! ! ! ! A Festival Of Colours - Holi Hai! ! ! ! Poem by Mamta Agarwal

I heard familiar footsteps on the stairs,
Lo, in walked Anika with clips in her hair.
Come on Nani, I have come to play HOLI.
Take out the colours, let’s make Rangoli.

But darling, its still four days away,
So what, I feel like celebrating today.
See, I got water balloons and water gun,
Oh, she sang, we going to have such fun.

Yes, my dear I have been waiting for you,
Your visit, you know was long over due.
The house with her excited prattle alive
She laughed, danced and we did a jive.

Her vivacity is oh, so very infectious,
She is a darling, so very loving and precious.
I cautioned, we shall play on the terrace,
You can put as much colour you wish on my face.

Throw water balloons to your heart’s content.
Why, I don’t see any sweets, where are they kept?
Come on; right here, your favourite ones,
Can I eat and also take home some?

After lunch and a quick bath, she had a nap.
Adoringly, I just looked as she lay on my lap.
There were still tell tale marks of colour
On her face, forming patterns irregular.

Of all the roles in life I have to play
Time with her is sheer bliss and joy.
No expectations just love and affection,
Without any pretence and affectation.


Holi is an Indian festival of colours on the 11th March 2009-
Rangoli are patterns we make on festive occasions at the entrance
Of the house.