Translated from the Malayalam by Nadha Rashada S V
Home: I
They all got home.
after all the blabbering along the streets and the city,
talking about movies
and random stuff from the neighbourhood.
A sudden silence boomed as they reached the doorstep.
They became strangers to each other.
Afraid of one another,
Hiding.
A wild darkness spread all over the home.
Even during the day,
We kindle the lights.
Home: II
The household grew.
And the rivals too.
They put the home for auction.
Only four people came.
“A horrifying house without a single door or window”
Quit the first one.
Second one too abandoned, saying
The roof will soon collapse.
Third one said: I can’t buy an expensive boat
to reach this home
in the middle of the sea.
I can’t,
said the fourth one leaving:
Ghosts used to live here.
Home: III
An architect came
to my bed yesterday.
Hey, you are here, I said.
I want a home.
With no walls
but windows.
With a roof
But I want to see the sky.
A stove
without a kitchen,
breeze-blown
but the lamps shouldn’t be put out
with God
without a priest;
table with a drawer
without a lock.
with a garden
no fences.
The hawk must eat the crumbs,
Vulture should drink the gruel
Chickens should fly.
Everyone should see each other
from everywhere, all the time.
Home: IV
On a July day in the constellation of Cancer
When snakes came swarming,
We decided to ask Gopalan to repair the house.
The first brick changed to flesh as he put it down
Second brick changed to ribs soaked in blood.
Before he could move the third brick
Gopalan fainted.
This house is a vampire
That sucked the blood from all its residents.
The house moves in anger.
Without knowing this,
Gopalan shouldn’t have come to work.
Without telling him this
He should not have been invited.
Home: V
Rooms multiplied in the house,
As the years went by.
The house gave birth to rooms,
continuously, like a pig.
Rooms made
without money
without cement
cramped and crowded
as they grew in number.
Self and selfishness
lay
sat
stayed
in the room.
In the end.
while a room was laboring to give birth
its walls crushed the doors.
After a while,
a wayfarer said to his partner:
Look at this graveyard.
It was a desert once.
Shihabuddin Poythumkadavu is one of the renowned Indian writers in Malayalam. He is a poet, journalist, screenwriter, orator and television personality. He was born at pothumkadavu in Kannur District, Kerala. After graduation he completely devoted himself to literature. He received many awards for his excellent style of crafting, among them the most prominent are Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007, Abu Dhabi Shakthi Award, and Abu Dhabi Malayalee Samajam Award. He has published 4 poetry collections, 5 novels, and 12 short stories.
Nadha Rashada S V is a social science student from IIT Madras. She has showcased her potential in leadership and literary work since her secondary school. She got the best volunteer award from Kannur district in Souhrida club activities. She was selected to participate in state level school Kalolsavam Kerala in Kathaprasangam and won A Grade in the competition. She was selected to present a paper in State level Shastra Patham. She started her literary engagement at age 12. She has been selected as a member of the students’ legislative council in IIT Madras as an appreciation of her initiative in the literary and social activities on the campus.