Tag Archives: Laughed

Almost Everyone in Kumily

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knows I am a bachelor

and almost everyone

asks me why

once a guy

came walking up

my road

and asked me

wouldn’t it be better

if you have someone

in your life?

isn’t that the way?

I’ve given different

answers to people

to one chap I said

I like bacherlorhood

to another astounded

fellow that

I have too many illnesses

one rickshaw driver

laughed at me

and taunted

why are you single?

what happened?

you didn’t get a girl?

one shopkeeper

in his store

full of customers

questioned in

a loud voice

but why aren’t

you married?

who will look

after you

when you get old?

and a couple

of days ago

a neighbour

wanted to know

if I didn’t feel lonely

don’t you like company?

and on and on

he went for half

an hour

though later when

he saw me

he felt embarrassed

at his behaviour

and apologised

and I just ignored it

and replied

good morning Mani.

The Sun Today Kissed Me

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and the air

made love

to every pore

in my body

and there were

about fifty women

hoeing government land

nearby

in their colourful scarves

and loose shirts

and long skirts

and I embraced

the sunlight in my arms

and danced with the forests

and mountains in delight

and when we laughed

the clouds moved

in the sky

swaying with each other

roaring in happiness.

It Was So Real

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all the buildings

stood for it

the merry-go-round

the see saws the slide

and the gardens

were glowing green

and golden in the sun

the sky blazed and laughed

and all of us celebrated

the moment

in our homes

on the streets

in the cars

we became human

when the wind whispered

in our ears

peace love.

The Forest

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is alive

its mountains its trees

its animals its birds

its life we cannot see

and here the boys

are playing cricket

and making a noise

hi one little fellow

called out

hello I answered

how are you

another one asked

fine I replied

as I went up to my terrace

and then I saw them

in Srinivasan’s property

amidst the coffee plants

and then I heard Noorja

yelling at them for something

and they went away

and the birds chirp

and the sun lights up Kumily

in golden hues

dappled with shade

and yesterday as I was

going down this road

I met an old resident

of this town and we were

chatting in Hindi until he

asked me my name

and I told him

and he realised I was

a Malayali and we laughed

and said goodbye

and then I felt

such a great sense

of peace in my heart

it was as though

this small town

had embraced me

in its arms

as I walked down

its roads

and met people

I knew

and spoke to them

the warmth

the satisfaction

made me feel

the forest all around was

a mother looking

over me

and rocking me

in my cradle

like a baby

till I wriggled

and laughed

in delight.