Indian Wife Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

A just married young wife laments

You used to peep in secretly into the kitchen
and kiss me and disappear before others enter

You used to shout at me when I waited long
for you from office ignoring my hunger,
but immediately drag me near and
plant a kiss on my lips

You used to bring me jasmine flower strings
for a great night togetherness,
as people bribe a government official
for a getting a caste certificate.

You used to recline on my lap and
refuse to get up, as a boy feigning sickness
to avoid going to school.

Oh foreign-based hubby, you gave me a lot
of similar pleasures for three months
just before taking up an assignment abroad
leaving me in a fire of longing for pleasure.

Oh dear, is it all a dream mere

I spent with my dear husband three months,
I do not know with haunting dreams how long
I have to live, each second crawling like days thousands

Once in 12 years the flower Kuruni blossoms
Once in 4 years Games Olympic comes
Once in 4 year World Cricket Cup games
Once in 2 years my husband turns

How unfortunate, you also joined
the list of periodic events

Is it a blessing or divine's painful whims?

I am not able to cover up my tears
with the one-way blackened glasses of my specs,
you bought me last time

Come back once and for all
Let us a see the meaning of life in a harmonious scroll