Meenas PoemsIt is a May morning
there is drizzle
the birds come out and go back
fear there could be more rain
a pleasant morning it seems
with a breeze all too cool
and the sun still in its slumber
a respite from the hot
of yesterdays
scorching and sweltering
could the birds have a premonition?
wonder so, wishing a cool day.
An exercise
in whatever form
is a strain .
Physical one
brings in
persiparation.
Mental exercise
ushers in
an exhaustion.
Migration is their strength
anywhere and everywhere they go
husband, wife, and children
altogether they travel
with their handmade produce.
Those of whom found in South India
more particularly to the region of Tamilnadu
associate themselves with Lord Muruga
who dwells on the Palani Hills in the Western Ghats
as his consort Valli is from their tribe.
Their move with a bundle
clothes and some” thayuthus”
Gods figures in silver plated motifs
carry their children in a slung
hanging from their necks
The Kura vas ” speak a dialect
peculiar to their tribe and land
a mixture of Tamil, Telugu, and Sanskrit
all an “avial” as the famous side dish of the locals
” ellai saami vaa saami” they call the passers by
with an intent to read the palm and predict the future.
The genre excels in astrology as much
bring in substitutions like parrot and tarot
read your palm carefully
pronounce the prediction
in a song being a kind of a psalm
all sung with clarity and authenticity.
Education is not in their agenda
learning they do not care
it is the hearsay they have in memory
eat mostly raw food cooking being basic
a boil and a mix all too fast.
one man one wife is not in their cast
meet and mate the person you like
be their simple wedlock with all its riches
Their entrepreneurship is a skill dumbfounding
produce more, sell more, bother not about profit
could I call it a marginal economy?
the modern calculators and computers go begging
as they make quick calculations
add, subtract, multiply and divide they do
with no pencil or paper all done in their mind.
Nature is their mother
the place under the big tree is their home.
the river bed is their washroom
the open space is their play area
rain or shine they live like that
aligned to nature as much as they can.
The ups and downs
keeps one tied down
happy to see the rise
sad to experience the fall .
A climb up is a struggle
hard work marks it
a slide down is easy
many factors go to make it .
Expenditure over revenue
a happy go lucky attitude
misfortune the least
contribute to failures.
All of us know
pay no attention
till the going is good
make merry and spend.
As the tides turn back
the results show a negative
the fear grips slowly
grief strikes quickly.
Similar to the waves
a progress in the run
a retrieve without fun
day in day out it happens.
The river flows undisturbed
the sea roars unmoved
the life goes on likewise
with a ripple and a furore.
Man is born with all faculties
all perfect in their place
he lives in splendour all through the days
if he is a man of a status and of caste
he is pushed to the nadir each and every day
if he comes from an ordinary family and of caste
caste denotes high and low
status comprises the money and matter.
Fire ravages east and west
winds blow north and south
fumes pass in all directions
men and women and children
run, where to in the chaos?
A man on the cliff
called to the men down
Oh, here I am
look at me
I am one of you
I had been battered by misfortunes
I am about to end my life
I am going to jump from this point.
Shall I jump or shall I not?.
The men below stood confused
they called to him
look at us
we are like you
we are under great trouble
we live with hope
we still walk past and tread through
Should we live or should we not?
He remains uncrowned
with the bags full of treasure and riches
looked upon with respect by all in his town
that be one of his public life .
He remains a broken man
with the bags full of woes and disappointments
finds himself unrelated in his own family
that be his private life.
A juxtaposition could he bring forth?
the public and the private enter a conflict
would he try to equate and balance both?
that could possibly turn into a disaster.
Straight as a ruler
she stands
all erect and stiff
not only in appearance
she is the same
in her character
straightforward in talk
bold in expression
fine in terms
charming in countenance
a straight lady
erect and tall.
Mother’s Day calls
what a fanfare they create
hugs and kisses all profuse
gifts of kinds expensive and memorable.
I sit with amusement
had been a mother for long
no calls for me yet
means my sons do not think of me
I do not fret.
I wish not to be thought of
I am fine and would be so
a call will not change
as the three of them talk to me
with immense love and utmost care.
They find nothing special
being a Mother’s Day or any other.
well, that is good and beautiful
seeing them healthy and wealthy
makes me ever happy.
Meenas Poems 