Half Asleep

By Seema Jha

"The poet Seema Jha was born in India and moved to England later. Prior to writing this book, she had her first book of poetry published
called, 'Of Mauves and Oranges.' Her second book of poetry was called, 'Autumn Leaves' and was published by AuthorHouse. Her third book, a novel, called 'Curry and Kisses' was also published by AuthorHouse. Her husband is a Consultant Psychiatrist and she has a son. They live in Boston, Lincolnshire, UK."

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jan 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781467881951

Seema Jha

Seema Jha is a prolific novelist who lives in Boston, Lincolnshire, UK with her husband and their son.

Book preview

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

An Apple

Cold Cream

Sinks

Departure

Couple

Housewife

Gentle

Thanks Anyway

Understanding

Clouds

Banana

Map

Teenager

Plate

Nancy

Half Asleep

A girl says

Star

Grape

Treadmill

Gardening

Sensible

Top

Perfect

Things

Death

India

A Peacock

Mystique

Cake

Arrogance

Alive

Musical

Muffin

A Place

Tickets

Not Yet Revealed

Life

Crushed

Finesse

Settee

Limit

Pen

Magic

For Bunny

New Year

DEDICATED TO MY SON, SUYASH JHA,

ALSO KNOWN AS BUNNY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to

•   My son, Bunny, or Suyash, for being my first audience and for always praising my work. He took the trouble to type my work.

•   My mother Shail Bala Mishra, who was love personified and who had an inspiring personality.

•   My father, Dr Surya Kant Mishra, university Professor of Maths, PhD (Cantab) for talking to me about the many aspects of life and for providing me a good education.

•   My brothers, Sunil and Anil, and sister, Sushma, for encouraging me to read good books.

•   My father-in-law, Dr Shankar Kumar Jha, university Professor of Political Science, for believing in me.

•   My mother-in-law, Durga Jha, for supporting me.

•   My husband’s sisters, Poonam, Rupam and Anupama for their support.

•   And of course, my husband, Dr Mithilesh Kumar Jha, consultant psychiatrist, for always being there for me.

An Apple

One day to myself I said

What if I were an apple, juicy and red

Crunchy Braeburn or Lady Pink

Would my heart sink

When a customer chose me

Be it a he or a she

And took me in his or her hand

And in a manner, judgemental, yet grand

Assess my worth

On this materialistic earth

Waiting to put their teeth into me

After paying my fee

Would I be willing to be consumed for a good cause

Would I wonder, brood and pause

Would I like to be one of their five portions

Would I be devoid of emotions

Or would I be pleased

On feeling their teeth

That I had served a purpose

Had not rotted as unnecessary surplus

Or would I smugly sit on the shelf

Saying to myself

It was I who began creation

And indulge in self admiration

Cold Cream