21 Dec 2006

THE GIBBERING GRANNY

We were learning this 'hinglish' poem called 'A Farewell Party for Miss Puspa T.S.' two years ago, when we are asked to attempt a 'hinglish' poem ourselves. I wrote one about my grandmother [ajji], though she never attempts to speak in english [ her hindi is atrocious enough.] However she does pronounce 'skipping' as 'SPIKKING' and 'coca-cola' 'CHOCOCO LA'

Some instances, like the serious blunders she makes while calling the shopkeeper is translated from her conversations in Hindi. Through most of the poem, I've tried to imagine what blunders she'd make if she attempted to skep, I mean speak, english.

I'm not really proud of the poem. I wrote it two years ago and it seems very childish to me now. Nevertheless, read on....

P.S. I'd like to thank Ajji for taking this in good spirits....


“ONLY SLEEPING AND READING, EATING NOT COOKING,
RHEAA DARLING, WHEN YOU DOING YOUR SPIKKING?”
“READING BOOKS LIKE RAMAYANNA
AND AMAR CHITRA KATHA [ACTS PROUD]
RHEAA WOULD YOU LIKE CHOCOCO LA?”

“COULD YOU DO ME A FAVOUR?
TAKE IT, PLEASE OUT OF THE MICROWAY
THEN WE CAN ALL EAT THE CAGE.
GOOD, NOW KEEP THREE PLATES, TABLE,
DON’T DWEDDLE, BE ESTABLE.”

“BABY, SOME GUESTS ARE COMING, TAP, TAP [ON MY SHOULDER]
CAN YOU ORDER THE KATRI FROM THE SHOP?
OK,OK FINE, FINE , BUSY NO? CALLING MYSELF, NO TENSION,

“ HELLO, YES, I WANT A PACKET OF CHISPS, BEHIND, THREE PACKETS OF BUISUITS, BEHIND, PEDAS, IN PUSPA BHUVAN, 168, COLABA WEST, ROOM NO. TWO, FLOUR? COME UP WITH THE STUFF AND THEN I’LL GIVE FLOUR”

“ RHEAA DARLING, FOOD NOT COME YET,
WILL YOU HELP ME RULE THE LADOOS?”

NAMASTE, MR AND MRS. LOVEORWISHY, LETS SIT IN THE HOLE.
OH YES, FORGOT, THIS IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER,
EATING YOU FINISHED?
YOU KNOW, SHE LIKE ME,
SKEPING VERY GOOD ENGLISH.

6 comments:

sunny said...

rheea, yu remind me of my daughter
lovely poem
how about this crazy poem

There was a boy
who always stood under a fan
with a large pan
on his head and a can
in his hand

when his mother called, he ran
and pan and the can
fell and made a real Tan! Tan! Tan!

keep writing

sanjay said...

Rheaa,
keep writing...ur articles creates the picture my mind,love that putting flavours in to the words.u have great talent.keep it up.as reknown writer mr p.l. deshpande had keen observations,power to put them in to words.
still you have to write on many aspects.
sanjay shinde

Rheaa said...

thanks for the inspiration mr. shinde.

-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA RAO

Anonymous said...

I remember that poem... it was really funny...


Ok. that's it. basically.

Anonymous said...

hey rheaa,

you really write very weel. keep up the good work. you really write very well. the way you frame your words and senteces are really breathtking. keep up the good work. you really write well.

Anonymous said...

wow!u remind me of my husband!too gud!encore..