Do the Boats Float

 

Do The Boats Float?

My pet in a raincoat, through the rain so drenching,

My umbrella opened wide, my teeth all clenching.

I see the same old stray, with its dripping fur,

In my pining heart, a feeling does stir.

 

I return, now bored, looking at skies so cloudy,

Watching soggy kids, all loud and rowdy.

My untethered mind drifts, to that lovely song,

The sombre Jagjit number, that my friend sang along.

On a rainy morning, hoping for the news.

No school warning, off come shiny shoes.

Grass so lush, under skies so grey,

Wear rubber sandals and out to play.

Days of no rush, when rain was fun,

Splash in slush, laugh, skip and run.

Hands so muddy with marble games,

On wet walls with coal, scrawl dirty names.

With my hunched-down shoulders and soggy socks,

Wet sleeves and pockets, I hate these walks.

Now I have changed, really don’t care

Do the boats float? I’m not really aware.

I beg it to end, the fierce downpour,

Need to buy stuff from the grocery store.

Dodge those same puddles in leather shoes,

The deepest and dirtiest, I used to choose.

The season of monsoon, when days would fly…

Too bored, too busy, I don’t stop to ask why.

Somewhere, sometime, I must still keep.

Memories of childhood rain-

Before I fall, finally asleep.

.............................................................................................................

The inspiration for this poem came from two different directions. One friend sent a poem in Hindi about rainy season and its impact on us as adults while another friend after reading that poem sang an evergreen old Jagjit sing ghazal - 'Kagaz ki Kashti' Written on 12th July 2025, after many years, words just pattered out like rainfall falling on a tin roof.