Selvakumari Of Hatton

Ganesh at Saravana’s flicks, in a frenzy,
the sequined sarees off the display line
above the doorway, as the rain beats in,
and Selvakumari crouches on the pavement,
her face crumpled, shivering,
by the wall of The Happy Food Corner.

Many years ago, in times long past, 

A street – sweeper by day and a streetwalker by night,
She is no longer fit for either task,
and is now abandoned by her kith and kin,
destitute, homeless, a travesty of her former,
comely, loud-mouthed self.

Dressed in grimy, threadbare rags,
Her hair in stiff unwashed grey skeins,
Her mouth is a cavern splattered with betel – juice
Half her teeth knocked out in drunken brawls
Over these many years, outside the bar
right next to The Happy Food Corner.

Sigh ! See those busy people
Hurry past under their umbrellas!
Swinging bulging bags in their happy hands!
Maybe rice – dried fish – coconuts – or bread?
Or – her heart leaps up – a lovely shiny bottle
To warm them through the rainy night ahead? 

Her ulcers pinch and burn
At the very thought of the drop that cheers,
She shuffles in below the sign she could not read:
‘WESTERN, INDIAN AND CHINESE FOOD – TAKE AWAY AND HOME DELIVERY’
And begs for a bun or two, perhaps some stale rice too?
Please, Sir, to take away; and May God Bless You!!

From Sedahamy Selvakumari And Others -Collection Of Poems