OUT OF THE BOX

In the month of April 2014,

28 pairs of little feet, marching into 1 A could be seen.

Bright questioning eyes searched my face and pondered,

‘What is she going to teach us?’ these little beings wondered.

I was ready with the curriculum to teach that I have taught all these years,

Glasses perched on my nose, I looked at them but to me they made something very clear.

‘Ma’am’, they said, ‘The curriculum is fascinating, but can you please make 1 A more interesting?’

For the last 27 years, I have taught from many a book,

No one said make it exciting, as they grasped the lesson that they took.

It was easy to say, ‘I am the teacher, you the student, so listen to me.’

Indeed I could not do so, that is not the TSRS anthem you see.

Role reversal was the only answer for this enchanted voyage,

The magical journey of 1 A began and together we traveled a vast mileage.

Ganadhipati inhaled the fragrance of Tagore’s ‘Champa flower’,

Jorashako, Shantiniketan, the knowledge over flowed like incessant shower.

Holding the ‘Magic Rock’ in their hand, Dheeraj and Suveer led the class to the path of peace,

28 little Zen, concentrated sitting under the imaginary Bodhi Tree.

Mandala by Sharanya proceeded the preaching of Dalai Lama,

Teaching and learning went hand in hand with out a full stop or a comma.

When Agastya spoke about Tutankhamen and the glory of the Ancient Civilization,

Gathering knowledge became infectious and a valuable realization.

Samaya took a step forward to the spiritual world of Mutt and Bastett of Egypt,

From Zunaira we learnt to write our name in Hieroglyphics script.

Amaara took us on an exotic tour,

 Gobar huts, Salt pans, Satpura, we learnt about these for sure.

Our very own Frida Anoushka Kahlo, brought in art awareness in 1 A,

Various styles, strokes, art era, the thirst grew by the day.

Creative minds, Ayaan and Raghavendra contributed to the discussion,

To name a few, Maite Delteil, Maity and the wonderful Anjolie Ela  Menon.

Dhruv said, ‘EUREKA!’ science is everywhere,

Dry ice is solid Co2 and he did experiment on hot air.

To the tune of ‘Waka Waka’ Aalya, Vanshika and Krish made my old bones dance,

Let loose, find freedom, do not wait for a special chance.

The ‘Google boy’ Vannsh Jagtiani imparted knowledge in every sphere,

Galapagos Island, mythology, history, he taught me and his peer.

The smart soldiers, Rajwansh, Rohan and Anil followed the class slogan without fail,

‘KHUSH RAHO TAGRE RAHO’ was instilled in all, that is what 1 A would hail.

 Philosophical Madhav urged to appreciate nature,

His naturopathy invention’ Bichoo Booti’ cures bites of all poisonous creature.

Eating healthy is what we learnt from Devender dear,

Sara and Bhumi taught me to be brave as there is nothing to fear.

With freedom to fly high they sang ‘Let it go’

Yashetta, Tenzin and Shreya , the musical path they did show.

Etiquettes, manners and correct pronunciation were discussed from Jaivir’s book,

Through ‘Dosa’ Rohan Atree brought in the aroma of cuisines and cook.

Indeed role reversal made true magic in 1 A,

‘Child is the father of the man’ as the great Wordsworth would say.

Always thinking out of the box, they flew high,

Know more, research they said ’Tell me why’.

As they move on to class 2 I urge them to keep their box open,

I am so proud of my children for the inquisitive path that they have chosen.

For my batch of 2013  --- FAREWELL POEM

                                                              

                                                 THE PAINTING

It was the year 2013 an inner voice said to me, come on, wake up and follow your dream.

Do not hold it, be an artist, a voice from with in did scream.

I stretched my canvas and looked at it with eyes so wide,

My mind blank, holding my brush and easel I wondered who would be my guide.

Art is something you cannot learn the voice said,

Pick up your brush, dip it in colours and to the right path you will head.

Where do I find colours, there is no hue,

The voice said, look around there is vibrancy all around you.

Oh, how did I miss it, on my palette right here is colour blue.

Calm and peaceful the colour of the sky,

Slowly taking a step and everyday rising high.

This colour many a times on my palette was lonely and blue.

One day green got together with blue and on my canvas, master strokes they drew.

 Green was Umaid and blue Damian, together a colour they created for me.

The hue was balanced, peaceful, flowing free.

I dabbed my brush in colour red,

Annika and Lakshmie on my canvas passionate views and ideas they did spread.

A splash of turquoise I wanted to paint,

Harshiet, Avya and Ahaan with their clarity of mind held my hand like a saint.

Beautiful pictures I started to draw,

Slowly all around me vibrant colours I saw.

 Three doves, Aadya, Aanya and Unnaty, flew and perched on my palette,

Pure and white while I painted they sang a melodious ballad.

