New reply from Susan Katz
<p>I will try to get to it tomorrow morning. I've had some issues with my technical teams – due to illness, so things are a little backed up. Thank you so much for understanding. – Susan</p>
https://poetladykatz.com/poetry-talk/happy-diwali
Original Post by Riya Jaiswal
Happy Diwali
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>A little girl</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>shining brown skin</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>hands outstretched, clenching metal coins.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>She wanted 'parle kiss me'</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>the shop-keeper busied himself.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>She stood there in silence</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>metal coins clattering in her fist,</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>her chestnut almond eyes met mine,</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>small face wandering with tight lips.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I held her gaze, locked in mine;</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>smiled and waved her a 'hii'.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Her innocent eyes flickered </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and returned me a wave.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I must say she looked more beautiful</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>with that contrast of white teeth</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>on her bronze face.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Both of us gleamed when I said,</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>"Happy Diwali"</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>That cute lil stranger wished </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>me back in full delight</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and that's how this story ends</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>with that girl unwrapping her sweet </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>bouncing away from the shop</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and I sat back thinking</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>somebody smiled because of me,</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>how better this festive day can be?</em></p>