DEAR SHAZIYA
Dear Shaziya, I must say
your letter, maid, my day
was turned into a splash of stars and sun
with crayons, pics and lines,
“knock-knock” jokes, recalling times
and things ago, ’twas really full of pun.
So here is my reply
written down below, so “Hi!”
’tis forthright, free & floating, fast & frank.
Little mixed up, somewhat terse,
not so bad, it could be verse
than other novel ways of saying thanks.
So, “THANK YOU!” let me start
from the bottom of my art
that’s where all basic genius does begin,
from there I’ll up ascend
through every curve and bend
I can do it, I am original since…….
Now that my thanks is done
there are reasons in the sun
that I’d rather talk about and let you know
or yes, I’d better be
or even seedy ea-
sily make the most of all I have to show.
Last night I had a dream
(when you hear it you will scream!)
of flying in a ship through outer space
and there amidst the stars
seven light years south of Mars
I chanced upon a most unusual phase.
Not so rounded, quite serene,
e’en her contacts could be seen,
oh so touching, like a million fingertips!
As she combed each lash and brow
she did smile and said, “Somehow,
I am number one der wonder of the year.”
I accosted her and said,
“Skies are blue, but you are read
about in science magazines on earth.
Are you fantasy or fact
have my nightmares only tracked
a celestial traveller without a berth?”
Just at this point of time
my alarm clock set a rhyme
to a piece of Mozart’s minuet. In jeans
I dressed up with a start,
calmed the pulsings of my heart,
shut off the stunted timepiece symphony.
Now a bit about our strike
conditions,pays and hike-
our status quo has really slipped a rung
we’ve been ordered : “Hurry back!”
or else we’ll get the sack
What a lowly way for us to end up hung.
I’m confused, confounded too.
(actually I’m Terry Q!)
What the hell has happened? Where go we from here?
Did we give up? Did we win?
The assurances are thin.
They might not materialise for several years.
Meanwhile , life does carry on
e’en though half the year has gone
and I’ll rush to psycho class and FC 2.
and a hundred other things
afternoons of counsellings
staff meetings, hostel work and yoga too.
Tell me, what with you is new
of the things you like to do,
what adventure, camp, assignment or romance,
SSL or seminars
how you while away the hours
imitating people or just playing pranks.
There is more I’d like to write
but it’s getting late at night
and my mattress and my pillow are saying, “Please!
Your brain cells need a break.
Stop it now, for heaven’s sake
E’ en though this miss is worth this masterpiece!”
So I really have to go
though I’d like for you to know
that I like you, and this task has been a treat.
Like you mentioned once before
when you spoke of touching toes-
you can count this as another terryfeat!
Perhaps another time
I shall write, when reasons rhyme
but for now, dear Shaziya, dear, I bid adieu
lots of love and lots of cheer
there’s a signing off right here
from almost a poster-moster- terry q. !