Open windows of laughter!
Engravings
On moon-face-flowers
Of sweet peas,
Roses.
Monica’s well-mannered ringlets.

My urchin-feet dancing!
To wander aimlessly,
In winters’ courtyards
Offering: sun-tattooed warm days.

Grey flannels,
Softly falling
On my gumboots,
Crunching
On wet,
Pitch-black gravel.

Cows mooing.
The scent of fresh jasmine petals,
Strewn like a life story,
In our pathways!

The song
Of the ‘koyal’
Also dancing!
Mango-nectar on my linen frock.
Our great car:
The revamped Austin.

I stay there in
Pondering memories…
Of Daddy’s solar hat,
And Mama’s episodic pickling-days.

Geeta Chhabra

Glossary.
Monica, a classmate in my junior school. I envied her for her ringlets.