Friends

Dear Readers,

I remember a few lines that I had penned when I was a student on 'Clouds'. I remember the last line - A fair weather friend, now that is a cloud. I don't remember the other lines, nor the opening line. Oh well, I can always pen some new lines.

The floating cloud

Buffeted by the winds you sail
Changing course and changing shapes
Never steady as a rock
A fair weather friend, now that is a cloud

Well, I have realised that I am lucky to have several rock solid friends, who are very much there for me. Am so thankful for this.

Best,
Lubna

The Fern

I grew up in Bandra, Bombay (now Mumbai) which was then green and had fields hidden here and there and fruit trees on almost every street. During the monsoons, guppies did swim in the pools of water that collected here and there. Empty plots became spawning grounds for the frogs. Cars actually stopped to let frogs cross the road and maidenhair ferns sprouted everywhere, especially on the back side of the wall of my house.

'The Fern' by Ruskin Bond was my favourite poem and today, I just had to dig it up and I found it on google pages. I have never felt the need for this poem as much as today.

The Fern (Contained in Ruskin Bond's book: Growing up with trees)

The slender maidenhair fern grows firm on a rock
While all around her, the water swirls and clatters
And then disappears in a rush
Down to the bottom of the hill
When I'm surrounded by troubled waters, Lord
Let me finding within, a rock to cling to
And give me the quiet patience of the maidenhair
Who has learned to live with the rock

(No copyright infringement intended)

Source of the photograph