Childhood Poem by Seema Jayaraman

I remember an era long gone by
Growing up as simpletons
On Balmy summer nights
Under open starry canopy
On cool linen o'er 'charpoies'

We had our hands and eyes
With no distractions to ourselves,
No electronic appendages, no devices
We slept to soft lullabies
Hummed real time by loved ones

No TV, no ongoing chats on mobile
All we had was each other, snuggled
We shared stories of valor and some
Space with imaginary Ghosts & galaxies
Giggling at one-sided romances

The long months of school vacations
Hitting our assigned positions
Colourful durries on rooftops
Draped on the roof floor
As the clock chimed a perfect nine

Ears to Natures night conversations
The creek of old timber rafters settling
The thunder of surf pounding shores
In crystalline silence songs of rural life
Crawlies afield, murmur of coconut fronds

Oh how will I ever detail, share
These unique bits, to my city born
And suburban innured little ones
The joy of each other in dim lights
With no gizmoos, joys of a simple life
When all we had was each other
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5 Mar 2016, Seema Jayaraman, Mumbai