Birthday Greetings To A Noble Brother Turning 75 Poem by sundaram chandrakalaadhar

birthday greetings to a noble brother turning 75...

&

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