Jun 23, 2016 Free Verse, Original Poetry, The Daily Post
Awe and Gratitude
©June 23rd, 2016
By Vijaya Sundaram
The two-month old babe who smiles,
Bright and open like a new universe,
At the huge billboard at the airport,
With its smiling female face, all teeth;
The toddler who at 9-and-3/4-months
Teeters along on unsteady legs,
Desperate to be moving, not crawling.
Teaching herself what needs to be learned;
The little girl who tumbles into books,
As naturally as a frog tumbles into water
Finding solace therein; the two-and-a-half year-old
Who sings like an angel, in tune and in time.
The four-and-a-half year old who swims like an eel
The five-and-a-half year old who masters the swing-set,
The six-and-a-half year old bicycling in the breeze,
The seven-and-a-half year old stilting with ease;
The eight-year old dancing Kathak with grace,
The nine-year old who unicycles happily,
The ten year old, braided and solemn,
Who plays The Beatles on her guitar, and sings;
The eleven-year old with bobbed hair, off
To sleep-away camp for the first time,
Away from home for seven weeks,
Wearing confidence like a hoodie;
All of these years of her life
Entwined with mine, like honeysuckle,
Like climbing vines, reaching for sunlight;
All of these fill my heart with awe.
I kneel at the feet of Life and thank it
For giving me this Gift, this fey child
Who dreams, who loves us freely,
Who sings and reads, and plays and thinks,
And I am truly grateful.
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Also, cross-posting to dVerse Open Link Night
Tags: #Awe, #DailyPrompt, #dVerse, #OriginalPoetrybyVijayaSundaram, #TheDailyPost
Jun 23, 2016 Friday Fictioneers, Original Flash Fiction, Original Short Story
Word Count: 100 words of text, exactly
Genre: Realistic fiction
Airborne
©June 23rd, 2016
By Vijaya Sundaram
Settling comfortably in her seat, she looked at her neighbor. His aquiline nose caught the light as he turned and intercepted her frank gaze, his brown eyes bright, expression blank. He looked away.
What if he’s a terrorist? she asked herself with a tremor. Should I tell the steward?
She scolded herself for being paranoid, she, who prided herself for not judging someone by appearances.
Still.
What should I do?
Making up her mind, she said, “I’m Anu. I’m a science teacher.”
He shook her proffered hand. “Firdoos Hassan. Morocco. Physics professor.”
It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
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With thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, Fairy Blog-Mother and friend to all at Friday Fictioneers. Thanks to Rich Voza for his photograph, which has made me spawn three stories.
Tags: #FridayFictioneers, #Original 100-word Flash Fiction based on a photo-prompt, #Passing Casablanca reference
Jun 23, 2016 Friday Fictioneers
Word Count: 100 words of text, exactly
Genre: Paranormal Fiction
Que Sera, Sara
©June 23rd, 2016
By Vijaya Sundaram
I always knew what the future held. It made life unbearable and surreal, but also interesting. Although I saw what was coming, I could not change anything.
For this reason, I was not married, and had no friends. I was lonelier than the God in whom I did not believe.
So, when I boarded the plane one early morning, I did so with pounding heart.
I sat and waited. The announcement came on, “Ms. S, you have an urgent call at the airport.”
I disembarked. An effulgent being waited at the gate.
Behind me, the plane burst into flames.
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With many thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, our Fairy Blog-Mother for tirelessly posting prompts every week, and for hosting Friday Fictioneers. Thanks, as well, to Rich Voza, for the photograph.
Tags: #FridayFictioneers, #Original 100-word Flash Fiction based on a photo-prompt