There's a cow in the yard

(Based on Mexican folk tale by Ananya Das)

There’s a cow in the yard
Said the dog with a shout
The cat said Oh no!
We have to get her out

The dog barked really loud
And the crow gave a peck
The silly horse pranced around
With bells round his neck

But the cow was not scared
And said with a smile
I am here for the grass
And plan to stay a while

Suddenly there was a buzz
And a tiny little speck
Flew in from somewhere
And bit her on the neck

The cow gave a loud cry
Ooh something bit me
Everyone looked and saw
The busy little bee!

The cow ran away in pain
Could hear her as she wailed
A tiny bee did it all
As the big animals failed

No matter how small you are
Try hard and you’ll see
You will do big things
Like the tiny little bee

The Runaways

Indrasekhar

The school bus zoomed past
Jupiter’s eye
The Mars was almost passing by.
From the bus, both Sam and Rip
Could see the floating stadium ship.
It floated like a giant ball
The flaring jets rose bright and tall
A banner read in letters big—
“Nineteenth planetary Soccer League”
Sam put on a suit and so did Rip
Then held the pocket flare’s grip
A small hatch opened on the floor
They flew out through the fire door.

****

The place was shining, bright and gay,
The match was just an hour away
The sky was full of funny rides
They took some scary worm hole slides
And ate some chocolate Neptune made
(The skin is white, the core is red)
Then, hand in hand they floated in
To watch the opening match begin.
The players flew in, trim and smart
The Earth-Mars match was going to start
A man flew up to Sam and Rip
And held them tight in iron grip
And shouted, ‘You brats, how you dare
To sneak from the bus and land up here?
‘You gave your mom a nasty fright
She thought you are lost but I was right
I came straight here to look for you
Your pranks to me are nothing new.
Now be good boys and come with me
Straight to home and you will see!!’
The cab rose straight and spread its sails
And sped on shining laser rails

Earth drew close—big, blue and bright
They dropped through a moonlit
autumn night.
Then Sam turned left and sobbed ‘I won’t
Love you again.’
His dad snapped, ‘ Don’t!’