Kind of quirky, a tad controversial, a little whimsical and chockfull of farce
Author: Mahvash K. M.
I consider myself somewhat of a serial corporate rut absconder because a sabbatical that was to last a year, has turned to eight, and I still see no end in sight. Before that, I worked in the Financial Services Industry. When I’m not writing, I’m fussing in my head, over ideologies of social justice and equality, with superhero twists! My stories and poems have appeared in The Rumen, Sequoia Speaks, Recesses, Every Day Fiction, Blaze Vox and Double Speak magazines. My poem, “Veins” was long listed in the Plough 2023 poetry competition.
Books:
The Girl with the Paisley Dupatta - (short stories)
Shimmering Scraps of Poetry and Madness - (Poetry and essays)
Curious Animals and Quirky Creatures - (Children’s Series)
https://www.facebook.com/Mahvash.Moht/
I have lost the rituals Of faith. But my devotion has Become stronger. I no longer Am afraid or confused by questions that Whirl around in my head Never to be brought into existence Their very substance damning Pounding, hammering a path to (h)elsewhere I now wear a cloak around My shoulders. It holds a super power A texture all its own. When I’m alone It reminds me of who I am It fosters my introspection It champions who I want to be And then I feel No other burden of pretense Or suspense No fear of consequence For being so much more And ritualizing less I have no dire need to find my Hallowed steed to gallop on with Me holding on, bound for paradise This life, this blessed life is mine To treat with such passion Such tenderness, that earth Our beautiful earth Itself becomes the Eden I seek My paradise is under my own feet.
Where are you going my little one With your hands full of summer flowers? Why do you have that smile on your lips? Why do your eyes shine like stars?
I’m coaxing with play the Summer away She’s never ever happy to leave She’ll pout and she’ll wallow, go all shades of yellow She’ll moult in the throes of grief
But when I pick up her bloom-strewn dresses And laughingly whisk them away She follows along singing a song And her sister takes up the reign
I’m the whisper of the breeze flowing in the trees I’m the drops of morning dew I’m the patter of rain on sun-kissed earth I’m her fragrance as she breathes anew
I’m the usher of times, of blossoms and snow I’m the forger of grand season farewells I’m the music and cadence, the rhythm of life I ring all its wistful and joyful bells.
It was so, that palpitations on the go Were what this brew Bestowed on me willy nilly Everytime I put a mug of it To my lips and took a sip
That cup-o-java treacherous
Time took its stride, I began to write And the gentle infusions Of earl grey tea and BOP Just lost the zing they brought to things Robot, human and alien
As onto joe I transitioned
Now I’m somewhat of a connoisseur Of the brew, and what have you I cringe when it is less than perfect My taste buds scream at every defect In a mug or cup or a takeaway
That I encounter through my days
I tell this story because today Is alas one of those days Where my joe, is a little slow In bewitching my senses as I conjecture Its milky hue and grainy texture Grounds afloat like demon specters No soulful brew, no gods’ nectar The stuff of theses, TEDx lectures I could go on, but suffice to say
Wars rage across the globe Black tender weaponized, legalized, expedited Back into western folds Pockets lined with silver and gold
And the rain falls
Billionaires wearing t-shirts and jeans Their assets splitting at the seams Go to the moon To float around in zero gravity With their mugs of civet coffee
And the rain falls
Priests and rabbis and the clergy Preach from pulpits blood-streaked With people sacrificed, ostracized, cast aside As God is their witness, we all see
And the rain falls
A woman takes in an elder drenched In torrents that wrenched The next meal and rent From his shaking hands He cries without a sound His tears surge into the floods Rolling down Crimson-hued carrying blood From the mountains to the sea As the country drowns.
