TWO POEMS FROM A CELEBRATED WRITER OF INDIA----

SHIELA GUJRAL

 

 

Dear Dr. Stephen Gill,

 

               Inspired by your poems I felt like sending a couple of my own poems on X’mas.  X’mas is not only celebrated by Christians in India, it is more like a National festival. Most of the poems from my book ‘Suna De Ma’ which was transcreated by me from the latest edition of Punjabi Poems as suggested by Prof. Kalam, our outgoing President, contains poems on various festivals. Since we are a secular country and fortunately, the children are not narrow minded, our President felt that we are presenting only dull books about our traditional culture or books emphasized on Modern Day culture depicting Western Values. He was keen that an attractive-looking book depicting Indian Culture should be written in English to be shared by children of different regions and N.R.I. children.

 

               The second poem X’mas is printed in Throttled Dove which was published by Harper Collins in 1995.

              

 

(Shiela Gujral)

 

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CHRISTMAS NIGHT

 

Squatting on pavement

this cold X-mas night

the coiled couple

on hungry stomach

and tattered rags,

passion-warm

on wet footpath

radiates joy

and blissful calm,

sipping merrily

the sparkling spirit of

shared ecstasy.

 

How we wait for X-Mas!

For weeks we try to please our Mom

and seek her generous favour

Finding her in a real happy mood

We plead for a big round X-Mas tree,

ribbon, bulbs and buntings.

 

Back home, with our precious tree

we open our piggy-bank

and count the coins

to buy additional trimmings

Pooling the talent of all our friends

we decorate the tree, with utmost zeal.

 

‘D’ day arrives---

we ask Mom to play the piano

and grouping around her,

we sing X-Mas hymns

in full-throated voice

till food is laid on the table.

Feasting ourselves on cookies and pies

sipping tumblers full of our favourite juice

We rush back to the floor

hopping, dancing

merrily jumping on and on and on

when lights go off,

We hold our breath,

till Santa Claus arrives,

carrying bagful of goodies on his back-

Most precious gifts for all of us!

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Driving the latest Limousine Car

the wayward aristocrat

attired in Achkan with diamond studded buttons

the spouse in a sari,

glittering with gold

and traditional jewels,

enter the hall in their exclusive club.

Exchanging flying smiles,

with friends from a distance,

move to the table

booked for them,

After feasting they move to the floor

The first dance with his submissive spouse

she back to his nearest table

he back to the floor door,

 

Mingling with the dancing lot

glamorous partners, faster speed,

dancing, drinking whirling around

time seems still.

The submissive spouses

sipping soft-drinks,

exchanging gossips,

feel bored

Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting

What a Merry X’mas!

 

Shiela Gujral
India

 

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