I'll gladly share \

My wealth and happiness

With one and all

But my grief

With none at all

Those are treasured moments

Of my strife

Locked with gifted memories

Of life

When morns golden rays blacked

All colors

Nights silvery octopus tentacles

Squeezed life

Hot lyrical gem talks melted

down ears,

When doors slammed

At sight

Turning colors of hope

Black or white

Candled own blood to

burn life

Shed not a tear lest wash

memories away

Only my shadow clung

By my side

Pushing over rivers filled

Of hungry crocodiles

How can I share such daunting

memories

O' Lord

Just for momentary relief

Start snatching smiles

Rob some of happiness

Watering their eyes

Please' don't make me so selfish

'O Lord, \

Lest' people start

Loosing faith on 'Thee

Facing the sea, with sun setting behind

Shimmering on waves my shadow wept

Urging to drop a tear and loose my wealth

But Nay My Lord, I've saved them for 'Thee

When we meet, kneeling at 'Thy feet

I'll Shed all my tears n wet 'Thy robe

But never shall I share my grief

Not even with 'Thee

My Lord

Not even with 'Thee

I'll gladly share

My wealth and happiness

With one and all

But my grief

With none at all

$kuki

While it is common knowledge that over 80% of higher education is lost with passage of time, wheras in the case of rhymes learnt at a 'kinder' age, its exactly the opposite - over 90% of them, stay embedded and, cling on to ones memory, for a lifetime.

They also infuse aspirations, dreams and fantasy into a child's mind. Perhaps that may be the reason why mankind is making progress by leaps n bound since the past few centuries.

Do You feel the time has come when we should opt for some change in child education by giving the child a new set of dreams and aspirations through rhymes/poems/stories etc., which are more appropriate and relevant to his time.

When today even a one year old child prefers to play and or handle mobile phones/remote controls etc., over and above his other traditional toys, the corridoors of our shools are still echoing with many such rhymes which seem to have lost relevance with time.

This is a thought, I feel, for all to ponder upon. I will appreciate crits/comments from one and all.

An example is given below. Please feel free to post your comments or e mail me at skuki@rediffmail.com

existing

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

New Thought

Teeny Weeny Little Star

Now I know What You Are

Why You shine in the night

Like a Diamond bright

I'll Come to see you soon

After I've Been to The Moon

Plz friends I have nothing against the rhyme 'Twinkle Twinkle', it truly is the most wonderful creation of all times, I too have grown with it, so may have the majority of this world and, the inspiration comes from it, to move ahead and not be stuck up with it, this new version is also a fallout from the great orignal rhyme.

Thanks n regards

As the Sun of new Rains
begins to rise

Earth burys' yesters

under guise

Rustling leaves fly

Down the trees

Singing merrily
With the breeze

Perhaps, knowing,its

Their final journey

Still they come
Swaying with pride

Thinking not of the end
But a new life

Proud to be burried and
transformed into dust

To nurture a fresh spring
from earthen crust

$kuki

On Thorns and Thorns and Thorns

No matter what I do

Its 'Thorns' all that I get

They greet me on every street

Every path I tread

Littered and strewn

Over every bed I slept

Some prick like 'Needles'

Some stab like 'Daggers'

Thriving on the colors

They ooze from my brains

But Lo' a fragrance

From not very far away

Allures me to go

On and On and On

To forget the pain the agony

And the hurting 'Thorn'

Whispering in my ears

"Its only roses you'll get

From bursting 'Thorns'

Only roses from

Bursting 'Thorns'".

$kuki

Eating Guavuas just for free,

Tossed one up in the air

Down it fell fair n square

Hitting 'Robby' the Rabbit on his nose

Who was having an afternoon doze

Lost in the dreams of 'Princess' Lee'

Fighting the 'Dragons' to set her free

Startled and bruised up he shot

To see a Guava roll down the hill

And hear the 'Cackling Polly' fly

Past the chimney over the Mill

$kuki

We are Cherry n Berry

We make all Creatures merry

They sang and sang over and over again, waving at the passersby on foot, bicycles, horseback and on ponies, Cherry honked the horn singing to the music :

Po PPaw Po Po PPaw- PawPoPaw-PPaw Po PPaw-w-w

Quite often this startled the horses they jumped and stood on their hind legs that nearly threw off the rider, the sheep and cattle scattered too, some ran up hill, some down, while a few stood ground staring with large innocent eyes. They laughed and laughed thumping the dashboard and singing :

We make the horses jump

Sheep n cattle run

To make all laugh

And have some fun

We are Cherry n Berry

We make all creatures merry

They passed many small towns and villages on way, children ran out to greet them, screamed with joy at seeing such a colorful van, running, shouting, waving, wishing them a happy n safe journey, following the van till it disappeared leaving behind a cloud of dust and the echoing sound of the Horn.

