Spirit of sheer excellence

As I child… I remember

I waited for the rains, watched it from verandah

Tried to steal away into the showers

But for those watchful granny’s eyes

And when it stopped

I darted to the nearest puddle

With a newspaper… Papa was so keen to read

And a burning ambition

To make a boat

Bigger and better than the previous

Child’s play

One might say

But for me it was a spirit

Spirit of sheer excellence

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It was my first date

I shaved for the umpteenth time and showered

Showered until what seemed like eternity

That bottle of scent…coming straight form America

And preserved so keenly… half emptied

The wardrobe dugged like a quarry, everything tried

From Safaris to three pieces, Jackets and Pullovers

But as I was … far from satisfied

And then all of a sudden … a combination struck the senses

Faded jeans and stained T-shirt

Youth’s energy

One might say

But for me it was a spirit

Spirit of sheer excellence

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The news was out

She was nurturing a part of me

The days started to seem too small

To hunt down all the toy stores in town

Followed by nights to wake and to care

And then the days arrived

When I stood there

Chewing my nails

It happened

I heard a baby’s cry from inside the room

Father’s Enthusiasm

One might say

But for me it was a spirit

Spirit of sheer excellence

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