Come young one, let me tell you today An important little story All of us people, we live together In what we call a Community
We each also have what we call Feelings Some of them are happy ones Like joy and laughter and excitement Of beating hearts full of love
There are other feelings that don’t feel so great Like being unhappy and wanting to cry Of feeling angry, wanting to throw tantrums Or being filled with big sad sighs
These are emotions and they make us human But there’s a magic in all of it No matter how you are feeling You can give or receive your bit
There will be times when you just feel Kind of low and kind of sad What you want then most of all Is for someone to understand
Sometimes that sadness is deep inside Other people can’t see it that well And when someone is nice and kind to you Your day can transform itself
That is why it is so important To mind your Ps and your Qs Saying “please can you pass that ball” With a smile saying, “thank you!”
You could have just brightened the day Of a person who was sad inside Your kindness, politeness in talking to them Made their grey clouds go and hide
Gratitude is like a seed It grows when it is shared Saying thank you for all the little things Shows that you truly care
Waiting your turn patiently When you are playing a game Being nice, ready to apologize When you have made a mistake
Respecting others’ bodies and space Saying “excuse me” when someone’s in your way Reminding yourself to be quiet and calm Instead of shoving them away
Before you start using or playing With someone else’s things It is always nice to be polite And ask for their permission
A “please” can open any door Much more than force or frown It shows respect and gentleness A “please” ever lets you down
From teachers, friends, to Mom and Dad To strangers in the store Your manners say: I see your heart I respect you for who you are
Being helpful at home, at school and indeed In your neighbourhood too Makes all of the people you talk to and meet Like being around you
When you’re grateful and kind to people In our world of green and blue All those positive acts, find their way back To their special source, that’s you
So be nice, be polite and on days my dear That you’re feeling sad and low There will be someone who with their kindness Will make you smile and glow.
Maria had just come into the house She had been playing outside The lovely smile that always lit up her face Had decided to go and hide
Maria hugged her Mama close Her Mama kissed her on her head Come here darling sit with me Why do you look upset?
Standing near our fence outside There was a man I just saw He was looking at me while I played I didn’t feel like playing anymore
Maria’s Mama went to the window She stood there for a bit Then she came back and sat down Darling he’s gone she said
That uncomfortable feeling that you just had It is called In-tu-ition It is when something inside you says This is a not a good situation
You trusted the little feeling inside That was a clever and safe thing to do When there could be danger around That feeling will oftentimes warn you
Now is a good time to also tell you Of a few other important things These are Golden Rules to remember So you always stay safe my darling
Don’t ever go up or talk to strangers Don’t take anything they may offer Chocolates or candies even when they say They’ve got puppies in their car
Like a smart child you have memorized Your home address and phone numbers Of Mom and Dad and you also have Grandma’s mobile phone number
Don’t ever go wandering alone dearest one If you’re on a trip from school Always make sure your teacher is there Stay close, stay with the group
If ever you think that you are lost Stay exactly where you are Ask for help from someone working in a store Or if you see one, a police officer
Also my darling never ever Let a stranger get close or touch you You will say a big, loud NO! If they try to pick you up or hug you
Don’t touch electrics in the walls Don’t touch fire or matches or lighters Never take any medicine without first asking Mom and Dad or your teacher
These are Golden Rules to remember To keep you protected and safe And always, always talk to me my dear If you feel uncomfortable or afraid
Our world is big and beautiful and bright But there are also dangers outside These Golden Rules will keep you safe Wherever you may be my darling child.
Babur came from school one day With a thoughtful look he said Dad, what would you do if you saw A different kind of a kid?
Babur’s dad had his glasses on The wise-owl ones with strings He wore them to read the paper and also When he talked of important things
He pushed his glasses up his nose They were big and framed in black He smiled, took a sip of tea Come here son, let’s have a chat
Now tell me what you mean When you say a different child? Did he scribble on the walls Did he run around all wild?
