HOPES AND DREAMS                                              --nm Staring into the sky           Peeking through the stars Stretching on tiptoe Far beyond Into the unknown and unseen Wondering what might be Up there Wishing and hoping That If only I could Reach out And move the stars around By the tips of my fingernails Not for me But For all the daughters Mine and others'.                                                                 *        Nidadavolu Malathi, July 19, 1999