Family, a love station

A week end or a working day,

in unison, we never wish to stay

Hard to spot, all of us together,

no such occasion ever occur!

To avoid on d’ way a traffic jam,

early to office, papa leaves home

Mother busy, packing lunch box,

busy to find out dress & socks

Children browse books, a habit,

home task done till last minute

Mom puts vermilion, ash sacred,

Exam days, on children’s forehead

Chants hymns in murmuring pitch,

works in noon, before they reach

After school, children back home,

freshen up fast, head for tuition

family members, in different farm,

holiday list differs, never d' same

Workaholics, "work’s worship" theme

  chats, gossips, a farfetched dream

To cut jokes, smiles & making fun,

visage grim, even in jovial function

No get together in festive season,

Essence of togetherness fully gone

No sign of fervor for celebrating,

it’s beyond simple understanding

Brother's off, duty day for father

all go to work, kids’ holidays over

 Composite picture, too confusing,

busy in own chores, not convincing

Worries brew in d’ mind of mother,

soaring prices of d' grocery store

Burdened with loads of assignment,

children busy for class & tuition test

Retirement close by, papa’s pensive

uneasy all d' time, no more sportive

Wise not to open mouth at home,

 & be target of all that’s going wrong

No openness, guarded conversation,

turned laconic, as youngsters grown

fun, smiles trapped in photo frames,

not to learn from others experience

Mobiles, laptops, tablets, telephone,

uploading, downloading information

Glued to TV, even a visitor at home,

tug of war for remote control, yet on

Each one busy in personal protocol,

Grandchild, no demand for fairy tell

No buy of fun books at kids junction,

no need of guidance, no supervision

Scrambles, chess, caroms out of date

animated VCDs' flash flood in market,

video games, e games in d' time spare

to teach guide, no more family affair

No eating together at dining table,

 just a stand for unwanted articles

D’ menus differ as per age factor,

oatmeal for grandpa, oils  no more

Grandma on dieting needs an apple
 papa prefers to eat, only food simple

Son in deep slumber till afternoon,

fast food aroma only wake him soon

Odd work time, an urgent meeting,

a genuine huddle d' job of touring
Yet exists solution, not surprising,

nice plan for an wonderful outing

From d’ monotonous life a break,

each one to try & leave we take

Postpone all work what’s so over,

to express our love for each other

Like branches  of a tree, we grow,

in diverse directions, spread & go

Root remains one, no one forlorn

None left behind , nor forgotten

Do meet each other with a smile,

our deep relations never fragile

High notes, low notes all along,

ultimately make a beautiful song

Thus acronym of family bonding,

 together staying, growing, caring

Sipping, eating, laughing, talking

 learning, earning, praying, loving

Turn baby, turn

My tiny tot, U truly stubborn,

unduly unyielding, deny to turn

  Drowned me in much concern,

no twirl to an optimal position

 Expected date even so close,

granted liberty, never opposed

 Your curious twists & turns,

deep in amniotic fluid ocean

Nine months I’m carrying on,

number of sonographies done

Hip-knee folded, buttock down 
scans speak a breech position,

Plenty of time offered to turn,

never buzzed, same situation

adjured d' adept Obstetrician,

to rigidly follow her instruction

Keep d' floor cleaned, carpeted,

with all four limbs, crawl ahead

 No shoes, put on only tracksuit,

 attires loose for ample comfort

Hips up on cushion, knees flexed,

lay with d' hips higher than head

Rehearse to be active all along,

lie down on back & sing a song

Each exercise for ten minutes,

a light diet and a sound sleep

Follow d' advice word by word,

a normal labor, a big reward

all procedures repeatedly done,

but hopeful lie never happened

Doctor tried a major maneuver,

conducted with stunning vigor

Asked me to wear a slack gown,

head held firmly & pushed down

Wrapped belly with a folded saree,

curtailed your freedom to 0 degree

Announced victory, head in pelvis,

baby too smart, all proved foolish

 dared not accept, in next check up,

again breech down and a head up

No more expect, baby to turn,

Baby sitting firm on its bottom,

 An elective cesarean, only option,

me in shock, psychic depression

For a CS, a mental makeup on,

but it happened, all of a sudden

A kick, somersault & a U turn,

to settle in the normal position,

tension relieved, scariness gone

Finally flipped baby obedient,

silly apprehensions put to rest

A sigh of relief,

things undone, done,

ultimately conceded to my appeal,

“turn baby turn”