
Ramadan-Hari Raya.


I prefer solitude to gatherings
peace and tranquillity to gossip and dissent
that is my way.In spite of being so,
I had to participate in a function.
Exasperated, I moved beyond.
Mona, took centre stage.
For once tense, he seemed ill at ease
as if taken up by a malignant spirit
he began his discourse.
The smearing of ash on the forehead.
Mona,
chanted panchakal mantram
panchaprabha mantram
and shadhanga mantram
all in a topsy-turvy.
His lengthy monologue
turned a farce.
Mona’s sermons,nowadays
make people run away from him.

I stand before an old road sign
decrepit with age
know not how to go?
I stop my journey in this slot.
Should I go or should I not?
The wobbling sign board holds me
I pause on the mid road
often, I see myself in such a state
if only I had been street smart
I would have attained perum, pugalum (name and fame)
I retrospect with a mixed feel.
I have covered halfway
stagger now in the midway
simultaneous I have crossed part of my life
would face mishaps in the strife
must strive to steer through.
I deliberate about myself
questions range from my inner self
why was I born?
what am I up to? I query intrusively
what have I achieved? finally.
I look at the road sign once again
stands pitiable and ghastly with posters of amma
braving the harsh winds and scorching sun
appears to me as Buddha
seated under the Bodhi tree
awaiting an enlightenment.
I am moved to recite the Gita
the verses of Lord Krishna in a geetham
I spell out Tirukkural
the two lined verses
in an exalted voice, succinctly terse.
I stare at the sign board intensely
stand there for long deliberately
a visionary it is to me
I turn into a lifeless being
as of the sign board in the doing.
A disaster unseen
Unheard and unbearable
committed wantonly.
Befitting a crime,
damaging and degrading,
indiscernible almost.
An attempt unpardonable
unhonourable and undesirable
transgressional and sinful.
Seemed like a pandemonium.
Apparently, hell let loose,
heart wrenching and acrimonious.
Sounds ambiguous! is it not?
A distaste is felt incidentally
unable to pinpoint the event.
A wedding of a community
is a celebration of vanity
as they spend with a madness.
They circulate gifts days before
comprising of stainless steel and copper
large and small filled with murukkus
and mauvurandais (savouries:a speciality of the community)
They serve varieties of dishes for two days
including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The menu being elaborate runs into pages.
No wonder, the chef demands a fortune.
The shreedhan runs into millions
by way of cash, gold and diamond
silverware, copperware, stainless steel utensils
wooden almirahs and furniture all made at home
from the day, a girl is born
The highlight is a gift to the girl’s mother in law
a miniature of what is given to the bride
called as mamiar saaman murai
prevalent in the community for centuries together.
A practice peculiar.
The activities replicate
a small scale industry.
Revenue is in the hat
This mercantile community
considers marriage a transaction.
The highest bidder clinches the best deal.
Eavesdropping heard the bridegroom sulks
he said, “hell with it, vettithanam
damn money spoils the spirit.” Turning found
the girl’s demeanour equally sober.
Like an uncut diamond
she looks .
No shade of make-up
raw and simple.
Yet she dazzles
like the diamond.
The elegance strikes.
The chastity overwhelms.
The explosion in Istanbul
killed forty-one
injured hundreds.
It is fearful.
It happens
quite often.
The acts of violence
seem not to end.
They continue.
How long ?
None know.
The man sleeps
being one of self-enforced
an act of cowardice.
The man wakes up
after causing a chaos
a status of ease.
Society condemns him.
His family makes him a hero.
An irony beneath.
It is a call
being one tall
called as Brexit.
U.K is out of it
Scotland wants it
North Ireland wishes it.
A piquant situation
A referendum’s insinuation
Brexit is certain.