by M. Mohankumar
M. Mohankumar’s verse focuses on a relationship gone awry – it speaks of two factions engaged in a pointless dispute, as in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels.
When they came to seek my support, I was
as firm with them as I was with the rival faction.
‘They are foolish,’ they said, trotting out
inane arguments. ‘Are you wise?’ I asked.
‘Why do you sit on the fence?’ they asked.
‘I would like you to mend fences,’ I said.
‘Victory will be ours,’ they said brashly.
‘The wind has changed in our favour.’
‘I’m no weathercock to change direction
with every shift of passing wind,’ I said.
And they are at it now, clashing, full tilt,
the little-endians and the big-endians.
Mohankumar has published eight volumes of poetry in English, his latest collection being “Gleanings” which released in 2016. His poems have appeared in almost all reputed literary magazines in print in India. His first collection of short stories in English, ‘The Turning Point and Other Stories’ has been published by Authorspress, Delhi. Mohankumar retired as Chief Secretary to Government of Kerala.
