Rajagopal Parthasarathy

Arabmongoltartarthree strainsgo to makethis jadedragging the jutkagrazing the tarmacof Madras streets.Three sangamsand twice threego to make thisTamil languageI handleand speakand manhandleand teachderivedfrom of old.The strains are weak,wearing out;arab or mongolor tartar elementsare rarelyto be recognizedin thistotteringbut willingjade.

to a pair of obese headlights.I return home, tried,my face pressed against the windowof expectation . I climb the stepsto my f lat, only to trip over the matOutside the door. The keygoes to sleep in my palm.I fear I have bungled again.That last refinement of speechterrifies me. The balloon.Of poetry has grown red in…