Don't Step Out!

In childhood days

My grandpa used to warn:

‘Don’t step out in garden in night!

There is a snake chasing rats.’

In school days family doctor used to

Warn mama: Don’t step out

In the street or go to school!

There is plague spread like a deranged man’s rage.’

Our Kashmiri gardener

Warns his young daughter:

‘Don’t venture out in the street.

A red-eyed wild soldier,

drunk and intense,

Is stomping our street

His bayonet erect.’

Now my grandson returns

Early from his school and whispers:

‘School is closed.

Let us not venture out

In mosque or  mall

Bus or cinema hall.

There is a bomb scare.

No one know what type and size.’

A hill station hotel manager suddenly regrets:

‘For two days no sight seeing, sir.

All roads are blocked for security reasons!

A VIP, his family and friends

Have arrived for holidays!’

M. Hasan 

(Ajmer, September 19, 2011)