NEEYUM NJANUM

(THIS POEM WON THE MADRAS KERALA SAMAJAM KAVITHA AWARD, 1997)


Ninakkai thakkol koduthu vachirikkunna
oru clock aanu njan.
Mrudumozhiyal ninne unarthanum
Nee mizhi uyarthumbol kai pokki
Samayam kaanikkanum
Samayathekkurichu palavattam ninne
Ormappeduthanum
Nee vaikiyal athinte
Pazhiyelkanum vendi janichaval!


Nee pathivayaniyunna
Ninte padarakshayanu njan!
Palathum aninju bhamgi nokki
Upekshichu
Nee avasanam theranjedutha
Ninte swantham padaraksha!
Nee cheliyil chavittumbol
Athu ninte padathil pattathe kakkunna
Nee aagrahikkunnidathellam
Ninte oppam nadakkunna
Ninte padathinte proudhiyum
Nadathayude anthassum pottunna
Padaraksha!


Nee aagrahikkunna pole
Aadukayum paadukayum
Aniyukayum orungukayum
Paniyukayum othukkukayum cheythu
Mindathe chinungathe-
yirikkendunna
Oru yanthrappavayanu njan!


Ennile enne eni-
kkevideyaanu kaimosham vannathu?
Ente kazhuthinu cheratha ee nukam
Aaraningane cherthu kettiyathu?

SUNDAY

"Why Sunday?" My daughter asked.

"His work done, God rested

on the seventh day

and it was Sunday",

I concluded.

Sunday,

A week's work done

I rested in my armchair

A book in hand.

In her study

She tried to convince

her mother, in vain.

Finally,

Exasperated

She asked me again

"Why Sunday?"

"Rest, dear,

A week's work done," I said.

"Just tell her that,"

She said, "and let me play."

I realised then, she, the mother,

Never had a Sunday!