Shoba Srinivasan, a 2nd generation Malaysian of Indian origin, was born in Malaysia. She studied in Kerala and Madras and obtained a BSc Chem degree. On her return to Malaysia, she volunteered at a handicapped welfare association and got introduced to the basics of Prosthetics. Thereafter, she took up a 4 1/2 year course in Prosthetics & Orthotics in the UK. Shoba says, she sort of finally 'grew up' as an adult there, away from the indentity confusion faced in Malaysia, and the sheltered environment of India. She currently resides in Singapore.
Click here to read Shoba's poems on SAWF.

These lines are personal musings, laced with those of the children I know. I dedicate this to all children, who are my best friends.

"Yabadee, Yabada...
See you folks!"

Signalling the end
Of Looney Tunes...

Still sitting there
(grinning)
One with Bugs & Friends...

(shout)

"...switch off the TV
Go practise your scales!"

Thought bubble forming
Expressions of a groan..

Do...Re...Mi...Fa...So...
"PLONK!!!"

Dead silence.

The army of ants
Their marches so loud-
left right left right...

Do...Re...Mi...
"PLONK!!!"

Oh! NO!!

Ebony and Ivory
(thank you stevie & paul)
Staring...
With intense
Agony...

A running tap, the shutting of it
Signalling the arrival
Of the presiding Deity
Swoosh, swooshing
Hands ready
To lay
Stars and Stripes
(and i think: 'maybe i'll play
carom with the star and violin
on the stripes')

'stop kidding, take a deep breath
you can do it', i tell myself
'humour them, get the scales
out of the way'

So...
Very carefully, slowly...

Do...Re...Mi...
Fa...(oh! i'm so good!)
So...(i'm delirious!!)
La...
"PLONK!!!!"

What timing-
The whack and the plonk!

ouch!
Inward pulling
Of the esses
(thinking)
'ah...a POLO would've made
the esses cool in my mouth...
anything but the scales'...

(please...!!!!)

There's a lecture going on
A second whack, wakes me up
Oh! it's for me!
The deliverance
Of special words, express delivery...
Of gratitude, of having to slog
All for me (lucky me)
For my own good...(Deity knows best)

"er..."

Oh boy! Big trouble!!
Another five minutes
And Scooby and Goofy
Will definitely miss me-

(sigh)

let's start again...
Ha! i know what (excited)
i'll play a SONG !!!
i dont need those
Black birds hanging on cables
This way and that way...

I set my tune, i begin to play
i'm only seven you know-
But i "do" tunes
with my buddies, who think i'm good !

So i deliver now
Ebony and Ivory
Toothy grins, they know the score
They sing with me, a song about
Flowing rivers, without a dam
Dancing winds, like galloping horses
Not crashing against concrete walls
Or contained,
Within boxes or spinning with blades
Splashed colours-
Of flowers
And
Passing souls...
And nothing about
Keeping up with the Joneses...

I play to my heart's content
Not a missed note
i was one, doing the tango
With my soul...

"Whack!!!"

"Jaaaaanggggg!!!"

'Rubbish and nonsense
Grade 8 should be your aim
Able to "read" music
Not so much playing it-
Especially the way you do!'

(esses and polo mints...)

My fate is sealed
i'm doomed
The instrument
Like
Jabba the Hut
Staring back at me
Grinning
Blackened teeth, some
Glistening white...

(sniff)

Just to shut up the Deity
i put aside my ditties
Renewed battle with written music
Read and delivered.
Full Stop.

That piece of paper...
Ornate and congratulating
Now resting within
The confines of a box labelled-

"KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES !"