The Beginning... Poem by indira babbellapati

wading the waters i pushed my way
struggling hard to touch the land
held upside down, was my first view
of the world i’m to pass by
washed and tidied, i lie lost and helpless
a pair of hands cuddled me close…

i had nothing else but to pinch
all that i needed from her
merciless at my demand, i howled
and cried with not a dropp of tear
filled to brim, i would slip into
the world unknown to all…

slowly with the manna as my diet
i began to move the little i could
getting habituated to wail and demand
not a moment did i give her rest
demanding her constant presence
regaling as she gathered me…

suddenly one night in the middle
of an innocent sleep did i turn
on my belly i lie waking her up
in glee she drew me to her as a gift
at that independent movement
on that long infant summer night…

i kept smiling in that mystic glee
my hands splashing and cuddling
the damp sheets did my tender hands
carry into my mouth, comfort lit large
on my infant face as the body recalled
the touch of the warm flow…

somebody sat by my baby bed
touched me on my toes
a tickle went up
soft tender lips as a reflex
filled the infant face and
ripples of light flowed in…

what was it i was writing
in the thin air around me?
what memories left behind
did the infant mind recall?
i smiled and smiled as my little
fingers went writing in the air…

somebody lifted me
up into the air
my small lungs
struggled and gasped
all around me were
peals of laughter…


somebody wrapped me
into a bundle and held me
close to heart against the chill winds
and the hold tightened around me
with each wave of chillness
i dreamed warm infant dreams…

from the dreams i crawled
into the world on my belly
one hand folded under it
i went round and round
i leaped and leaped and hit
my nose against the floor…

28jan2010
14.20hrs