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You are here: Home / Poetry / Pallankuzhi | Raamesh Gowri Raghavan

Pallankuzhi | Raamesh Gowri Raghavan

April 15, 2011

Were those your bangles I heard
as you wiped your brow
or were they the clinking of cowrie-shells
as you put them in holes
seven by seven?
I thought I heard you laugh
making an unexpected, clever move
or was it the sound of pearls
falling, one by one?
Was that a cry of victory
as you have won the match
or was it your honey-voiced anguish
never willing to lose
fair or otherwise?
That was clearly the board tossed
in indignant, violent protest
and utter denial that you lost;
or did you just claim
with eyelashes pleading for agreement
that you tripped on a floorboard?
But there is another game afoot,
isn’t it – a love game you play
with my heart-breaking imagination?

(Pallankuzhi is a popular board game in Tamil Nadu)

Authors : Raamesh Gowri Raghavan 


Raamesh Gowri Raghavan writes on Indian Review.

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Categories: Indian English Poems, Poems

Comments

  1. Raamesh Gowri Raghavan says

    April 15, 2011 at 5:01 am

    Thank you for accepting my poem.

    Reply
    • whyte says

      April 15, 2011 at 5:25 am

      It is a pleasure having your poem on Indian Review. Thank you. (Leo)

      Reply
  2. revathi seshadri says

    April 15, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    Raamesh, It is a lovely poem. Touches the heart.

    Reply
    • Raamesh Gowri Raghavan says

      November 4, 2013 at 8:13 am

      Thank you Revathi!

      Reply

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