Punching Bag Poem by Madathil Rajendran Nair

Punching Bag

Rating: 5.0


It hung in a corner of the living room
The worn-out punching bag
Wrinkled all over its leathery shine
Shuddering every time someone opened the door

My first daughter entered first
Contempt burning in her eyes
Punched the bag left and right
Like boxer Muhammad Ali
Making it swing violently
Hit the walls on either side

A few minutes afterwards
The second one had her turn
She came in dancing
Furiously punched panting
Turned her back to the bag
And then gave it a donkey kick

‘Ere the poor bag could regain
Peace and equipoise
There entered my wife
Like a tempest unleashed
Danced and jumped around
Punching, panting, cursing
And then let out a scream
Like the famous "kreegaah"
Of ape-man Tarzan-ji

All three had their reasons:
An affair not receiving
Parental approval and blessing
A college excursion missed
Due to need for spending less
An unbought diamond ring
On wedding anniversary

Hung upside down
Was me - the real punching bag
In the middle of feminine power
Paunch sagging like the chin
Of Droopy of the cartoons
Receiving volleys of punches
Hitting the walls relentlessly

Punching Bag
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Kelly Kurt 02 July 2015

A marvelous tale, Madathil. The father and husband, taking the metaphorical (I hope) punches to allow his beloved family to release frustration. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Peace

1 0 Reply
Valsa George 03 July 2015

A very humorous write! Still under the facade of this mock poem, I can see grains of truth. Someone in the family has to take all the blame when things go against everyone's whims! Usually it is the lady of the house who is made a punching bag! Enjoyed this thoroughly!

1 0 Reply
Mark Heathcote 04 July 2015

Great metaphor wish I’d thought it nice one Sir.

1 0 Reply
Bri Edwards 17 December 2016

And then gave it a donkey kick............a little laugh here. :) still i'm reading, but thanks for the photo! ! ! - - - - - - - - - - - - a new-to-me word! not so unusual, ....that i find an unfamiliar-to-me word! e·qui·poise ˈekwəˌpoiz/ noun noun: equipoise 1. balance of forces or interests. this temporary equipoise of power a counterbalance or balancing force. plural noun: equipoises capital flows act as an equipoise to international imbalances in savings verb verb: equipoise; 3rd person present: equipoises; past tense: equipoised; past participle: equipoised; gerund or present participle: equipoising 1. balance or counterbalance (something) . Origin - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - to me the 'ape-man' was Tarzan. note my spelling. ;) i used to watch Tarzan movies on TV when i was a kid. Jane was a looker. Cheetah not so much. An unbought diamond ring On wedding anniversary..................so next year just rent one for a day or two and, when she is sleeping VERY SOUNDLY, slip it off of her finger and make a police report after returning it to the store/owner! Hung upside down Was me - the real punching bag...........another chuckle, not so loud, but still GOOD. Receiving volleys of punches Hitting the walls relentlessly..............light laughter here. very sad! ! ! : ( : ( to MyPoemList. all true, of course. i'll come and cut you down. bri :)

1 0 Reply
Rajesh Thankappan 24 July 2015

Very humorous! Poor fellow you! I think you have manged the parry the blows because of the help extended by the selfless old friend, the Punching bag. Ha! Ha!

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Kumarmani Mahakul 16 July 2015

Marvelous tale and funny write. I read the poem thoroughly and at first I could not but laugh. I found grains of truth that happen in a family. Many thanks for sharing

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Roop Rekha Bhaskar 05 July 2015

I loved reading this one! a lot of punch in it. Yet riddled with deep meaning. Happens in every household. In mine too. Yet I would not have come out with such a wonderful way of putting it in black and white. It is a hearty one too. I could not help asking my daughter read it. And she punched two in the air with laughter. She had missed her excursion too. Lovely

1 0 Reply
Tirupathi Chandrupatla 05 July 2015

Great humor in the punching bag. The saga does not end there. Poor punching bag must hang on for more punches to come.

1 0 Reply
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