Fishmonger, Crows And I Poem by Indira Renganathan

Monger-time-morning
Opens the olfaction
While the fishmonger hails..
My breath held
Kendai(Indian goat fish, carp)
Vaalai(ribbon fish)
Vilongu(eel)
Vanjaram Meen(King fish, Seer fish)
Iraal(shrimp)
Nethili Meen(Anchovies, maththi or chaala)
All basked in the opposite house...

In vociferous devotion
Congregate their caws
For the oblation round and round him
The crows
Escapes the monger hurling pieces
Vibrant street feasts
On the electric wire and roof
On tree-tops and compound walls
And
Assuasive Tulasi-Maadam
To my kolam and singing so attentive
To the core of my deep praying
Unaware of the outside
Thud...
Tulasi-Maadam unmoved but looking up
Nauseated
My vegetarian prayers but vomit soundly soundful