The Milkman Mr. Vanniyan --- A Poem By Ramesh Iyengar
The milkman Mr. Vanniyan.
Promptly comes he to
my doorsteps at 5-00 AM
Alighting from his bicycle,
he shouts ' Amma '
ringing his temple bell, (5)
roped to his Victorian vehicle.
My family visitor every morning
and afternoon
wakes me up at siesta time.
Unique in his wake-up calls. (10)
Long back in 70's,
got convicted for first degree murder,
spent 14 years in prison,
returned back later,
to start his own dairy, (15)
to pour milk into
every vessel in Brahmin ghettoes.
More precise than our home alarm clock,
precision in duty.
From a tall standing aluminium vessel, (20) he pours his ' milk of human kindness '
to make our morning filter coffee.
Gets paid on the 1 st of every month.
In our ' agrahaara ' his arrival
considered auspicious. (25)
He arrived forth just facing me,
as I departed for distant lands,
in the greed to make hot cash.
He partook on all occasions,
pleasant or unpleasant, (30)
a visitor on all occasions,
a loveable person,
a rich rustic from Kammapatti village
that supplied ' watery milk '
to my entire Srivilliputtur town. (35)
A popular gossip went around,
that alleged Vanniyan adulterated milk,
with water drawn ' liberally ' from Temple water tank.
Hath you got ' adulterated ' successors, my friend
to inherit your ' liquidated business ' ? (40)
Yet, pour forth your ' so-called milk '
and keep on pouring
(till the entire Temple water tank turns dry) (43)
Glossary:
agrahaara - A Brahmin ghetto
brahmin --- an orthodox Hindu
