Farewell to the Rubber Board

I take leave of you, the Rubber Board,

With the Rubber Board, Kerala

And with Kerala its subjects, flora and

fauna

Much in relief, I leave the alien land;

Much in grief, I leave all the queens.

Good bye to the rubber trees I never

loved

Goodbye to planters met and left,

To the colleagues awaiting my exit,

To them in who I had lived,

To them I loved as my beloved,

To them I mated not but in dreams.

Goodbye to the humid climate and

The hygienic sense, neatness, decency

And appearance alertness of the people.

Bye to those self centered men and

Passionate women.

Along with curvaceous beauty,

To the tapioca and fish curry too, bye.

10.11.2002