Sprawled near the shop door
dangling coir, bright plastics, baskets
flimsy balloon balls, flower pots
and you-
a fallen statue reeking of neglect
Irritating to bustling feet
but they stepped over your motionless form
and left the air fouler
with curses that you inhaled
You were the underworld
without the beard, gun or pot belly
ribs painfully embossed
upon your sallow youth
We fattened up our kids
using your nightmare shamelessly
Mariamma
the luckiest woman of all
three hefty sons she had
A thief, a madman and a drunk but no girls
so wasn’t she blessed!
Septic tanks and cow urine tanks called you
armed with a bottle of the cheapest toddy
you swung down holes
where no devil dared to breathe
scooping up discarded human bits
Our girls under your protective stagger
safe as they quickened their steps
from the lonely bus stop to the
lamp-lit shadows of motherly forms
none would look at their budding youth
while you thrashed out your lungs
and limbs at the road romeos
Kunjumon, you fell out of life suddenly
just like you did everyday
but among the fallen
you still stand tall
A graphic snapshot of an all too visceral everyday contemporary existence.
Many thanks for your comment Louis Kasatkin.
This is exquisitely, richly written… taunting all senses…. As a Keralite, I could picture it all so well…
Sharing this on FB…
A keralite would feel it a tad more I know. We are a toddy nation, our paradise is drunk. Thank you Sana Rose for the appreciative comments and for the fb share.
Vivid Portrayal.
Thank you Gopal Da, much appreciated.
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well portrayed… beautifully written.. yet another keralite here who understands the depths of this poem better….
Thank you @ Joker 🙂
There is a kind of profundity in the graphic portrayal of middle class struggling existence. Beautifully conceived and structured.
Thank you Madhumita Di. A pleasure to read your comment.
Kunjumon stands tall…no more a kunjumon….loved this one…it combines the essence of Kerala plus a Dickensian piquancy 🙂
Very tall indeed. I kept his real name.. he deserves a poem at the least. Thank you Rukhaya. Loved your comment and the smile 🙂
A taste of Kerala indeed….how the small things become BIG in your hands Ree. Superb poem!
Thank you Zeenath. 🙂 You are always very kind.
As usual a very beautifully crafted poem from you Reena…I loved your Kunjumon from our God’s own country…:-)
Many thanks Maaya 🙂
Destiny Poets’ International Community of Poets ( ICOP ) are pleased to announce that for October 2013 , the following works have been chosen in the categories of Poem of the Month and Highly Commended . **** Poem of the Month..****..is…”Kunjumon” by Reena Prasad…..In the Category of *** Highly Commended *** ( tabulated alphabetically ) are the following……*”A Dog called Scotch” by Rahul Aithal*…*”An Evening Sonnet” by Safdar Bhatti*…*”Glassy Turf” by Gopal Lahiri*…*”Life” by Sarita Jenamani*…*”My Soul Song” by Joanne Gallagher*…*”October Feast” by Iulia Gherghei*…*”Oh My Poem” by Maaya Nair*…*”Plastic Bottle” by Srishti Sharma*…*”Remember Me” by Gina McKnight*…*”Simple Simon” by Maria Ni Mhurchu*…*”The Funeral” by Sana Rose*…*”To my Teacher,with love” by Geetha Ravindran*…..**The ICOP Poetry Critic (Bi-Monthly) for September/October is Rashmi Malapur **
Deeply grateful for this honour Louis Kasatkin. Thank you and all members of the Destiny poets family. Congratulations to all my fellow talented poets.
A very realistic poem
Thank you!
Chaotic, on the face, and honest
striking, strong use of words makes us all
aware.
great work
Thank you for the feedback Sam. Appreciate it a lot.
A fine taunting sartorial on alcoholism in general and its filth particularly in our beloved kerala .. 🙂
A particularly discerning comment. Thank you for reading it so well. Shashikala. 🙂