A SWEEP

 

I sum of the current fifty-four years
nineteen thousand and seven hundred days
the near split
cuddled, fed and protected
grew to hundred and sixty-five centimetres.

Days and centimetres of life twisted as a herringbone
fogged truant brain relishing hide and seek
negativity varnishing inches of malice
mirror shrinking reflection a few centimetres
guilt strapping the stress.

Some days, scrubbed squeaky clean
monsters of misdeeds on a soporific break
lathery foam toting up in air
obsequiously touching some with kindness.
Image stretching the shrunk centimetres
beaming smile of towering happiness
as the bloom of the jacarandas.

The impish youth, the helmetless rides
the banned triples on scooter
foolish grins at traffic police
puncturing teacher's bikes
blind to repercussions


peeping grey streaks, henna at the roots
Camera fooled, poses galore, striving side angles
camouflaged bulges, coated wrinkles
the indiscreet youth smirking
Reel swipes fast forward

The supportive mother, the thoughtful daughter
the friendly sister, the reliable wife
the irritating mother, the sulking daughter
the mischievous sibling, the nagging wife
the uncensored acts of my script

Abseiling towards twenty thousand days
incapacitated to decipher number of
centimetres partitioned for light and darkness
Mathematics, the textbook donated after tenth grade

Juggling after half a century on the planet
still decoding, remonstrating, rising, sulking, smiling
some encounters with self surprise me
and some nag as buzz of cicadas.

Muscling to move on, competent to realise
subtraction or division incompletes me.
Addition and multiplication of goodness
forms a perfect whole of holes.

CIRCLE

Painted nails, henna filled palms,

masculine palm, the shiny golden ring

radiant grins holding garlands,

friends and cousins, their present cheer leaders.

Respective groups lifting the bride and groom,

none bowing, the giggly peals accompanying the music,

the hall in all its splendour, guests clapping and cheering,

at long last, both garland the other, both sides claiming the win.

Hands clasped, some chrysanthemum petals,

stuck on their attires, they seek blessings,

fat garlands stopping their necks,

weight of marriage too early to decipher.

Stitched white and yellow chrysanthemums, 

bloomed apart yet bound,

suiting the newly wedded couple.

Sneaking red and pink roses 

their streaks heightening the wedding glow.

The adorned hall of jasmines and marigolds

the bedecked stage of lilies and tuberoses

the wedded pair's circle of life begins, 

aroma of mixed reactions, the perfect backdrop.

The flowers wither, the garlands tossed aside.

Duty carried out, shrivelled flowers, 

bid adieu to the bride and groom,

hoping the pair rehearse the

tender symphony of trust and warmth.

Shrunken they may be one day like the garlands,

yet should guard each seam and stitch of the

beauty of togetherness.

MOODS

Lips rounding to squeeze the juicy mango,
licking pulp streaming down fingers,
humming flies on the bin outside
looking for their share of peels.
Water cooler's thirst for buckets of water
pickled mango pieces filling ceramic pots
school books lazing on shelves,
hot afternoons
cajoling snoring siestas.


Wet mud on shoes, bicycle itching for a daily shower,
frogs polishing their singing on little puddles.
Slithery earthworms sneaking through front door,
dripping umbrellas fluttering in wet winds
screeching cars spraying puddle water,
pedestrians gifting expletives to the driver.
Mum's vexation at damp clothes and the hiding sun
Showers assembling the family,
for crispy fritters and hot cardamom tea
Rains, a moist break
for caked earth and denizens.


Teeth grinding refusing to be brushed,
the tap spouting cold water.
Fingers hugging hot cups of milk,
refusing to let go, woollens filling the cupboard.
Scribbling letters on foamy glass windows
other rooms envious of the kitchen
bouncing hot soupy slurps and aromas,

familial warmth tucked in various layers. 

COASTLINE

Beaches of crevice in every relationship

pricking granular thoughts tombing castles.

The saline sting rupturing the human core,

pebbled cobwebs tossing the mossy ache.

Every individual a marooned island

entangled in their own web,

cargo of bonds too heavy to slither,

drifting brains scouting for a balmy anchor.

The barnacles of attachments 

the inborn lull easily contaminated.

The sun glistening the mirage of waves, 

the pacifying cove luring the agitated buoy.

Some voyages end, piled at sea bottom,

the other's still sailing, their sandy footprints,

rehearsing residual lives.