Ode To A Small Town

By -

I dreamt of my hometown
I walked in its narrow lane in my Bata flip-flops
With my mismatched dupatta trailing on one side
I stepped into that old kirana shop

 Then I stood still
And everything flashed back to me
Savita Aunty peeping into everyone's lives
And rickshaw parked under that Neem tree

 There knock on the door was seldom
People called out your name
Sharma Aunty was 'Billo ki Mummy'
And borrowing was never considered a shame

 Diwali-Dussehra-Shaadi had a different flavor
We exchanged mithai, not gifts
Where Rohan spent more time in Chawla's house
Till he was six

 We celebrated little of things
Oh, we did show-off
News of new TV by Rana Aunty
Ended as a debate in Gupta family to buy a car

 That strange-happy feeling of belongingness
That loud laughter of pesky neighborhood aunts
Small town version of Gossip Girls
Who plucked leaves from your Tulsi plant

If you ever lived in a small town
You may still have a part of it
Maybe lingering taste of its street food
Or memory of your first crush you dare admit

 Walk into those narrow lanes
Brings back a world full of charm
Like you've spun a cozy blanket
Of warm woolen yarn

Image Source - Here

Comments

  1. Stuti DhyaniOctober 26, 2015 at 1:11 PM

    Wow! You breathe life into nostalgia :-). Whatever was dormant has been activated; beautiful description

    ReplyDelete
  2. joshi danielOctober 26, 2015 at 2:06 PM

    great :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. RakeshOctober 26, 2015 at 9:10 PM

    It's so beautiful! Rustic and lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  4. RachnaOctober 26, 2015 at 10:02 PM

    So lovely! Took me back to all the small towns I grew up in. Do you mean kirana shop in the first para?

    ReplyDelete
  5. KashishOctober 26, 2015 at 10:58 PM

    Super awesome.... Nostalgic....

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownOctober 26, 2015 at 11:26 PM

    Sweet memories of younger days came back!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ankita October 27, 2015 at 1:40 AM

    that is a beautiful and rather a very graphic depiction of life in a cozy small town. it has a charm of its own , a certain warmth that can never be found anywhere on earth! lovely Saru!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalOctober 29, 2015 at 2:11 PM

      That is so true. I miss the charm of my town. Thanks for reading, Ankita.

      Delete
  8. Rahul BhatiaOctober 27, 2015 at 2:23 AM

    Saw pretty much the same in childhood despite having been brought up in Delhi! Lovely rhyme like always, Saru:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalOctober 29, 2015 at 2:13 PM

      Difficult to imagine that Delhi was once like that. For that matter, even small towns are over crowded these days. Wish you can just rewind time.

      Delete
  9. SandhyaOctober 27, 2015 at 2:54 AM

    Enjoyed your nostalgic memories! Let me try to write in these angles one one day after visiting my town!

    ReplyDelete
  10. rupam sarmaOctober 27, 2015 at 4:33 AM

    Beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousOctober 27, 2015 at 7:56 AM

    Wonderful memories and such a pretty photo.

    ReplyDelete
  12. sunaina sharmaOctober 27, 2015 at 9:17 AM

    yes, small town memories....only yesterday did I talk with my husband about how life was.....well so lively in those small mohallas....beautiful beautiful poem Saru......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalOctober 29, 2015 at 2:21 PM

      You said it right - it was lively. Thanks for reading, Sunaina.

      Delete
  13. Chaitali BhattacharjeeOctober 27, 2015 at 9:51 AM

    That's so intimate and personal with Saru touch

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownOctober 27, 2015 at 10:15 AM

    Such a wonderful portrayal of nostalgia. Memories worth cherishing a lifetime :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Swati BatraOctober 27, 2015 at 11:26 AM

    This post brought back all beautiful memories of our childhood. Those days were wonderful.
    Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  16. Found In FolsomOctober 27, 2015 at 3:23 PM

    opened it yesterday...couldn't read it....kept it open to finish it off today and finally I did. :) Reminded me of the couple of small towns I grew up in and all the memories came flooding by. I also feel like writing one now :) Of the Kirana store where I used to sell the Hindu papers...the neighboring homes..the women sitting in their front doors by evening and watching the people passing by...I think these days every house hold is busy with TV serials.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalOctober 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM

      Yeah, it's kind of sad. TV and mobiles have replaced the human bond. I feel proud of myself that I don't carry a phone.
      Do write your feelings and share. :)

      Delete
  17. D.NambiarOctober 27, 2015 at 3:55 PM

    What a lovely ode to an Indian small town. Your lines are so picturesque, Saru.
    Had a good holiday, you two?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalOctober 30, 2015 at 10:03 AM

      Yeah, it was awesome.

