Diwali Celebrity

by Madathil Rajendran Nair

Things changed all of a sudden
With greetings and acknowledgements
Pouring in from unfamiliar directions
I have become
A celebrity overnight

The security men at the gate
Stooped into my car
With a loud “Good Morning, Sir”
The launderer who irons our clothes
The milkman and the paper-boy
And the grumpy car cleaner
Who cleans the neighbour’s vehicles
The guy at the parking lot
Of the supermarket
God knows what he does
The uncaring beggar on the streets
Have all overnight turned over-polite
Acknowledging my so far unnoticed
Insignificant existence

The watchmen in our neighbouring villas
Who demanded my identity to be proved
The other day to access their premises
Jumped in front of my car
Precariously to wish me a good day

The cat was out when the young maid
At my friend’s apartment
Who blushes and hangs her head
At my greying masculinity
Was emboldened today
To smile and look into my eyes
And pronounce in no uncertain terms
“Happy Diwali to you, Sir, and madam”

Oh, I am a celebrity today
Who the world has time to accept
Thanks to Diwali
Who cares about tomorrow
All celebrities have to go

01-Nov-2013

More By : Madathil Rajendran Nair

Views: 1405 Comments: 6

Comments on this Poem

Thanks Amit. Coming from a poet, your words are a great honour for me. I had my morning walk today as usual. No one noticed me. Our watchmen appeared myopic. Their gaze was distant and blank.

madathilnair
03-Nov-2013 22:44 PM

Lovely poem, uncle. I noticed Coimbatore turning a lot friendlier, this Diwali... complete strangers walked up to me and wished me! The whole place had grinning people - u captured the spirit brilliantly!

Amith PK
03-Nov-2013 13:25 PM

Immense thanks Rian-ji and Nair-ji for your reassuring words.

madathilnair
03-Nov-2013 05:31 AM

Well written. How humorously you presented the present-day behavior of people around us! I doubt very much whether your 'masculinity' is 'greying'!! R.C.Nair

R.C.Nair
03-Nov-2013 02:41 AM

Well written. How humorously you presented the present-day behavior of people around us! I doubt very much whether your 'masculinity' is 'greying'!! R.C.Nair

R.C.Nair
03-Nov-2013 02:40 AM

Thanks Nair-ji for sending me this poem. It brought a lot of smiles. But, you are not a one-day celebrity. You will be seen and read for a long time I am sure.

Rian John
03-Nov-2013 00:44 AM