A Fairy Tale or A Sorrowful Tale?*

1. A Fairytale Beginning

Once there was a man                                                                                
Strong and stout and really smart        
                                                             
Homely wife he brought in a van                                        
Fairytale beginning with a start

2.  Maruti Omni (Van) : A Family Car

Years passed, she bore no child
Husband puzzled, no more mild

Had a fling, teacher with
Wife's sorrow at its height                                

3. Let not the tear drop

Still agreed to part a bite
Pretty still,  but had no might

Allowed him to marry
For time does not tarry

In no time younger bore a child
At last a child was yet to follow

And the mourning first was filled with hope
One after the other a child  each bore

By and by he had to support
Six children, two wife's and himself too

No more stout and no more smart
Tension filled his mind and heart

Till one morn he had an attack
Heart being weak told to lay on his back

(Other options that could have been taken)

4. Love is my Mom and Love is my Dad
Love is my Health and Love is my Wealth

If no child adopt a babe                                              
Thousands waiting to have your name

Be thankful to God you have  a wife        
Go ahead and enjoy the beauty of life

5. The Beauty of Life

Note :
In India the desire to have an offspring to carry on one's name runs high.
But sometimes the beautiful bride after leaving parental haven ends up with all sighs.
When the womb she has is unable to bring forth  its fruit.
In spite of fasting's and  prayer's and blessings and doctor's care.
                                                                   
                                                 Love you all...............But remember dear.............
     
                         
                            Just as seasons fill the calendar year
                            Many colors maketh rainbows dear
                            And sandy, rocky or earth be green
.                           So also joys and sorrows life does mean......

 (*This is a real life incident, an  early 21st century episode)

Pictorial sources:
1. lifehassomuchfun.blogspot.com
2  tips4india.in
3. atrailblazer.blogspot.com
4  justmommies.com
5. roevuf.blogspot.com

My Dear Friends, My Noble Guests, Thank You For Traveling Along With Me

1. Initial construction of the Berlin Wall

 Began on August 13, 1961. 

It was torn down beginning
 From November 9th, 1989.

2. German people in South Bavaria, Germany

Rosy Germans with cheeks so red

Robust Russians with their majestic head

Its time to thank you for being my guests

I welcome you both for weekly rest

3.  Such Stalwart, Smiling Girls**** Taught Nazis
the Meaning of Total  War.
Now aren't the Russians robust, with head held high

Smooth skinned Lankans with pearly teeth 

Sun and sand, in Seychelles* one can meet 

Land of sun and swaying palms you are 

May your visits to this blog be showered 

4. Equatorial country.
All in moderation
And Air itself moisturizes and massage us.
Sri Lankan belle's welcome with a smile.

5. Kissing sun and swaying palms
Come to Seychelles and sing a psalm
Praising God for all he has given
Gifts untold on earth he has weaven

Ancient land where Mother Mary tread  

I have read and heard it often said

Welcome to Ethiopia to walk that way

Thank you Jebelo** my heart does say

6. Lake Tana***** in Ethiopia

And Canada beckons to see Denmark Bay***

Come to Iran the land of golden days

Thank you Iran, Thank you Denmark, 

Here I stop and get me parked

7. In Red me shown, Do come to me
 Denmark, please do see

8. Draped in Sunshine is Gilan Village
 in the mountains south of Tehran, Iran.
 

Goodbye folks, its time to play a soulful tune

For Tis time to bid you sleep tight soon


Wake up, wake up, wake up Dears
One more guest has walked in here

9. Thailand dear, teaching
 the world to smile

Lo! a babe  amidst us, darling of the East,
Welcome the child, but please do not tease


Thailand is often called the land of smiles******
Where one views, rice fields, for miles and miles

10.  Green is my field, and  wet is the earth
      Yonder is the sky, and night is nigh

Sorry for interrupting your enchanting dreams
Back to bed for  now complete is your team


The Good Lord has gifted us a rainbow of friends

Bow to thank Him, for how lovingly He tends

11. Thank You Lord For Everything

On our knees and eyes raised high                                 
With mumbling words and a thankful sigh 


Thank You, Thank You, Thank You,  Lord 
For keeping us in Your palm, Oh God! 


______________________________________________________

Some Interesting  Tit Bits, Who Want Some More

* Seychelles officially the Republic of Seychelles is an Archipelago of 115 islands

in the Indian Ocean, north east of the island of Madagascar. Largest island of 
Seychelles is Mahe with an area of 155 sq km.  
Arab traders were the first to visit uninhabited Seychelles. Portuguese Admiral
Vasco da Gama was the first European to visit Seychelles in 1502. 
It got its Independence from the United Kingdom on 29th June, 1976. 
Its capital city is Victoria. 

Its economy is highly developed with a HDI rank (2007) of 57. 

The ethnic people of Seychelles are the Creoles, who account for 87% of its population
The Creoles are of mixed Asian or African and European descent (Wikipedia).


** Jebelo is like a son to me  ( He is an Ethiopian and a student of my husband) 

     Though 7 Samundar par is he

( A phrase used in Hindi language to show the 

distance in between, literally means across 7 seas ) 

According to  Wikipedia, The Ancient Seven Seas,  i.e., before

the fifteenth century, of the world were:

Red
Black 

Indian
Adriatic
Caspian 

Persian Gulf
Mediterranean


***Although Denmark is in Europe, but Denmark Bay is in Canada.


**** Russian women did heavy work even in peacetime. Hitler told German 
        women their place was in the nursery. War in Russia changed his mind.
        These Russian girls lent a hand in digging a canal

*****Lake Tana, sometimes called "Dembiya" is the largest lake in Ethiopia and the source of the Blue Nile. The lake is located in the north-western Ethiopian highlands, and is 70 kilometres long and 60 kilometres wide. Its 3,600 square kilometre surface is dotted with over 30 islands, many of which are home to ancient monasteries and churches. 
       Tana Qirqos  is an island in the eastern part of Lake Tana in Ethiopia, near the mouth of the Gumara River. It is considered a holy island, and only monks of the Ethiopian Church live there.

