I ran towards the kitchen, covered with smoke,
Meddling with spoons and beating the flour
Soon did I drop, a careless one,
Annoying my mother, yelling out at me.
She took me away, my old-faced grandma,
And reminded her daughter, that I am little
Alight and safe at her experienced hips,
She kissed me dear while holding me near.
Onto the verandah, overlooking the plains,
She sat on the floor, leaning on the pillar
Singing to me an old, soothening hymn,
Patting me soft, with love and care.
The day was old and about to end,
Not that late, but the clouds made it so
Dark and heavy as they prepared to fall,
A blanket of shade hiding the sun.
Sitting on her laps, I gazed onto the road,
Watching the crowd, speeding their ways
The drops were light, as it began to fall,
Softening the earth as an icing, on the cake.
The rain grew on, as time went by,
Inventing the stream and the gushing marsh
Washing away the weakly held silt,
Towards the husk, stubborn and deep.
I watched the drops, pounding on the stream,
Spillling the air, with overflowing mist
Plantain leaves waving, as the wind blew hard,
The trees kept swaying, happiness galore.
I watched the tall co-co-nut trees,
Dancing with its neck, roots held firm
Onto its branch, a crow did rest,
Fluffing its feathers, letting off the rain.
I watched the cock, beside the bush,
Wet with rain and dripping through its tail
With drooping head and eyelids closed,
He prayed for the sun to wake up and shine.
I watched the dog, far at the gate,
Safe on the shelter, overlooking the road
Maybe with respect, she held her gaze,
Trembling, silent, breating and still.
I watched the tiles, oozing with wet,
Drops of shine one after the other
Fighting with gravity onto the pool,
Making for more, following the stride.
I watched the lady, treading the road,
Loaded with palm-leaves and unspoiled clothes
Along she sped, to her awaiting home,
Perhaps more wet, oily and sweat.
I watched the flies, flirting the tubelight,
Holding its feathers, for their lifes’ too short
Some did fall, the others more strong,
Clinging to life within the lizards reach.
I watched the rain drizzling the earth,
Now relaxed and calm, perhaps more tired
The clouds were pale and sky so grey,
Tired and yawning, I stretched on, in her laps.
A lass next door, walked gentle and soft,
Towards the temple, maybe to the shop
Her hair was wet, with a recent bath,
And feet so fair, as a lotus bloom.
Time grew old, as my eyes go closed,
Her hands of caress, still tireless and strong
Her music didn’t stop and took me to sleep,
Cold was the rain and warm – her laps.
Kavitha by : Mahesh
Email : maheshknair@mailcity.com