Showing posts with label prose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prose. Show all posts

Saturday, 12 May 2007

Another Chance----Sunday Scribblings

This week's prompt for Sunday Scribblings is Second chance. All of us desire for a second chance at one time or the other. We say, if only I had done this way…

If only, I get another chance...

This one goes for my dad.
Thanks dad, wherever you are! I write the following for you in a slightly ironic note…

Second Chance

words rolling of my tongue never did impress you,
all you wished for me- laws and postulates to pursue.

nothing could compare with purest of pure sciences,
with my rebellion streak, I led you to merry dances.

With your persuasive best, you made me complete
my master’s degree in chemistry. I ended up replete

with valency, double bonds and kekule structures-
leaving out Chaucer, Milton, Bronte, Shakespeare

out of my periphery but only for little short while.
as soon I could, I got back without any further trial.

that previous degree was taken to fulfil your goal,
masters in English literature overwhelmed my soul.
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As I have said ad nauseam, after I passed out from grade 12 with very good marks, I wanted to pursue English Literature. I was good at it; I loved to read and loved to articulate. (Writing came much later unless you consider groovy essays and various synopses). Therefore, for me that was the natural progression. There was a major obstacle. I had not envisaged that at all. When I told my dad, he was very much against it. He wanted me to study Mathematics or pure sciences. No Biology stream either. Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry. As simple as that. I had the choice of choosing one from these three. Come to think of it, there was no choice at all. I did not want to study Mathematics and Physics was kind of God for me. No one can study God.

I was left with Chemistry. I protested but for no avail. Therefore, I ended up completing my bachelor’s degree. After I completed that, he told me it would take only two more years to get my PG degree. This time too I did his bidding. I finished a teaching degree also, after that. As soon I passed out, I landed up as a teacher…a Mathematics teacher…I had studied Mathematics in my bachelors degree along with Physics. Those were ancillary subjects, chemistry being the main one.

After a few years of working, I enrolled myself for a PG degree in English and completed it. Science students can opt for most humanities subjects. My dad was somewhat happy after I finished my PG degree in English too.

I had this grudge against him for a long time that he didn't let me pursue English Literature right from the beginning. After I finished my second PG, I realised that if I had done English in the first place, I wouldn’t be holding two masters degrees in, as varied subjects as Chemistry and English. Maybe I would have regretted that at some stage. Now I do not regret anything. I am grateful to my dad who is no more. I did get a second chance.

It does not seem ironical anymore that I studied Chemistry, teach Mathematics and love English literature.

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More second chances..

Saturday, 17 March 2007

Fillip......Sunday Scribblings

This week's Sunday Scribblings prompt is inspiration.


As a word, it is very powerful. At least for me. When I see this word, I get ideas. To do something. Without even knowing really what. To read, to write, to draw, to create. It can be anything. Inspiration can give rise to do any task, cooking, cleaning, looking after the house; do any other routine stuff without thinking of it as a burden. To give an example; festivals inspire us to clean and decorate the house.

Sometimes observing something, inspires me to write what I like best, poetry. Inspiration can come from anything, words, nature, a person or simply from our thoughts. Major of the times, our emotions too inspire us.

Most of my stimulation for writing poetry, comes from watching people go by. Their mannerisms, their way of talking, and those small things that separate us from one another, delights me no end. The funny part is, I might not write about those but it refreshes my mind and I start to write. Most of my writings are an outlet of my creative feeling written solely for myself. But I do get instigated to write well for those who come and read and encourage me.

Love or lack of love too inspires most to write. Love in all its manifestations, can make the words come out so beautifully. Some poets thrive on love poetry, a few on rejection of it or on unrequited love.

Sometimes when nothing seems to work, when the mind refuses to function, we enthuse ourselves by giving ourselves pep talks within the mind. It works..

Last, not the least, nature is always there to motivate us with its beauty, bounty and just by being there..

Get inspired...