Returned to compound
Reminiscent of the
Four-corner-game square box
Kids draw in their courtyard.

Fearing wrath and sarcasm
From the jack fruit tree
In the east yard
And the Mango tree
Housing the ant nests,
It rested there for a moment,
Turning the face away
Panting like a dog…

The ceiling had collapsed.
The roof tiles and windows
Were left cracked.
The hinges on the doors
Were all loosened,
The walls were stained with blood.

Didn’t think of bothering them
With my paltry queries
Why should I..?
Things bound to part, will…
Whatever bound to happen, will…

Frogs musing in the back yard returned,
Mosquitoes greeted me with latest melodies
Cats wandered near the kitchen door
Crows rested on the grinding stone…

Bored of waiting outside
The evening light
Entered the portico
And into the rooms.

Any one home…?

Thick spectacles
Buried in the newspaper,
Noises of opening and closing
Containers, in distress.
Prayers smelling herbal oil and Betel mix,
Naughty queries
Addressed to the beetles and the toys…

Didn’t they come back ever..?

Original: T.P. Anilkumar (Malayalam, ‘Kodunkattinte Koodeppoya Veedu’)
Translation: Babu Ramachandran