To be an artist I need to be creative,

Colour purple, the colour of imagination, made my canvas look so festive.

Amar, Aaditya and Aarna showed me the way,

My canvas, so pure and pious, no less than a bouquet.

A painting without love is undone,

Dash of pink from Saina, Kyra and Sahana, accolades, my canvas had won.

A blob of orange makes my painting more vibrant and bright,

Atharv, Komal, Alok, optimistic, advice me to widen my horizon, way beyond my sight.

The colour of success, gold dust, I sprinkle on my painting,

Rivan, Sumit, Ananya, stars, finally my painting is attaining.

My art takes me beyond the canvas to the potter’s wheel,

A lump of clay from the earth I did steal.

Dev Vart, Harshit, Vansh, Pradeep, helped me mould the earth brown clay into a sculpture,

Vast, bottomless, no boundaries it did not follow any scripture.

Finally my canvas needed that final touch, the dot the connecting line,

Deprived of creativity, I could not do it so fine,

Master artists, Vyaan, Serat, Tejas, lend me their strokes,

Finally, the masterpiece called 1D, evokes……..

A painting that continues.

                                                                                     

CHAARPAI SE ----: ...

CHAARPAI SE ----: ...: WHAT IF ....... In my school teachers were really cool, The principal's office was on a...

WHAT IF .......

In my school teachers were really cool,

The principal's office was on a branch of a tree,

When kids got A grade ,parents really did worry.

In the morning assembly, the children did a somersault,

The Hindi teachers praised the children when they were at fault.

In a seven period time table , six were for games and one for reading fable,

The librarian sat on a horse back on a stinky stable.

Canteen was where we took our exams,

To soothe our nerves we were served cutlets with bitter jam.

Children were punished if they walked in a line,

Teachers had to wear mini skirts or they were charged with a fine.

The principal spent her time swinging in the jungle gym,

To reach the underwater reception area we had to know how to swim.

For Annual functions hundred percent parent participation was a must,

Children enjoying the show was a norm, which was so just.

The Chemistry lab was in the cow shed,

There, one could see yellow litmus change to red .

The Bhaiyas took rounds in the corridors,

The gardener took Math classes and taught us, 6+6 is always 4.

In the play ground every morning the Didis did a drill,

It was mandatory for them to wear lacy frocks with a pink frill.

The board in front of the principal's room said " Children, please do not stop screaming"

I woke up with a start ,"Oh boy was I dreaming?"

NANA JI'S SHAVING CREAM

NANAJI’S SHAVING CREAM

Overlooking the garden on the verandah sits my Nanaji with his shaving kit,

Holding a concave mirror in front of him, I too sit.

Little shaving cream he squeezes out on his shaving brush,

On his cheeks he goes up and down, trush trush.

I say,” Nanaji, your face is full of snow.”

A blob he puts on my face and laughs ho! ho! ho!

Later Nanai splashes his face with after shave lotion,

I too get some and splash it on my face with same fashion.

Clean and smelling good my Nanaji looks so fine,

I rub my cheeks to his cheek and say, ”Nanaji you are all mine.”

FAREWELL POEM TO CLASS I D 2008 -2009 BATCH

In a beautiful jungle under the Banyan tree,

there was a lovely class called 1D,

In the jungle lived Ma’am SHARMISTHA bear,

to her 27 little cubs she showered love and care.

Million questions they asked Ma’am bear,

bouncing all around her would be CELINA the lovable hare,

Perched up on a branch the wise owl RIBHAV SIKKA sat,

ZAARYA squirrel CHOWDHURI never ate much, thinking she will turn fat.

Monkey BHULLAR did not get tired jumping from one branch to another,

Three little joeys, VANAJ, SHAYAN ,JAI, hopped hand in hand , of course they were true brothers.

In the pond across, swam the graceful TISHYA swan,

In great speed ran the little ASHISH fawn,

TUSHEETA calf Khanna never left Ma’am bear’s side,

Bear cub ANYA would jump on Ma’am bear’s lap and snuggle and hide.

LARIENA wood pecker KUMAR was always working hard,

During walkabout ISHAYU elephant Nath from behind would always keep a guard.

Artist LEILA weaver bird MUKHERJEE on a tree top made a beautiful nest,

ANANTA koyal NANDRAJOG,in the jungle she sang the best.

Shy little LILA gazelle DHAR sat under the Banyan admiring the sky,

ANCHITA pony Aurora galloped around Ma’am bear asking questions oh why! oh why !oh why!

Around the wild flowers ANISHA butterfly SULLIVAN would flutter and fly.

ARYAN chimp made Ma’am bear run on her paws,

Lion cub SAINA dreamt to have manicured claws.

KARTIK froggy GULPADIA took long jumps into the lily pad,

Copying Ma’am bear’s voice MUSKAAN parrot Awasthi said “Not bad , not bad!”

