Ballad - Allama Bi.

Once in my early childhood, My father to show his brood, Took me to his mother's house, Laden with oxen and cows. Seeing the love of grandmother, I refused to go back with father. My father's sister visited with her son, And a dear friend I really won. By her love, he too quit his parents, And both stayed with grandparents. We stayed for one and a half year, Without hesitation and fear. She woke up early in the morning, And gave us a mild warning. Performed prayers and fed the cows, And then woke us to sweep the house. She gave us bath, dressed and fed, Told stories and lullaby at bed. Truly a grandmother loves grandchildren, And at any cost, they are not a burden. If we were not fed in time, To her, it was a great crime. She asked us several times in worry, If we ate or felt hungry. She took us to her friend's place, And said words in our praise. Experiencing her love and affection, We both forgot our parent's attention. My grandfather had bought a farm, To make his wealth healthy and warm. We both went to school at village, And were in classes of our age. At weekends we visited the farm, With lunch boxes in our arm. We would spend the whole day, And in evening, walk the return way. In our farm, was a well, big and deep, For the crops to irrigate and reap. Once on an ill fated day, To the farm, we took the way. I started playing alone near the well, To my cousin, the well seemed a hell. My granny gave a warning bell, Not to approach and play near the well. She told me with a shout, If I fell, wouldn't pull me out. She then disappeared into the crops, And I approached the well with hops. I slipped and fell into the well, Where water striders and frogs did dwell. I shook my hands and legs as fast I could, Such a struggle I hadn't done in my childhood. To call my granny, my cousin hurried, And granny came totally worried. Granny sent cousin to call farm servant, To run fast and be urgent. My struggle slowed down, And I began to drown. Grandmother stretched and bent and bent, That was what I saw till I went. I sank downwards to unconciousness, And experienced death in nearness. When eyes were open with cleared vision, I saw myself with servant and cousin. But grandmother....................! ! Where..............................? ? Granny had showered her final love, Shaking the throne of God above. Till today in India, Karnataka, town Almel, The well is called Allama bi well.