Anika awakens the child in me, <br />I watch her, as she fetches her toys <br />And shows off with pride and glee <br />With her, I don’t have to act poised. <br /> <br />I know, she is actually aware, <br />Whether am really having fun <br />Or just pretending to be there. <br />She never walks, always runs. <br /> <br />Chasing the butterflies and bees <br />With her frock flying in the air, <br />I run after her to ensure and see <br />She may not fall but she couldn’t care. <br /> <br />She dances with sheer abandon, <br />She hasn’t yet discovered fear. <br />Her infectious joy fills me with sudden <br />Energy, I boldly invite her and declare, <br /> <br />Come on let’s play hide and seek. <br />I call out and just pretend to look all over <br />I can see her, from behind the bush stealthily peak <br />Finally catch her, as she bursts in peels of laughter. <br /> <br />Why the child in me had slept for so long? <br />I guess we are too busy chasing our dreams <br />And forget to enjoy small pleasures as we go along, <br />Each mile stone drives us to go full steam, <br /> <br />We go on increasing our pace, <br />And slowly become sombre and tense. <br />A smile is replaced by a grimace, <br />And become adept at keeping the pretence. <br /> <br />She has taught me how to enjoy and be free, <br />Drool at the sight of a strawberry ice cream <br />And clap and shout licking it full of glee, <br />As if eating it was like fulfilling a long lost dream. <br /> <br />I have no clue how long I was lost in reverie, <br />I was suddenly embraced in a warm hug <br />She had noiselessly come behind me. <br />Who needs an anti anxiety drug, <br /> <br />Once you discover the child in you lying latent <br />And connect with innate sense of joy and pleasure <br />It is a gift given to the grand parents <br />By a grandchild, for ever to treasure.<br /><br />Mamta Agarwal<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-young-teacher/
