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Raghu Menon Jul 2015
Large and wide
Deep and Cool
Filled with the purest water inside
It was our village's hallmark pool..

Stone lined walls on all sides
WIth steps going down to the water
And stones for washing clothes
Which also doubled for scrubbing our feet..


Live with fish and water snakes
Who were friends with us kids,
Frogs who would sing chorus during the rains
and ferns green and bright on the walls.

With overhanging trees on the banks
We came running and dived into the water
somersaulted and torpedoed
and swam in all fashions and styles...


Swimming and diving from the banks
We played "catch me if you can"
from the time we are back from schools
Till it is dark and when calls come from our homes.

With swollen finger tips
and red eyes, but
After the long swim and bath
Having dinner right away and
slipping into a good night's sleep...

Days where there were no TVs to watch
Days where there no homeworks to be done
Days where what mattered most were friends
Days which take us to the sweet childhood..

Gone is the pride of our village
there are no kids who play in the water
For there is no water in the pond
except for a few months during the rains

Kids are no longer kids
They have TV to watch
Phone and computers to play
Virtual friends to play with

Lucky we were
to have such beautiful childhoods
Such memorable friendships
Such adventurous rainy seasons
....
Raghu Menon Jul 2015
The first few drops
Fell on my face
As I was speeding on my bike
The sky still looked almost clear
And there was not much signs
of an impending rain..

Then there was a breeze
Cold and refreshing..
The sun hid itself behind the clouds
The dust on the path flew up twirling..

The breeze got stronger
The leaves of the trees on
Both sides of my path started dancing faster..
There was a sudden flight of a pack of birds
There was few more rain drops and this time hitting stronger

Then all of a sudden,
The wind got stronger
The  droplets fell thick and heavy
The intoxicating smell of the first rain
Hitting the loose earth below
Pierced my nose and all my senses

I slowed down my bike to catch
All the smells, the droplets, the cold wind
The flying leaves,
The chirping of the birds,
The growing darkness..
The fragrance of the first summer rain...

The rain lashed heavily
Blinding my eyes,
Water dripped down by dress
Sending the cold chill through my spine..
Refreshing and Energising at the same time

The road became clean
With the run off..
The ensuing scenery became greener
Little streams formed and giggled
Down the drains...

I slowly cycled forward
Not caring to take a shelter
For I cherished to be wet
In the summer rain..
Which was bringing back
Nostalgic memories
Of childhood..
The song of the rain lingering
And the bike seemed to like the rain
As its master who floated
With the rain...
Immersed in the music of the rain..
Raghu Menon Jun 2015
An exploration within...
A search for oneself..
To understand who I am ..
and What I am not..

To bring out the reflections of my mind...
Which sometimes is stranger to myself...

In one way.. I have a feeling that
We all are strangers to ourselves..
At least at some point of time...

This is to search that stranger inside me..
To help me understand me better...
Like a mirror, a good friend, who always follows you..
Like...
Your own...
...
...
Shadow!!

— The End —