“How much for sardine? ”
I enquire.
“The name is Madonna”,
She responds.
...
THE FEVER HERB
(Panikkoorkka is a natural herb found in Southern India, used locally for cure of fever and cold. 'Pani' in Malayalam means fever and 'koorkka' means tuber.)
...
Born at Ambalapuzha Village in Alapuzha District of Kerala State in India, to Late K.H.Krishna Iyer and S.Anandam. Married to Rejani. Interested in Poetry. Other interest- Birdwatching Writing in Malayalam, the language of Kerala State in India. Published poems in leading periodicals. Presenting Television programs on Malayalam Poetry. Received 'Ayyappa Panikker' Award and 'Silence Magazine' Kavitha Award for Poetry.)
Vegetarian
“How much for sardine? ”
I enquire.
“The name is Madonna”,
She responds.
“Choose ten chubby”,
My demand.
“Will turn nineteen,
the next month”, snaps she.
Wrapped half in and half out,
With a Madonna-smile string,
The packet, she tenders.
But did it slip?
While she cleanse,
Wife, tosses to the cat,
Those with rotten gills.
With a tongue acerbic, chops
The man who regrets not,
The wasted bucks.
Swear me,
To stop eating fish,
Fried without oil and masala
In the microwave mind,
Swear to be vegetarian
From tomorrow,
To be true.
(Malayalam: Sivakumar Ambalapuzha)