DelhiWallah Poetry Collective Celebrates Library Week at MRIS Sector-46
Delhiwallah Poetry Collective (DPC) was honoured to be part of the Library Week Celebration at Manav Rachna International School, Gurugram, Sector – 46. More than one hundred students participated in the event held on 17 July 2020. The Delhiwallah Poetry Collective is grateful to Manav Rachna International School for the success of the event. The following members from DPC participated in the event.
The full recording can be accessed in the Gallery.
Sanjay Saksena is a former banker and a finance professional. He loves all things literary. Sanjay recited I Opened a Book by Julia Donaldson from Crazy Mayonnaisy Mum, first published 2004 by Macmillan Children’s Books, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers International Limited and Good Books by Edgar Albert Guest, a People’s Poet who also served as Michigan’s poet laureate.
Rajiv Narang is an engineer by day and a poet by night. During his years in graduation, he took an active interest in dramatics. His love for poetry and literature led to the launch of the Delhiwallah Poetry Collective, a global group of poetry lovers. The Delhiwallah Poetry Collective organizes poetry meet-ups in Malaysia and Delhi. Rajiv is also the guest poetry editor for Litgleam, a literary magazine. Rajiv recited a self-composed poem at the event.
I
The boys went out to play, and I looked longingly at them
Longing to hold the bat, and throw the ball
But throwing the books on the table, is something I did not dare
Daring my mom to take a break to play, is that right?
What happened to my right to call an end to studies?
But I am afraid she will end up yelling and screaming
Or end it all by looking at me so, which is worse than yelling and threaten
To tell my father, whose threatening look is much worse
II
Than his bite. The worst thing which can happen on a day
Is the day when he glares at me, and tells me that I need to
Do something useful, as if telling me that is something new
Something I hear from all of my uncles and aunts
And relatives who don't even know what I like
Or even know that I am afraid of my mummy, daddy, teacher
Afraid that I will upset them, not meet their expectations,
And meeting their ambitions is just getting to me,
For I just don’t get what is there to studying maths when I could
III
Go out and study the way the ball moves
When the ball hits the ground on its seam
And the dusty rough ground moves it just so
Slightly, as it screams past the clueless bat, which
Rajesh wants to clear for a four, but cannot see
The ball clearly as it moves hauntingly to miss his bat
And the batsman cannot read its line. And here I am at 50
Reading the tale of a young boy in Landour hills, and looking back
Going out with the boys and reading both make me happy.
Gina Gayllot is a full time healthcare worker, part-time poet and writer and a believer in everything magical. She lives in Malaysia. Her self-composed poem was recited by Rajiv Narang.
Boys and girls are ready, holding racquets proudly
A game for doubles or singles, the rules are easy
Deliver hard hitting strikes, be brave and bold
Make eye contact, always be in control
Inside or outside the shuttlecock may fall
Never lose your focus, or you will lose it all
This is a most exciting and popular sport
Olympic Games champions were darlings of the court
Now see, how the letters spell, the name of the game clearly.
Vrriti Sharma is a humanitarian by profession and a poet and singer by heart. She believes that the little vacuum of our lives should be filled with beautiful poetry and music. She recited two self-composed poems.
कभी धूल में सनी किताबों को,
लकड़ी के रैंक से, झाँकते देखा हैं,
कैसे किसी के हाथों का स्पर्श पाने
को तरसतीं, इंतज़ार करतीं हैं.
और कभी, गर देख लेतीं हैं, कोई
हाथ बड़ता अपनी तरफ़, ना पूछो,
कैसे गिरती हैं एक दूसरे पर, कि
शायद, आज उनकी बारी हो, अपनी बात
कैहने की.
मैं भी अक्सर कोने में,
तन्हा चुपचाप खड़ी किताब खींच,
पैहले साफ़ करती हूँ, और फिर
देख उसे कुछ यूँ मुस्कुराती हूँ, जैसे
किसी पूराने दोस्त से, एक अरसे बाद
मुलाक़ात हुई हो, और फिर शुरू होता
है, उसके कैहने का सिलसिला और मेरा
सुनने का वक़्त.
मुझसे कुछ भी कभी छिपाती नहीं हैं ये,
बेपरवाह राज़ खोल घंटो बतियाती है ये.
और कभी गर ध्यान भटक जाये
मेरा तो, झट से बंद हो, परखतीं है मुझे,
कि वापस उसी सफ़े पर जा पाती हूँ या नहीं,
जहां तक पुहँचे थे हम.
