1) A swarm of butterflies in spring
In multi-colored dresses cute and clean
With flower-fresh beaming faces seen
Like a flock of singing birds on wing
Though burdened with a heavy load of books
A glorious sunny glow shone through their looks.
2) With pretty fingers waving warm good byes
To their dads and moms, they ran like fawns
To board their coaches in breezy morn
As their teachers beckon them with welcoming smiles.
They seem to enjoy their fresh morning bus- ride
The future citizen's of tomorrow, our nation's pride !
3) Their merry prattle rang through my heart
Their buoyant spirit thrilled my aging mind
Such happiness nowhere can we find
Such leaping childhood zeal nowhere can we spot
Free from self-shrinking worries and selfish cares
Such spontaneous mirth can we dream to share !
4) My mind flew back to my earlier years
A lad in simple dress with reluctant feet
To go to school and his teacher meet
A whining boy with dithering fears
No luxurious coach for him to board
He had to walk with friends on muddy road.
5) A routine recital of rhymes sing-song
A noisy den with no encouraging look
We squatted on floor in a dismal nook
Slogging and repeating till the last bell rang
Sometimes to skip school we feigned to be sick
Our elders soon saw through our childish tricks.
6) With a sigh of relief while going home
I watched on the lawn a flock of sheep
Grazing and bleating with a merry leap ;
How freely and happily they roam
Ignorant of losing soon their breath
To be a dish for men after their death.
7) The twittering birds seemed to mock at my state
How freely floating with their inborn skill
None taught these creatures how to hunt and kill
Why me alone to slog and drudge? Human fate ?
The swimming fish, street dogs and floating ducks
Appeared to question my state of luck.
8) Good manners with respect our teachers taught
"Do your duty with care" their lifetime creed
Good stories with morals they made us read
A sense of discipline they always sought
They corrected our mistakes with meticulous care
Slothful negligence never did they spare.
9) And yet in school simple pleasures we felt
Not burdened with a load of back-breaking store
With fewer books we tried to acquire knowledge more
Though not equipped with tools of internet ;
We played our simple games with a sense of thrill
Though not well-trained in games and sporting skill.
10) We wondered at our teachers' knowledge and skill
We listened to their stories and morals caught
Their fluent flow of language impressed our hearts ;
They made us love learning with a sense of thrill
Their caring nature in their every act did gleam
They were treated by all with respect supreme.
11) Those past days in a trice flashed back as I stood
Watching these kids lightly tripping about
Running and laughing with a lusty shout
Childhood breathes in all a jubilant and jolly mood
Fresh angelic faces with sunny future ahead
A wave of joy in my bosom they spread.
12) Move on, you gallant future hopes of the world
Armed with new skills and creative thoughts ;
This world in narrow grooves perplexed and caught
Mired in struggle for power with hatred and discord ;
Lead us to a new realm of wisdom and cheer
Where men live in harmony with a conscience clear.
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10th December , 2016 Somaseshu Gutala
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