Poems by A.K. Ramanujan | Poetree

All Poems Original Poems Translations

Astronomer

Astronomer

Sky-man in a manhole

with astronomy for dream,

astrology for nightmare;

fat man full of proverbs,

the language of lean years,

living in square after

almanac square

prefiguring the day

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Extended Family

Extended Family

Yet like grandfather

I bathe before the village crow

the dry chlorine water

my only Ganges

the naked Chicago bulb

a cousin of the Vedic sun

slap soap on my back

like father

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The Black Hen

The Black Hen

It must come as leaves

to a tree

or not at all

yet it comes sometimes

as the black hen

with the red round eye

on the embroidery

stitch by stitch

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On The Death of A Poem

On The Death of A Poem

Images consult

one

another,

a conscience-

stricken

jury,

and come

slowly

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Elements of Composition

Elements of Composition

Composed as I am, like others,

of elements on certain well-known lists,

father's seed and mother's egg

gathering earth, air, fire, mostly

water, into a mulberry mass,

moulding calcium,

carbon, even gold, magnesium and such,

into a chattering self tangled

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Chicago Zen

Chicago Zen

I

Now tidy your house,

dust especially your living room

and do not forget to name

all your children.

II

Watch your step. Sight may strike you

blind in unexpected places.

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Still Life

Still Life

When she left me

after lunch,I read

for a while.

But I suddenly wanted

to look again

and I saw the half-eaten

sandwich,

bread,

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Prayers To Lord Murugan

Prayers To Lord Murugan

1

Lord of new arrivals

lovers and rivals:

arrive

at once with cockfight and banner—

dance till on this and the next three

hills

women's hands and the garlands

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Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait

I resemble everyone

but myself, and sometimes see

in shop-windows

despite the well-knownlaws

of optics,

the portrait of a stranger,

date unknown,

often signed in a corner

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A River

A River

In Madurai,

city of temples and poets,

who sang of cities and temples,

every summer

a river dries to a trickle

in the sand,

baring the sand ribs,

straw and women's hair

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