The morning forum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hair curly, tanned, with eyes that resemble almonds

Muthu, the torso with narrow ankles, large feet,

Comes for his customary chat with Amma, by 10.00am,

Amma is the professor's wife, not given to education.

The daughter excels in English and business studies,

She takes after the father but loves her mummy more.

 

The father's out to class. Muthu is the neighborhood Hick,

Has a way with the Tamil language that Amma loves,

But doesn't get 'nough of that from college trained husband.

He pulls a chair and sits outside the kitchen of the home.

'Had breakfast?' Amma asks. She does that every morning.

'No' he replies, also every morning of the week except sunday.

 

Looking comfortable in a large shirt over rippling muscles,

Muthu is wearing the latest design blue cotton tights.

Amma is with a blouse that opens to a cleavage abundant,

Below a 'sarong' designed with Malay patterns of wood carvings.

She serves him 'puttumayam' with dal and coconut chutney.

Coffee, thick, black with lots of sugar comes in a mug.

 

'I'm going in to town later' he says, 'can I get you anything'

She hesitates. She ought to get her husband to do the grocery,

But he's with the Wall Street journal in the mornings on sunday.

"Okay' she responds, ' flour for Vadai, thosai and uppuma.'

The conversation flows about Muthu's wife, family and kids.

His mother died earlier on in his childhood. Amma is mother.

 

He has to hear the sound of Tamil and with Amma's concerns,

He likes doing errands for Amma if he can continue with it.

Its his life, his perceptions, the way it rolls like a bull's eyes.

Amma is in the world's crossroad. Not great Tamil and even less English.

Something has to give some day. Give up one and grow with another.

Until then, Muthu with crimson eyes, brings news of the world.

 

Reviews

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Our past always effects our present actions and since we all have different backgrounds is why we tend not to fully understand one another.

[Sagar Waingankar]

Sir this is some sort of an unconditional attachment we have with our people! What we practice, is followed by others later. Even a babbler can see the intensity of glory in eyes. Precisely written!

[Chris]

Sri,

I came to pause with you today. What I found of value within this "piece" was:

it's perceptive handling of the human perogatives within and between sub-cultures.
It's showing heart and a depth of feeling without the need to blaringly display raw and possibly unseemly characterizations or suppostions.
It's humanity.

It was a very good read... thank you.

Chris

[*~*Butterfly Kisses*~*]

Great word play and a thought-provoking story within this write. I enjoyed this piece. Nicely done, Sri.