Immortal Flower Poem by Jaishree Nair

sixteen years of watching various buds bloom,
have made me an immortal flower.
The bosom that enveloped hundreds
can never fade away with the tide of time!

The cane never bled a child's heart those days,
but it took away a drop from the blood of my life span.
The slaps were to acclimatize them to the values of dignity
but my face smarted with the throb of its indignity!

The stand- ups were to make them stand up to life's ordeals,
but my eyes glistened with unshed mist of the deals.
The red marks were a mere pause for the green signal
though my hands trembled with the necessity of the hour's pringle!

But
The worried frown when a young face looks downcast...
The thrill of sharing lunch with an empty stomach
The silent prayers when a child is indispositioned!

All a part and parcel
strewn in the path
of these blessed ones
listed in the builders of nation!

As years pass, the exhilaration
in acknowledging their success stories
awards us with stars of honour
to adorn our noble coat with pride!

May God give them strength
to make their future robust,
for in their success lies our triumph
in their failure-our defeat!