Thursday, November 30, 2006

An old poem on Sleep

I was cleaning up some stuff when I came across an old poem I had written back when in school. It was for some competition and we had to do something creative on sleep(other than dreaming ;)). Since I was dreadful with the brush, I decided to go in for a poem. Here it is:

Sleep! Oh! Sleep!
What a bliss to sleep
Not a care, not a stare
Not a need to check your fare
Nourishing the withered body
Preventing a work that's shoddy
Soothing the tired brow
Refreshing thoughts needed to know
Done by all without fail.
Otherwise life would become stale
A gift of God, I'd surely say
Lack of it, a heavy price we'd pay!

It was so funny reading it now but then I do remember that I was really happy with my poem back then! Come on! None of my friends could write rhymes(that is it surely!) and I can make up my own. Ah! Those were golden days! We never had a care in the world, were never touched by anything bad or cruel or violent, had loads of fun with friends who wanted nothing but time to run and play around with them, a good snack when we got home, mothers and grandmothers to fuss on us( they still do but lesser. They think I know what is best and let me my own way, which, though exalting at times, is a big responsibility and a sure sign that I've to fast get into the adult world) and make us do what is good for health and life. And, my sentiments for sleep haven't changed a bit. They have only increased. Now, isn't that a sign of me still in childhood? ;)

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

The Voice - goal

She crossed the goal, her decided one!
She felt happy and satisfied.
She was elated for she lived by the principle "Do your duty and that gives most joy".

The voice smiled.
Had it had a face, it would have shown....
In infinite wisdom,
it was a knowing, satisfied smile.

Now began the long wait.
The wait for results, results of hard work, of back breaking labor in reaching the goal.

She waits.........
The voice too.......

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Literature Tag!

Well, I've been tagged my friend P! This is a literary tag and here goes:

Five favorite authors:
1)Kalki
2)Arthur Conan Doyle
3)Anuthama
4)LM Montgomery
5)Ayn Rand

Four favorite characters:
1)Aalvaarkadiyaan - Ponniyin selvan
2)Sherlock Holmes - Sherlock Holmes
3)Ms.Mythreyi Seshadri - Naintha Ullam
4)Hari - Five point someone

Three favorite phrases:
1)"Nithya kalyaanamum Pachai Thoranamum" - Aathma
2)"Ethai Kandu Ichai kondaayadi, kiliyae?" - Naintha Ullam
3)"Moonlight, I love it " - The story girl

Two favorite novels/stories with a short description:
1)Ponniyin Selvan - Book on Cholas. It tells about the struggles for Chola empire and the final coronation. It has mystery, romance, humour, philosophy and what not! The hero is Vandhiya Thevan though the person after whom the book is named is ArulMozhi Varman aka Raja Raja. In one word, this is one good book. Though it has a lot of history in it, the way it has been said is truly exceptional. Only after reading this novel did I get really interested in books. A must read for everyone!
2)Naintha Ullam - A book about a girl who learns to live with her brother and uncle's family after leaving her foster family. The fun she has, struggles she faces and the silent demons that she fight have been portrayed beautifully. The story is set in Madras and Sri Lanka.

In english,
1)Anne of Green gables - one of my childhood books that I still love reading. All the Anne books are good! A sure read if you are planning on GRE because it has so many "big words" as Anne puts it :)
2) All of Sherlock Holmes - Too big to describe!

One favorite series:
Malory towers!! (nothing to beat it)

I tag all those who love books. Come on! This is a chance to talk about your favorite books and authors.And, it is fun too!

PS: Harry Potter was a close contender in the last category!! I love Potter exactly for the same reasons that I love MT. And, not to forget Famous Five, Five findouters, The secret Island series and..... I'd keep going. :)

Into semester exams!

I'm into my semester exams, the last one I'd be writing. Right now, I'm done with three of my papers and got three more to go. The ones I've written so far were ok and the ones which are going to come are the "heavy weights". Lets see how they go!

Well, looking back, I don't know how I ever survived all the sem exams that have come my way since I joined college. Every time, I'd decide that I would give my undivided attention to studies atleast from this sem and learn(I mean, actually learn!! Not just read the xeroxes that kind friends take and give just before sem exams and internals. I don't remember ONE day when I actually sat through a book and decided what I had to xerox. It would be always be the pages that some friend of mine says. Most of the time, I'd just take a xerox when all others are taking. Or, if it was too much hassle, I'd get the book itself... But,I'd never touch the book more than once in the entire semester. My mom always complains that I never use my books. I've stopped coz of this reason.... both buying and reading :)) all the subjects. Sadly, I've never been able to do that. Every time, something or the other would come up and I would leave my resolutions in the air and run off to have fun. And, then it would soon be time for the first internals. There would be a mad scramble to try to study and I'd decide "ok... from now on, atleast, I should study". That would be promptly forgotten once those three days are over. It would be the same for other two internals. Then, we'd have the sem exam holidays.

Sem study holidays are some of the most enjoyable times I've had. We would have fun doing group studies(atleast trying to), chat sessions, taking xeroxes and relocating the old ones and doing a hundred and one things. Only the day before, I'd get guilty pangs and start on the first subject. However, since I'd have lost touch with studies(ok... when did I ever have it to have lost it?), I would wile away the time and realize it only roughly 20 hours before the actual exam starts(and I would have to sleep and eat! I'd never sacrifice on them both! Ok, R! Don't laugh!) Then, I'd start wishing fervently that I could have spent more time on studies. Somehow, I'd manage to learn and go and write the exam next day. Then, I'd be really tired and have a good sleep. I'd wile away the time given for the next exam and repeat the same sequence again. This would go on and on until all the exams are done and I would heave a sigh of relief. I would resolve that I would not repeat this again (sadly, I could never keep up the resolve). But now, looking back at the results and cgpa, I haven't lost much. I stand my own in class. I pity those who keep on studying day in and day out for the semester exams. They don't know what they are missing "out there". Sure, sem exams are important but there are other things in life too. Also, the sem exams only test the concepts that we have learnt throughout the semester. There is no point in trying to learn them again and again. That is the beauty of engineering. You learn the concepts once, you'd remember them(maybe with some refreshing) for life.

But then, somewhere, along these lines, I've actually learnt the subjects and have been enthused enough to continue my studies. And, I've had more fun learning them with friends. I've also learnt to handle stress and do quick learning(A talent that comes only after loads of practice!). These qualities have helped me in more ways than one. And, the time spent on other things have taught their own lessons which are invaluable. So, I've no regrets right now about the sem exams in my life. I only wish that I do these exams as good as the others and finish off with style!

Monday, November 06, 2006

The Voice again

She was tired.
She wanted to stop, to stop it all!
She knew she was nearer to her goal than yesterday and she moved a bit further.
Each step caused pain and weariness in her mind and body.
She knew the goal was worth the pain and sacrifice.
So she moved on....

Again,
She was bone-tired.
She felt her shoulders were burdened with too much.
She didn't care if she was near the goal or not.
It didn't matter anymore.
She was ready to stop.
And, felt peace(the peace that comes when a person is out of the deadly but powerful embrace of responsibility).
She wanted to sleep.
And, sleep she did.

She heard the Voice, "Rest awhile, not forever"
She got up groggy.
She heard it again "Rest but don't rest".
She understood.

She resumed her journey.
Her goal was shining.
She is not there still, but one day......








She'll reach it!!