Poem: Sunday Smiles & Crunches

This is the first self-satirical poem about myself as a husband.

Poem: Sunday Smiles and Crunches

In Picture: My wife Gayathri, with me, the humble husband.

When the wife decides to step out
Ponder and Poetarrati will have to wait
Fiction writing — only in my fantasies
Bookmarks slide between the pages
Lest I forget the hastily-read last sentence
Then-
I become her chauffeur without a question.

A long drive to a temple or
First to the park and then snacks
So we drive, the film music on
Finding a quiet parking lot
And walk too long to her liking
Oh, a little roar in her tummy
The beautiful green canopies
And the walker paths will have to wait
The guard at the park entrance
Sees us walking in, and then out
A wry smile on my face reflects his

The drive to the snack house
A bit of sweet rasa-malai
A ghee-dipped masala dosa
and crispy crunchy masala vada
My idea of counting my calories
Slowly disappearing by the minute
I keep my smile on, lest she feel bad

Then the long walk in the park —
Forgotten for good
Happy tummy and happy smiles
I smile at myself while starting to count —
The number of lifts and crunches
That I have to do more this evening
Just to keep the smiles on my wife.

~Ashok Subramanian © 2024

Some dictionary here:

Masala Dosa:

Masala dosa is a thin, crispy South Indian crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter, filled with spiced mashed potatoes seasoned with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and turmeric. Served with coconut chutney and sambar, it’s a savory, mildly spicy dish enjoyed at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Masala Vada:

Masala vada is a crispy fritter made from ground chana dal, mixed with onions, curry leaves, ginger, and spices like cumin and green chilies. Deep-fried to golden perfection, it’s crunchy on the outside and soft inside. Often served with chutney or sambar, it’s a popular South Indian snack.

Ras-malai:

Ras malai is a soft, spongy paneer dessert soaked in sweetened, cardamom-flavored milk. The paneer balls, cooked in syrup, are added to thick, creamy milk and garnished with pistachios or almonds. Served chilled, it’s a rich, refreshing treat, perfect for special occasions or celebrations.

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