Maargazhi Mornings ---- A poem by Ramesh Iyengar
December mornings are wonderful,
cold, semi-dark, snow-cold.
The Heaven sending below
a thick, long carpet of snow.
My town is asleep,
under a freezing breeze
( not many are awake)
Beautiful moments of silence.
The chilled air in painted black.
The still leaves in the trees.
Nothing moves,
save few men,
who energize with puffs of
cigarette smoke.
Dew drops on car windows,
parked on the road side.
The morning hymn singers
chant the Lord's grace
Harmonium, cymbals,
percussion drums
join in a musical medley
Every sleeper is stirred
Every soul warmed.
Maargazhi mornings
get refined
squarely manifested,
nowhere save in my own town…
-----
Glossary :
maargazhi -- the ninth month in the Tamil calendar that
coincides usually with December and
January.
Ramesh Iyengar
