The Living Dead Poem by Krishna Baalu

THE LIVING DEAD!

To day the entire family woke up early
My mom, dad, grannie, sisters all, got in to preparations
Took bath early, dried their clothes in the yard
Lashed their fore heads with sacred ash
Tied the white clothes around their waist
Waiting for the angels to arrive!

The smell from the kitchen was odd
With frying smell of sesame seeds, Paapads and Pumpkin soups

The sounds from the house were very strange
With chanting prayers
And the commanding clerics

The smoke from the house was dense
Spiraling in coils carrying the burning smell
of wood, dried cow dung and leaves
But burning our eyes outside

Six of my family, three from outside
Together completed the rituals in side!
The ritual is a customary prayer to the dead in the family!
Praying amidst the arranged food
prepared with utmost probity!

It was customary too then
The visiting soul eat the lunch first
We eat later

But
By then it was noon
By then we were swoon

I dropped down by the kitchen wall outside
We were kept outside till then
To keep the inside revered

My grandma came running
Took me in her arms
Every year I remember this day
Every year I liked the food of this day
Eight hours of penance used to be worth waiting every year!

But donno why this time I dropped

May be I started cursing my late Grand Pa
Who died on this day!
They say!