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

My First Job

 22 years back, this day June 28,2000 , got placed in my first job through campus placement. The head of the company,  Hrushikesh Praharaj  sir who had come for the campus visit in his introductory speech said, he will give job directly without interview for the candidates who score 100% in C programming test. Candidates who cleared the first round of analytical testing sat for the C testing, and then some were selected for the interview. I was one of them and went into the interview room,  when I was called in. After initial greetings, some questions, was asked to write a small program too...but then the director pulled out an envelope and said, " As promised you are selected for the job, as you have scored 100% in C test.  We already have your offer letter ready." My joy knew no bounds! One other friend too came out with offer letter from the interview room that day. Joined the company in 2001, worked on then emerging mobile technology, WAP, smartphone, pocket PC what not.. what a challenging and rewarding that job was!! I had awesome mentors and team mates who became great friends,  love that job and all that I did then even to this day...and yes, I regret having to leave that job! 

Last year, in my interview for MBA admission at Georgia Tech, I was questioned about technology and I talked passionately about it, the experience I had in my first job.. the interviewer was impressed and told me that she could see how much  I had loved that job from the glow in my face while talking about it. 

Things are not the same anymore.. not everything is in my hands...I had to defer my admission because of immigration reasons...I have digressed.

This post is meant to fondly reminisce that day when I got my first job, which to this day is my favorite job.