Umbrella Stones Poem by FABIYAS M V

Umbrella stones are the guards of a
generation lying under the centuries.
The bones of our forefathers are
intact under the seal of green moss.

Their souls had fled.
The worms had been fed.
But the unyielding genes
continue its unending journey.


Pesticides were unknown to them,
yet they tilled and filled.
Their thoughts were never toxic
like the fruits and vegetables today.


Lastly erected umbrella stones proved
all the tears, that had been spilled out,
as ‘necessary wastage of emotions’.
We have to read a lot under and on.


Umbrella Stones stand exposed, still
they resist the challenges of centuries –
they safeguard memories against
the emptiness of oblivion.




(Umbrella stones are the centuries old memorial stones for the dead, erected in the place where they had been buried. These structures were carved out of rocks in the shape of umbrellas. A few umbrella stones at Ariyannur, Guruvayur, Kerala inspired me to write this poem)