On a subcontinent, by the sea,
Lies a land with history,
A sacred place where cultures meet,
And ancient secrets lie beneath.

There's a peninsula with sandy shores,
Where mangroves thrive and seagulls soar,
And if you go inland, you'll find,
A bustling bazaar of every kind.

The monsoon comes with precipitation,
Filling rivers with sediment and sensation,
And from the Muslim mausoleum,
A call to prayer, a sacred anthem.

But on this land, there's also pain,
A caste system, a social stain,
But hope is here, in every child,
A new generation, free and wild.

So come and see this wondrous place,
Where history meets the human race,
And learn of cultures and diversity,
On this land of beauty and mystery.

Reflections

Here are a few questions to ask kids to think about the story:

1. What is a peninsula? Can you think of any other peninsulas in the world?
2. What is a bazaar? Have you ever been to a bazaar or a market before?
3. What is the monsoon? How does it affect the land and the people living there?
4. What is the caste system? How do you think it affects people's lives?
5. What is a mausoleum? Can you think of any other famous mausoleums in the world?
6. What do you think the ancient secrets in the story might be?
7. How can we learn from different cultures and celebrate diversity?
8. What do you think the future holds for the land and people of the subcontinent?