Surely, I was in a rustic time-warp
As I face my new school
And its quaint old head.
Grown old before his time
Lilting language like Vanni-born.
A one-roomed school, near ruin
Where simple children
Seemed poorly taught.
Forgotten as its forgotten head
Neglecting himself
Neglecting to keep up
With the world of education.
The humble star-ship of his school
Lost in the Vanni wilderness.
Now, as fresh winds blew fresh faces
He knew in his wisdom
It was the right time for him to go.

Kamala Gunasekara
Mirihana

‘O, why didn’t we get any fare-warning’,
She was reliving that day…

It was June, 1970.
Setting off in the morning to make the 4 year olds’
Birthday cake amma assuring that
She would be there in the afternoon..
By evening she wondered why amma
was getting late;
When her cousin came to pick her-up
as ‘amma was sick’?
May be, he said something to aunty B,
for she too had came along.
They alighted the taxi
Walking to the house which was
full of people…
Somebody touched her, ‘Be brave…..’
Not understanding ‘why, she automatically went
towards’ the bedroom to see, Amma lying
Peacefully on her bed;
Frantically touching her face and clasped hands
She could not comprehend that Amma had
Already left….

Nalini Damayanthi Mahawaduge

A long exhausting day,
Just the same as every other day,
Never-ending.
Stressed out, ill-treated, frustrated.
That desire
To smash off everything
To get rid, leave, escape.
Unrealistic.
And then it happens
When the smell of books engulf the world
The impossible becomes possible.

Maya Arundhati

Oh, you are leaving?
How will this place run without you?
You are such an asset
A mountain of strength.
A treasure trove -
We cannot think of this place -
Without you…
After years of retired life.
When I enter -
The portals of my old haunt -
Looks are quizzical -
Who is this?
The place is running beautifully -
Without me!
My ego
A crushed heap -
Of Wisdom!

Priscilla Pereira

First birthday
Icing smeared on cherubic face
Nursery concert
A bunny
Furry coat ripped apart
Red skinny comically visible!
Drawing of “My family”
I am conspicuously
Fashionable
In a knee length saree
Sports meet
Tanned to the core
Jubilant, with glittering trophy
Old school reports
Hand writing horrible
Can do better, needs to concentrate
Teen birthdays
Looking important
We are semi adults
Uni days
Radically different
Attire somewhat jazzy
Graduations
Cloaked up, proud smile
And then,
The bribe is so pretty
The groom looks so smart
Nest sans the incessant chatter
We knew
One day they would be
Leaving

Keerthi Wijekulasuriya