Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Coconut Tree

she was five
when sitting on the step
of the veranda
behind the kitchen
she bent her little head
at right angle
to see the top
of a coconut tree
and the branches
swaying in the wind
beckoning to her
to join the birds
and the crows
disappearing into it
or flying out of it
and soar into the sky
soft in the dying day
and wished she were those birds
and could fly high
and wander into the heavens
and say hello to the angels
and then return
and disappear into the coconut palm.

Now five decades later
she looks down the eleventh floor
of a high end apartment
in the capital city
at the riot of coconut trees
at her feet.
Watches the birds
playing hide and seek
among its branches
and envies the birds
and the crows.

And when she roams
in lands without coconut palms
her heart swells
at the colours of fall
at strange trees that flourish
in softer climes
and looks for birds
and crows
and feels stirrings in her heart
and mind
and her whole being
and looks for her coconut trees
in vain.

14 comments:

Balachandran V said...

Absolutely refreshing, like a deep swig of tender coconut! The three images - looking up at 5, looking down at 55 and then in strange lands, the vacuum...

At 5 one wished to join the birds; 50 years later? Thank you for a good day!
0800 04.12.2009

P. Venugopal said...

nostalgic. sweet.

Swatantra said...

Amazing way of expressing the growth in life...

Anjuli said...

I loved the mirror image of the first and second verses- really great! And the third verse was refreshing.

I immediately identified with this poem!!

jayanEvoor said...

It's sweet and nostalgic!

Sumi Mathai said...

a looking up and a looking down.contrasting cudn have been better Maam

Chandrika Shubham said...

Beautiful discription of coconut tree and birds. Very true and very touching. :)

Best wishes.

anilkurup59 said...

I happened to watch on TV yesterday a brief interview with Mrs. SugathaKumari . She recited a distant poetry of hers. It was about a lush verdant hillock and how it turned out into barren lifeless piece of land.
Your piece is something similar, of lost times, fantasies and disappointment. Good indeed.

Sumandebray said...

Enjoyed your composition....
It was very refreshing and a bit nostalgic too.... as we grow old our imagination changes too
I liked the first part the most and went back and read it again...
Your comments on my post were interesting.. thanks for that but I have left Dubai now!

Anjuli said...

I am missing your new verses- came to see if maybe my updater was not letting me know of a new post- but alas- I see no new post. On the other hand, I did get to enjoy this lovely set of verses all over again- and now I feel very calm and restful.

kochuthresiamma p .j said...

@ anjuli
guess chicago winter has sent my muse into hibernation!
@ others
million thanks for the encouraging comments. But my muse refuses to thaw:-(

Kush said...

Keep writing and before you know it you will be an awesome writer - it just takes steps walking on that road - and you already know a few things.

Nithin Rajan said...

good one:) have you moved out of kerala?

archi-val said...

nice poetry .. liked your blog