No, no Dad said Babur He couldn’t stop laughing We both know that most kids do Those naughty-fun things
This kid was in a wheelchair And he couldn’t move his legs at all In the break, he sat alone While the rest of us played ball
I wanted to go and talk to him But I didn’t know what to say So I played the game, then had my lunch From him, we all stayed away
Darling son, everyone is born different Some of those differences we can’t see Others are more visible but they need not Make one ill at ease
There are people everywhere Who live with a disability Some with one, some with more Real heroes in our society
When you see someone who looks Different from what you are used to Use the golden rule - Treat them As you would, they treat you
That just means showing empathy Putting yourself in their shoes Then thinking of how you would want others To see and talk to you
Kindness and openness are both Important attributes And another rule of thumb my dear Is to just in fact be YOU!
A boy may speak a little slow Or need some time before he goes Be patient, wait and he will share His thoughts and you will know
A girl might flap her hands with glee It helps her feel just right She dances like a bumblebee A joyful, buzzing sight
Some kids don’t like a crowded space It makes them feel unsure A gentle smile, a friendly face Can help them feel secure
We all like games and fun and play But some might join in late If someone plays a different way Just let them find their pace
In every mind a garden grows With thoughts like seeds that bloom Just give them time and you will see Their ideas fill the room
So if you feel like saying hello To the new boy in your school Just go up to him and introduce yourself That’s another golden rule
Don’t lean on his chair or talk from above Try to put yourself at his eye level These are little graces to make The other person feel comfortable
Babur and his dad had that chat Over a month ago Babur and Adam are now friends Adam is an ace at Lego!
The boys have their lunches together They’ve even been to the seaside There they won the Best Sand Castle award Adam and Babur both glowed with pride
The beauty of our wonderful world Lies in its people, 8 billion of them Each one different, each one unique Each one a potential friend
Wheelchairs and white canes, crutches and hearing aids They are all just helpful means The people who use them are full of life Just like you and me
Don’t be afraid of differences on the outside Go kindly into the world People are like jewels, precious and bright Some are like silver, others like gold.
Zenia said to her mother one day I want the robot doll that sings See! She also skips and nods and smiles She can even hear the doorbell ring
She can skip and sing, and hear the doorbell ring? She really does sound like a gem! But my darling, you will have to save To add Jemima to your collection
Let’s do this, we’ll go to the store And get you a nice little money bank I’ll start you off with twenty dollars In your brand new savings plan
Let’s put up a Vision Board in your room You can write on it of things That you want to get for yourself Let’s give your lovely dreams some wings
Dad and I will also help you dear one On us you can depend To give you pocket money every month Some to save and some to spend
And so began a brand new adventure As Zenia learnt the art Of how to manage her pocket money To get the things close to her heart
Five months later, she had saved enough To buy the singing robot doll She had also added another thing To her fabulous vision board …
Her best friend Amy’s birthday was Coming up in the month of June Zenia said that to buy Amy’s present Half the money she would con-tri-bute
Her piggy bank had filled and filled With pocket money and birthday gifts She now also enjoyed doing chores For which she was rewarded
For putting away all of her toys Keeping her room tidy and clean Folding her clothes, putting away her books Polishing her shoes to a gleam
For every 10 that she saved up Her parents also put in a 10 This teamwork made her piggy bank swell Three, four times, again and again
By her tenth birthday Zenia had Her very own bank account Her mom would take her to the bank Where she deposited her saved amount
Zenia’s vision board now blooms with things That she wants to get for herself It also has a special section For gifts that she gifts her friends
You too can learn to be clever and wise By learning how to save and spend To make your special dreams come true To also be a generous friend
Start today, make your dream list And get your very first money bank In your savings and spending adventure The world is an oyster in your hand.
Books number 3 and 4 of The Healing Series are now on the shelves in bookstores across Sri Lanka. This series serves as a conversation starter with children aged 6 to 10, on the below incidences of trauma and stress in their young lives:
The loss of a parent
Parents’ separation
Being bullied
Becoming an older sibling to a new brother or sister
Every story in this collection gently holds the child’s hand and helps them navigate the confusing, painful and daunting times that they find themselves in.
