Roots

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Chandanapottu

He hides today
Clouds, clouds are his bastion
I catch him
In glimpses and slivers
He knows I do
Today he let
A drop slip
A drop I caught 
In my palm 
A clear drop with a silver sheen  
Is it a tear drop?
Or is it his blood?
How do I ask?
Such questions are not polite
And our distance is not malleable 
I mix coarse chandanam in it
I apply the paste on my forehead
In his shape 
This is how 
I go to work today 
Chandni Girija 

Chandanam is sandalwood. Chandanapottu is the bindi ... 

Day 26 of 30 | 30 Poems in 30 Days | National Poetry Writing Month #napowrimo

13 comments:

  1. Gloriously beautiful. I like knowing the source. Your writing speaks to my heart. Thanks so much. Xoxo Selma Martin

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    1. Thanks a lot, Selma! You visited my blog last year too and gave me blessings :) <3

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  2. Such tender beautiful writing— goes straight to the heart.

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    1. Thank you for reading, Elizabeth. I am glad we could connect through words :)

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  3. So happy you are featured and well deserved for this beautiful poem.

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  4. I like how you have written your poem around words that start the same but that have different meanings, the repetition of the word ‘drop’ and the way you play with it in the lines:
    ‘Today he let
    A drop slip
    A drop I caught
    In my palm
    A clear drop with a silver sheen
    Is it a tear drop?’

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    1. Thanks for reading, Kim. That's a keen observation; I hadn't realised. :)

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  5. Thank you dear friends! This has come as a pleasant surprise. Thank you for this beautiful community!

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  6. A beautiful poem Chandni. I can't help but admire the way your words weave magic. And the connectivity of chand, chandan and your name makes me smile. This was as soothing as chandan to read.

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    1. Thanks for engaging, Arti. It's doubly nice since you are familiar with the words and their feel :)

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