while drawing the map of India
I know of a kid who was
worried as to where was Kuzhoor

a sketch job that took just five minutes
to score three marks
misled him many a time

between the question paper and the answer sheet
he
searched for his canal, bunds and fields

here’s Varkey chettan’s tea stall
there’s the butcher shop
here cricket is played
Subramonnian temple there
Kundoor river bank here
the friends wait here
Preethi turns into the alley here
like that he marked

even after the warning bell
India wouldn't be drawn in full

Kashmir not marked at all





Translation : Rajasree

A thousand shifting dunes
A million mirages
Brazen storms a raging
heavy laden with sand

None a single cloud
In the fiery blaze above
Blinding flames of fire
Pound the miles of sand.

Footprints lost in time
Wiped by moving strands
Was there and is no more
The trace of who tread where

Pushing on with head bent low
Arid winds and sand assault
Unseen yet clearly seen
To reach that patch of green.

Within the nature's viles
An island of paradise
Lush green and flowing blue
Unreal surreal but true

Thousands lost in the dunes
Scorched parched marooned
Few tho of good fortune
The oasis they find a soon

Each day as life's wind rages
Time shifts and moves as dunes
Blaze of regrets beat down
Track wither to go is wiped

Within my daily desert
A patch of life so verdant
Makes the trek more hopeful
The oasis that is you

Green with life so vibrant  
Blue and clear your spring
***** breeze your laughter
My Oasis for here and after

Shibu Varkey