Parijatham Poem by Indira Renganathan

A habit of harvesting happiness
In the wintry dawn
Gathering the unfettered soul-feasting
White aroma, thousandfold of a celestial ambrosia
The queen of the night hath shed medicative..

I remember
Parijatham tree, our agraharam-house bore
The fragrant rear- yard youthfully carpeted with
When shaken the blest me with its flowery drizzles
Then to make garlands with my sister
Heady fragrance routine, Perumal garlanded us

Hundred years old in my heart
Grew Parijatham passed by
Grand-pa, pappa, mine years inclusive

This fecund tree, my heart's child
A poetry of aurora
Its coral-tubed creamy whites
On the way-side out while dropping
Reminds me of Sathyabama enraged
Her tree on Rukmini's court when showered

Inside bred, wayside spread
In and out picking as busy I'm
Burping, signals the porch..
My husband!
Ah, neither Satyabama nor Rukmini I'm
But Yashoda

Blowing out the sandy sorrow
Thrusted in the legend of this divine tree..
'Risen out of a sunned woman's love-ashes
Fading out on vengeful sunny sorrow.. '
My determination disbelieving..
I'm for my pooja ready to string up
This ambrosial Parijatham
All for my sweet little Lord Krishna