Poetry at Sangam
Poetry at Sangam showcases poetry in English and translations as well as essays on poetics and news of new releases.
Naan dhanpa Rajinikanth (I am Rajinikanth)
“Who are you?” K. Santhosh Raj to Rajinikanth
(30 May 2018, Tuticorin Medical College Hospital)
For a moment, did you think that he didn’t
recognise you? that, perhaps
you’ve taken the indifferent,
down-to-earth, off-screen persona, a bit too far?
Who are you?
Maybe, you should summon that naked man
from inside his glass prison.
Who are you?
Does it excite you still, shining knight?
Or would you rather be remembered
as the misplaced notes-to-self
of a BTC passenger?
Who are you?
Did you think you could get away,
as just a quirky villain with a comic streak,
or that the tossed up cigarette would escape
gravity?
Who are you?
The crouching naked self wakes up.
Peers at the dark shadow on the real side.
With bus conductor’s
eyes. Slow startle and then
back to sleep.
Who are you?
Kaali Kaalaiyan Thyagu Parattai
Baashha Padaiyappa Kabali Kaala Annamalai
Alex Pandiyan Muthu Veera
Who are you?
Unbeknownst, your thoughts
attempt a rising, and when telekinesis
fails, your hand (not resorting to signature moves
anymore) shores up the flailing
junk, the flaccid super star.
“I’d rather pee”, it says.
Who are you?
I only wanted a Lambretta when I started.