The day starts early
Much earlier than early!
Lights and noise
Shake the children from sleep.
The world inside is same.
Everything is new outside.
Unseen happiness,
Boundless joy,
Pleasing vignettes,
Sweet words.
The day passes,
They too get some niceties.
The struggle continues,
For a few more sweets,
Few more crackers,
A pair of chappels...
By the end of the day,
The real feast begins.
Night turns into day,
Sky gets decorated,
Eyes and ears taken for a ride.
They are out of the hut.
A fire-engine placed at the distance.
They look at their hands;
Parched, scorched,
Bruises all over.
The smell of phospherous
Lingers in the air.
At the end of the day,
The thoughts of tomorrow
Bring back sadness.
The days will roll
As their hands
roll and pack
The crackers for the Diwali!
Author notes
I just thought of reminding ourselves of the people who toil to make our day brighter and happier.
Written October 5th, 2005
A contest entry
- The festive season!! by Sanya.
1000 points, ended October 18, 2005, 6 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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What a nice visit this gave me to this Hindu celebration of India. I really felt like I was there...
"Night turns into day,
Sky gets decorated,
Eyes and ears taken for a ride."
All of the senses receive a treat through your poem!
I really felt the excited anticipation of the Holiday, but then the sad let-down, when it is over.
Thank you for this delightful peek at this! It was a fun visit to another culture, a culture that I feel close to in many ways even though I don't live in India... -
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Thanks again
Thanks again for your wonderful comments which are certainly encouraging and your analysis of the poems certainly make me much more happier than the happiness that I had when I submitted the poem. I am indebted to you for the time you spend for me. Thanks a lot.
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hmmm
This was highly interesting! I didn't fully understand what it was about, until I read your notes at the end, and now knowing what it's about, I'll say this, GREAT JOB!!!
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This is a brillant poem. So many images that flash in my mind. You totally control the reader. This is a powerful deep poem. Good luck in the contest<3 And thanks for the comment
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Congrats and thanks for your comments and encouragement.
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Congratulations for winning bronze...
mina -
I loved this and your sadness with regards to these children and how their lives are being affected brings an irony and emphatic side to this poem. Wonderfully done. I enjoyed this.
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great
this is lovely and greatly descriptive of all aspects of diwali, and mainly about the sad part of it, but whatever there is is described greatly! -
This is sad in a way... we never see the dark side of the festival... the whole of the society has to work together to get these children out of the circle of poverty...but unfortunately bureaucrats are only interested in making money... I'm not sure what is the answer to this problem... parents are to be equally blamed for, for giving birth to the children they can't afford to feed... I often ponder upon this dilema and always end up blaming the karma... Good luck in the contest...
mina -
A very well done poem. Well written. Keep up the great work. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. Good luck in the contest
Peace
*Lust* -
Excellent!!! In such simple language you have expressed yourself really well. You beautifully blended the various feelings. The joy on one side and the pain on the other side. The joy and happiness we get at the cost of ruining the life of little children and by creating both noise and sound pollution on such a large scale!! I especially liked these lines-
At the end of the day,
The thoughts of tomorrow
Bring back sadness.
The days will roll
As their hands
roll and pack
The crackers for the Diwali!
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