Returning from work
\nI peep into your room
\nas usual
\neyes staring at the rafter
\nyou lie
\nyour limbs cold
\nthe world is informed
\nof your departure<\/p>\n
Appu
\nyou showered on me
\nyour boundless love
\nholding your hand
\nI would pester you
\nwith numerous questions<\/p>\n
You carried me
\non your shoulders
\nto the primary
\n(you couldn\u2019t cycle)
\nyou walked with me
\nto the post – primary
\nwhen I started batting
\nyou turned bowler
\nand stumbled
\nWhen it was time
\nfor tuition classes
\nyou roused me
\nwith a cup of coffee<\/p>\n
On pension days
\nyou brought goodies for me
\nand when I started cycling
\nyou were cross with me
\nfor leaving you alone<\/p>\n
And as a teenager
\nwhen I got back home
\nyou would call me fondly
\n\u201craasa\u201d<\/p>\n
You would be annoyed
\nwith everyone at home
\nbut never with me<\/p>\n
Waking up at four
\nyou would sweep the courtyard
\nbathe
\nsay your prayers
\ncull choice flowers
\nand go to the temple<\/p>\n
And when the war escalated
\nlike many others
\nyou were displaced
\nonce hit in the leg by a shrapnel
\nand confined to bed
\nand whenever I found time
\nto take you on the pillion
\nto the temple
\nmoved you were<\/p>\n
Your second childhood
\nmuttering unintelligible old tales
\nyou tried my patience
\nthen you drifted
\ninto oblivion
\nI craved to hear
\nyour words<\/p>\n
How many days
\nhave passed?
\nI look back
\nwiping my tears
\nThere\u2019s no forgetting you, appu
\nno, never<\/p>\n
Self – less love
\nso rare
\nin this life
\nruled by sophistication
\nWill I be able
\nto offer my grandson
\na relationship
\nas precious
\nas yours, appu?
\nI wonder<\/p>\n
Tamil original : T.Jeyaseelan
\nTranslated by : S.Pathmanathan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Returning from work I peep into your room as usual eyes staring at the rafter you lie your limbs cold the world is informed of your departure Appu you showered on me your boundless love holding your hand I would … Continue reading