Morning in the village

Told in English, Telugu.

In a little village near the Godavari river, the sky was still dark and sleepy. The stars were going to bed. The moon was yawning.

Then the rooster on the roof flapped his wings. He puffed up his chest and called, "Kokkoroko! Kokkoroko!"

Little Chinni opened one eye. Then she opened the other eye. And she sang, "Wake up, wake up, the sun is here! Good morning, village, bright and clear!"

Can you say it with me? Wake up, wake up, the sun is here! Good morning, village, bright and clear!

Chinni ran to the door. Ammamma was already outside. She sprinkled water on the ground in front of the house, so the dust would lie down and rest. Then she drew a big muggu with white powder, round and round, dot by dot.

"Can I help, Ammamma?" asked Chinni. Ammamma gave her a little pinch of powder. Chinni made one small dot right in the middle. "Perfect," said Ammamma, and kissed her head.

Over the green fields, the sun peeped up, orange like a ripe mango. Its warm light touched the paddy, and the dew drops on the leaves began to sparkle like tiny lamps.

Wake up, wake up, the sun is here! Good morning, village, bright and clear!

In the shed, Lakshmi the cow said, "Ammaa!" She was hungry. So Nanna brought her fresh green grass. Lakshmi munched and munched, and her little calf drank warm milk. Because Lakshmi was happy and full, Nanna got a shiny pot of milk too.

On the neem tree, the sparrows woke up. Chirp, chirp, chirp! They fluttered down to the ground. Chinni scattered a handful of rice grains, and the sparrows hopped and pecked, hopped and pecked. They seemed to say, "Thank you, Chinni!"

The sun grew warmer, and because it was warm, the jasmine buds on the fence opened up, white and sweet. Chinni smelled them. Mmm!

Wake up, wake up, the sun is here! Good morning, village, bright and clear!

Ding, ding! The bell rang at the temple. A bullock cart rolled by, and the bells on the bullocks went tinga, tinga, tinga. Farmers walked to the fields with towels on their shoulders. At the well, the bucket went splash!

From the kitchen came a lovely smell. Amma was making soft idlis and coconut chutney. Chinni washed her face and hands with cool water. Brr! Now she was wide, wide awake.

She sat on the step with her plate. The rooster strutted past. The sparrows sang. Lakshmi swished her tail. And the sun smiled down on everyone.

"Every morning, everyone wakes up together," said Ammamma. "The rooster, the sun, the birds, the flowers, and you, my Chinni."

Chinni giggled. Then she stood up, put her hands high in the air, and sang to the whole village. Let us sing it with her, one last time.

Wake up, wake up, the sun is here! Good morning, village, bright and clear!

And the whole village seemed to sing it right back.