Anitha Thampi

1968 / in Kerela

Writing

Bathing,
the water stopped
all of a sudden

Whistling,
the rusted pipe
came to a stop

Draining,
the body shivered,
naked

Stretching
through the window
its fingers,
a shivering wind

For a moment
I felt like
being cold.

And off flew
the garment
of wetness.

Draped
in a wild summer,
I forgot
modesty.

The strands of hair
dripping like a tree
in the rain

From memory
they write
on the body

just a line
or
two
with water.

Translated by Dr. C. S. Venkiteswaran
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