Poems by Santhini Govindan

When my cat sleeps, he snoozes
Inside the laundry basket,
Or on top of a tree,
Crammed inside a shelf,
Where no-one can see.
In empty shopping bags,
And cartons made of cardboard,
On piles of books and newspapers,
And suitcases that are stored.
Curled up under furniture,
In places we’d never think to look.
Or nestled behind a flower pot,
In a hard to find nook.
Since my cat sleeps for at least sixteen hours each day
He must be bored of sleeping in the same old way!

I want to travel around the world for fun,
And see different lands, one by one.
But I would not like to travel by aeroplane, train, or by car -
I would like to have a magic carpet that will take me afar.

I will keep the carpet under my bed, rolled upright,
So it will be easy to reach, when I want to take flight.
I won’t need to get a passport, or buy a ticket when I want to fly,
I’ll just sit on my magic carpet, and wave everyone good-bye!

I’ll cross rivers and valleys, and the snowy Himalayas so tall,
And fly to faraway China to see the Great Wall.
Then I’ll float to Egypt, and visit the great Nile,
And see the pyramids, and the Sphinx’s mysterious smile.

I’ll travel to the African jungles where wild animals roam,
And visit European cities like London, Paris, and Rome
But on my magic carpet, before I eagerly set out,
There’s something that I’m a little worried about.

I keep thinking of it, again and again –
What will happen if my magic carpet gets caught in the rain?
I’m sure that soaking wet carpets can’t fly far away -
So, to travel for fun, I must find another way!

The Wind is such a strange and amazing being –
It has no legs, yet it travels far and wide.
It soars up to the clouds, climbs mountain peaks,
Swirls across sandy deserts and sweeps over the sea side.
The Wind has no tongue, yet we can hear its voice,
When it whispers, whistles, hums, and sighs.
And when it rains, and a storm comes along,
We can hear the Wind as it howls and cries.
The Wind has no muscles, yet it lifts and carries away rooftops,
And easily uproots tall, strong trees.
It snatches umbrellas right out of our hands,
And pulls down houses and buildings with ease.
Though we can’t see the wind, we can feel its presence,
Sometimes it’s ever so cold, and sometimes it feels warm.
And though the Wind sometimes gets cross, I know that it likes to play -
When I bring out my kite, the happy Wind never does me any harm!

I have lots of friends, but there is a special one,
With whom I play the most – we have so much fun.
He never argues, and I’ve never heard him whine;
He always thinks that my suggestions are perfectly fine.
He never, ever disagrees, or picks a quarrel with me,
As a friend, he is as loyal as can be.
But he does urge me to do naughty things once in a way,
And when I get scolded, he’s silent when I protest and say,
“I didn’t intend to do any mischief – I just can’t comprehend,
Why are you scolding me, instead of my imaginary friend?”

I wish that spinach tasted like chocolate,
Instead of tasting sour and bitter.
I wish that candy bars were loaded with nutrition,
So that eating as many as I like would make me even fitter.
I wish I could finish my homework quickly every day,
Instead of feeling drowsy as soon as I start to write.
I wish I could keep a dragon as a pet at home,
So I can play with him to my heart’s delight.
I wish that one day, I get to meet a real fairy,
Instead of just reading about fairies in folklore.
I wish that the fairy answers all my questions to her,
So then, I can ask her several more.

I want to catch a poem,
But I’m not sure how.
I wish I knew when and where,
I could catch a poem right now.

Can I catch a poem in the sand on a beach?
Or hiding in fields of long, green grass?
Can I catch a poem among the waves in the sea?
I’m not sure where I can catch a poem, alas!

Will I be able to catch a poem with a loop of rope?
Can I use the rope to lasso, and bind the poem up tight?
Will I be able to catch a poem with a butterfly net?
Will the net stop the poem from slipping out of sight?

Can I catch a poem when I’m playing outdoors?
Or can I catch a poem from right under my bed?
Oh gosh! As I thought about where I could catch a poem;
I actually caught one – it was right inside my head!!

“To Catch a Poem” was first published in March 2022 by Ukiyoto Publishing in the book titled To Catch a Poem by Santhini Govindan. The book can be bought on Amazon or from the Ukiyoto bookstore.

Though I have never, ever met a fairy,
I am quite certain that they exist.
I read about them every day in stories and poems,
So I know they’re living somewhere in our midst.
When I play in my garden, or in the park,
I am always alert to look around,
I peer at tree trunks, bushes, and flowerbeds
And quiet corners where a fairy might be found.
I have already decided what I will do,
When I meet a little fairy someday.
I won’t shout, clap, or speak in a loud voice,
Because that might scare the fairy away!
I’ll introduce myself politely, and then perhaps,
I’ll tell the fairy about the things I like to do -
I hope that the fairy will find this so interesting,
That she’ll tell me all about herself too!

Have you ever seen the exact moment when Night
Descends from above, and spreads darkness everywhere?
Night comes so quietly, and chases Day away so thoroughly,
That it doesn’t leave even a speck of light behind in the air!
Though I am aware of Night’s arrival every single day,
I still cannot say when exactly Night comes down.
Nor can I pinpoint the exact hour, minute, and second,
When Night spreads its inky blackness all over my town.