BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

ABOUT THE POEM:

The poem conveys a message about the roles of men and women in life, emphasizing the importance of work for men and  nurturing the family  the prime duty and nature of women. The speaker suggests that men find purpose in their work, while women bring love and warmth to the home. The friend consoles the woman who is feeling sad with an emphatic reassurance that her lover will desist from leaving her and assuages her fear of separation from her beloved husband.

CONJUGAL SYMPHONY

He spoke these words, wise and kind:

"Work is the breath of men's days,

While women weave love's gentle ways,

Their hearts heave forever homeward.

Wipe your tears, dear friend of mine.

His thoughts will turn, his heart will sway,

For love's embrace will make him stay.

So fret not, dear companion.

No longer will he seek his way,

For he shall soon revise,

From parting and I surmise,

And cease his wayward ploy.

(The poem is in the words of a girl's friend who assuages her fear of separation from her beloved husband and assures her that he will never leave in the lurch)

PRACTICE:

TONGUE TWISTERS

I cannot bear to see a bear

Bear down upon a hare.

When bare of hair he strips the hare,

Right there I cry, "Forbear!"

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck

if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

He would chuck, he would, as much as he could,

and chuck as much wood as a woodchuck would

if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

ABOUT THE POEM:

The poem captures the girl’s profound sadness over the departure of a friend who only stayed for a single day. The girl has been grieving for seven days, feeling her emotions slowly melt away like wax consumed by fire. Despite the brevity of the friendship, the impact it had on the speaker is evident in the ongoing sorrow. Ultimately, the poem explores the ephemeral nature of friendships while highlighting the power of finding solace in sorrow by sharing with a friend. 

Comparing one's sorrow to melting wax can be seen as a poetic or metaphorical way to describe the nature of sorrow. Here's an interpretation of how one's sorrow can be likened to melting wax. Melting wax is fluid and shapeless, losing its defined form. In the same way, sorrow can feel overwhelming and chaotic. It implies that sorrow has the potential to engulf and consume a person and make them feel emotionally unstable.

TRANSIENT HEART'S ECHO

A fleeting friend, 

but in our home he stayed,

For just a day, 

my heart in sorrow swayed.

Since that brief encounter, 

tears freely flow,

Seven days of weeping, 

my anguish overflow.

Like wax on fire, 

my own self slowly melts,

In grief's embrace, 

my spirit deeply dwells.

TONGUE TWISTER

It is a phrase or sentence which is hard to speak fast, usually because of alliteration or a sequence of nearly similar sounds. It helps develop speech skills & helps in speech therapy. 

To get the full effect of a tongue twister you should try to repeat it several times, as quickly as possible

TONGUE TWISTER 1

She sells seashells by the seashore.

The shells she sells are surely seashells.

So if she sells shells on the seashore,

I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers?

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,

where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked

COMMUNICATION GAP - A FUNNY ANECDOTE

Finally, the little boy wanted to know where to write all this because a small column is provided. Then the little boy showed his dad the Cricket registration form. The father was shocked beyond words. There was a tremendous communication gap between the dad and the child. Both the transmitter, the boy and the receiver, the dad were at fault. The child should have at least bothered to show the cricket registration form and asked his dad what to write in this column under sex and the dad as a receiver on his part should have checked once or twice what on earth made the boy ask him about sex. If the dad would have checked it he need not have spent his precious half an hour explaining all about Biology, reproduction, Adam and Eve story.

Dear Listeners,

ABOUT THE POEM:

In this poem, a young woman expresses her profound devotion to her beloved to her dear friend. She compares the beauty of their love to the enchanting sight of the moon reflecting upon the sea and the ethereal waterfalls cascading down majestic mountains. She sees her lover as a radiant sun and her own shoulders as graceful as nerunji flowers. With unwavering affection, she confides in her friend about the depth of her feelings, emphasizing the eternal nature of their love story, which transcends boundaries and flourishes under the vast expanse of the sky.

ROMANCE: EVERYDAY'S GOLDEN HAZE

STANZA I

In twilight's embrace, behold the moon's grace,

Glimmers mirrored in the sea, a celestial chase.

Cascades of silver, from lofty peaks they flow,

In my lover's land, where my heart's love does grow.

STANZA II

He, a radiant sun, illuminates my days,

And in my tender arms, passion's fire ablaze.

Like nerunji flowers, my limbs bloom and entwine,

In devotion's embrace, our love intertwines.

STANZA III

These words I confide to you, my dearest friend,

My heart's devotion, a tale that shall not end.

For in my beloved's arms, my spirit soars high,

A love story written beneath an endless sky.

( what the girl confessed to her friend about her loyalty to her lover )

 HEALTH AND FITNESS - EXERCISE PART SIX

sweat: The physical process of perspiring or excreting moisture from the pores of the skin, usually as a result of physical exertion, elevated body temperature or emotional stress.

