A Poem for My Wife
K. Radhakumar *
Shakespeare's works, it is said,
Were enjoyed by the common people in his day.
Though I would like to say
Poetry is not for
Any Tom, Dick or Harry
I wonder why
My wife of more than twenty years' standing
And a mother of four children
Does not read my poetry.
In her hectic schedule
Of being a housewife and a lecturer
She can find time
To glance at the headlines of the day.
Sometimes, I find her
Glancing through the blood-soaked report
Of terrorist attacks.
The order of the day!
To her, I imagine,
A poem is an idea
Hidden behind a choice of words,
A thing never plainly dressed
But wears make-up;
A piece of writing
She came across in textbooks
And which she mugged up
On her way to get
A degree of Master of Science.
The husband takes pleasure
In metaphysical problems
In ideas more poetical than true
And the wife in nuclear physics.
The parents of four children!
What's the use of asking
Why my wife does not read poetry
Or rather my poetry?
It's no use –
I can't persuade her.
Nor will I.
Reports that is hot off the press:
A man has been murdered
By burying him alive,
A sixteen year old girl has been raped
And thrown out of a moving bus
By a gang of four,
Bombs planted in a crowded place
Are blown up by detonators.
Green leaves falling in Spring!
I remain aloof
From the onslaught of changing times –
Does it help?
What do I do?
To remain a weakling or a versifier
Arranging words in lines!
In the worst of times I live in
I wish my poetry could breathe fire
And if what is said is true
I envy Shakespeare
Who knew no Latin and less Greek
But whose poetry could be enjoyed
By the common people.
* Poem written by K. Radhakumar which was published at The Sangai Express
This poem was webcasted on October 15, 2017.
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