Po PPaw-PoPo PPaw-Po Po Pawww

The Valley vanished round a bend: a steep climb up the mountain track began. Their singing stopped. Cherry, had to concentrate on driving, this was his first trip through the mountains.

He had to deal with the steep climb sudden descent and the blind curves. The narrow track with broken metal and potholes looking like moon craters only added woes to his in experience.

Berry rested the guitar on the berth above his head, switched on the music system and slumped lower into his seat, looking out at the valley below. The mountain stream which had accompanied them throughout the journey now, looked like a necklace around the mountain, as it threaded its way through the valley.

They were now travelling at considerable height nearing the peak of this mountain track.

Berry, now lost in thoughts; how they had worked day n night druring the past week, to get this old rusty Van which they bought from the Village Baker, ready for this trip.

Their parents had assisted them, Sultan Singh, Cherry's father, a farmer by profession was a good mechanic too, he broke down the engine cleaned, polished and overhauled it. Switching the ignition it roared like a young bull and gleamed in the sunlight as new.

While Rajah Khan, Berry's father who was a shepherd scraped off the rust and old paint from the entire van, he oiled and greased the wheels, then revamped the upholstery with new colourful sheepskin to keep them warm. He also polished the walnut teak dashboard which now shone as new.

Both Berry n Cherry then set upon to paint the van. They both started with the interior, painting it with white enamel, then moved out.

Cherry took up the left side, while Berry set about painting the right side of the van.

Cherry drew a picture of a mountaineer, sitting near the snow covered peak of a mountain, heating a frozen bottle of an orange drink, over a bonfire; the Cherry n Berry flag fluttered in the breeze atop a snow tent that lay in the background. On the snow outside the tent, was written with bold engraved letters: -

" Its Free - Z - zeey --- Its Oran - G geey ".

Berry drew a colourful scene of a girl dancing on a sea beach, a bottle of cola was wobbling on the waves with another slogan written Waverly over it, which too seemed as if dancing, while music filled the air. The slogan read as follows : -

Its fresh n Ic-e-e --- Coz --- Its Sp-ic-e-e-y

They both then moved to the back of the van and drew a life size Bottle of a Lemon drink and wrote a slogan which read : -

Its lim-mey-lim-mey --- Le mo ne-e-e-y

S-C-R-E-E-E-E-C-H-H the sound of tires burning on the metalled road, broke Berrys' thoughts abruptly, he was thrown forward with full force and, would have certainly crashed into the dashboard but, for the seat belt securely tied around him.

Round a blind curve, Cherry, stamped down the brake pedal, with full force bringing the van to a sudden halt. Half leaping out the side window waving his fist, at the shepherd whose flock had completely blocked the road, he shouted;

"What the hell", honking the horn with his other hand;

PO PPO PPO PPO PAWWWWWWWWWWW PPO PAWWWWW PPO,

Cherry screamed; "Get those stupid animals off the road".

The shepherd whose, large flock of sheep and cattle had completely blocked the road was startled too. He looked on alarmed at the situation shooing his flock in a confused manner. The cattle dispersed here and there, some ran uphill some down while some stood ground, staring at them as if, wondering what was wrong.

Berry, was shaken by the sudden change of events, gathered himself, looked out, at the helpless shepherd who was trying his best to clear the road, but animals are animals, they kept coming back on the road.

Berry, was also a shepherds' son, understood the behaviour of animals, took pity on the poor shepherd, opened the door and alighted the van, to lend a helping hand.

" Nyersey Nyersey - Woosh - Hai-Hai-Hoosh", he shooed the animals to clear the path for Cherry to drive the Van ahead.

Having accomplished the task he waved adeiu, to the shepherd, moved ahead towards the van ascended it, smiling at Cherry who beamed back.

