Moonlight Dinner

The vast black sky domed over us like a gigantic umbrella,

Each one of the gazillion twinkling stars danced like a beautiful Bella.

The perfectly round moon was in her full splendor,

Filling one-half of the earth with her bright, beautiful aura.

We sat in a circle laughing and talking in bouts,

Our open palms  stretched out,

For balls of curried rice, my mother delivered,

The wholesome flavors we happily devoured. 

This seance-like scene was routine in my childhood,

Called “nila choru,” dinner was often under the moonlight.

There was no glamour or gourmet food to make us bright,

A simple ball of flavourful curried rice was more than good!

Our home was small and simple,

But the joys in it were more than ample,

We thought we’d be happier with more money,

But those days were the best, as sweet as honey.