House

The house is not itself
At rush hour
When the little one
Leaves for school
Half-awake
Half-fed
Half-dressed
But armed with a knapsack
Crammed with alphabets, numerals
Crayons and cartoon characters
Even a diminutive teddy sneaked in
Amid all the hullabaloo,
Besides a lunch bag carrying
Dry food and a fancy water bottle -----
The house is not itself
When she returns
Whooping like a warrior
Who has had the best of war
With only her shoelaces missing.