What is a Father? (Poems)

What is a Father?

A Father is a helping hand
To lift you when you fall.
A Father is a caring heart
That hears you when you call.
A Father is a loving arm
That comforts all your tears
A Father is a Shining Knight
That takes away your fears.
A Father loves you stanchly
No matter what you’ve done
A Father has a ready laugh
He knows how to have some fun.
A Father stands beside you
Through good times and through bad
He daily earns the title
When he’s lovingly called Dad.

What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
--Anonymous

A HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

Thank you father!
Every child utters these words whenever her/she receives something he/she wanted. Most of the times father is all in all. He is the saviour, friend, philosopher and guide. He often he knows
what you have on your mind. He’s someone who listens, suggests, and defends. He’s proud of your triumphs,but when things go wrong, he can be patient, helpful and strong.
What is Father’s Day ?
Every 3rd Sunday of June is declared the national Father’s Day in America. Sonora Smart Dodd of Washington State proposed the idea of the "Father’s Day" in 1909 to honor her father, William Smart. Mr. Smart, a Civil War veteran, raised his 6 children (including Sonora) by himself on a rural farm in Eastern Washington State after his wife (Sonora’s mother) died in childbirth with their 6th child.
The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across USA, the other people began to celebrate the Father’s Day. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father’s Day, but it took many years until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson finally signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of every June.
Father’s Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all be honored on Father’s Day.
Come on friends, let’s celebrate our Father’s Day by doing something that brings smile on his face, by saying that we are with him till the end.

A Story for Father’s Day - A MEMORABLE GIFT

A Story for Father’s Day

A MEMORABLE GIFT

Hello Friends!
Hope all of you are busy with your new books and time-table. How about a story for a change! This story is about a wonderful gift presented by three little sons to their dear father on the occasion of his birthday. Isn’t it nice to hear about such a story during the Father’s Day? Well, let me tell you about the origin of Father’s Day first.
Sonora Smart Dodd of Washington State proposed the idea of the "Father’s Day" in 1909 to honor her father, William Smart. Mr. Smart, a Civil War veteran, raised his 6 children (including Sonora) by himself on a rural farm in Eastern Washington State after his wife (Sonora’s mother) died in childbirth with their 6th child.
The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across USA, the other people began to celebrate the Father’s Day. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father’s Day, but it took many years until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson finally signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of every June. Father’s Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all be honored on Father’s Day.
Now, let’s jump from America to Russia, for our story is a Russian folk tale.
Stefan, a poor farmer had a vegetable garden. He had three smart children who were helping him in maintaining the garden well. At the bottom of the vegetable garden they had grown a row of aple trees. At the end of the row there was a gap for one sappling. As the apple sapplings were costly Stefan could not offord to get one. Whenever he saw the gap in the row, he felt sad.
Usually apples get ripened during autumn. On an autumn evening he was walking in the garden with his eldest son, Perchik. The apple trees were laden with apples. When they came to the place where there was the gap, Stefan said, "I am sorry, I could not afford to buy one sappling to fill the gap there."
"Oh father! Why do you worry? We shall get many more sapplings and raise an apple orchard itself. We are all here to help you," said the eleven year old Perchik.
Stefan felt happy to hear these words. What else can a father expect from his dear child?
Perchik was a very intelligent boy. His brothers, Sergei and Mikhail, too excelled in studies as well as household work. Sergei was good at savings and Mikhail had an ambition to raise his own garden of flowers. He had already grown many colourful flower plants in the backyard of his house. His little plants were full of flowers!
One evening Perchik remembered that his father’s birthday was only two days away. He wanted to give a valuable gift to his father which makes him happy. He discussed the idea with his mother and brothers. They came to a conclusion that an apple sappling which can fill the gap at the row would be the fittest gift.
Well, now, they know what is to be presented. But where is the money? Every problem has a solution, you know. The three boys discovered their own solutions.
Perchik went to the landlord of the village and offered his services as a wood cutter. The nobleman was kind enough to allow him to chop fire wood. At the end of the day’s work he paid Perchik handsomely. Sergei contributed all his pocket money and also the amount which was given to him for the purchase of new shoes for the winter. Little Mikhail had an ingenious plan! He plucked the beautiful flowers he had grown at the backyard and made small bunches. He took them to the market and sold them. People who saw his flowers loved them at the first sight! They even paid more money.
It was when these three young adventurers collected the money they required. They went to the market and purchased an apple sappling. They brought it carefully and kept it in the yard. They wanted to give the gift as a surprise. So none of them spoke about it.
Early next morning the three kids crept out of the house. They carried their sappling to the place where there was the gap in the row. They started digging a hole big enough to plant the sappling. When Perchik digged nearly two feet deep, his spade hit something hard. It sounded like a heavy metal box. They dug the ground fast and took out the metal box. When they opened it they were amazed to find gold coins!
Delighted with their discovery the three boys ran to their house with the box. Before going they planted the sappling neatly. The morning breez greeted them and the leaves waved them!
After reaching home, they greeted their father in chorus, "Happy birthday, Papa". They showed the box of gold coins to their father and narrated the whole story sarting from the idea of planning a birthday gift with their own money.
Stefan was all tears when he listened to the adventure of these three kids! He kissed them all and went with them to the garden to see the apple sappling. The sappling had filled the gap!
"Thank you so much. I have never had a happier birthday," said Stefan.
When all of them returned home, Stefan divided the gold coins into three equal parts and distributed them to the three children. He told them to use the money in the right way when they grow up. The children insisted the father to keep all the money.
Stefan refused and said, "The apple tree is enough. We can work hard and run the farm with your help and when I grow old, the apple tree will remind your mother and me of your love for us. What could be more precious?"
Now, tell me, what could be more precious than the love and affection of one’s children?
How’s the story? Did you like it?
Meet you soon.
Bye.
Yours,
Bedre N. Manjunath