1

12. Welcome to Paradise Beach

     Hotel near Negombo beach. 

Sri Lanka

On the island of Tana Qirqos is a rock where it is believed Egypt (Wikipedia).


******Thailand's official name was Siam :( Sayam)  until June 23, 1939 when it was changed to Thailand. The name Siam has been identified with the Sanskrit ,Śyâma (श्याम, meaning "dark" or "brown")  Buddhism, is practiced by around 95% of all Thais (Wikipedia).

Pictorial Sources  

1.   blog.goethe.de       

2.   hickerphoto.com

3.   barista.media2.org 

4.  about-lanka.blogspot.com

5.   charterworld.com

6.   blass.com.au

7.   eui.eu

8.   travelpod.com
9.   thaicurrycompany.com
10. en. Wikipedia.org 
11  inkindle.wordpress.com
12. paradisebeachsrilanka.com

To Our First Born* ( And To Students All Over The World )

The key to success lies in your book
Turn every page to have a look


May the hand of God guide you in all that you do
May you never be down, even with a flu


Being the eldest, you have been showered with love
Which helped you to grow, being harmless as a dove


Not all have been gifted, the way you have been lifted
By God and parents and one and all


Work not for self, but for the sake of mankind
Then revel in  that  joy that  makes you more refined

The key to success lies in your book

Turn every page to have a look

*This poem was written a couple of years back for our eldest child
  and the first couplet I have used many a times to encourage both 
  students and relatives. 
  And now that he has partially achieved his dreams I wish to post
  this for the sake of students all over the world.

 Never loose sight of hope my dear.
 Around the corner is your destiny near!

Till Life Departs

Might of God in all I see:-
                 
              Birds in the sky
              I wonder why
              Fishes in the water
              Hear children's laughter
              Dust in the wind
              Land made rind
              Water in the clouds 
              Bending boughs


But eyes do catch:-


             Toiling people all around
             Walking, running
             Struggling, stumbling
             Working, praying
             Yearning, pleading
             Heaving, climbing
             All for  what
             I ask of thee


Yet I see:-

            A smile on a face
            Innumerable ways
            A twinkle in the eye
            A finger in the pie
            A dream to achieve 
            A gift to receive
            A hope in the heart 
            Till Life departs 

Stop to Think and Linger a Bit

Stop to think and linger a bit

Why  am I rushing so

Where am I going to

.

Linger a bit and see environ not hit

Do we not care, only for self 

And do we not care, only for family

That environ not hit, how do I do my bit?

A bit less of smoking and more of jogging

A  bit less of driving and more of walking

How do I do my bit and yet be a hit?

Early morning yoga and some music drill

Flex your muscles and show your skill

Now that I am hit, but what if mind is bit?

With bloated head because of fame 

And run around with a number of dames

What if mind is bit then won't self be badly hit?

Remedy for all there is around

A dash of spirituality keeps you sound

Then Free from thoughts not so sound

Stop to think and linger a bit

Soon back to pavilion we have to hit

Traveling from Delhi to Mussoorie

                                                                             

1. On the way

                                                                                                               

                                                                               

2.  Mussoorie in my dreams

Travelling by car from Delhi to Mussoorie*                  

Sights and sounds all for free

Rumbling horse carts, trudging bullock carts

All things sold on the road, from spare parts to papri chats**

3. Bullock Cart side by side
 with modern traffic

                                                                                       

4.  Traffic congestion and on the
 road celebrations

5. Peaceful as I can be
Lakhnauca Chowk, near Deoband, UP

                                                 

Thatched houses, rest houses                                                        

Cycles vendors and tourist buses

7. Dusk is here,
 night soon follows

The most enjoyable ride 

Our hearts bursting with pride

                                                

                             

Children bathing in passing streams
Roads laden with fallen trees***
Rumble strips and brick filled trolleys
Rushing maruti's, tractor trolleys



Various places we pass through
Modinagar, Muzaffarnagar through we move
Roorkee, Purkazi, Biharigarh
Chutmulpur, Sherpur, Mohand



Bundles of firewood, burden of children
Wayside dhabas, scattered brick kilns
Ganga dhaba with huge chimneys
Farm houses and maternity houses

8.  Colorful wayside
     feast to the eyes
Mohand, UP 

Peaceful towns with stout jawans
British bungalows and bougainvilleas
Cow dung mounds and sugar mills
Grazing cattle on undulating hills

9. Roorkee it is, eyes do behold 

Travelling by car from Delhi to Mussoorie

Sights and sounds all for free...................

10. Winding road tells of  home around the corner

11. Destination Mussoorie

 Notes:
*Come summer holidays for children and we used to move to the
 alpine haven for 2 months.  The journey mentioned pertains to the
 period 1995-2005.
**Papri chats is a delicacy sold in north India. Crispy round papri's
are eaten with curd, tamarind chutney, sweet chutney, coriander chutney
 and what not.  But ultimately the end result is just awesome and in the
 end you wash it down with green (totaly herbal-finely ground coriander
 leaves and mint), sour, chilly water all spicy and hot.
***The day the poem was written we were travelling seeing the aftereffects
 of  a thunder storm very common in summers in North India. Many trees
 both young and old  were uprooted and seen lying on the road obstructing
 traffic, but giving ample fun to the village kids.


Pictorial sources:
1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 from mary's archive
2 I will tell u soon
3. flickr.com
9. same as 2
11.same as 2