Poetry Contest Winner - Mrs. Lalitha Mishra,Mar Gregorios Memorial School, Sama, Vadodara
Poetry Contest Winner - Mrs. Lalitha Mishra,Mar Gregorios Memorial School, Sama, Vadodara
Mrs. Lalitha Mishra has been a teacher for the past 35 years, first in Mumbai and later in Gujarat. She has a B.A. Hons. (Eng. Lit.) and B.Ed degrees, both from Bombay University. She has taught English and Social Science to children across different grades. Mrs. Lalitha has won many prizes in elocution, debate and recitation, and is also the recipient of the 'Best Teacher Award' from Maa Foundation, Vapi.Besides teaching, Mrs. Lalitha enjoys reading, writing poetry and travelling. 'Teach, not for the next examination, but for the next generation' is her motto.
TWO LIFESTYLES
The Flashy caged bird opened its beak so red,
And this is what it loudly said:
“Pulpy fruits I get to tear with this beak
To enjoy them, I don’t even have to roam and seek
Cool water placed in a bowl of steel
To wet my parched throat, whenever I feel.
And if I scream, ‘they’ will gather around
Till the cause of my discomfort is found
Nights I slumber on a cushion of velvet
But it’s the same monotony from sunrise to sunset.
When guests arrive, ‘they’ cajole me to sing
It’s my life but ‘they’ decide everything.
So, in this little globe, with golden bars
I spend long hours, gazing at the stars”.
Now the free bird opened its break to twitter,
As it flew around, with wings a-flutter.
“Around and about, for food I fly
For with an empty belly, I’d soon die.
In the cool pond water, my thirst I slake
Where my heart leads me, that road I take.
When night, like a blanket, slowly spreads,
Friends and I- on leafy boughs rest on our heads.
Scratches and bruises I get, but they heal by and by
I live my way – where I wish I fly
Cool showers, warm sunshine, show me God’s love
I’m unfettered and free – and I thank God above”…
The free bird beamed
The caged bird blinked
It let out a sigh,
I think I know why….
Do you?
