My Grandma

 

My Grandma

 

My age and chair

now least I care

as I do not shy

while coveting I

my grandma’s armpit

and to leap on her lap to sit

and to sleep on her shoulder

and to hide behind her saree’s corner

to get bliss and contentment

as in childhood so also now as I lament

and to thwart all my perils

from ghosts, ghouls, and evils.

as a child, it is the place safest

to protect against

Mom and Dad’s anger

spirits under darkness cover.

Night and day

with her, I love to stay

since I started breathing free air

she used to take my care.

When my ear ached,

my teeth quaked

may it be in day or night

at odd hours with pain when I fight

she is present there

to take care

in the absence of mom

who acted dumb and calm

as her mother-in-law’s presence

my loud piteous cry to silence

Administers she the juice of roots and leaves

my pain, it generally relieves.

As I came off the age

then I could gauge

her agonies and ecstasies

only the heap of sighs I could wheeze

At that time she was over sixty

but no horoscope existed, for it, to plea

as in her struggle for survival

protecting her horoscope was a task upheaval

that her parents must have done with care

to ensure that their daughter's evils do not stare.

As per customary practice

she was married as a girl novice.

Naturally, she had no voice

to her parental choice.

She was tied in nuptial bondage

a Zamindari boy in a nearby village

Seven years in a big joint family

conjugal life they lived hardly

ill luck snatched away her hubby

leaving their two sons to her to see

and a host of in-laws to look after

with stringent customs to restrict her

as a Hindu widow has to stay for life

with customary restrictions adding to her strife

she had to stay within the limitation

in the innermost corner of the zamindari mansion.

From her rise to rest

before sunrise to late-night state

from own kids to in-laws, younger

to host of old superiors to look after.

Endured she shocks in succession

prematurely she lost her eldest son

surely it is a bolt from the blue

                                           when she lost her eldest daughter-in-law, too

orphaning their little son as a child

with shocks on her burdens were piled.

Keeping account of income expenditures

with her bare knowledge of counting by fingers

counting only up to twenty

an adept finance manager she could be.

she had never gone to school

her count of twenty was her tool.

sharp was her memory and intellect

hence being the eldest in the family she commanded respect.

with reverence to her my head bows

for her multifarious majestic shows.

Besides being the guardian of the whole joint family

welfare of each one she could see

Cooking for all on big pot earthen

never she failed and never a pot was broken

in festive occasions her cakes of different flavor

still, our appetite and senses hanker after.

Her cakes of different shapes and sizes

so far are the best, we assess

Shapes of her cakes reveal her artistry innate

that induces children to make their appetites great.

 

short in height

frame lithe and light,

Complexion, wheatish,

a character without blemish,

the beauty of her physique in precise

was a whole grain of a rice.

On her, age had its frowning trace

though under its frowns glittered her grace

without fake teeth, her smile

looks glittering in style

painted with betel stain,

hides from us her old age pain.

Her thinning hair without dye

grey they were attracting every eye.

Without ornaments

and with the white garment

that Hindu widows wears

with eyes dried of tears

she looked respectful

and her grace makes her capable

to control and command on its own

her anger never she had shown.

 

In her grandchildren

found he her living fun

Innumerable Tales for kids’ joy

in her memory always toy

ranging from beasts to ghosts

to fairies dancing in the absence of light posts

Stories from Heaven earth to hell

as they kept children in captivating spell

Add to it many more to her treasure

she must have remembered from her grandmother

As a Grandma her evening tales

over the ages that man hails

may these center-round beings celestial

or on animates and inanimate beings terrestrial

or a prince riding on horses with wings

or on beasts or birds or on human beings

subjects myriad captivating a child

that under cover of darkness keep it beguiled

some hilarious some fantasy some frightening

all make the child to lie on grandma’s breast clinging.

safest place it finds for its protection

even by irate mum, no harm to it can be done

the baits emanating from the roof bamboo all of a sudden

the howling of jackals from the ground cremation.

fighting cats and barking of dogs sound horrendous

too much for a child to evade the expected fuss.

She was no different as a grandma but special to us

her company to me is wondrous.

the warm soothing protection in Grandma’s lap

feel I steel the warmth after a decade gap.

reminisce I. them from my memory banks

while her my heart profusely thanks

Survived she, to nurture her grandson’s daughter

a great-grandchild she could look after.

 

Hey Grandma! you are no longer with us

in life, each of us feels the loss grievous

in my heart of hearts every moment

we hear your voice with your assent

your evening tales, your advice, and your consolations

soothe us at this when our misery never shuns.

Remember I, with awe the tears of all

my father mother and all whom by name you call

when you left us for your heavenly abode,

while on my daughter, blessings, you bestowed.

I was tearless being too heavily struck by the tragedy

To the Lord, I prayed the Lord to find for us its remedy.

Hey grandma! I from the mortal world pray for you

your piety sufferings the lord must view

to give peace and bliss to your soul

that for all living is the ultimate goal.

 

P K Rouray

in the service of the Lord