The twenty-five coconut trees in my garden
have grown so tall looks as though they reach the sky
bear twenty to 30 coconuts every 40 days
a great joy to watch the harvest.
The kothanar (mason) as the harvester is addressed
climbs with perfection and style
he falters not in any way
reaches the top in no time.
He tucks the aruval (sickle) in his waist
cleans the web that surrounds 
cuts the dried fronds that hamper growth
releases the tree from unwanted entanglements.
He knocks on the cluster of coconuts
finds out the appropriate ones
slashes the one which holds
the coconuts fall down in tens.
A fascination to watch
eloquent and awesome
my eyes stay fixed to the trees
while I count 1,2,3
Meenas Poems 