I Sat In A Shoddy Bar Poem by Madathil Rajendran Nair
I Sat In A Shoddy Bar
I sat in a shoddy bar
The west wind had just begun to blow
Through rusted windows
Two sat in front of me
They had no drinks, no money
Dry like a desolate parched lake
On a humid summer eve
In an empathy that overpowered me
I ordered free drinks for them
A stray dog with expectant eyes
Shared company
Munching whatever
The three of us offered
Oh, what an afternoon that was!
Do we have to frequent
Temples and other praying places
To understand the love we shared?
Where are the ones I shared with?
Where is the dog?
All in me like in a dream
West wind, don't forget to blow
I am I am, all this sultry afternoon
The two before me and the dog
Oh, all that is a beautiful dream!
Oh eternal, give me more such dreams
Till the unending eternity of my being!
Who wants liberation from these dreams
When the west wind just whistles its whims?
What good would temples be if the empathy was contained only between their walls. Such sweet relief within our dreams. Empathy overflowing. The refreshing relief both physical of thirst and spiritual of soul. Within such a dream the innocents are also given dignity with love and brotherhood. Each reader sees a different set of eyes and even a different dog within our own experience and imagination and yet we all feel the essence of such sweet charity.......splendidly, vividly penned Madathil!
I posted this poem with some trepidation because some readers feel offended by the mention of shoddy bars and booze. Reading what you have said has given me a sigh of relief. Thanks.
hey, readers! let me share a little secret with you now. the poet was by himself and remained by himself in the shoddy bar; well, there MAY have been a dog. 'Madathil' was the only ONE drinking. the employees had to kick him out at closing time. then he went home and made up this story. bri :)
Bri, I didn't know it was you who said A poem is a beautiful lie!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/21/2024 9:17:49 AM # 1.0.0.1119
From sympathy to empathy the poem progress as if in a dream until its culmination in a lovey dream. I liked these lines the best, to quote: Oh, what an afternoon that was! Do we have to frequent Temples and other praying places To understand the love we shared? A splendid poem indeed.