(To be Continued)

A free and fair opinion will be highly appreciated.....Thx......$kuki

This is the first Tale in the series

Cherry n Berry

Meet The Hufisian Princess

One fine summer morning, the Sun had just woken,rubbing his eyes with his thick fingers then raising its arms yawned, spreading an array of light tentacles over the beautiful valley of Kashmir.

The birds were out of the nests chirruping flying around happily on their daily chores.The sheep n the cattle were out too, grazing in the fields and meadows.

PO - PAW - PO - PO - PAWWWWW

Berry n Cherry Drove down the village road, in their colorful and freshly painted Van. They were on their maiden voyage to deliver soft drinks (cool beverages)to a nearby town that lay about 100 Kilometres away.

PO - PAW - PO - PO - PAWWWWW

Blowing the horn they entered the village, smiling and waving at the villagers who came out to greet them.

Cherry weaved the van through the narrow crowded lanes and brought it to a halt in front of the Baker's Shop.

Shouting, screaming, joyous children had followed the van and now stood all around it, chattering,giggling, whispering attracted by the colorful paintings and reading aloud the catchy slogans that were written all over the van .

Cherry n Berry jumped out of the van, walked across the street towards a closed door, holding the latch Berry shook it

'Khat-Khat-Khit'

"Who is it" responded a heavy voice. An old man(The Town Baker) emerged opening the door clad in a white banyan and a checkered tehmat tied around his waist, he was wiping his bald head with a towel.

Seeing, Cherry n Berry a warm smile of recognition creased on his face and lighted up his eyes. He stood aside to let them in.

When attracted by the noisy children. The Baker turned his head towards the noise, his gaze fell on the colorful van, his mouth opened in awe, eyes in disbeleif, his jaw fell muttering.

"Yah Allah", as he moved briskly towards the van, circling all around while running his hand over the body of the van, turning to Cherry n Berry who had followed him, he said,

"You boys have done a marvelleous job, turned my old rusty van into a beautiful fairy.Truly both of you are magicians."

"Thank You Baker Uncle" said both Cherry n Berry.

"We have come to seek your blessings, its the first day of our job", added Berry.

The Baker raised his arms towards the skies and said,

"May Allah guide you both in all your endeavours and bless you with happiness and riches beyond any mans imagination".

Thanking the Baker, Cherry n Berry climbed up the van while waving to the villagers, who stood around watching them. Pulling the ignition Cherry shifted gear and eased the van through the narrow village lanes on their journey.

PO - PAW - PO - PO - PAWWWWW

Cherry blew the horn as they left the village road, their eyes were moist with the warm and emotional send off by the villagers.

They drove in silence for a while, the road too wore a desrted look, it was early for the daily hustle bustle to start.

Berry broke the silence; he struck the chords on his guitar which he remebered to bring along, paying the notes they had recently prepared. Cherry too joined him thumping the dashboard the both sang;

We are Cherry n Berry

We make all creatures merry

We ferry their good

We make their sales

To boys and girls

Fishes and snails

We are Cherry n Berry

More in my next and on receiving your most valued comments....regards.....$kuki

GUM KA KHAZANA

On request of some friends it is written with English 'alphas'

Yarab Taqseem kar sakta hoon

Teri di hui saare Neyamatey

Magar Baant sakta Nahi apne Gum

Ye hai who nayab rattan

Miltey nahi sabhiko

Jo Khoon-e-Jigar ki Dastaan

Ansoon se Mittate Nahi

Aur Jala apne lahu se diya

Mohabbat ko kartey roshan

Milta unheeko yeh 'Nazrana'

Bund ho Jisme kuch sunehri yaddein

Lipte hasseen chandni Pal

Chum chamatey Waqt Ke here

Daur Rahey Jo Jehan me mere

Kaissey baant sakta

Mein ye anmol 'Khazana'

'E-Rab' Tu hee Mujhe Bataa Na

Chund lamho ke sukon ke liye

cheen loo kissee ke

hoton ki muskarahat

karke usse gumgeen

itna kamjarf mat

bana mujhe Yaarab

kahi ho na jaaye

teree tauheen

Ye jaantey hai sub

Khushi Batney se hooti dugni

Gum batney se kum

Phir kyunkar kare

Aise Ghaatey ka sauda hum

Ha! Gar Qayamat ke din

'Ya-rab' tujhse hua samna

To ro parengey

Tere Daman se lipat ke hum

Par na bategey

Tujhsey bhi 'Apne Gum'

Tujhse bhi 'Apne Gum'.