Look Who Is Talking

Chubby cheeks, dimpled chin,

Rosy lips, teeth within.

What do you say, son?

Looks like a good one.

Curly hair, very fair,

Eyes are blue, lovely too.

Speaks too, though, you sure that will do?

‘No, no, no!’

First published in The Riveter Review, 29 November 2013.

Yellow

Yellow means a sunflower.

A single stem brightening a whole room.

Yellow means cheer.

Yellow means a child’s nursery.

Yellow means innocence.

Yellow means butter.

A thick wad melting on a steaming hot aloo-paratha.

Yellow means temptation.

Yellow means the Australian cricket team.

Yellow means challenge.

Yellow means Winnie the Pooh.

On a night-shirt and a school bag and a notebook.

Yellow means memories.

Yellow means a canary.

Hopping and skipping and flipping about.

Yellow means life.

Yellow means turmeric.

A pinch added to a drab looking bhaji, making it seem like a mouth-watering delight.

Yellow means taste.

Yellow means a field of mustard plants.

With Shahrukh and Kajol singing ‘Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam’.

Yellow means youth.

Yellow means the piece of gold my grandmother wears around her neck.

A gift from my mother to hers, from her first salary.

Yellow means pride.

Yellow means the sun.

Light. Energy. Hope.


First published in Talking Cranes, 21 November 2013.