Paa-Nan, The Nomad Musician Poem by ANAR (Issath Rehana Mohamed Azeem )

From under a fully mature tree
the frail bodied man was playing the musical instrument.

Dust and dry leaves rose and flew
in the circling winds.

Coins thrown by the passers-by lay
strewn on the mat in front of him.

His deep music, saddening the mind
burst with a deep melancholy carrying
unfulfilled wishes.
In the sunlight returning path
he despatches overflowing waves
with his resounding music.

The corner of the crumpled mat
rises and dangles in the air like a painting.

Restless tones that wander mid air
emanating from the Paanan's music instrument
were generously gifted to the clouds.

Mindless and lost in focus
he turns violent trying to get deep
into his musical penance that flows and drains in waves.

The soul stirring cry
tired of having walked through the scorching streets
makes darkness descend faster on the surroundings.

For his sake, the afternoon's prayers
molten in his music were transported to the seven skies
by the gentle winds.

I stood motionless for a very long time
even after he had left.