Compiled by /-
Bedre N. Manjunath M.A.,
Transmission Executive
All India Radio
Chitradurga - 577 501.
Ph: 9448589089

LOVELY CAT and kittens ! ( A Story for Christmas)

LOVELY CAT AND KITTENS !

Whenever Aunt Anny comes she brings with her a treasury of wonderful tales. There are tales of kings and queens, animals and adventures, gods and ghosts and what not!
Aunt Anny visited us during the Christmas holidays. We, the kids, gathered around her after supper and demanded for a nice tale. It was a cold night. Though we wore sweaters and monkey caps we were shivering. Aunt Anny asked which story we would love to hear. Santhosh said he wanted an adventurous story. Samarth wanted a nice tale about animals. Sumanth demanded a detective tale. Spoorthy asked for a story like that of the Adventures of Heidi. But to our surprise, Aunt Anny chose quite a different story which covered all these aspects.
"Dear Children, let me ask you a question. How do you feel when you are made to stand outside without warm clothing now?"
"No aunty, you cannot be so merciless! We shall die of cold! " replied Spoorthy.
"Well, it is only a guess. I don’t want any of you to go and stand in the cold winds. I wanted your opinion on this for it is needed to understand the story that I am going to tell you now."
"What story?" asked Samarth eagerly.
"It is a story of ghosts and goblins which drove away a kind hearted man in the cold night on the Christmas Eve."
"A story of ghosts!"
"Yes, now, can you tell me how many ghosts you know ?"
"I know only a few. Demons, Devils, Fiend, Vampair, trolls, that’s all, " said Sumanth and asked, "Are there any more, Aunty?"
"Definitely, there are more ghosts. Don’t you have a Thesaurus?"
"What is a Thesaurus, Aunty?"
"A Thesaurus is a book, like our dictionay, which contains words similar in meaning i.e., Synonyms and also the words opposite in meaning i.e., Antonyms. Rogets’ Thesaurus is a popular handy guide. I think your dad has got it in his personal library. Go and get it. Let us see the synonyms of ghosts," said Aunt Anny.
When the Thesaurus was brought from the father’s study, Aunt Anny searched the pages and showed us the synonyms entered under the heading "890 - EVIL SPIRITS - N. demon, fiend, devil; evil genius, familiar, familiar spirit, bad (or unclean) spirit ; incubus; ogre, ogress, ghoul, vampire, harpy; Fury, the Furies, the Erinyes, the Eumenides ; imp, bad fairy, sprite, jinni (plural jinn), genius (plural genii), dwarf, changeling, elf child, werewolf; satyr ; elemental, sylph, gnome, salamander, nymph (Rosicrucian); siren, niie, undine, Lorelei; bugbear, bugaboo, bogy, goblin, hobgoblin etc."
"Oh God! So many ghosts!"
"Well, now, think that all these spirits visit, rather invade, your house at the same time what will happen? You tend to rush out? No, they drive you out mercilessly. That’s what happened to a poor farmer on every Christmas Eve says a Norwegian folk tale. Here goes the tale :
Once upon a time there lived a poor farmer near the woods in a small village in Norwey. He was kind hearted Halvor. Halvor decorated his small house for Christmas very nicely. He prepared tasty dishes. He brought a good number of articles for presentation to his children and neighbours. On Christmas Eve the trolls from the nearby woods rushed in and ate all the dishes and destroyed the decorative items, broke all the nice gifts he had brought. This had been hapenning for many years till the hunter Nicholas brought his big polar bear and taught a lesson to all the trolls.
Nicholas of Denmark was a great hunter. He wanted to present a unique thing to the King of Denmark for the new year. He was searching for a great prize. His search brought him to Norwey. He caught a big polar bear there. He thought it would make a very nice present to the king. So off he went, leading the bear on a strong lead. On Christmas Eve, they reached a cottage beside the woods. It was the cottage of our kind hearted Halvor.
Nicholas requested Halvor if he could stay in the cottage for the night.
Halvor replied, "Oh, how I wish I could give you shelter, but tonight a great pack of trolls will come down from the woods and I shall not have a roof over my own head! Every Christmas Eve the trolls eat us out of home and there are so many of them that drive us out into the cold."
Nicholas pleaded, "Could you let me sleep in the outhouse and my bear could sleep under the stove, please?"
Halvor agreed to this but cautioned Nicholas, "The trolls will dirive you out, I warn you!"
Halvor prepared the dishes and shared the supper with Nicholas. He laid the table with great bowls of porridge, plates of fish and dishes of sausage. After supper Nicholas made himself comfortable in the outhouse leaving his bear to take rest under the stove.
As night fell, down came the trolls. There was a great horde of them, in all shapes and sizes. some were tall and thin, some were round and fat, some had long tails, and some had none at all. They brought many more goblins and all kinds of ghosts with them.All of them crowded into the kitchen, making a terrible noise, and they ate and drank everything they could see.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, the smallest troll saw the bear under the stove. He went over to the stove and pushed his fork under the bear’s nose, shouting, "Here you are, pussy. Have a nice bit of sausage."
At this, the bear stood up and roared at the top of his voice. Then chased all the trolls round the table and out of the door. All the goblins and ghosts too followed the trolls. Halvor and his family saw all this fighting. They were very happy to see the trolls running away. They thanked their guest Nicholas and his big bear. They thought it was Santa Claus who came there to rescue them. They celebrated the brith of the Lord happily. The next morning Nicholas went away with his bear.
Another year went by, and on Christmas Eve Halvor was hard at work, chopping wood for the fire. As he swung his axe, he heard a voice calling from the woods. It was one of the trolls.
"Halvor! Is that you?" said the voice. Surprised Halvor replied, "Yes, it is I."
"Does your big cat still sleep under the stove?" asked the troll.
"Yes, now, she has had seven kittens since last Christmas, and they have grown bigger and fiercer than the cat herself !" said Halvor.
"Oh dear! We won’t come to see you ever again. We don’t want to fight with your eight big cats! Off we go!" said the troll and ran away.
Halvor, ever since that day, has celebrated the birth of the Lord and has eaten his Christmas dinner in peace with his family.
How’s the tale, kids?


