this holi…
dear son
this holi
your second
i still
don’t have
any colours
to give you
no sleepy faces
at the door
waiting
to pull
you out
of bed
no neighbours
filling
buckets
of cold water
to soak you
to the skin
awakening
every pore
of your spirit
no laughter
or loudspeakers
at the chowks
with the annual
o rang barse
song
i have
only
stories
memories
of the colours
that rained
orange, red
green and blue
creaky
golden pistons
our weapons
for a few
hours
puranpoli
amti
warm milk
and ghee
that melted
on my tongue
cacophony
of children
all talking
at once
shivering
with the
cold
the excitement
when
it’s your turn
son
don’t be
afraid
of a time
spent
abroad
surrender
to the colours
to the love
to your heart
watch
them fill
your life
just
one holi
day.
Jayu said:
hi radhu,
It is really very sweet.
Our childrens will be missing on so much of fun, we actually had.
sad but true.
anyways, next holi come to my place we can play holi in our garden.
chal take care
jayu
Radhika Mamidi said:
So true! People abroad miss it for a reason. But back home too – when I ask my friends – they say they have not played holi. No enthu. They feel what is the point in getting coloured and spending the rest of the day washing it! I miss it so much. The apartment culture [“don’t spoil the walls, don’t spoil the stairs, be considerate…”], the television revolution [“rang barase” video is better than the chowks loudspeaker song], the internet [google “how holi is celebrated” rather than go out and find out] could be some reasons.
Anyway…
That was a nice writeup.
Your namesake.
Jayu said:
radhu, dont spoil the thing. I still want to believe that holi is celebrated the same old way.
For us, my father hated holi and asked us not to play holi.
But we used somehow go out and play with colours.
We did some silly things hiding from our parents, i am worried what our kids will be doing?
take care
jayu
Devesh said:
Hey Radhika – hope you, Praveen and the lil one are keeping well 🙂