Huggable HAMIR tiger cub THAPAR shifted from Ranthambore to the jungles of 1D,

With an open mouth he would listen to Ma’am bear’s childhood story.

SAHIL kingfisher KHANNA kept steadily flying up,

PARTH mole AVIRAJ explored the whole jungle and would never stop,

SHYLA the mynah chirped and flew all over the jungle,

SHIV giraffe BHATIA like a true mentor, with every animal he would mingle.

Then a day came when Ma’am bear thought her babies have grown up a lot,

She made them sit around her and said,” to a bigger jungle you have to go but worry not.”

“In the other jungle lives another adorable Ma’am bear, if you need me visit my jungle as for you I am always there.”

MY NEW PAIR OF WINGS

As you guys know that I am an Elementary teacher and I teach 6to 7 year olds , for 1 year they are my babies and then it is time for them to move on , a very painful and difficult time for me as a teacher as they move on to the next class I feel like a true empty nester , every year before they move on I write a poem for them which I gift them on their last day in class . The following poem is the one that I gave to my 2011 -2012 batch.

MY PAIR OF WINGS

On 7^th April at the door steps of 1D, a beautifully wrapped parcel was delivered to me.

I wondered and wondered what could it be, so beautiful, it took me a while to unwrap it, you see.

I opened it with delight and what do I see, a pair of ornate wings tailored for me.

I am so old, I can not learn to fly, best is to wrap it and keep it aside.

Just then a little voice said to me, “Do not clip your wings, we will teach you to fly, hold our little hands and we will take you high”.

Imagination is something I had forgotten, 28 little people took me to the imaginative path they had trodden.

Annika, Ananya B, Kiara and Saanvi, lightly placed the wings on my shoulder.

Flapping my new found wings I looked at them with wonder.

“Imagine”, they said, that you are in the land of prince and princess, do not refrain from thinking that you have long cascading tress.

I had forgotten to imagine, as I said before, but a peep into their drawing book let my imagination soar.

With their help I saw myself dressed in pink lace and pretty bow, holding a wand in my hand I flew to see a royal show.

The little professor Arjun Sunder wanted to teach as well, this wise owl had lots to tell.

“Flapping your wings, you old lady, to travel through the world of Humanoid robots with me you better get ready”.

Taking a big flight he took me to his lab full of robots, the Ostrich and Mr. ASIMO and what not.

Krishna said, “Come on there is much for you to explore and fathom,”

“Fly with me or Captain Haddock will be furious and call you Ectoplasm.”

Krishna introduced me to the ‘Crab with the Golden Claws’, my imagination from there never did pause.

Gliding out of ‘The Black Island’ I landed in Barcelona, there I saw El Nino, wow what a gigantic persona.

Neel, Aryan, Siddhant said.”Now that you have your wings, why don’t you do a back pass?” Just then from the corner arrived Ruchir and Aarav with Tendulker and Sarfaraz.

From the goal post to the mid off my imagination flew, everything seemed real and for me oh so new.

I heard the tinkling of musical bell, Ehssas, Nirvaan and Kamya were coming towards me I could tell,

“Come on Miss with flying wings, like a peacock you dance while we sing.”

I who had never danced before, with the flying wings I could do that too for sure.

What is happening to me I thought, imagination is taking me to places of all sort.

Can I imagine to be a blue cloud?”Of course” said Nikita, Myra and Manya with out any doubt.

Their creative writing books turned into cloudy candy floss, every page reached a higher level of imagination and my words were at loss.

A whiff and a sniff, from where do I get the aroma, my wings take me to the kitchen of Ria Vohra,

Cakes, muffins, truffles a delicious treat, my beautiful wings had many a new things to greet.

In the magical world of books they took me,

Arzu, Krishnav, Maanya, Aditya , nothing could have been more vibrant you see.

To the land of Heidi I travelled, the adventures of Captain Cook I marvelled.

With my wings on, I imagined myself to be a ping pong ball, travelling all over the country, holding Aditya T’s hand I did not fall.

Like his little T.T. ball I bounced up and down, with imagination galore, there was no chance to get a frown.

Under the sea was my next destination, my tour guides Ananya and Hiral took me to the height of explicit imagination.

With my wings I became a rabbit, fish and a flower, its true imagination gives you all the power.

As I entered the land of softness and love, Pranav, Vedant and Arjun Iyer gave me the wings of a dove.

Together with them I glided and glided for sure, with out them I could have never imagined a flight so pure.

I promise you, my children, I will never clip my pair of wings, from you, I learnt so many wonderful things.

As you fly up to a higher level, imagination and dreams you must always marvel,

Because ------“The man who has no imagination has no wings.” said the great Muhammad Ali.

All the best my beautiful child, Sharmistha Maam will always, always love you .

29/03/2012