I hear a lullaby,
from afar. Araaro,
Ararirero, Kanna
urangu”.
My grand mothers
and aunts sang such ones
in a melodious tune
not within the musical notes
composed their own verses
unbound by forms.
Each child in the family,
those days we were
six to ten, listened
to instant compositions.
We became central figures.
our physical features
acqueline nose. thin lips,
dimple chin, curly hair,
were elaborated,
hailed us as princess
or prince according to gender,
rocking the child in the lap
They sang with much passion
and love. The child had
no other choice, falls asleep.
araaro, arirero— the opening line
of a lullaby, Tamil folk song.
urangu— sleep.
Meenas Poems 