiles
Seated perfectly between the cramped seats.
They twist and furl and spin around
And swing up in the air as high as they can,
In the company of their best partners
They seem to be in their heavenly world
Pebbles of varied shapes and textures
Adorn the rocky slide - as we fondly call it
Arranged in vivid patterns with measured gaps
To perfectly hold the tiny feet.
Little legs tip-toe the tippy top
Soon they slide down the other end
What a fun filled ride it is,
Till they joyfully reach the sandy patch
To rest and come to an abrupt halt
The fervent pond with its curvy shape
Is now home to a family of toads
The still waters reflect the blue sky
And shades of green from the branches above.
Dragon flies, water skaters and swift guppies
Zig-zag across the slimy surface,
The few silent tender water lilies afloat
Their pink blossoms witness the prompt play
The tranquil space, the spot of solace
The humble abode we entitle the Machan
With its majestic black-painted bamboo supports
Under the canopy of our favourite tam.
A scene of general chatter and prattle
A class gathering, a circle time or a read aloud too.
You’d call my land of wonderment but a common place
As you may not see anything grand or fine
But it was here one spent few fabulous years
Which brings admiration of the beauty one has found
Pray to continue to connect with this marvellous den
Which has brought many a smile on the mystified face
Where one found great friends and colleagues
Who put in all their trust and faith
Who never hesitated to tell things straight-up
And many times, also made one pause and think
Relationships with their innate multi-facets
Some superficial, some professional, some complacent
Some one assumes as personal, deep, strong and intense.
Nevertheless, the truth of the avoidance or attachment
Which is the demon or shadow of this strange existence
Sends a wave of realization to the intellectual mind.
One seems to recognize all these as illusions of the self
Only to struggle, feel strange and be puzzled,
To drop, to let go and set free!
But I can only confess instantly and honestly
That the addictive joy, cheer and bliss
That friends and little ones bring to you
Are life’s priceless treasures and riches
That one always cares to adore and cherish!
Sunitha Mahesh