The children who
come to learn from me
often wear clothes
Torn
from collars, pockets, button holes
often wear clothes
Torn
from collars, pockets, button holes
if by chance
a button is there in place
sewn with a red,yellow or black thread
it would be open
a button is there in place
sewn with a red,yellow or black thread
it would be open
their feet have
the curse of shoes
given away by a charity club
in the wait
for stipend
entitled for SC/BC category
the curse of shoes
given away by a charity club
in the wait
for stipend
entitled for SC/BC category
the children who
come to learn from me
why do they remain the same
same as they come from their home
rather, they are innocent when they come
but schooling makes them more stubborn
more spoiled
why do they remain the same
same as they come from their home
rather, they are innocent when they come
but schooling makes them more stubborn
more spoiled
head teacher
does not like them
women teachers
do not like them
the children who come to learn from me
take epithets like ass, pig, idiot
like a mid-day meal
does not like them
women teachers
do not like them
the children who come to learn from me
take epithets like ass, pig, idiot
like a mid-day meal
the children who
come to learn from me
know a lot more than me
yet, they listen to me
blankly
know a lot more than me
yet, they listen to me
blankly
while teaching
I feel
as if, I am
sitting along with them too
I feel
as if, I am
sitting along with them too
੦
The children who
come to learn from me
How sweet, innocent and simple
They are
How sweet, innocent and simple
They are
They don’t use any
Salutations like
Thank you, please
Salutations like
Thank you, please
They are outspoken
Straight form heart
They speak, they curse
They walk, kicking the stones away
They play, missing the catch of fate ball
They fight, they grab collars
Straight form heart
They speak, they curse
They walk, kicking the stones away
They play, missing the catch of fate ball
They fight, they grab collars
This is the way they
love, the same
The children who come to learn from me
The children who come to learn from me
Why I am getting
affectionate
Today
Today
੦
I wish
I can walk like friends
Keeping arms on the shoulders
of my students
I can walk like friends
Keeping arms on the shoulders
of my students
But I often get irritated
at them
Why this irritation?
Why this irritation?
If they quarrel
They curse like a sailor
They curse like a sailor
They dance
on classroom benches
They don’t mind to do dressing
of wounds on knees or elbows
on classroom benches
They don’t mind to do dressing
of wounds on knees or elbows
What is their crime
in it?
What am I afraid of?
What am I afraid of?
I lecture
Listening to me
They go silent
As if they have never spoken
They go silent
As if they have never spoken
I tell them about
My classmate Balwant Bhatia
His father made shoes
On holidays he worked as a laborer
To pay his school fee
Now, is a bank manager
My classmate Balwant Bhatia
His father made shoes
On holidays he worked as a laborer
To pay his school fee
Now, is a bank manager
You should study too
I tell them about
My friend Rana
Even professor of economics
Dreaded questions asked by him
On a holiday
He would carry bricks at construction sites
These days, high court
Works by his whims
he just got a new kothi in
Chandigarh
My friend Rana
Even professor of economics
Dreaded questions asked by him
On a holiday
He would carry bricks at construction sites
These days, high court
Works by his whims
he just got a new kothi in
Chandigarh
You should study too
I start telling my
story too
But i stop
But i stop
Tell them again and
again
You should study too
You should study too
੦
Dreams of
The children who come to learn from me
The children who come to learn from me
How bright they must
be
mind boggling
mind boggling
Actually
There is no
microscope
Built yet
That can see
Dreams of
Children who come to learn from me
Built yet
That can see
Dreams of
Children who come to learn from me
੦
Children who come to
learn from me
Are very mischievous
Mischievous beyond limit
Are very mischievous
Mischievous beyond limit
Teachers say this
and Get tense
and Get tense
Poetic mind ponders
At least, they have something.
At least, they have something.
