I Love Cyclone! ! ! Poem by Shankaran Kutty

Last night I slept so deep and sound
In the morning, saw a sight profound
How do I describe, well what do I say
For before me stretched the Bengal Bay

But isn’t Chennai said to be always hot
Where the summer sun makes it a melting pot
Where each day the dry winds blow
And the dirty Cooum like a trickle flow

But today seemed a special day
Where the gushing waters, had its way
The signboard said Velachery Main Road
It looked like Cauvery, the way water flowed

The newspaper boy came in a boat
As a little rat used a ladle as float
Each passing car threatened a Tsunami
A scary sight from my first floor balcony

From early morning there was no power
Stench unbearable from the flooded sewer
I was so sad, because I couldn’t go to watch
In Chepauk stadium, an IPL match

The Chepauk ground I heard was a lake
They held a boating race for time pass sake
With the Chennai captain sitting at the stern
For a change, to win it was our turn

Kids were playing soccer in the field behind
It was pouring but they just didn’t mind
For them it was some time for fun
To play at noon and no Chennai sun

The sky was dark, so black and grey
Met department said, was coming our way
From the eastern coast a strong cyclone
Now I was scared, as I was home all alone

I then realized I can’t just brood and cry
It is dark and threatening, but I will try
To my lonely life, to bring some light
Even Chennai cyclone, I will fight

I dressed up light and walked into the rain
As the needle drops, began to pain
For me, as I watched people run for shelter
From the dark inside, this was already better

Arms outstretched, like the statue in Rio
Water flowing from my head to my toe
Across the wide road, I did slowly wade
As people looked at me, dismayed

I finally decided to come to a stop
Across the road, at the corner tea shop
And ordered a tea, hot and steaming
As water dripped into it from the awning

Then across the road to the soccer field
To the boys playing soccer, I did humbly plead
Of my soccer skills I made no pretence
Soon I was playing, their star in defence

Then it was time for a post lunch walk
So I made my journey around the block
It was indeed a slow measured stroll
No ambition had I of falling down a manhole

Finally I brought myself home to park
Outside and inside, it still was dark
And to drown away my sorrow and despair
With a scotch in hand I plonked on my armchair

That drink became two and soon quite a few
How it happened I never knew
I woke up fresh, so the sleep was sound
But how was it that on the floor I was found

The time I found was half past two
Hunger pangs, I was feeling too
The rains were gone, and the sun was bright
The birds were chirping, happy in flight

The flowing waters, backyard field lake
And the road which yesterday, a river did make
Were all back to what they were
Peddlers were back, peddling their ware

Perhaps I alone did heave a sigh
Of sadness on seeing the bright blue sky
I liked the rains, I want them more
Let it come by with more fun in store