The Facade Of Aandal Temple --- A Poem By Ramesh Iyengar
For almost
every passer-by,
the portal of temple
lends attraction and sight.
It seems God's variety
is spread out there
outside the temple,
from flower-sellers to book-sellers.
Fruit sellers to radio repairers,
they sell almost everything.
A dry perfume-seller
came to our town,
opened a stall,
outside the temple,
sold turmeric and Kum- Kum
and packed dry perfume powder.
Later, settled there forever,
till his progeny
descended unto grand children
and great grand …………
My town is the host for
every tourist, every odd figure
bound to the south.
The two front rows
( on either side)
leading to the temple
houses almost every trade.
Tailors who bustle with
sewing machines
from morn till late night.
Astrologers forecast a
shiny future
to passive gullible listeners
( who sit cross-legged)
in exchange of few coins.
Juice vendors, camphor-sellers,
lottery ticket sellers,
gurus who sell talismans,
vendors of cooking vessels….
Keep it alive humming with
ceaseless activity,
till noon-wind
dozed them into
a fine, noisy siesta……………….
Only to be awakened (sharp at)
three O ' clock
by the coffee aroma
from Gurunathan Brahmin Cafeteria
that refreshed all
with vada, idli,
bonda and oily delicacies…………………….
Glossary:
kum – kum ---- vermilion powder
vada ---- a mixture of well- ground pulses, fried in
oil. (looks like doughnut)
idli ----- steam-baked, rice cake
bonda ----- spherical, oil-fried, savoury dish
Ramesh Iyengar