Bedre N. Manjunath
Transmission Eecutive
All India Radio
CHITRADURGA - 577 501.
Ph.9448589089

Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs

Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs

Homonym /noun [C]

a word that sounds the same or is spelled the same as another word but has a different meaning: e.g., ‘Bow’ (= bend at the waist) and ‘bow’ (= weapon) are also homonyms.
RIGHT- RIGHT
LEFT - LEFT
NAIL - NAIL
BOARD - BOARD
WELL - WELL
BEAR - BEAR
LIGHT - LIGHT
MIND - MIND
BAT - BAT
SEAL - SEAL
BOOK - BOOK
BALL - BALL
LETTER - LETTER
WORD - WORD
SENTENCE - SENTENCE
1. The BAT cannot use the BAT and ball.
2. We can use our NAILS to pick the NAILS.
3. That was a RIGHT dicision to turn the knob to the RIGHT.
4. She turned LEFT and then LEFT her bag there in the corner.
5. No one feels WELL when one falls into a WELL.
6. I cannot BEAR the weight of that huge BEAR.

Homograph / noun [C]

a word which is spelled the same as another word and might be pronounced the same or differently, but which has a different meaning:
e.g., ‘Bow’ meaning the front of a ship, ‘bow’ meaning a loop made in a string or ribbon and ‘bow’ meaning a device used to shoot arrows are all homographs.
PRODUCE - PRODUCE
PRODUCT - PRODUCT
WIND - WIND

Homophone /noun [C]

a word which is pronounced the same as another word but has a different meaning or a different spelling or both: e.g., ‘so’ and ‘sew’ are homophones.
Write - Rite
Wright - Right
Sea - See
Two - Too
Weak - Week
Ear - Year
Here - Hear
Dose - Doze
Sell - Cell
Storey - Story
Hare - Hair
Pray - Prey
Meat - Meet
I - Eye
Principle - Principal
Sight - Cite
Weigh - Way
Steel - Steal
Son - Sun
Nail - Nile
Mind - Mined
Sent - Scent
Sail - Sale
Site - Sight etc.
(Please do refer a good dictionary for the meanings of the words given here.)
- Bedre N. Manjunath M.A.,
Transmission Executive, All India Radio F.M.
CHITRADURGA - 577 501, KARNATAKA
Ph: 94485-89089

