Veruschka Pandey, Class 8, The International School Bangalore (TISB), Bengaluru
I ambled through the lonely, quiet corridors Which once bustled with laughter, stories and lores “Hush” teachers said But now, someone please utter a word, call someone, get first aid. My childhood’s dead. I climbed up the stairs lifeless and slow When once I climbed up to catch the yellow bus, catching up to the flow “you’ll trip” teachers said But now, someone please push me, call someone, get first aid. My childhood’s dead. I walked up the silent halls to find each teacher in their place Memories were fresh as the new phase Began ecstatic, to find her trace I ran up to her office, to find no face The one being who was my sole purpose wasn’t present. What a case. She told me to not trip and to tie up my shoelace I despised it, yet now I beg to hear that voice. But none came. Over were the days. Nobody told me to tie my shoelace.