Jackfruit Payasam

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SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Jackfruit Payasam

#1 Post by SivaRamanathan » 20 Jun 2020, 17:22

V2

Once a year the dead
descend to their loved ones,
to see if everything is okay
to those they left behind.

One year is one day
where they are put up.

Their loved ones
prepare a feast of their favourite dishes
as offerings and feed the crows.
The dead need a physical form to land on earth -

the crows caw before they eat,
and scoop away the served plantain leaf.

The elongated jackfruit sends out a scent
to announce it has ripened.

This is the fruit meant for the New Moon
mid-day lunch; peeled, podded, diced, with fingers
dipped in coconut oil, sauted on a low flame with ghee
till it rolls like jelly, topped with ample sugar
added to coconut milk with powdered cardamom.

Even Gods cannot resist this dish.










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Once a year the dead
descend to their loved ones,
to see if everything is okay
to those they left behind.

One year is one day
where they are put up.

Their loved ones
prepare a feast of their favourite dishes
as offerings and feed the crows.
The dead need a physical form to land on earth -

caw, caw, caw before they eat ;
and scoop away the served plantain leaf.
The elongated jackfruit sends out a scent
to announce it has ripened.

This is the fruit meant for the New Moon
mid-day lunch; peeled, podded, diced, with fingers
dipped in coconut oil, sauted on a low flame with ghee
till it rolls like jelly, topped with ample sugar
added to coconut milk with powdered cardamom.

Even Gods cannot resist this dish.

SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Re: Jackfruit Payasam

#2 Post by SivaRamanathan » 20 Jun 2020, 17:24

Their loved ones
prepare a feast of their favourite dishes
as offerings and feed the crows first;
the dead need a physical form to land on earth -

caw, caw, caw before they eat '
and they scoop away the served plantain leaf.
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Can you suggest one word before the "caw,caw,caw"

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Jackfruit Payasam

#3 Post by BobBradshaw » 21 Jun 2020, 00:03

This is a delightful read. My only suggestion is to tweak these lines:

The dead need a physical form to land on earth -

caw, caw, caw before they eat ;
and scoop away the served plantain leaf.

to
The dead need a physical form to land on earth:

the crows caw before they eat,
and scoop away the served plantain leaf.

SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Re: Jackfruit Payasam

#4 Post by SivaRamanathan » 21 Jun 2020, 06:51

Thanks,Bob. That seals the matter. The poem is finished.

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