Celebrating life!

There’s nothing as amazing as a tree or so they say, and I proudly belong to one with nine big branches Each remarkable in its own way. The bigger branches provide such shade & warmth Nurturing the younger branches so well. Eight such magnanimous branches & I wonder why mine alone Remains isolated, unsupported, disrespected. 

  The ship is finally sinking And as a rat, I must flee. As I start running, I turn and see Those who are staying. I did try to warn them And even help with advice But they turned a blind eye And reveled in their bad choices. I recall the Titanic And how some went down With a glass in hand. I can see the celebrations The laughter and gaiety, And also too The sullen glowers At the one who tried to help And bring you good. As I flee to safe ground To carry on with my dreams I pity the ones I leave behind: You could have made hay If you had only listened.    

I never understood what unconditional love was Until she appeared in my life. I never thought she would love me, the black sheep But she was constantly with me. When my heart broke and I lay crying in bed She alone understood and sat silently by my side. When she realized I would be going to work in the mornings Her eyes alone showed how she hated being separated. When I returned by evening Her joy knew no bounds. When I returned from a week-long conference trip to Nepal I had to get her injected: she was sick from her sorrow of separation. And finally when a horrible tenant made a threat on your life Forcing us to keep you safe, away from us I felt your pain… I hated it & missed you terribly too. Yet even then, when I came to speak to you today You were more interested in me then my gift for you. I doubt I have a truer love than you My dearest canine being Achu Because you taught me the meaning of unconditional love.  

Why do I hate you so? What did you ever do but help? Most people wud agree your a great blessing.  Yet I feel only distaste  And I wonder why.  You've helped me too, Despite all my attempts to get rid off you.  But at 44 I think I'm finally accepting my reality, And you my spectacles.

  If only I were as smart as big bro or could cook like you, mom,  If only I could sing & dance like lil' bro or do all the chores like him,  If only I were a boy carrying on the family name or had birthed a grandkid for you, Then, maybe then would you consider me a beloved daughter? Am I really that terrible? You boast to visitors about my brothers but have nothing to say about me? Doesn't love & sincerity count? Or does only money & status matter? Was this how Jesus too felt at home? Alone? An outcaste? It isn't glory I seek, never, ever Just your understanding and acceptance. But I guess I'm too black a sheep ...

  As the sun rises, another Onam comes & I nostaligize an Onam, 23 years ago When my non-Malayali classmates  Traversed the breadth of town In search of a sadhya & was forced to make peace with fried rice, For that was a time when all Malayalis Were busy spending time with their families & at home were floral carpets, swings, Onam music, the awaited homemade sadhya & finally the TV movie with a 100 interrupting ads. Maveli too I suppose must remember those times All too well For today there is home-delivered sadhya with all 27 items & OTT to watch whatever movie whenever  As well as Amazon purchases So that each family member can sit in a corner & forget about connecting this Onam with family Well unless you mean the virtual kind. As Maveli looks at a sadly digital Onam Does he miss those days too when we saw faces not screens? Will his rule ever happen again amidst such virtual chaos? I see him leaving with a sigh Unable to greet his people locke...