I tie flowers in the evenings
place the sequence on the idols,
and pray.
Easy to string the delicate “pichis ”
with long stems than “mallis”
that have short ones.
Significant for their fragrance
the white flowers add to the
aura of divinity.
I make a small strand for me
hang round my tiny hairdo
a practice from my childhood.
With flowers in bamboo baskets,
I fasten them together, perhaps
a half an hour work.
Perform the ritual with passion,
am incapable of sharing
the exhilaration.
Meenas Poems 