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
Silent memories…
Of Daddy’s solar hat,
And Mama’s episodic pickling-days.

                          

Geeta Chhabra

 

Glossary.
Monica, a classmate in my junior school.