B(ee) School

Wordless Wednesday-ites are an eternal inspiration. Here's ~G with her wonderful hibiscus photo post . The red variety of this flower is Lord Ganesha's favourite flower, and we celebrate His festival here in a few days ....(the Lord doesnt discriminate between colors, although we tend to).

(We don't discriminate between languages, as you will notice.....)

edited to add :(photo by ~G's uncle, Mr Milind Deshpande, a young geologist and photographer, just recovering from a paralytic stroke. See comments. We wish him a wonderful and fast recovery...and more photos like this !)

दप्तरांचे ओझे सांभाळत
आईचा हात धरून
बुटाची नाडी अर्धवट बांधून
तो बस साठी धावतो ,
नको इतकी उंच पाहिरी चढतो
आणि
सुख-दुख्ख मिश्रीत स्मित करत
शाळेत जातो ....
ह्या भून्ग्यांच्या शाळेत
किती मजा !
आई आणि मुलगा
मजेत उडत बागेत जातात
काल गुलाब, परवा चाफा ,
आज जास्वंद
निवडतात ,
आणि
आई फुलाच्या कोप्र्यावर
चकरा मारते;
मुलगा बिचारा
मध प्यायला शिकतोय ,
आणि मधेच कोणी तरी
गणपतीबाप्पाच्या नावाने
फुल तोडायला आला तर ?

Lugging
a stuffed schoolbag
he drags behind his ma
clutching her hand
dragging his
unlaced shoes,
and then runs
to climb
bus steps
incommensurate
with his size.
School,
with an attitude
of resignation,
tinged with
sadness.

But
this
School for Bees
seems so much fun !

Mother and child,
flitting happily along,
spying
a rose here,
descending
on a champa there,
deciding
on classes
at the Hibiscus Academy....

And
the Mother Bee
guards the
perimeter,
traipsing
the petal edges,
watching her kid
learning to imbibe
the best
nectar
from the
flowers.

Its Ganpati festival time,
and she
must guard
against
someone plucking
her flower
in the
name of the Lord...........