Tabata™: Tabata is a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout method developed by Japanese scientist Dr. Izumi Tabata. It consists of short bursts of

tone: To improve the firmness, definition or strength of muscles, usually through targeted exercises. It often refers to achieving a lean and sculpted appearance by reducing body fat and increasing muscle definition.

tonify: To strengthen or invigorate the body or a specific area, typically through exercise or physical activity. It is often used in the context of improving muscle tone, vitality or overall health.

train: To engage in systematic physical exercises, workouts or activities with the aim of improving physical fitness, enhancing performance, developing skills or achieving specific goals. Training often involves structured routines, progressive challenges and adherence to a plan or program.

treadmill: A stationary exercise machine consisting of a continuous moving platform or belt that allows a person to walk, jog or run in place. Treadmills provide a controlled environment for cardiovascular exercise and are commonly used for indoor running or walking workouts.

walk: The act of moving on foot at a moderate pace, typically by taking regular steps using both feet. Walking is a form of aerobic exercise that can be done outdoors or indoors and is often considered a low-impact activity suitable for people of various fitness levels.

walker: A person who engages in walking as a form of exercise or as a means of transportation. It can also refer to a device such as a walking frame or rollator used by individuals with mobility issues to assist their walking.

walking: The activity or action of moving on foot by taking steps in a leisurely or purposeful manner. Walking is a fundamental human movement and can be done for various reasons including exercise, commuting, leisure or exploration.

warm-up: A period of preparatory exercises or activities performed before engaging in more intense physical exertion. Warm-up routines typically aim to increase body temperature, improve circulation, loosen muscles and mentally prepare individuals for upcoming physical activity.

work out (phrasal verb): To engage in physical exercise or activity with the purpose of improving fitness, health or athletic performance. Working out can involve various forms of exercise such as strength training, cardiovascular workouts, flexibility exercises or a combination of these.

workout(noun): A session or period of physical exercise or activity often involving a combination of different exercises or training modalities. Workouts are designed to promote fitness, build strength, enhance endurance, improve flexibility or achieve specific fitness goals.

ABOUT THE POEM:

The essence of the poem FORSAKEN FLEETING VOWS, a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature lies in the tender affection and promise shared between two lovers. The lover adores the flowing hair of the beloved, expressing a deep attachment. He assures her that when she attains maturity, she will become a cherished presence in his home. The lover hails from the hills. Akin to a hunter who unexpectedly unearths a precious gem while searching for a livelihood the boy meets her. However, the current whereabouts of the lover remains unknown, leaving a sense of mystery and longing in the girl’s heart. These words were spoken by the girl's companion to her while the girl's parents were unintentionally listening.

FORSAKEN FLEETING VOWS

Oh, the tale of a love so tender,

Where vows were made to never surrender.

His gentle touch graced each strand of hair,

As he pledged his love, so pure and rare.

He spoke of a future yet to unfold,

When maturity would turn her heart bold.

In his home, he promised she'd reside,

Adorned by her beauty, his eternal pride.

But fate's hand played a cruel decree,

For he hailed from hills, a distant plea.

A hunter seeking gems, precious and bright,

Lost in the depths of time's fading light.

His whereabouts now a mystery unknown,

Leaving his love to face the world alone.

In the tapestry of time, he's left behind,

Leaving her heart and soul entwined.

Yet, the memory of his touch remains,

A bittersweet reminder that forever stains.

Though his presence may be lost in time,

His love's imprint lingers, sublime.

She walks this path with strength and grace,

Embracing life's challenges she must face.

For even in absence, love's flame still burns,

And in her heart, his memory churns.

(The poem is all about the fleeting vows of the lover, spoken by the girl's companion to her while the girl's parents were unintentionally listening)

HEALTH AND FITNESS - EXERCISE PART FIVE

push-up: A type of exercise where a person lies facing the ground and pushes their body up using their arms, primarily targeting the chest, shoulders and triceps.

regimen: A prescribed set of activities, exercises or behaviors followed regularly to achieve a specific goal, often related to health or fitness.

rep: Short for repetition, it refers to the completion of a single movement or exercise in a set. In fitness, it typically represents one complete cycle of exercise.

run: The act of moving swiftly or quickly on foot, typically involving a continuous and rapid movement of the legs.

short-winded: Describes a state of breathlessness or lacking endurance during physical exertion, often resulting from a lack of cardiovascular fitness.

sit-up: An exercise in which a person lies on their back, bends their knees and lifts their torso off the ground using their abdominal muscles.

spinning: A form of indoor cycling exercise that involves riding a stationary bike while following a structured routine led by an instructor.

squat thrust: A compound exercise that involves squatting down, placing hands on the floor, kicking the legs backward into a plank position and then returning to the squatting position.

stamina: The ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort; endurance and resilience.

step: In the context of exercise, it refers to a movement where a person raises their foot and places it back down, often used in aerobic routines or stair climbing exercises.

strenuous: Demanding great effort, energy or exertion; characterized by vigorous physical activity or mental strain.

stretch: To extend or lengthen one's body or body parts, usually muscles in order to improve flexibility, increase range of motion or prepare for physical activity.

ABOUT THE POEM:

The poem speaks about the notion that marriages are predetermined and questions our ability to judge the worthiness of a groom and the soothsayer’s premonition of the proposed marriage. It portrays a daughter who defies the predictions of a fortune teller and ponders her choice of the groom while gazing at the blue lilies of spring with a heavy heart and shedding tears copiously. In this exquisite poem, the girl's companion assures the foster mother that the girl’s choice of the groom is right emphasizing that marriages are divinely ordained and human interventions cannot alter the path of one's union.

“MARRIAGES ARE MADE IN HEAVEN”

In the realm of matrimony, fate's decree is spun,

Who are we to appraise the groom's quality, weighed by none?

The seer's wisdom, scorned and disregarded,

Behold, your daughter lingers, absorbed and unguarded,

Amidst the azure blossoms, spring's delicate cue,

A burdened soul, tear-streaked eyes, disheartened and blue.

Her selection, not astray, a free-spirited flow,

With great poise and grace, her choice doth glow.

(The poem is a bold statement conveyed by the girl's companion to the foster mother who harbored doubts about the girl’s predicament and prospects of marriage)