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! :)

[Rogue]

This was an interesting read on a custom I was not familiar with. Thank you for that, Shivam.
I do not know the answers to your questions, though I think it is a good and viable one to ask.

Very interesting piece and a good job putting it together. :)

[Shivam Murari]

Thank you so much Rogue. Well, I agree you don't know about this custom but you could definitely answer one universal question. If respect in the 'actions' or in the 'heart'. That is the theme of the poem. :)

[Rogue]

I think perhaps in both. You can have the utmost respect for someone and either in anger or just unthinkingly disrespect them with your actions.
But I think... Reading this... It seems as if this more than just about person respect. It sounds as if it is a tradition that has managed to stand the rest of time. Perhaps it is that they are really wanting you to respect: the old ways and traditions.

[Shivam Murari]

Yes, that is one of the things that I attempt to mark on too! :-)

[Will]

An interesting concept, really. Where does the respect come from? Does it legitimately flow from the people, or from centuries of culture and regularity? You raise an interesting matter of debate in a very readable, pleasant way. Nicely done.

[Shivam Murari]

Thank you so much, Will, for the awesome and encouraging review. :)

[Quirkyac]

Perhaps you outshine all your previous masterpieces with this!

[Shivam Murari]

Well, that is so flattering! :)

[Quirkyac]

Your poems have always touched my heart and, from the reviews and the number of views, seems many other's too! This one hits right on the weakest and unimaginable point! You're so true in saying that most of the tasks are done involutarily and we don't even look back and think why we did them! Everything comes across clearly and effectively! Mesmerizing and enlightening work!

[Shivam Murari]

Quirky, your words are so nicely inspiring! Thank you so, so much!

[Kitbit]

I liked it very much...makes one think ..I always respect my elders even if they don't deserve it ;-)

[Shivam Murari]

Thank you Kitbit for reading and expressing.:)

[lones]

Shivam, this splendid piece of art doesn't only make us think deeply but also sheds off all the cover of cliche that had gathered on you because of some of your past poems. This is so good and so new and so DIFFERENT that it makes me feel its your best work till date!
Very well done!
Perfect!

[Shivam Murari]

Thank you so much Lones. As ever, your words encourage me again! :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A nice piece Shivam. Questions the holding of hollow traditions descriptively.

[Shivam Murari]

Thank you kind sir for reading and expressing! :)

[Dakshta]

Lord Ram and even before.. the day the Indian culture was born we were taught this.. I just loved this thiwrite! Thanks so much for sharing :)

[Shivam Murari]

Thank you so much Dakshta. Yes, I agree that this has been Indian culture since time before Lord Ram, but we know that Lord Ram is idealized as being the most well mannered identity anyone could be! So, I did that! :)
Thank you so much for coming around and reading :)

[Sami Khalil]

Coming originally from the middle east we show a lot of respect and admiration to our elders or senior citizens or elderly family members but no rituals at all like you said just in the actions and heart. Being kind to them with kind words and listening even heeding their wisdom if you agree with it...A very good social write...:)

[Shivam Murari]

Yes of course, then you know the 'cultures'. Well the actions are what I aimed at in this poem! The ritual says actions are a WAY, a MEDIUM, to show how much you respect someone. But most of us have forgotten it! Just because some hypocrites think that some actions define respect. Respect, irrespective of all the cultures, is offered from heart. This is my belief.

Thank you so much kind poet for your review ! :)

[Sami Khalil]

I agree with your belief then...You are welcome...:)

[Shivam Murari]

....... :)

[Sami Khalil]

^^~^^ :)...........