Friday, February 15, 2008

Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.

Friends,
our dear sister
is departing for the foreign
in two three days,
and
we are meeting today
to wish her bon voyage.
You are all knowing, friends,
what sweetness is in Miss Pushpa.
I don't mean only external sweetness
but internal sweetness.
Miss Pushpa is smiling and smiling
even for no reason
but simply because she is feeling.
Miss Pushpa is coming
from very high family.
Her father was renowned advocate
in Bulsar or Surat,
I am not remembering now which place.
Surat? Ah, yes,
once only I stayed in Surat
with family members
of my uncle's very old friend---
his wife was cooking nicely ...
that was long time ago.
Coming back to Miss Pushpa
she is most popular lady
with men and ladies also.
Whenever I asked her to do anything,
she was saying, 'Just now only
I will do it.; That is showing
good spirit. I am always
appreciating the good spirit.
Pushpa Miss is never saying no.
Whatever I or anybody is asking
she is always saying yes,
and today she is going
to improve her prospects
and we are wishing her bon voyage.
Now I ask other speakers to speak
and afterwards Miss Pushpa
will do the summing up.

--- Nissim Ezekiel (1924--2003)

One can hardly miss the hilarious mimicry of Indian English (or is it that only when I mention it; it strikes the reader?). This poem presented a good puzzle to me (I mean, what does the poet really means here?) until I read the foot-notes.

It's a nice little lesson in Indian English, aren't you agreeing :-)

7 comments:

Nandan said...

Very good poem! Yes, no? I am liking it very much :). See this also - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_English#Grammar_tweaks

Ajit said...

Nice link, Nandan!

Anand Sarolkar said...

This is truly hilarious! :-D

Unknown said...

:D

Anonymous said...

Very nicce!

Anonymous said...

:)

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