This summer The sun spread its fangs: It rose earlyevery morning Scorching the Earth mercilessly, Leaving the world in stuporic daze! Iprayed, every hour, for alittle respite But my wordswereburnt down in haste! Faith and belief rested within awhile! God’s manymercies, We forget and do rile! Humans that we are, Less patience in head and heart, We do crib and cry! While the dumb creatures look skywards And keep thanking the Lord!

 

The fiery afternoon tip-toed to aclose When asudden musty fragrance Wafted in through thesmall open window, Ipeered out in sheer surprise, While athin sheet of woollywind fanned The burning earth with agentle delight! The little black birds flew amock Iheardthem twitter andsing Around the sparse greenery! The drops tip-toed over the tender green pods, The tinyleaves danced in the soft touch drearily!

 

Arush of the brown-yellow-red dry leaves Huddled to brace the show While the hidden sun threw in asoft glow! My heart raced and danced on The tinkling drops from heaven, The infant rain’s glee seemed doubled! Irealised my flaw to complain over and again, We rarelypraise Divinity ForHis mercies pouring from Heaven! Happiness breezed in, fanned across my heart Like the little naughty child, The Rain twinkled and danced While the evening sunshine Silhouetted, smiling, down from above! (Selected by Biraj Dixit) ■