Modern day tale of Tom & Jerry

Tom the cat heard the sound again! 

Unmistakably it was a faint scratch

undampened by the wooden panels

that lined his domain - the kitchen. 

Turning his furry body ever so slowly

the old 'calico' feline cocked his head

first to one side and then rebounding 

to the other side in uber slow motion. 

His rosy pink nostrils twitched gently

and his long white whiskers shivered 

in long-awaited dreamy anticipation

of a 'real life' mouse treasure hunt.

In turn, Tom's tummy did rumble

as though trying to communicate

its lifelong endured force-feeding 

of boring bloodless 'cat food' zen. 

Suddenly from behind the old oven

lisped a baby murine, 'Hi, I'm Jerry. 

Here's some warm milk and cheese, 

Tom, won't you be my bff please?'

Tom felt remorse wash all over him

and from then he shared his kitchen 

with the cute wise little baby mouse

with angelic voice and heart of gold. 

©  Dr. Aparna Bagwe

26-12-2023

HER SILENCE

She speaks very little

but she doesn't really have to!

Her voicelessness itself

conveys repressed feelings!

Her eyes speak a language

understood by those that matter!

Her silence conveys things

that are best left unsaid!

Her reserve protects her

from life's hurts and negativity!

Her gentle, unspoken responses

express the warmth of emotions!

©  Dr. Aparna Bagwe

The swirling mist

I was nudged out of sleep all of a sudden, sensing an unearthly chill in the air. Reaching out for the window curtains, I parted them to peep out into the still darkness of pre-dawn.

On the narrow, steeply curving path that led up to our rather isolated house, there swirled a mist clad humanoid form, its dark eyes staring straight back at me. 

The hair on the nape of my neck stood up on end, as a frisson of fear ran down my spine. It seemed as though my recurring nightmare was coming alive right before my fear widened eyes.

The temperature dropped a few degrees as the apparition moved towards my home. Soon the winding wooden steps creaked as shuffling footsteps moved closer and still closer to my bedroom. 

I dived beneath the soft quilt in mortal fear, squeezing my eyes shut, and praying hard. Cold, clammy hands touched me, and I heard my roommate's voice say, "Wake up, sleepy head... we're late for school!

© Dr. Aparna Bagwe

12 November 2021

Appy ponders

We live in a world subdivided into clearly demarcated geographical regions and countries. We humans are also subdivided into subsets based on race, skin colour, religion, language, and various other man made considerations. 

Try to overcome these divides, please. Be mindful of the fact that, beyond these superficial divisions, we are all living, sentient beings of the same flesh and blood! 

We are all unique yet inherently similar creations of Mother Nature!

16-11-2021

Birds and I

On my third 'pure' birding tour, I have come to accept the fact that I'm happy being a terrace/ safari jeep birder who can sight and photograph birds that are clearly seen on open perches! 

Not for me the tiny birds flitting around in dense foliage of trees/ thickets, or birds big or small that are barely visible in the thick forest/ at a distance. 

Given my own three basic fundas: inability to trudge up/ down hill, high myopia, and poor sighting skills, I shall desist from participating in pure birding trips with pro birders in the future.

I strongly reiterate, however, that I am interested in avians and thirsty for more gyaan about them, and shall continue to photograph the birds I can see in all the environs I find myself in! So, fellow Earthlings, I shall shortly share with you photographs of the birds I saw at Thattekad and Munnar (even if you see them elsewhere)!

© Dr. Aparna Bagwe

January 2023