Kalabhavan Mani And His Folk Songs

His creativity develops as
the flesh in a black oyster
in the bottom of poverty.

Worms fed only on the flesh
of generations.
All genres of their experiences
live in voice.
Mani picks up their songs with
suppressed dreams and pangs.

As he sings, the audience
catches fire; they dance like
flames in his voice.

He juggles like a wizard of
emotions.
Some lines are salty;
some others juicy.

A village virgin
blushes and blooms
in the old lantern light
in his folk song.

His liver and kidneys have
turned as ant-eaten biscuits.
Still he remains sweet.

He’s an entangled firefly
in a web
with a spider drawing near,
yet he emits light.

Kalabhavan Mani was a well-known folksinger and cine artist from
Kerala, India, who passed away recently. First published in The
Literary Hatchet, by Pear Tree Press, US, and then reprinted in
my book, 'Eternal Fragments' by erbacce press, UK.