There Is Dearth Of Space In This City Even To Die! Poem by Dr.V.K. Kanniappan

The body of a senior citizen from whom the life is left,
who lived in one of that apartment flats is kept
in the freezer box and placed in the stilt car parking
for the final respects to be offered;

On top of the sunshine of the noon,
Four to five people who live in the town,
who have come to inquire the condolence
stand there with tiredness,

By inhaling the unusual smell of the rose garlands,
Crossing the left over shadow of shamiana,
Wiping the uneasy sweat, maintaining
the uncomfortable sorrow over the face!

What they feel at that time is,
Is it the delusive paradox of death?
Or emptiness of the mid-day or is it the secret worry
of their pending work on that day?

Without any such above questions in mind,
The elderly person who is cutting the fresh bamboo
and preparing the bier in the available place
in the road with heavy traffic grumbles,

'There is dearth of space in this city even to die! '

Ref: The Tamil Poem நகரச்சாவு by கவிஞர். பிருந்தா சாரதி, ஓவியம்: செந்தில்