Touch Elder's Feet

The poem takes on and discusses the blind following of old traditions being considered as good and the belief that youth is spoiled.

Touch Elder’s Feet

 

Beta, take the tea to the drawing room

First comb your hair and make a respectful smile

Serve the tea and touch their feet

Respect your elders, that is Indian style.

 

Heard my mother, as I always heed

Did the task, but it was a task indeed.

But a question had got stuck amiss

And it wouldn’t get off, until I wrote this.

Is the respect in the union of our hand and their feet,

Or is it in the sincere, honest and heartfelt greet?

 

“Youth is spoilt,” elders always complain,

“This isn’t modernity,” I don’t refrain.

Touching elder’s feet does no harm

It has been our culture since the time of Lord Ram.

But what is the meaning of the culture

If there is no respect in the heart,

We need to have the feeling

And not the idol on the cart!

Author's Note

Though the poem is about an Indian culture, but it has just been taken as a symbol for many other cultures in many other regions and religions which are blindly considered by their followers as being 'good' without reflecting about it. The lack of acceptance of new ideas have also been dealt with.

GLOSSARY -
Beta (Hindi) = son
spoilt = spoiled
Lord Ram = A Hindu God.

Reviews

[Kristin Lee]

Very interesting poem. I personally believe in respecting elders - if they deserve it, however, I also believe in understanding traditions and making sure they suite the times. There's no need to stand on ceremony, especially if it's out dated. And I personally can't stand feet. I won't even touch my husbands feet. There's no way in hell I'm touching some body else's feet. It doesn't matter if it's Lord Ram, the Dali Lama, or Jesus. It isn't happening. I'd gladly give them the shirt off my back or go to the ends of the earth to get them a glass of water...anything else to show them respect. But I am not touching someone's feet. Like I said...updated traditions.

[Shivam Murari]

I was waiting for this! This is so much of what I had in my head while I was writing this poem!Though, I do appreciate that there is no BIG DEAL for the believers to follow the tradition, what is the most important thing is are we really intending respect behind the actions?!
Thanks a lot great poet and thinker! :)

[amethyst1998]

this is a good poem expressing how some other people romanticizing youth being disrespectful with not following the culture

[Mamta Vashisht]

Being an indian i can definitely understand your idea and i agree to it too. There's no use of touching someone's feet unless you respect them by your heart and know the reason of giving them respect.

[Shivam Murari]

Exactly the point, Mamta, exactly the point. Thanks for coming around and reading.

[Mamta Vashisht]

My pleasure :-)

[ganga ramesh]

I think I deviate a little from you thoughts, dear Shivam. There is not just respect behind this tradition of touching elder's feet. please read this and know few more things behind this Indian culture:
When you touch the feet of your elders you will come to know how much their feet have worked for your betterment by seeing their worn out feet.
You will indirectly tell that you are always under their disposal and will abide by their words by surrendering to their feet.
And the main thing is , why don't the youth cultivate the habit of respecting the elders even if they don't know that these reasons are behind this tradition? then there is no need to argue ....after all they are senior in age and exposure and knowledge and experience, right?


but your write is good ...liked it....Didn't mean to offend anyone, just a humble thought :)

Yours,
Ganga Ramesh

[Shivam Murari]

No, no offending! It is just expression of views, Ganga. I'm glad you reflected upon it!

read moreNo, no offending! It is just expression of views, Ganga. I'm glad you reflected upon it!

I totally agree with both the points you have mentioned here. We need not argue, but what I oppose (and if you read all my poems closely you would find it integrated in all of them) is why are we doing/performing things in a 'fake' manner. Of all the things in the world, what I hate the most is - FAKERY. According to me, the reason behind every trouble in this world is the fakery involved. Be it politics, love, friendship anything. So, I oppose those who bend down to touch the knees only to show that they are disciplined, while they are not!
The other thing I point out is we should not do things just because they are there. We should know the meaning behind it. It should appeal to the conscience. When we see a teacher in the school, we automatically say "Good Morning", out of habit and not really meaning it. That is the reason why most of the people actually don't realize that 12 noon has passed!

[ganga ramesh]

:) u r a great write...write on :) sorry for the late review ....was not well....havent been visiting this site lately :)

[Mamta Vashisht]

Well i should not be intruding but ganga ji in my opinion touching the feet of my parents would be an honor to me because as you said they symbolise the hard work they've put on for us but whats the use of touching those people's feet i barely know. Their experiences of life are of no use to me. We are asked to touch the feet of all elders whom we know not of and probably will never do.

No offense to anyone just felt like sharing my viewpoint on this matter.

[ganga ramesh]

i can see see your point there! and i agree, we don't usually get to know every elder's experience. but we can't bluntly tell their experiences are of no use to us. experiences, good or bad are always of some use :) i appreciate your thought and you are not intruding atall :)

[Mamta Vashisht]

Thankyou :-)

[icelandicblue]

There are times when generations do not agree/or understand one another. The youth ask why and their elders say because it has always been done this way. You've done a nice job depicting this struggle in your poem.

[Shivam Murari]

Thanks a lot, iceland! :)

[Tom]

Excellent poem with an excellent message, Respect should be earned and not assumed !

I can relate well with this, top write my man !

[Shivam Murari]

Thanks a million, Tom! Do send in read requests of your favourite works :)

[Tom]

Do you enjoy the game of cricket Shivam ?

[Shivam Murari]

A bit:)

[Tom]

Well plenty about the game in my poems !

[Shivam Murari]

send in the RRs then :)

[Frieda P]

Am not familiar with this custom, I like the message conveyed within your poetry. Food for thought here, nicely pen'd Shivam.

[Shivam Murari]

Thanks a lot Frieda :)

[Frieda P]

My pleasure :-)

[Vani Jalagar]

first and foremost there's a good message in the poem...that no matter how much ever we grow in life, one should not let the modernity to spoil the culture and traditional practices. wonderful poem....Thank you for the message.

[Shivam Murari]

Thanks a lot for reading :)

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

Well done, i applaud your bravery... you've conveyed your message with respect and talent.

[Shivam Murari]

Thank you so much for such encouraging words :)

[Barbara Walker]

As a Caucasian of Irish descent I have no knowledge of this custom, but know that many cultures seem to respect their elders more than we do in America. Though, as you say, it should be deserved. Even as a young child, I loved to listen to my elders talk. It was fun hearing about when they were growing up. Every older generation always complains about the younger ones, no matter what changes happen, it is not good in their eyes. This is a very thought provoking piece and I enjoyed reading it.

[Shivam Murari]

Thank you so much Barbara. :)