My Childhood. . .

 I slept in childhood of my life           

My eyes shut to dark world

Under the covers of the veil of mom

In the protective arms of dad

Not a bad thought rung through my ears

Every bit around looked cheerful and glad

The sun shown brighter by day

The night would come alive to twinkle

The altitude of esteem

Was the height of swings

The only loss suffered

Was in low marks and grades

The agitation aroused only to win a race

The unpolished shoes would bring disgrace

Pride was in having a pencil

With a rubber at the end

Worry was when a crayon we had to lend

Good day was getting an extra candy from a friend

Bad day was hearing ‘katti’ from her

Scary were the boogeyman stories

And the darkness where he lurked

Though never ever seen by me

To make me eat my supper it always worked

Adventure was buzzing through the roads

Upon my own cycle gifted by dad

Rain was meant to bathe one more time

To make paper boats

And to bring out that funny sound with wet shoes

And laugh it away merrily and happily

Love was a tight hug

And sleeping on the lap of mom

Seeping down slowly to her

Melodies, songs and lullabies

Love was one more chapatti,

Some more rice

Pampering me through teds and toys                

Courage was to say out the marks to mom

And promise to get better next time

Pain was a wound on the knee

Cry was when mom would be away for some time

Fear was to be without her

Even though there were

Many to take care

But I searched for her everywhere

Saying, “mumma k pas jana hai”

That was my childhood

Preserved and preached in dreams

Now I have been woken up

To be beyond the other side of veil

Sometimes I just ask her,

“Mumma, can I sleep for some more time?”

And She brings down the veil of sleep

Same way as she used to then

But this time only

To wake me up again

Not in the repository of childhood

But with eyes wide open

Out to the dark world.