-K Radhakumar The good news is Rain is forecast for tomorrow. What a relief! The ten o’clock news says Many places in the country have had Temperatures in the 40s. It is history Steam rose from the boiling kettle With James Watt by the stove And we had its introduction in the 18th century For the benefit of mankind. The place is hit by soaring temperatures And what if it keeps on increasing What if humans and animals are Bubbling and boiling away like water. Life will not end in fire nor in ice. No, life will never end – It is all in my imagination. I am running a temperature And have been in bed with a temperature of 40p . Yes, I have spent the last few days in bed, Delirious And have been reading Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Still a favourite book though I am in my forties.
Here at Imphal It always looks like rain But it never falls. Last week the forecast said There would be heavy rainfall By the middle of the week But the heavens did not open And cultivation was not possible In the villages surrounding this small town.
Here in our villages The irrigations canals The implements used The methods of cultivation All are primitive by modern standards. Hence, no rain means no cultivation No cultivation means no rice No rice means malnutrition and starvation. Add to this Last year our field produce was low, very low Because of flood during the harvesting season. No rain worries us; Too much rain worries us. We do not pray to the god of rain or any god For the predicament we are in. The relevance of god dwindles.