A lad’s experience on a sweaty afternoon in the seventies.
Iwalk through the sand
In forty degrees of heat
Shoes covered in sand
And feet feeling the beat
Entering the building
The lift smells of garbage
Cannot get into the lift
So I take the stairs with courage
Onthe second floor
Hakim, in his school uniform
‘Will you come later today?’
‘I need help with maths and more.’
‘Sure, buddy, see you at five.’
Sweat pouring out of ears
Vest soaking wet
To the third floor, a few more stairs
Anugly mess next door
Slippers and dusty shoes
Scattered everywhere
Disgusted, I open my door
Rush past the wall cabinet
Past the large chairs
Start up the AC
The AC thunders
Iput on the stereo
Pushing a cassette and presto
Rod Stewart is rocking
And I am soaking
Get into my room
Unfinished books
Girlfriend’s picture
On my bedside nook
Iundress fast
bathroom I dash
It has no lock
Soak my sweat away
Water so hot
On this sweltering day
Change into silly shorts
Dash to the kitchen fast
S
Serving rice and curry
From pots and pans
I am so hungry
A plate filled to the brim
Stop the stereo
Switch the television on
Enjoy my hot meal
Watching the small screen fun
The ‘Brady Bunch’ is on
I want six kids
That day will come soon
They will be my bliss
A tanka is a five-line poem with a syllable pattern of 5–7–5–7–7. Here is a rewrite of the poem in tanka style:
Sand in my shoes Heat and dust everywhere I enter the building Garbage in the lift I climb the stairs
Hakim waits for me In his school uniform He needs help with maths I promise to come later Sweat pours from my ears
To the third floor An ugly mess next door Slippers and shoes I open my door Disgusted and tired
The AC thunders Rod Stewart rocks the stereo I dash to the bathroom Hot water soothes me I change into shorts
Rice and curry From pots and pans I fill my plate The Brady Bunch on TV I dream of six kids
Heat and dust outside Cool and calm inside I enjoy my meal Watching the small screen They will be my treasure
Postscript
Hakim and I stayed friends for life. We both loved maths and the music of the seventies. He has two kids and lives in Dubai. I have four kids and four grandkids in Australia. (A dozen in my clan).
A Child of Curiosity How inherent inquisitiveness became a key driver in learning experiences. Denzil Jayasinghe · B orn in the mid-20th century, I am a product of the post-World War II era. My parents, who were teenagers when the war commenced, married in the 1950s. As a representative of the baby boomer generation, I was born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac. My birth took place at Zoysa Nursing Home, a renowned institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka, around 5 in the morning. Sri Lanka, known for its tropical climate, is a beautiful island nation south of India. This climate appealed to me, and I sought similar weather in my twenties, spending them in Dubai, where the winter resembles an Australian summer. Raised by religious parents, I held them in deep affection. However, the church teachings posed a paradox for a young mind, instructing one to love God more than one’s parents. I initially adhered to the Ten Commandments and other societal norms in ...
Packing lists An addiction to packing lists Denzil Jayasinghe 3 min read·Nov 6, 2022 My fascination with packing lists started when I was young. Eventually, it became a life-long habit, a kind of addiction. When I enrolled at the Christian brothers’ formative school at eleven, a packing list was given to my parents. 2 School shorts 2 School shirts, white 2 Baniyans, aka vests 4 Pairs of white socks 1 Sarong 2 Casual shirts 2 Casual shorts 2 Handkerchiefs 1 Toothbrush 1 Comb 1 Bedsheet 2 Pillowcases 1 Pair of black shoes 1 Pair of canvas sports shoes My parents went into fast gear to assemble the packing list. My father started from the bottom of the list, the shoes. He took me by bus to Colombo to P G Martins, a shoemaker. We came out of that shoe store with DS-branded black and Shinwa-branded canvas shoes. Also bought was a Ford suitcase, in shiny sky-blue colour. Mother bought vests and socks from Velona, a garment outlet run by one of our relations, Aunty Helen. A trip to a ta...
Demons and Devotion: A Family’s Pilgrimage Denzil Jayasinghe · “Demons and Devotion: A Pilgrimage to Tewatta” is a short story by Denzil Jayasinghe about a family’s pilgrimage to a holy site in Sri Lanka. The story follows Denzil, the eldest son, as he reluctantly accompanies his devout parents on this journey to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Although initially sceptical, Denzil reflects on his childhood faith and his family's hardships. However, the pilgrimage turns unexpectedly when an encounter with a priest who claims a demon possesses Denzil creates tension and leaves him angry. T he air hung heavy with a solemnity that felt out of place for a silver wedding anniversary. Denzil’s father, whose pronouncements held the weight of scripture, declared, “We are going on a special trip to the holy place of Our Lady at Tewatta. This day, showing God’s blessings, will be a private event for our family.” On a recent arrival for a two-week holiday in Sri Lanka...
3 min readAug 30, 2022
Comments
Post a Comment