Writing Friends & Family

Jyoan eschewed seeing the Queen,
London, she’d do, even the zoo;
“But I can’t leave until I’ve been
to see my two writing friends true.”

So she wrote, and made out her plans.
Ticket purchased, gifts selected -
buoyed by thoughts of Mandy and Ann.
“No!” she wailed, “Visa’s rejected!”

“Well,” said Ann to her friend Mandy,
“It’s clear that she can’t come to us -
If we go to her, that’s dandy,
It’s as simple as that, no fuss.”

“Tickets? Easy!” Other bits were not,
Having to fill out hundred forms,
Malaria pills and the ‘flu shot,
Tying up all the red-tape norms.

Finally, they flew off ‘cross seas,
Of course, keeping their passports handy,
Braved swollen feet, sleepless unease –
Eyes peeled for Jyo, maybe Nandy?

They were to stay with Jyo’s brother,
congenial hosts, he and his wife,
warmth without much fuss and smother,
glimpse into Indian ways of life.

Well stocked up on bread and butter
- tourists find spicy rice not nice.
Left gaping, no words to utter,
as guests cleaned their plates in a trice.

Shopping and seeing, treats galore -
Temples, palaces, urchins, touts,
Monks and monkeys, bulls and more,
All interspersed with joyful shouts!

Two from England, three from India,
they were joined by Jyo’s young son,
The trip was a breeze – windier,
for it was a maelstrom of fun!

Alas! All things come to an end,
But memories always live on,
For you, dear WDC friends,
And SM too, let’s all “Write On”



40 lines, eight syllable quatrains in abab rhyme pattern.

Note: I had planned a trip to England, it was a dream from childhood, to visit places read about in works from Dickens to Wodehouse. I planned for 2 years or more before getting organized, only to have my spirits plummet because of an inexplicable visa rejection. As the poem outlines, two of my WDC pals decided to cheer me up by coming to visit me. The result was the best holiday of my life!

My user name is Jyo_an, my daughter is Nandini, Nandy for short, my son - Raghav - Ragster Go11 .

Amanda Acme and Ann Alan Philps are my WDC friends. Sonali is another common friend - Smiling Sonali is Thankful! - from India.

We all decided to honour the wonderful writing site that brought us together with a poem or story about the trip, 40 lines, 1000 word limit. I have the story in my head, but got the poem down on paper! Three cheers for SM and SMs!