Swimming and other poems by Akil Contractor

Swimming
At first, I tried with hoping and with wishing
no further effort geared to accomplishing
the thought  that I would need to move or hustle
the stress to mind if forced to flex a muscle
i made a start with simple floating lessons
sans tube and things just dunking breathing sessions
then tried  to drift about just like a whale
attempt a buoyancy that should not fail
when warmed enough and free from apprehensions  
by giving to the body fresh attention
I swam towards the deep end of the pool
by pulling in the water I can pull.
With swimming strokes to help me get across
mainly freestyle and the front crawl style of course
the butterfly and breast stroke would I ever
the trudgeon I would like to but could never!
My effort’s on with inhaling exhaling
my underwater feats are not plain sailing –
the prospects of evolution have got me talking
I am swimming now so fish should soon be walking!

A stitch in time
A stitch in time may save you nine
but do you know your stitches
like catch stitch , back stitch, slip stitch
the fly stitch and hem stitches .
A needle must go in and out
inserting threads to stay
for patterns on your fabric
to place them as you may .
Now coming back to the strength of stitch
the kind that saves you nine
you have a choice of forty
and seven more in line
the strongest stitch you sew by hand
the backstitch is the best
Google says this wonder stitch
Is better than the best.
No matter how our lives may turn
we always can repair
a good stitch helps to lighten up
the high risk of a tear.

Devolution
Resolved, the Buddha made his find
secured his fig-tree edification  below
the tree, and since then
we have wrested the sacred figs combined
with leaves, and struck a sufficient axe-blow
at the trunk – to our satisfaction.
Residing in Mumbai, Akil Contractor is a poet with a strong affiliation with the Poetry Circle Mumbai as one of its founding members. He has authored three poetry collections: "AFTER KALINGA AND OTHER POEMS," "SPIRIT SONG -VERSE," and "RHYMIN VERSES." Alongside his literary pursuits, Akil is professionally engaged in the production of printing inks and coatings.

Swimming and other poems by Akil Contractor