In our beautiful but imperfect world, I hope that these books through the magic of story-telling in the safe haven of home and family, help to protect and nurture the mental and emotional wellbeing of our children 🌸.
IN PAKISTAN: The books will be available at Liberty Books, Paramount Books and the London Book Company by the end of September 2025.
How long has it gone on for? I have lost count of the days and the months And the number of times Facts and fiction have been combined Made to stand hand in hand By the gentiles that stain these lands Caricaturizing, miming scenes Of zealotry and genocide
I have lost count Of the number of hospitals bombed Ruins atop tunnels where the Khamas abound And the aid workers killed Unidentified dangrerous women and men And the journalists sniped With their arsenal of 1984 daggers and knives And the doctors shot With nitroglycerin bombs hidden in their surgical gowns And the men raped in prisons With propagandist lore stuffed up their intestines And the women maimed Their bellies heavy with terrorist babes And the children killed Starved and stilled Their sinful blood spilled On the promised land
How long before this evil doth cease How long before the chosen ones can finally live in peace?
Blamed again and again for massacres We have no clue of, our proxy war Of 40 years ago is still biting us in the bum ‘Fo-Fum - this beast at least Does not have the bite of the ‘other-man’ With its depraved ideology Hijacking faith and humanity Bankrolling them into human bombs Boom! There goes another one Creating martyrs of civilians We protest, we didn’t do it They say we did, you see Another ethos, dark and evil has floated in upon the sea And so they insist it is us Nurturing terrorists underground and above Guns blazing, egos inflating Up up to the constellation Of ISRO satellites
But what is this?
3, 4, 5, 6 jets down - not ours We shook them right out of their stars - their 5 out of 5 on Amazon Now they’re raging like bulls in a ring We’re meme-ing and gif-ing like comedy kings I’m laughing at both A little harder at the misplaced ire Full of apocalyptic brimstone and fire
But here it is
War is not what any of us need Good sense, forebearance, lucidity Is the need of the hour and I want to believe In this ideology even as I Pin a little pin of green and white Crescent moon and star shining bright Onto my beating heart full of pride
Because when all’s said and done
Between neighbours who live side by side Sharing a culture old as time Huddled albeit over our nuclear buttons War really is just not an option.
I’m happy to introduce my new Healing Series for children ages 6 to 10. This has been a labour of love and grew into the current 4-book series when friends and family spoke of a vacuum in the children’s literature space – there were very few books which allowed painful, stressful events in the child’s life to be softened in the gentle flow of story-telling.
The Healing Series includes coping with:
Bullying
Suddenly becoming an older sibling to a new brother or sister
The loss of a parent (will be in stores in May 2025)
Parents’ separation (will be in stores in May 2025)
Traumatic experiences can initiate strong emotions and physical reactions that can persist long after the event. Children may feel terror, helplessness, agitation or fear as well as physiological reactions such as heart pounding, vomiting, or loss of bowel or bladder control. It is critical to identify when a child is feeling deep seated discomfort which they are not able to verbalize. Other overt behavioural signs and symptoms include acting out or withdrawing, nightmares, physical ailments, difficulty concentrating, clingy/separation anxiety, crying frequently, self destructive behaviour, academic struggles and loss of appetite. These are the most common, but the whole gamut of emotional and behavioral symptoms can be wide and varied. Basically, any behaviour that is not normal for the child should be considered a signal for help.
Consider these books, then, as a way of starting conversations with your child about events and circumstance that may be distressing them. Every story in this collection gently holds the child’s hand and helps them navigate the confusing, painful and daunting times that they find themselves in.
In our beautiful but imperfect world, I hope that these books through the magic of story-telling in the safe haven of home and family, help to protect and nurture the mental and emotional wellbeing of our children 🌸.
SRI LANKA: The books are currently available in most bookstores across the island PAKISTAN: The books will be available at Liberty Books, Paramount Books and the London Book Company in a couple of months. KOBO: Will be available on KOBO by the end of April 2025.
Mahvash Mohtadullah 