It’s my mom’s birthday today, and as I scoured the recesses of the internets for something nice to say, I came across this most beautiful poem by the author of “Joy Junction” about his mom. As most of you who know me know, I’m not much of a poet, but I am enough of a romantic to steal “borrow” someone-else work to express what I feel (I know – lame, right?)
மழையில் நனைந்துகொண்டே
வீட்டுக்கு வந்தேன்
‘குடை எடுத்துட்டுப் போக வேண்டியதுதானே!’
என்றான் அண்ணன்'
எங்கேயாச்சும் ஒதுங்கி நிக்கவேண்டியதுதானே'
என்றாள் அக்கா
‘சளி பிடிச்சுக்கிட்டு செலவு வைக்கப்போற பாரு’
என்றார் அப்பா
தன் முந்தானையால்
என் தலையை துவட்டிக்கொண்டே
திட்டினாள் அம்மா
என்னையல்ல; மழையை!
source: Joy Junction
My translation, in the hope that it redeems the “theft”:
I came home drenched in the rain
‘Why didn’t you take the umbrella’
said my brother
‘You could have waited somewhere until there was a respite in the rain’
said my sister
‘you are going to catch a cold and cost us money’
said my father
With the tip of her sari,
as she dried off my head,
my mom was cross
not with me;
but with the rain.
Yes. We tamilians are melodramatic and sentimental sometimes … (well actually, all the time. Some of us, just learn to hide it better) Mom. Dad. Grandma, Shankar and Swetha. There are days where I really miss you guys. Today was one such day.