अक्सर बात सुन इनकी, ना जाने कितने सवाल
हल होते हैं मेरे, और कभी तो कुछ एैसा भी कह
जाती हैं, जो सोचा ना हो मैंने, और कोई मुश्किल
हल हो जाती हैं. कभी जीवन का कोई फ़लसफ़ा,
तो कभी हिदायत, सब कुछ मिलता है इनसे मुझे.
देखो तो क्या नहीं सीखने को मिलता इनसे मुझे.
जीने का मक़सद, ज़िंदगी के मायने, हंसने को
व्यंग्य और रोने के बहाने. सब छिपा है इन किताबों
में कहीं. बस ज़रूरत इनके साथ कुछ वक़्त बिताने
की हैं, और दोस्तों कि लम्बी लिस्ट में, कहीं इनकी
जगह बनाने की हैं.
तो फिर कहो आज किस किताब पर से धूल
हटाओगे, और क्या किताबों को अपना दोस्त बनाओगे?
Let's turn off our video games, and run outside. From so many sports,
we may choose and decide.
Baseball, soccer, and basketball are fun, Let's grab some friends, and play in the sun.
In baseball, you will be, running around. When you hit the ball, it's a beautiful sound.
In soccer, you pass the ball, using your feet, Drink lots of water, and watch out for the heat.
In basketball, the best sound, is a swish, Making ten in a row, is a wonderful wish.
Whatever sports, you decide to play, Enjoy them with friends, each and every day.
Sarayu Srinivasan is a post-graduate from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and presently working with Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. She has a special interest in creative writing and poetry being a part of Delhiwallah Poetry Collective. She is also well-versed with Indian music and dance forms.
Lost in the wilderness, mind wandering in the lawns
Oblivious to the happenings,
A bobble head nodding with occasional yawns
Woolgathering, my dreams shaken…
As Her Highness frisbees a question,
Dumbstruck, I awaken.
Punishment imminent
Before her telling,
Out I go,
A déjà vu!
Happening several times in a row!
Dwindling interest, flunking in test
Avoiding school and
Being unwell , the usual pretext
Avoidance becomes absenteeism
Garnering criticism all around
Hellbound…
The books chase me and I sprint away
A déjà vu
As I win the race on the Sports Day
The books still chasing me in my head...
Ears echoing with claps and cheers
Silencing mocks and jeers
Find my self-esteem long lost
An effort that turned into passion
A placebo to overcome distraction
Making peace with my inner demons
Prepared even if life gives me lemons
My hands pick up a book that once dreaded
Immersing me in its worldly wisdom
Showing me the path to be tread
Unadulterated love
That grew with time
Found me in favour of teacher mine
Doing my utmost in every arena
Becoming a part of my new found persona!
Swagata Sinha Roy has been a facilitator in education for more than 30 years, having worked in educational institutes in Brunei and in different parts of Malaysia. Currently, she is with a Malaysian university, nurturing her passion to get learners to enjoy literature. She organizes book and poetry clubs in Kuala Lumpur and enjoys experimenting with different forms of poetry and getting to read poems aloud. She recited her poems Book Buddies and Speaking Sports – Life’s Lessons.
Book Buddies
A closed book, he
An open book, she
They played by the book
Were in everyone’s good books
Bookworm, he
Book smart, she
With noses in their books, he and she
Would try to read between the lines
Ending up reading each other's minds
When he read into something
She’d be on the same page
Trying not to judge a book by its cover
They would read the fine print
Time to balance the book says he
Don’t read something into nothing says she
There is no need to bring anyone to book
Despite knowing every trick in the book
So a leaf out of her book he takes
And turns the page,
Spellbound.
Speaking Sports – Life’s Lessons
When you talk of doing something across the board
you think ‘cards’
And when the ball is in your court
You try not to bark up the wrong tree
How often do we blow the competition away?
You just cannot be blindsided
In fact you can call all the shots, chipping in as front runner
Getting a head-start or go into full swing and a second win
As always you give it your best shot
Sometimes you may go overboard and bat for
someone
Trying to give some a run for their money
All so that you have the upper hand
Especially when you hit a snag
And if you hold all the aces
Hit not below the belt
Try to always keep your head above the water
And learn the ropes
That way, you will always have a level playing field.
No sweat really if you are not up to par
Just do not be off base
Even if they say that
you are out of their league
If you need to settle a score
Do not race against time
But step up to the plate
And take the bull by the horns.
Do not let anyone
Take the wind out of your sails
And do not throw in the towel
Until you win hands down
Go not back to pavilion
And never get stumped
You must always know the score
And if you must
Have a game plan
Hit a homerun, a sixer so to speak
Enjoy great innings
Get everyone bowled over
BE A GAME CHANGER!