The child is father of the man

Vasudevan Vasudevan

Retired

The child is father of the man

This is a little story

Of not so remote a past,

That really happened

In the land of rising sun.

A stranger from occident

Was traveling in Shinkansen

That made a halt unscheduled

With a wait of an hour half.

The man hungry  wanting fruits

Got out and sought it long,

But without success

Returned a little vexed.

A native boy seeing this

Knew from stranger need of his;

Got out , ran dodging crowds,

Brought the fruits within time.

The boy was thanked

For his exertions great;

The happy man sat in peace

Waiting for train to depart.

The boy on departure made a plea;

Sir,Do’nt mention to friends at home:

Fruits can’t be had at stations here,

For, it would hurt us no small extent.

Such love for land in so small a heart!

What we are when young

Decides what we are when old;

The child is really  father of the man.

                           Dr.T.N.Vasudevan