He Is Honey, Salt and the Most Perfect Grammar by Kala Krishnan Ramesh

Author:Kala Krishnan Ramesh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: null
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India
Published: 2016-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Games my patron plays

Muruga,

the things you do!

Sometimes you play at the role

of a tender caring elder, one

who is mindful of his duty to

his slave. And then

you send your minions

to repair my dwelling,

you send me gifts of

cattle,

gold, grains and

rich clothing. You will

enquire about my

family and invite us

to a feast in honour

of all your favoured

poets.

At these times, no mention

is made of language, poetry,

bondage or my dues to you.

At these times, I am taken in;

I let down my guard and

uncoil like a spring off a hook.

Then

suddenly, you come into

my home without warning

and ask

Is it finished?

The task I set

you then?

Where’s the poem praising

my generosity? My

love for my poets?

My kindness as a patron

and leader?

And I will be

caught unawares. And

will run hither and thither

searching for my books

my pen, my inks.

And I won’t find them

of course

and you’ll be standing

there smirking.

Will I never learn? Your

mother warned me not to

take you at face value, but

it’s such a lovely face,

I am unable not to value it,

and you’re so clever, you

know well I can’t resist

being let off the hook.

And now, here I am

bookless, penless and

inkless,

but not, aha!

wordless –

see I’ve

just sung to you a short

version of how you plot to

catch me out and shame me

again and again, and how I

think on my feet and spring

back on my toes.

And now, I see the smirk

is off your charming face

and you’ve sat yourself

down on my veranda. And

what’s this you’re giving me?

my books?

my pens?

my inks, too?

Guha, who is the dweller

in the heart of language, the things you do.

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