Wordsmith at work

  Meet Marietta   I’m Marietta Pereira, 61, a homemaker, a trained primary school teacher, and mother of two boys, currently living in Mumbai with my better half and navigating the empty-nest phase and silver years of our lives.   Advancing age comes with its challenges, but you're also more at peace with yourself in many respects.  I love being around kids, and my brief six-year spell of teaching first and third graders was some of the most rewarding years. Raising kids, as I learned later, is quite another cup of tea. I am what I am… You get what you see. I’ve come a long way from a shy and awkward little girl that I was to a moderately talkative woman participating in activities that keep me in the public eye to a small extent.( I serve as lector in the church I attend.)  I’m no paragon of virtue, but those who know me would say I am the proverbial ‘good girl.’ I’ve come into my own late in life, but then, as they say, “better late than never. " I c...

    It’s the villain in me That sets me back, That forces me to give up Or give in.   I see the darkness, Not the light. I see hopelessness Not the flickering flame That may be in sight.   She steals my courage, Leaves me trembling with fear. How I wish I could put up a fight, But I choose to let the villain stay.   This villain She’s controlling, Not accepting, Resisting inevitable change. She introduced me to overthinking And negativity too. I can’t live my life Allowing this villain to rule; I’ve got to let her go.   She still visits, But I’m trying: Choosing to be the person I want to be. Writing my own shining story.   I 'm participating in the weekly Blogchatter Bloghop challenge. 

  The Jar of memories I will not visit   Like the stars in a galaxy My happy memories shine brightly.   The moments of despair and darkness I’ve imprisoned in a jar, sealed tightly.   I never want to remember. My encounters with Science or numbers.   Or the days I lost Ma and Pa And my dear friend Vibha.   The darkness of the day When a certain diagnosis was made.   I hated the call. That warned me of a financial squall.   Broken friendships Trust turned to rust. I hate them all.   As heavy as elephants As  dark as the night These are memories. I shall keep Out of my light. 

    Hello, Mr. Bond, Happy birthday and still happy writing. Congratulations on your new publications for early learners—ABC  and 123, and Laugh With Me.  It’s no mean feat that you, sir, continue to regale us with tales that are so endearing in their simplicity and relatability. My first read was the Book of Humour, which left me in good spirits and grinning at the antics of Uncle Ken, your lovable grandparents, and others. After that, I acquired quite a collection of your books. … Sir, you use no bombastic words, nor do you script elaborate dramas, yet we remain hooked from the very first line. You write a haiku, a limerick, and a spooky tale with equal ease! How wonderful is that? I remember asking for your books at a local book fair and being told they were all sold out. You bring us the magic of the mountains, trees, rivers, animals, and even a tiny moth or snail in words that linger long after we’ve finished reading. You’ve written a verse...

World Water Day 2026   In early January 2026, a severe water contamination crisis hit the Bhagithrathpura area in Indore, resulting in at least 15 deaths and approximately 270 hospitalizations due to vomiting and diarrhoea. A damaged pipeline causing sewage to mix with drinking water is said to have caused the tragedy. Incidentally, Indore is said to be one of the cleanest cities in India. This tragic incident only underscores how essential clean, fresh water is to us. Since 1993, the UN has been observing March 22 nd as World Water Day, focusing on the need for and importance of fresh and clean water for every human on planet Earth. Every year, the UN sets a theme for the day. This year, it is Water and Gender: “Where water flows, equality grows.” A global water crisis affects the entire global population, but women and girls bear the brunt of it, especially in India, where they must walk long distances to collect water and then manage the use of water at home, resulting in a los...