The Astronomer

I only said, “When in the evening the round full moon gets entangled among the branches of that Kadam tree, couldn't somebody catch it?”

But dada [elder brother] laughed at me and said, “Baby, you are the silliest child I have ever known. The moon is ever so far from us, how could anybody catch it?”

I said, “Dada how foolish you are!

When mother looks out of her window and smiles down at us playing, would you call her far away?”

Still said, “You are a stupid child! But,baby, where could you find a net big enough to catch the moon with?”

I said, “Surely you could catch it with your hands.”

But dada laughed and said, “You are the silliest child I have known. If it came nearer, you would see how big the moon is.”

I said, “Dada, what nonsense they teach at your school! When mother bends her face down to kiss us does her face look very big?”

But still dada says, “You are a stupid child.”