My childhood fantasies:

To grasp the white illuminating velvety clouds

With my tiny hands;

To play with white winged beautiful fairies

The eternal games;

To measure the distance

Up to the rainbow,

Spreading colours all around;

To contact twinkling stars in remote heavens,

Sitting around their king;

To grip the grey smoke bellowing from the earthen hearth,

Freely to my mind

Nourished .

 Recollections of my childhood,

When I view

With the eyes of my mind:

The high mountains,

I used to climb,

Taking a few breaths,

Casting my wondrous glance

On the wayward rivers,

Muddy huts of hamlets,

Men and women, busy in their chores

And the frost all around,

Take me away

From the encumbrance of the mundane life.

                                                           ~Alok Mishra

                                                       Fatehpur, India