An original essay on Giraffe, written by our student Tanvi Dash.

Tanvi is 13 years old young writer from Hyderabad. Dancing is her passion. We are proud to have her as a student of the Little Writers Program, an Online Creative Writing Program using Applied Storytelling & Applied Theatre tools under the mentorship of Trainer Khusshbo Chokhaani. We congratulate Tanvi for this exemplary true self-expression.

Graceful, Spotted Monsters

6 meters tall, towering ruminants, munching on the honey and iris-like smelling acacia shoots in the wide, open savannas. Yes, they are our giraffes! Curious creatures, aren’t they? Also, the only annoying relative of these ‘Camelopards’ is the rainforest-dwelling okapi. Doesn’t it make them ‘in-a-class-by-themselves-species’!? Known for their long necks, these humble creatures teach us many things in their life span of merely 26 years.

Their excellent eyesight comes in handy as a defence weapon in the wild. So, when one giraffe stares at a lion a kilometre away, all others look in that direction. It has adapted its tongue as well. It has a bluish-purple tongue that works like sunscreen while eating the topmost leaves of acacia trees! However, having a long neck isn’t always an advantage. These poor creatures have trouble drinking water. They have to splay their forelegs and bend their knees, only then can they lower their necks to reach the water. Can you make the sound of a giraffe? You can’t, isn’t it? This is because these silent creatures usually communicate through infrasonic waves, unheard to our human ears. Their big, brown eyes also work as a great means of communication! They are super peaceful animals with feet the size of a dinner plate!

A giraffe’s spots is what makes it unique. They walk with their head high, carrying their spotty body. Giraffes have a high, elevated vision which we should try having as well. If seen philosophically, they depict the balance between the head and the heart. A giraffe’s non-violent and compassionate communication is worth a shot! Even though they enjoy great heights, giraffes don’t forget to lower their heads and remember their roots.  Giraffes are often used to symbolize uniqueness, pride, spirituality, and kindness. No matter, how high they rise, they don’t get swayed away by power. Despite such great abilities, giraffes aren’t egoistic and hardly ever aggressive.

Keeping the above facts in mind, do you think a giraffe’s compassionate and non-violent lifestyle is worth a shot?

Leave your valuable feedback in the comment box to motivate our student.

An original essay on Crocodile, written by our student Aashna Suvarna.

Aashna is 13 years old young writer from Mumbai. She loves music, reading and writing. We are proud to have her as a student of the Little Writers Program, an Online Creative Writing Program using Applied Storytelling & Theatre tools under the mentorship of Trainer Khusshbo Chokhaani. We congratulate Aashna for this exemplary true self-expression.

Crocodylidae

Two slit-shaped, emerald eyes with a blush of sepia crept out of the water’s surface, waiting patiently for their prey. A ripple in the waters sent these eyes in the direction of the incognizant target. Oblivious to the danger ahead in these tranquil waves, it steps its legs into the calm river. A slight movement and ripple of the water made the prey slightly terrified by this siren-like river and would definitely give the prey some chills down the spine. Just as the target lifted his head from the water, something pounced upon it. Enter the scene, the old and mean crocodile.

Many would say anger, a little less would say cunning and very few exist who would say crocodiles are patient. Their unlikeness to my aggressive nature is what attracts me to them. This patience and “strike the right chord attitude” is what years and years of their time on this plane have taught them. From seeing their dinosaurs’ pals dying to now watching their breed disappearing in the hands of poachers. Their past is too lengthy and mysterious like themselves.

To the fellow Capricorns, Capricorn is also known as the sign of the Makara, a creature believed to be half-deer, half-crocodile. A unique combination of prey and predator.  Even the Egyptian god, Sobek has a half-crocodile and half-human body.

These sociable carnivores, like their prey, find taste in scrumptious fruits. Also like their omnivore friends, dogs, they pant, or more scientifically for it, they ‘mouth gap’.  The crocodile jaw is a thing of supreme power and force. Although the muscles in their jaw are quite weak and incredibly sensitive to touch, they have one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom.

“If that the earth could teem with woman’s tears,

Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.”

How much ever you feel like punching Othello for his stupid jealousy at this line. But crocodiles will find another reason to punch him. For celebrating the famous phrase “crocodile tears.” It is difficult to trace the origin of this myth, but it’s easy to see why it has become so popular – for an unrepentant creature to weep over its victims is an irony that has inspired considerable prose and created a phrase that is still popular today.  But still, the fact remains that crocodiles cry tears contain proteins and minerals. The tears help keep their eyes clean. Just like most of the creatures that exist on earth do.

We all have worn Crocs at least once in our lives but guess what made the founders inspire this name from a crocodile? No, the lovely crocs you wear are not made of crocodiles. It’s just that when they looked at their clogs from the side, they resembled a crocodile snout.

Well, that’s all of my take on our lovely but extremely dangerous fellow beasts, the ‘Crocodiles’.

Leave your valuable feedback in the comment box to motivate our student.