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Birthday Greetings To A Noble Brother Turning 75
birthday greetings to a noble brother turning 75...
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when we were school boys
we were thrilled through and through
on hearing your brief home-coming visits
from madhurai city to uthamapaalayam village-
you were our cheers
with your bundle of small gifts
aptly selected to match our expectant hearts-
yes, you alone knew our thirsts and dreams-
the days that followed would always reverberate
with our boisterous laughter bumping on walls and ceiling
and the involuntary claps in ecstasy
as you cracked wits at our expense with a special knack-
your wits were tangential
knocking our caps but never our heads-
like the teasing slaps of a friendly breeze-
you would remain as if nothing had happened
never a line of smile snaking on your lips
while we laughed like intermittent patter of rain-
o..what a charm did you possess
of which i was ever jealous and equally proud-
and a beautiful drawing hand-
a delight of my formative years-
two silent and eager eyes followed your brush
and intently digested the intricacies of painting delicacies-
you were a darling to one and all
and at times i wondered in no small measure
'has age forgotten its abrasive rubs on you
losing itself to your timely wits? '
many girls would have fallen in love
for your earthly charm and pleasing manners
had you just nodded your head for wedding-
still a mystery why you opted instead for bachelorhood-
why this voluntary shackle on your beauty?
'beauty should beget beauty
should never waste it to wither away'
shakespeare observed in his sonnet-
why on earth put you out the light of beauty
from the face of the earth?
and happiness from the heart of a mother?
you might have boldly weathered
the onslaughts of youth valiantly
that even saints are vulnerable to their tremors-
yes, for a noble cause for the family.
we salute you in solemn silence-
you had a golden voice
and your rendering of 'maadhavip ponmayilaal'
of singer t.m.s. in exact replica
transported me to bliss and joy.
you relinquished your promotions to be with parents-
a pillar of strength, really and truly, to our parents
till they breathed their last in a seven year gap
at their very ripe age as our guiding spirits-
in fact the whole house was ever in chant of your name
'subramani! subramani! ' from every corner-
you steadfastly performed all household tasks
even amidst your tired sighs of 'ammaa..appaa'-
not a trace of murmur or unwillingness ruled your face-
you cared everybody but ignored your health
and invited the disaster of stomach disorder
that keeps you ever in its clutches-
when our bellies have their rises and falls seasonally
your wolf's belly hugging your back is ever a wonder-
you denied yourself the honour of social functions
of even your siblings to be with aged parents-
it is only in films have i seen heroes performing
service totally dedicated to their parents-
but you are such a real person in my life
performing every and all duties
to our fragile-boned but stout-hearted mother-
you had been the pivot of her life and vice-versa;
the frequent emotion-soaked calls of 'yae supramani! '
of our father and mother had to be experienced
only in person, but might lose charm in narration -
you would have no more births
as you have served your gods of this life-
yes, you are a mother theresa in our midst!
today you are past 74 and into 75
but when i am told that you look 90 i feel sorry
that age had taken revenge now with double vigour
or else you must have lost the ever-playful child in you
but befriended the foamy-haired, wrinkle-stamped worry in place-
we, your siblings, are very proud of you
and i feel blessed to be born as your younger brother
though i may not be worthy of such a grace-
i still remember your inconsolable crying, like a child
when our mother left for heavenly abode
when our 'annaa' commented
'let him weep; he needs to melt down his grief
of mountainous proportions in endless streams;
let it thin out and unburden his heart
and none needs to comfort or disturb him'-
may our great and loving parents shower their blessings
on their dear son today for a painless life!
i seek your blessings at your feet
at this memorable moment of your fruitful life!
--chandra kalaadhar
poem
by
Sundaram Chandrakalaadhar
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