Tag: family

Teach me how

How could you, mom?
tell me that all's well
and that Barnie's fine
he's gone to a farm
to care for his babies
that he'll soon return
How could you, mom?
I lay await for weeks
rushing to his kennel
after school each day
seeking Barnie's arrival
only to be disappointed
How could you, mom?
watch me as I continued
with my reckless efforts 
in pursuit of happiness
hoping for my Barnie 
to come back home to me
How could you, mom?
pacify yourself each night
as I cried myself to sleep
pray, tell how you did it
for my daughter's dog died
and I've sent it to a farm too

East and West

“You know what, Mildred? I can’t wait for Kevin to leave for college. I mean, I love the kid, but to be honest, Rick and I haven’t had the house to ourselves in almost 20 years.”

“It’d be nice to be alone with each other again.”

“Oh, yeah,” Mildred agreed her mouth full of Julia’s fresh-baked blueberry muffin. “I get it, Jules. You and Kevin need some time off. The kids are grown up now, they have their own lives to take care of.”

“You two should go on a second honeymoon or some’n,” She added as an afterthought.

“What are you watching, Raj?”

“It’s this new American sitcom, Ma—Rick & Julia. Everyone in college is talking about it.”

“Ok. Here—drink this juice. Do you want anything to eat?” Mrs Patil asked as she cleared up Raj’s empty breakfast plate.

“Nah.”

“Alright. I’m just in the kitchen chatting with Geetha aunty. Let me know if you want anything.”

“Ok.”

“So… how’s it like having Raj back home?” Mrs Patil’s neighbour asked as she entered the kitchen.

“Oh, Geetha! It’s wonderful! I was so bored and Raj’s father doesn’t come home until dinner time—he’s always busy with his business. I was starting to feel depressed.”

“Oh, I wish Raj had a longer holiday,” she stopped chopping onions and turned to face Mrs. Geetha, “with him around, it’s like my life’s got purpose again.”

“I’m making his favourite biriyani today,” she announced without apparent reason her eyes beaming with joy.

The new child

He listened as the midwife crooned words of encouragement. It was as if she was calming him instead, while his darling, moaning and shuffling about in gentle motions, braved on.

She was in pain, he could tell, but she’d given birth before. And she was managing far better than he had the previous four times put together.

About ten heavy breathing and a couple more shrieky minutes later, out plopped his new baby. With buttery legs, a mild mane, and eyes battling against the afternoon sun, his fifth treasure—the one that completed his farm—the jet black calf lay on the warm hay.

The yellow caps

Yellow hats at a construction site - Unsplash.com
a silent trancing in the ears
  arms swinging to the tone
    unchallenged my path ahead
      and sleepy eyes that wander by
 
yellow hats bobbing beside
  in blazing orange jackets
    heavy-soled workers' shoes
      and stained knee cap pants
 
marching all in a single file
  heading towards the incomplete
    labouring in the wintry breeze
      for wages to drown the hunger rage
 
eyes filled with expectation
  life devoid of all reputation
    board faces and pale skins
      and hearts full of wonderment
 
bottle of water swinging in hand
  and as empty stomach urging on
    walk soldiers defenders of homes
      jobs to be done, for bills to be paid
 
strolling along next to me
  close enough, not enough to smear
    anger or even a trace of reality
      for their's fulfilment in construction

Image source: Unsplash.

Past

Letter from son to father about the progress of his farm, State Capitol of Texas, Austin
Letter from son to father about the progress of his farm, Texas State Capitol in Austin

Proof of days gone by

handcrafted stories of yore

kennelled trinkets now