Spring

Dr. Kondal Rao Velchala

“I am told

‘Spring’ has come to Madras city.

But where?

I have not heard any of the cuckoo’s Coo-Coos

Except the shrill sounds of buses and the trains.

Has it really come ?

Yes! Yes! Look ! There!

Before the ‘Chellaram’s’, over the mega-screens,

Advertised with the words

‘Grand Spring Sales’, ‘At most attractive prices’

‘Unheard of discounts’.

Words, stinging the eyes, tingling the ears.

Spring must have really come !

Not only that.

Have you not read the poems of our most honoured poet

In honour of ‘Spring’ published in today’s newspaper

With all the rumble-jumble names of trees

Which he says have blossomed?

I was not able to contain my laughter

At his references to all those medi-plants

Which he with his punditry culled out of his dictionary

To grill our memory.

I am quite sure he would n’t have seen even one out of them.

Lo ! The ladies looking verily like the creepers all ablossom

Attired in sarees

With imprints of trees implanted all over

Hairdos over flourished with flowers

Proving truly the arrival of Spring to this great city - Madras.

Oh, Dear ! What is wrong ?

Inhale the fragrances from the flowers

enchanting in their hairdos

If it is not for admiring and smelling them

For what else did they so ornate them? For whom?

For what else is that ‘touch me not’, ‘smell me not’ decor?

That apart

The hearts of the women too would be very tender

in the season of Spring.

They may not so much mind, if we so tend.

“Be bold !

For, no happiness comes to him

Who dares not,

Keeps cold.”