Temple Tank Poem by RAVIKIRAN ARAKKAL

It was serene with calm waters,
only splattered with the kids,
Jumping into it,
Me going for a bath everyday
In the morning with blessing
Of the god afterwards
Of the temple near which
The tank stood still,
With the young wenches
Along with the old ones bathed,
Where we guys stole looks
At the wet bodies of girls
With wet clothes, searching
For the seminaked bodies,
There wasnt anyother place
In the world which was
As memorable, along with the school,
Old meemories of the childhood
Filled when I passed by the Tank
Or the old temple, which I used
To circle three times in the twilight,
With prayers in my mind,
We the friends going to different
Parts of the country,
For our livelihood, advancement,
The Temple tank is as serene
As it was, but more calmer,
That the homebaths replaced it,
Yet an occassional dip in the water
Felt the old holy times come alive.

Ravikiran Arakkal