Coconut Lentil Curry

Coconut Lentil Curry
© Surazeus
2023 01 01

In the humid hills where snow never falls 
the young girl wearing green and yellow sari 
follows scent of coconut lentil curry 
to the little house on the river shore 
where her grandmother, crouching by stone stove, 
hums temple melody to praise Parvati. 

The grey wagtail bird with the golden breast, 
hopping among dead leaves in dark green stream, 
explains that we suffer sorrow of pain 
so we can savor pleasure of true love 
while she paints Surya on the river stone 
to see if he will become her soulmate. 

Glancing at the road at beep of a horn, 
she sees young man with a curling mustache 
driving green pickup truck in grove of trees 
that bears lumber and bricks with case of tools, 
so she laughs when she envisions the man 
as Surya driving chariot of the sun. 

Slipping through the grove of banana trees, 
she peers from shadow at the half-built house, 
and giggles bashfully with blushing cheeks 
while she watches incarnation of Surya 
work at constructing house with kitchen hearth 
for his brother and his new pregnant bride. 

After sunset when the moon rises blue 
everyone gathers with plates of hot food 
to feast on lentil soup and mango juice, 
then men beat drums and play bansuri flutes 
and women twirl the rasalila dance 
while Nagini dances slow before Surya. 

Waking beside Surya in the pale dawn, 
body still glowing with pleasure of love, 
she dresses and runs on the river shore, 
then crouches by grandmother at her stove 
whose black eyes shimmer with eternity 
as she gives her a naan with curried lentils. 

Riding the bus in busy city streets, 
she grins as her hair swirls around her face, 
then enters the store where she works all day 
selling eye-phones with a calm charming smile 
while statue of Lakshmi bears coins of gold 
that spill sparkling from her generous hands. 

Returning to her village at sunset, 
the young girl wearing green and yellow sari 
follows scent of coconut lentil curry 
to the little house on the river shore 
where her grandmother, crouching by stone stove, 
hums temple melody to praise Parvati.