      Thanks for reading, Dee. :)

      Delete
  18. Purba chakrabortyOctober 27, 2015 at 4:19 PM

    Such a heartwarming poem :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. K V V S MURTHYOctober 27, 2015 at 9:10 PM

    Great lines yaar.

    ReplyDelete
  20. RajlakshmiOctober 27, 2015 at 9:43 PM

    Whenever I visit my hometown I have this sudden realization how small and innocent it looks compared to the cities I live in. Beautiful memories :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalNovember 4, 2015 at 9:50 AM

      Indeed, they have innocence. Visited Sydney last month, it is definitely crowded.

      Delete
  21. M S MahawarOctober 27, 2015 at 10:36 PM

    Beautiful and Touching :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ami BhatOctober 27, 2015 at 10:37 PM

    This is so apt as I am currently visiting a few small towns in Rajasthan and was feeling so nostalgic about my own time as a kid in my hometown. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalNovember 4, 2015 at 9:51 AM

      Yeah, it gets to you. Thanks for reading, Ami. :)

      Delete
  23. Namrata KumariOctober 27, 2015 at 11:38 PM

    I could find my life in my hometown in these lines. Well done, Saru. A lovely post. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Saurabh ChawlaOctober 28, 2015 at 12:10 AM

    Loved it! Especially the ending part is touching :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sabyasachi PatraOctober 28, 2015 at 1:10 AM

    So very true. People started resenting visitors during the saturday movie on doordarshan. Then it spilled over to serials and now we are all confined to our homes and the social visits have virtually stopped.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalNovember 4, 2015 at 9:52 AM

      Painful but true. I miss gold old days. Technology sucked fun out of life.

      Delete
  26. vineelaOctober 28, 2015 at 2:21 AM

    Beautiful indeed :) :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Yogi SaraswatOctober 28, 2015 at 2:51 AM

    If you ever lived in a small town
    You may still have a part of it
    Maybe lingering taste of its street food
    Or memory of your first crush you dare admit
    True words Saru Ji . I feel these words are written by you only but these words are for everybody who lives a time in small time . Sharma aunty today also known as ................Pari ki mummy . haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalNovember 4, 2015 at 9:53 AM

      Hahaha... Those fancy names.
      Thank you for reading.

      Delete
  28. BikramOctober 28, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    AWESOMEeeeeeeeeee .. i went in dream world at reading the word BATA :)

    Bikram's

    ReplyDelete
  29. indu chhibberOctober 28, 2015 at 12:05 PM

    I simply loved your description of a small town.

    ReplyDelete
  30. संजय भास्‍कर October 29, 2015 at 9:50 AM

    beautiful poem Saru ji i like it Sweet memories

    ReplyDelete
  31. Vishal BheerooNovember 1, 2015 at 1:08 AM

    A fabulous poem on life in a small town and memories defining our existence and identity:)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Rajeev MoothedathNovember 1, 2015 at 7:29 AM

    Simply wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  33. mere vichar ek khuli kitabNovember 1, 2015 at 9:07 AM

    very happening. jaise sab ankhon ke samne se gujar raha hai

    ReplyDelete
  34. Kala RaviNovember 2, 2015 at 9:35 AM

    Heartfelt nostalgia! Loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Ashish KumarNovember 2, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    This is so beautiful poem. This poem can be related to all who are not at present where their childhood days was spent. This is a masterpiece. Everyone who read this will surely have their "old memories revisited."
    Great creation mam. The title of this poem also reminded me the famous poem "Ode to the West Wind", written by P.B.Shelley.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalNovember 4, 2015 at 10:04 AM

      Oh, I like that poem. Thanks for a beautiful comment, Ashish.

      Delete
  36. AnonymousNovember 8, 2015 at 10:31 AM

    Wonderfully worded Saru. Had read this on your FB sometime back..

    ReplyDelete
  37. upasnaDecember 31, 2015 at 4:42 AM

    Hello Saru,

    Apt description of a small town and its vibrant life. Where is your Hometown ?

    ReplyDelete
  38. UnknownJanuary 4, 2016 at 1:38 AM

    Lovely; very well written!

    ReplyDelete

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