My sister

She was a candle to my dimly-lit world,

A soothing balm for the pained body and hurt.

A flower to bloom in the garden of my life,

Like sweet honey for the bee and the hive.

She was always there with a hug and a smile,

With sympathetic words and an eagerness to rejoice.

She reduced my sorrows and divided my griefs,

And helped me understand the philosophies of life.

I know not what I’d be if it hadn’t been for her,

Thankful to God to have blessed me with her.

A sister so sweet as she,

Is one who is not always found to be.

God be with her and keep her safe and sound,

This one wish in my heart will always be found.

— Jaspreet Jassar, Class X, St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, Chandigarh.

The Beas our noble neighbour,

Snowy in winter, cool in summer.

The waves are gentle, full of grace,

But monsoon shows its fierce face,

Banks are broken, soil washed,

Even the fish look so harassed.

Yet we love it for its great mission,

Flowing to Pakistan without any permission.

And takes our good will to that country,

By ignoring visa restriction and boundries.

The waves fighting like children,

Roaring, ignoring yet remain in union.

Let us learn to live like waves,

Calm and clean.

One night I was dreaming,

My face was brightly gleaming.

Although I was in sleep,

I was busy dreaming very deep.

It was a usual night,

But in my dream I had a fright.

The dream was very special,

And everything in it was unusual.

There were flowers floating in the sky,

And they were floating quite high,

The birds were on the ground,

And without their wings they were roaming all around.

The most unusual thing I could spy,

And you wouldn’t believe it I could fly.

I was happy among the flowers,

And being at that height I could even see the towers.

The birds were quite cute,

As they roamed around in their fur suit.

My dream had to end at last,

And I woke up with a blast.

With the end of this beautiful dream I silently cry,

But to have it again and again I do try.

— Prerna Sharma, Class VI A, Carmel Convent School, Chandigarh.