Thursday 26 May 2011

The Unsung Lullaby


Life’s train hurtles, shakes and moves along
I hold on to the rails for dear life and breath
Surely I heard her whispering in my ear
“Be careful when it brakes, you might fall”

She combed my hair even in unkempt teenage
Said she didn't like lice from my pretty girl friends
I had none, but still I said “Amma, You are right”
I loved the feeling of her hand on my forehead

She never failed to say “be careful”
Fed me by hand even as a six footer
Her recipes were divine- friends testified
But nothing tasted better than her fingers in your mouth

And then her mind sank to depths of darkness unseen
She talked about death as if it were a friend
The winter morning came, she went unseen
But not before ordering milk for the evening sweet

The milk grew cold on the lifeless stove
The house grew crowds-loved and unloved
Fire avenged the divine gift at dusk
Under cold waves the ashes dispersed


But today I hear yesterday’s melodies
The ones that put us brats to sleep
Life’s train hurtles, shakes and moves along
And I wait for the lullabies unsung.

2 comments:

  1. This is really touching, Santhosh! I would say, much better than your first post - may be 'cos it is real!

    Her recipes were divine- friends testified
    Yes - I've tasted and can testify any time.

    And I wait for the lullabies unsung.
    Almost in tears now. Need to call my mom, first thing in the morning; she is 75 now.

    Well done, mate!

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  2. I came to know of your mom too too late... But I still feel profoundly sorry.
    Somewhere, I think, she awaits,
    with a comb in the hand and a glass of sweet for you to munch and sip,
    when you arrive...

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