SAINT THOMAS, VERSES 178 - 182
Mark Traill
11 June 2008, 11:06AUM CAFÉ
“Breakfast Today Sir?”
A place to talk and eat
A putu with honey and meet
The histories of others like me
Who act like they’ve nothing to see
Drink lemon and ginger and cloves
Playing chess as their drying their clothes
Flick carrum pieces and gazing
That girl in the sari’s amazing
In the goddesses very own naval
The dawn is the Usha its fabled
That beauty has rarely a match
Yet in Palolem’s morning you’ll catch
The girl in the sari – her brothers
Realise she’s being discovered
“Maybe Lunch As Well?”
Chapatti or Roti or naan with my tali
And plentiful rice as we listen to “swami”
A charlatans mind tricks his cards up his sleeves
Is enough for us present to solemnly see
That Airuveda massages does get the girls
Who leave with their Shiva for flesh Tantric swirls
I salute those just Keralans
Who travel to my pearl
They feed my green
And laugh obscene
Then treat me like an earl
“Dining with us (again) Tonight, Good Sir ?”
Kingfisher beer and Ikki Gold buds
Washed down with a mackerel
And laughter and hugs
Meet lots of people
I forget in a month
They’re kind and do love me
And laugh at my puns
Drinking thinking
Dream of Cochin
Spend a lifetime
Monsoon watching
Boredom helps my
Brain keeps working
Writing, reading, sleeping day
Eating, drinking, smoke on bay
R£R£R£R£
Should have blessed Laxmi
When I woke up today
Instead I blessed Shiva
A chillum believer
Should sometimes stay in
My Spartan abode
Money is low
And the sun doesn’t show
Should stay away
From the bay for a day
Instead I was bored
Shankara my Lord
Should never have woken
Keralan that morning
Instead shout his name
In the gloom of the rain
Shouldn’t have eaten
At Aum café so early
Instead I ate porridge
With toast and a sausage
Should always ask chef
Who’s dining with me?
Instead I ask “mate,
What’s left on the slate?”
Should never have broken
My unwritten rule
Instead I did toke
When daybreak had broke
Should always be wise
When smoking illegal
Instead I puffed more
Then got caught by the law (sic)
He looms above and grunts at me, “Do you know who I am?”
“That’s quite the introduction sir, I’ve heard you’re quite the man
Please take a seat, enjoy a drink we’ll seek a mutual trust
But bare in mind I’m white, not rich, so let’s not hope too much”
He sits down slowly on the chair with eyes that burn my belt
He stares with such intensity that I am sure to melt
Waxed moustache does bristle with thoughts of earning four
Lakhs for lifetime’s habit yes, or he will show me law (sic)
“No need for hope young parangis, salvations found inside
That money belt you grip so tight, or prison if you like
Drugs and psychotropic act of 1985
State consumption of narcotics – sentencing of life”
Absorbing what he’s saying as I grip my belt for fear
Of losing all my earthly goods of which I saved for years
“Surely a man as fine as you can find it your heart
If you take now all I have I’m sure to fall apart
At Aum café right here and now with you sat at my side
Did I say I have a child who’s waiting with my bride?”
“Now Parangis, it’s such a shame I did not write the law (sic)
But as it stands you are a tourist and I can make much crore
Don’t give me tales of family woes I have enough of my own
Are you able to raise eight girls on states payroll alone?”
“I see what you say but you won’t see my way
You live in a place where Sadhu’s get paid
By ganja alone; an Indian term!
You gifted the world and now in return
You’re banging me up or cashing me in
And yet in this place its not even sin!
“If there’s a third choice then you can take it
Run to the sea or kill me and make it
To borders in time? It doesn’t sound wise
Choice number 3 and you’re hiding for life
Enough of this now, I’m naming my price
It’s certainly more than a curry with rice
And as for the Sadhu’s with Shiva in mind
We’re not even Hindu – your argument’s blind”
Tap fingers on table with bored expression
He looks like my Dad teaching me lessons
I chuck him my belt and tremble with portents
The future is drawn to fall into torment
The zips teeth unfastened, sounds like my death
Seize rupees with fingers and Mary on breath
“Well thank you young man, my kids will eat well
And I will get drunk on that malt that does sell
Near the prison you missed and you should be thankful
That I do not smoke so do keep that handful
Of ganja right there you bought just today
If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be paid!”
He’s pointing his finger, I’m turning my head
Baba smokes dope and his eyes are all red