Ten Longest Words in English

Top Ten Longest Words in the
Oxford English Dictionary

1. pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis _____45
2. supercalifragilisticexpialidocious _______________34
3. pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism _____________30
4. floccinaucinihilipilification ___________________29
4. triethylsulphonemethylmethane ______________29
5. antidisestablishmentarianism _______________28
5. octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane _______________28
5. tetrachlorodibenzoparadioxin _______________28
6. hepaticocholangiogastronomy _______________27
7. radioimmunoelectrophoresis _______________26
7. radiommunoelectrophoretic _______________26

Words that are hyphenatned, including such compound words as "transformational-generative" and " tristhio-dimethyl-benzaldehyde", have not been included. Only one unhyphenated word did not make it into the Top 10, the 25-letter "psychophysicotherapeutics". After this, there is a surprisingly large number of words containing 20-24 letters (radioimmunoprecipitation, spectrophotofluorometric, thyroparathyroidectomize, hypergammaglobulinaemia, roentgenkymographically and immunosympathectomized, for example) -- few of which are ever used by anyone except scientists and crossword compilers.

- Bedre N. Manjunath M.A.,
Transmission Executive, All India Radio F.M.
CHITRADURGA - 577 501, KARNATAKA
Ph: 94485-89089

KANGAROO WORDS

KANGAROO WORDS

Hello Friends!

Do you know what Kangaroo is? Well, it is a large Australian mammal with a long stiff tail, short front legs and long powerful back legs on which it moves by jumping. Kangaroo is a marsupial, a type of mammal which is not completely developed when it is born and is carried around in a pocket on the mother's body where it is fed and protected until it is completely developed.
But do you know what the word "Kangaroo" means? "Don’t know?" Strange! That is the answer! When the European travellers asked the aborigins, natives of Australia, about the animal which was hopping around the natives replied "Kangaroo!" i.e., they don’t know. The wise travellers took it to be the word for the name of the animal and started calling the animal by that name itself! Kangaroos carry their joeys in their pouches.
What is a Kangaroo Word?
A "Kangaroo Word" is one which carries within its spelling, in normal order, a smaller word which is a perfect synonym for itself.

ACCUSTOMED __________USED
AEROPLANE ___________PLANE
AMEND _______________MEND
APPROPRIATE __________APT
APPROPRIATE__________ PROPER
ARCHITECTURE _________ART
BLOSSOMS _____________BLOOMS
CALUMINES ____________LIES
CAPABLE ______________ABLE
CATACOMB ____________TOMB
CONTAINER ____________CAN
CURTAIL ______________CUT
DECEASED _____________DEAD
DELIBERATE ___________DEBATE
DEVILISH _____________EVIL
DISAPPOINTED _________SAD
DIVERSIFIED ___________DIVERS
DOMESTICATE __________TAME
DORMATORY ___________ROOM
EARTHQUAKE __________QUAKE
ENCOURAGE ___________URGE
ESPECIAL _____________SPECIAL
ESPY ________________SPY
ESQUIRE _____________SQUIRE
EVACUATE ____________VACATE
EXIST ________________IS
FABRICATION __________FICTION
FACADE _______________FACE
FEASTS _______________EATS
FESTIVAL _____________FEAST
HAMBURGER ___________BURGER
HELICOPTER ___________COPTER
HOSTELRY _____________HOTEL
HUMAN _______________MAN
HURRIES ______________HIES
ILLUMINATED _________LIT
INDOLENT ____________IDLE
JOVIALITY ____________JOY
MANUFACTU___________MADE
MARKET ______________MART
MASCULINE ____________MALE
MATCHES ______________MATES
MEADOW ______________MEAD
MILITARY _____________ARMY
OBSERVE ______________SEE
OMNIBUS ______________BUS
PANTALOONS ___________PANTS
PARAMBULATE __________RAMBLE
PERIMETER _____________RIM
PERIWIG _______________WIG
PINIONED ______________PINNED
PRATTLE _______________PRATE
PRECIPITATION __________RAIN
PROSECUTE _____________SUE
RAMPAGE ______________RAGE
RAPSCULLION ___________RASCAL
REGULATES _____________RULES
RESPITE ________________REST
REVOLUTION ____________REVOLT
ROTOUND _______________ROUND
SALVAGE ________________SAVE
SATISFIED _______________SATED
SEPARATE _______________PART
SIGNAL _________________SIGN
SLITHERED ______________SLID
SPLOTCHES ______________SPOTS
SUPERVISOR _____________SUPERIOR
SURPEME ________________SUPER
TELEPHONE ______________PHONE
VIOLINCELLO _____________CELLO
WEALTH _________________WEAL
WITHDRAWING ROOM______ DRAWING ROOM etc.