Plunged into br The darkness of despair, br Of aloneness, deadlines, and distress; br br Shoved into br The rat race br For material wealth; br br Everything else br Has lost br Its meaning. br br br br Walking barefoot br On the wet grass br Hand-in-hand; br br The rising sun, br The morning mist, br The cock’s clarion call; br br The colourful butterflies; br The fluttering of br Their velvety wings; br br The myriad leaves br Dropping from br The autumn trees; br br Everything br Has lost br Its meaning. br br br br The chuckles br Of an infant, br Its tiny hands; br br br br The smiling face br Of a child br When he sees the candy-man; br br The sheer joy br Of the first br Bicycle ride; br br The family get-togethers, br The weekend outings br To the neighbourhood park; br br The hilarious jokes, br The mischievous pranks, br Pulling each other’s legs; br br The fun and frolic, br The carefree laughter, br Life’s little pleasures; br br Everything br Has lost br Its meaning. br br br br Togetherness, Happiness, br Time to Spare br Have become rare commodities. br br br br br br br 31st October 2006 br 12.