Grandfather's chrome pendulum swung daily, to the left, to the right, to the right. And the rent was paid monthly- four rupees. There were four births - Uncle Srini, Aunt Lalli, Father, Aunt Usha. There was a death - Aunt Usha, age four. Uncle Srini ne'er did well at school - but was a wizard with a cricket ball. He never let Father into his games. He was apprenticed to a workshop at seventeen. Aunt Lalli was married at sixteen and went away. And delivered three boys. And came back every year to claim jewellery, utensils, gifts. Father, eight, was sent away - or ran away - to boarding school. There are different stories, and the only reliable witness, was made of chrome swinging right and left. The rent collector is dead. Aunt Kamala came home - shy bride, and current tigress of the family, not counting Aunt Lalli. There are stories about who stole whose jewellery. The only reliable witness, was made of chrome swinging right and left. The rent collecto...
The message is supreme;
Born in the heart,
and lilting itself
from tongue to tongue,
throwing its scent
over wind and wave;
travelling on dots
or fingers
when blindness
or silence bar its way.
It hews itself into stone
or burns itself onto magnetic discs;
it is the message that lives
and I exist
solely to pass it on.