Naughty Clouds

 

Woke up to rolling clouds,

Pouring thunderstorms,

Evoking desire to curl up,

Provoke me not, I say.

Work day calls aloud,

Broke the chain, yes I did,

Forth to the office, I go ahead.

Do your work, I do mine,

Don’t you say this to the clouds,

For that’s what they did—

Got me drenched, naughty clouds.

Roguish, aren’t you? I say.

Now I'm home, long day it was

As I prepare for tomorrow 

Looking up I see the calm clouds

Doing the same, soaking up more 

Don't you dare, I say!

-Grace Piradhiba, Atlanta

April 28, 2026.

Women's Day - March 8, 2026

Of Romance and Routine - Poem

 

Title: Of Romance and Routine

He wished every moment

To be with her.

Every such moment

Was life for him—

Just the presence,

Nothing more.

Wedding brought them together.

Years pass by...

Life now asks its share,

She wants to keep the fair.

She sees him in the kitchen,

Finds something to do there—

Peel onions, do dishes, boil water.

She sees him folding clothes;

There are many, so she joins.

She sees him in the yard;

She goes to pick some weeds,

And take more pictures.

She sees him and joins.

But

He leaves that to her,

Finds something else.

Of course there is much to do.

She feels, speaks, tries—

In vain.

- Grace Piradhiba 

Uncut Cake

 

As my precious little son

Blossoms into a fine young man

Sixteenth Birthday came around

Sopping me with plethora of emotions

Oh my! Am proud and joyful!

Slice of my mind longs

Oh dear! Can I have that baby in arms?

That bubbly toddler running around?

Well, how can I celebrate

The budding fine young man

What shall I prepare? What shall I buy?

He seems not interested

Submerged and stressed with exams 

Coming around the corner!

Maybe he thinks am not his type!

I go ahead and order a custom cake

Cookies 'N Cream, his favorite!

C'mon it's his sixteenth birthday!

I bring in the cake

With wishes calligraphed over 

Birthday dawns, and the next day

And the next day and another day

The cake is still waiting

For my boy is too busy

Or rather doesn't feel like cutting cake

I gave up, with anger and tears

The uncut cake, I'll never forget

Something else was cut indeed

Its only I who knows 

Probably some moms like me!

Eastern Box Turtle

 

Eastern Box Turtle

What a rare sight to behold
While going about my day,
Eastern Box Turtle on her way!
She 'cos the eyes are brown
He has red eyes, they say!
Go ahead, my friend,
Gladly I stopped my car
Won't she move, not an inch
Waiting still, saying 'your way'!​
Waiting lasted a ten minutes
We both not in hurry, I suppose
Slowly walked to her
Oh lovely, she not stressed
For she keeps out her head!
She posed for me grandly
Saying bye I crawled my car
Only to park few yards away
Walking back to check on her
Safe she is on the grass
Here I go, my waiting chores!
- Grace Piradhiba
October 3, 2024.

Tamil poem on the turtle:

https://thaenmaduratamil.blogspot.com/2024/10/%20%20%20.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawFtbWdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZZTxU4EVShxuTHSfStQiT4laq6_UNFzVv7pvKTclsGkVkkMtY8lrnVQug_aem_kSrYBAU4ATODg0Ajvxh_Ng

A walk through the woods

 

The cool and still lake

Fledged

Readying for the dorm days

Reminded of the diaper days;
Shedding tears of separation
Stating that as gratification;
Would have done the same, yet
Wanting to go back for better;
Wanting, wishing, yearning
To hold the baby, a little longer
To make more time together
To avoid the mistakes
To prolong the cuddles
Yet
It's time and it's always the right
So assure love no matter what
And let the wings spread wide and far!

-Grace Piradhiba
August 2023