Memory Lane Poem by Konalli Rajeev Naik

Down my memory lane
Is the perished grandmother
Brimming with invaluable sacrifice
To feed the creepers of her entrails

Planting, weeding, thrashing of the crops
Hanging out sweat balls at her forehead
Raised the peasantry radiance
Of her indomitable past tense

Her rough worn out thumb
Kissed and crushed the bowlful
Cooked rice with water
To make a gruel lake for me.

Showed me the gleaming sky bowl at night
From the unkempt courtyard of the residence
To coax me to drink country cow milk
Narrating the story of cock and bull.

More often she perceived
My charm was the envy of the neighbours.
Once she fanned the flame
Of burning red chili with salt
Asked the emitting smoke
To tone down the evil beholding.
Her toothless mouth with swinging cheeks
Spat out the betel leaf juice
To snuff out the flame of pungent smell

She stitched my ragged shirt
Shedding white tears
Pacified herself drying the tears
With the end of her square printed saree

Down my memory lane
Is my departed grandmother
Like the perished weeping willow tree.

Konalli Rajeev Naik