Mamma-Papa

Mamma-Papa

I'll still sit next to you
When your face is no longer beautiful

I'll still talk with you
When your hearing starts playing tricks

I'll still laugh at your jokes
That I would've already heard many times

I'll touch your forehead
When you complain of fever

I'll come to your rescue
When you have something to fear

I will respond
When you have something to say

I'll not smirk
At your dated ways

I'll not abruptly get up and go
Leaving you in mid-sentence

I'll behave honestly
And drop all pretence

I'll not go out
Without a warm hug

I'll look at you
As a sign of luck

I'll give you company
And not leave you alone

For I know, my dear
Man doesn't live on bread alone

The Witch in My Room

When I turn off the light switch

I often see a witch

When I put the switch back on

I find the witch has gone

She wears a black gown

And a conical slimy hat

Her skin is dirty green

She flies with a filthy cat.

She loves to eat dead rats

And feasts on ugly bats

Spiders swim in her soup

Which smells of doggie poop

She once worried my friend

Who got frightened to no end

She put nuggets on her head

And ate her with some bread

Childhood Musings

Anupam, Smriti, and I, all three of us were quite vociferous in our childhood. Some of us created songs, some wrote poetry, and some created dialogues even before entering the school.

Sample this:

Poetry

It is a long one, describing the saga of a king, his queen, pages, etc. The poem began thus:

Ek Tha Raja, Oh Oh Oh!
Ek Thee Rani, Oh Oh Oh!

The verse had a somewhat tragic end, which I recall as below:

Rani Mar Gayee,
Dasee Bhaag Gayee!

Dialogue

It was a result of imagination on how different members of the family would react to the same situation.

The situation was quite simple.

The main door is locked. It is night. There is no power. Knocks on the door are not resulting in desired response. The visitor has no option but to cry out for help.

Visitor One (heavy, authoritative voice): Darwaaaaza Kholo! Hum Paaapaaa Hain!

Visitor Two (sweet voice): Mami! O Mami! Darwaza Kholo! Hum Mummy Hain!

Visitor Three (a sing-song voice): Mamiiiiii! O-o-o Mamiiiiiii! Hum Kaise Aa Paate Hain! Dalwaaja Bun(d) Hai!

Song

This song was created impromptu after the genius observed a steam engine entering a railway station. The first line ended on a high note, the second one on a level note, the third one on a low note, and the fourth one rhymed with the sound of the steam engine. Usually the song was sung with a stick in the hand of the composer, who used to hit the nearest object to lay emphasis on the words in the last line.

Injun (Engine) Ke (Ki) Siti
Injun Ke Dainda (Danda, the bar affixed on the wheels)
Injun Ke Paiyya (Pahiya)
Tik! Tik! Tik!