Before You Poem by Veerankutty Kollanary

You have a balance before you
Suspended in air.
(Have you placed it in time
And began wondering after its space?)

Well, the balance has two levels
One up and the other down
(You have by now concluded
Grandly: they symbolize justice and injustice)

Let it be,
It is held in the thin arms
of a woman-her eyes bandaged.
(Now the goddess of justice
Has appeared before you
And you are rejoicing
Eloquent in the coming together of symbols)

Wait,
If you go on at this length
How will this old lady
Reach home before dark
Selling her ware of potatoes
For at least a rupee half a kilo,
Buy some ragi, hay and eye drops.

This old tottering balance
Ill holds
A kilo or two kilos
At best.
Kindly don’t burden it so.

Before you is a balance
A simple balance.