The task God gave
Today morning
Was bizarre,
And amazing moreover.
Get out of the room
When you turn right once more
After you go right,
On the thousand and thirteenth leaf
On the fourteenth branch
Of the first rose apple tree you see
Is the stain of a migratory bird’s dropping.
Wash it with saliva.
Did it.
Walk left
On the eastern boundary
Of the 16th villa
Stands a date palm.
Except for twelve fronds on top,
The rest have lost their green and are dead.
Supply
Sweat
Or tears
And make it bright green.
That too got done.
Walk straight.
On the underside
Of the waterway,
A little banyan tree
Has germinated and is growing
Give her a kiss and make her a mother.
Oh!
Again,
The quaint ways of God,!
Feb 6, 2014
Feb 6, 2014 at 9:40 AM UTC
The task God gave
Today morning
Was bizarre,
And amazing moreover.
Get out of the room
When you turn right once more
After you go right,
On the thousand and thirteenth leaf
On the fourteenth branch
Of the first rose apple tree you see
Is the stain of a migratory bird’s dropping.
Wash it with saliva.
Did it.
Walk left
On the eastern boundary
Of the 16th villa
Stands a date palm.
Except for twelve fronds on top,
The rest have lost their green and are dead.
Supply
Sweat
Or tears
And make it bright green.
That too got done.
Walk straight.
On the underside
Of the waterway,
A little banyan tree
Has germinated and is growing
Give her a kiss and make her a mother.
Oh!
Again,
The quaint ways of God,!
(trans from Malayalam by Anitha Varma)
