Home Poem by KATOCH P C K PREM

Home - the unknown master

A great architect he is, everyone believes.
he does not leave anything incomplete…I was born of him
and so he stands to teach a great lesson of togetherness.

Guru told and I stood with class fellows and heard,
I did not know what he meant and so I returned and asked.
Ma told guru was right, for an unknown looks after…
he is the spirit behind the creation, man fails to understand
and going back to fine old days uplifts and you're a flying kite.

I look at the vast fields, green and golden, and the grey clouds
like a thunderbolt as tall thin sticks of maize grow and flutter
with bushels like crowns on top, I stand amazed.
Ma told to enjoy soft voices and aroma of life and nature
I wished to see a pattern in the manner of paddy fields
and hear what they spoke and how I smelt, and felt the touch
as noisy water channels continued to fill fields to enrich grains
while clouds awaited decree of lord Indra.

Home -the village deity,

Village deity is kind, keeps everyone calm and satisfied.
an aged tale I hear and this we must learn in prayers
in little smiles, hushed breathings grey-haired woman tells.

I walk silently with home sewn satchel along the narrow path
fill burrows many with earth and pebbles
and naughtily irritate mice running about
and watch village women singing some old folksong
as if musical tunes, and humming continues to reverberate
as they bend as if worshipping and thin out lines of paddy saplings
with pulled up trousers up to the knees white and …I feel thrilled,
a sensation arouses, for I knew the song and loved its tale.

‘You sing, you laugh, you are sad and you recall
and bear in mind intensity of man and the woman
who jumped into the river and died' she was pensive.

You are a good storyteller, a woman says, I hear.
Because it makes you live together and feel for each other
so live each moment, forget past and future
It makes the world good, old mama told and I hear and laugh.
in song and smiles men and women live
together and happy thereafter.

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