Gods Just Listen Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon
Gods Just Listen
Kerala, a little strip of land
Between the seas and the hills
A pinch of Amazon here
A little Congo there
A sprinkle of the Alps
A drop from Niagra...
Thrissur, its ‘cultural capital'
Has its claim to fame
The Thrissur Pooram
Ilanji thara melam
A pandi melam ensemble
Set to adantha thalam
Mark of Thrissur Pooram
The largest ensemble
Of Percussion music in the world
Where Gods are just listeners
A hundred Chendas, the Kerala drums
They say it is an Asura vadyam
But how Gods love its music!
Seventy five elathalam
Again unique to Kerala
Accompany the drums
Twenty one kombu
Set the rhythm for the music
Embellish the drum-beats
Twenty one kurumkuzhal
Double-reeded and shrill
Play the anchor role
People dance
To the rhythm of drum beats
And Gods just listen
Oh! Don't they dance too?
1. Thrissur Pooram is the congruence of the dieties of 41 temples in and around the city of Thrissur, Kerala, India. This annual festival of music, rhythm and colours, and of course, elephants, comes during April-May.
2. Ilanji thara melam, the mark of Thrissur Pooram, has found a place in the Guinnessbook of world records as the largest ensemble of percussion music.
The melam is called so because it is conducted at the Ilanji thara, an embankment around an Ilanji tree. Has no other relevance to the percussion.
3. Kerala is blessed with the bio-friendly Mediterranean climate and large rain forests. Hence Amazon and Congo and Swiss Alps. We have our little Niagra, the Athirappilly Falls in the Western Ghats...
"A drop of Niagra" (reminds of Lorca? Not accidental) .
Glossary:
1. Ilanji thara: The small circular embankment around the Ilanji tree (in Thekkinkad maidanam, nearVadakkumnathan temple, at the centre of Thrissur city, the site of Thrissur Pooram) .
2. Melam: ensemble of percussion music
3. Chenda: Two-sided Cylindrical drum, unique to Kerala
4. Asura vadyam: Musical instrument of non-gods or producing hoarse music
5. Asuram: hoarse
6. Thalam: rhythm
7. Elathalam: pair of smallish musical cymbals, usual accompaniment to chenda music
8. Kombu: A C-shaped trumpet, unique to Kerala. The rhythm-setter to chenda recital.
9. Kuzhal or Kurumkuzhal: Another wind instrument. Of the genre of shehnai of North India and the Nagaswaram of the South. Unique to Kerala. The anchor in chenda recital.
10. Pandi Melam: One of the percussion ensembles unique to Kerala.
11. Adantha thalam: a rhythm set to 14 aksharas (syllables) , again uniquely from Kerala.
A pinch of Amazon here A little Congo there A sprinkle of the Alps A drop from Niagra... Thrissur, its ‘cultural capital' A wonderful poem .Your notes makes it an interesting and informative.
Well woven beauty of Kerela. Yes sir our country has so many musucal instruments. Every state has their own. You brought a culture so prescious and delicate.
Beautiful heart, beautifully sung! .. Very beautiful movement! .. Thank you ever so much for sharing! .. Ever so very many 10S! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ...................+++++
Hi Becca, So happy that you enjoyed my poem on my native place. Now that you have enjoyed the poem, please try visiting the place and enjoy its beauty.
You have depicted it beautifully. I wave my hands and nod my head along with the hundred thousands. my 100++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
part 2- - [sorry PH skipped me off to another poem but I made my way back]- - of the way you share your culture and yourself in an interesting and poetic manner. So emjoyed reading this. my friend! ! !
I love the way you bring us into your world, your country, your feelings and thoughts. Thank you so much for widening our horizons. This poem is indicative of the way
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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9/19/2024 11:57:18 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Beautiful and nostalgic, Unni Thrissur famed for its Pooram with elephants and drums, an unique ensemble of rhythm and beauty. Thank you for this lovely poem and the beautiful photo.
Thank you Geeta. This poem reflects a first hand experience many years over. TRU, Geeta, very nostalgic. Thank you again for the words of appreciation. I know, it does not make very good poetry, I could not resist the temptation.