A RED LETTER DAY

A RED LETTER DAY

HELLO HELLO REPUBLIC
Hail hail republic
Sovereign socialist
Secular republic
Today I touched real republic
Scorching sun, made be sulky.

I don’t know the meaning
Of the words which I spelt above
I am only taught it by heart
For the day republic is ahead
And march-past is to begin

I am taught that it was a day
Country become sovereign
And the day become remarkable
But today I knew it is a great day
A real red letter day for me

I come out just one decade ago
Running in the age of ten
Wearing white and blue
On that day, dreadful day
Packed in school bus in the mid noon

Thought leisure was it
Free from weary teary classes
But alas we were put on barren land
What the Kochites calls marine drive,
Kakki uncles waiting for us
All of them were wearing caps

Oh it was for a parade,
Real republic parade
Faint down some of us
Teachers run pillar to post
Cops said usual it was
Tug of war with scorching sun
Moving ahead, march-past
Eyes rolled, colours blinked
When I opened eyes again
Mum and dad weeping beside
Nursing aunties smiling me.