The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde

A high-pitched squeal interspersed by menacing, deep-throated growls rend the quiet of the night. People I have never spoken to or even seen come out of their houses and rush towards where I’m sitting on the edge of a fence so I don’t lose my balance. ‘Are you OK?’’ they ask from a safe distance.

The Angel with the Too Tight Halo

It was the night before the pre-school Christmas performance, The Sleepy Shepherd.  Little Gita fingered her silver wings, reluctant to go to bed.  ‘You’ll break them before the play even begins,’ said her big brother Milaan. Gita’s lower lip quivered.  ‘Mum,’ she wailed. Mum hugged her and said, ‘You need to go to bed.  Otherwise

Piquant Poetry

Playgrounds are silent Clouds of yellow butterflies New lives emerging. ********************** Caterwauling cats My peacefully snoring dogs Are canine cannons. ********************** Bats squeal, possums snarl Ripe guavas scent the air Squishing underfoot. ********************** Bats and bananas Silence of wind ruffled leaves Red flower dangling.

Mother’s Day Through the Ages

Modern Mother’s Day celebrations arouse mixed feelings. Some regard it as a fitting tribute to mothers, others as another money-spinning celebration emanating from the United States.   However, various religions have long celebrated their own forms of Mother’s Day. The Nepalese celebrate Mata Tirtha Aunshi or “Mother Pilgrimage fortnight”, in Baisakh (April/May) where mothers are

When ANZACS Dunked Chapattis not just biscuits

 “Sing me to sleep, the bullets fall Let me forget the war & all Damp is my dugout, cold is my feet Nothing but biscuits & bully to eat. “ Popular soldier’s song, circa 1918, recorded in the diary of Archie A. Barwick.  “The Digger sniffed the savoury Sikh curry, and longed to taste it, but it was no

‘English as she is spoke in Australia and India’

Moving from one outpost of the British Empire to another has provided interesting experiences  in working out what’s similar and what’s different. As a writer, my particular interest has been ‘English as she is spoke’ in the two countries. My Australian-born, Australian-raised husband said I should abandon ‘thrice’ which is commonly used by Indians but