Poem: The Pongal Poems (2024)

In two weeks, 2024 has shown its twists and turns. But, as they say when in doubt, cling to hope. Else, what is there in life? These poems cover Bhogi, the cleanup and bonfire day before Pongal's bountiful harvest day.

Poem 1: Bhogi Bonfire

Bonfire during Bhogi. Picture courtesy TOI

Winter ends today here
A winter with no chill
Air conditioners hummed.
Unusual January rains
and warm afternoons
Climate change?
But tradition does not.
Today is Bhogi -
the spring cleaning day
and the bonfire
the inert and the unused
become the fuel for warmth
For the winter that never was
Once cleaning was fun
Now, we look around with apathy
We have learned to live
with the layers of dust
Cleaning does not help
The dust replenished in two days
Cement dust from
the neighborhood construction
Now, the bonfire —
It is no more fun
The smoke clings to the dust
and they call it smog
even the cleaner Chennai
competes with Delhi
That one day of smoggy fame
Because of bonfire flames
Allergic coughs and
loud sneezes
Bhogi reminds us
Climates changes
but tradition holds.

~Ashok Subramanian © 2024

The second poem brings out the environmental aspects of the Bhogi festival. Well, climate changes, but tradition holds.

Poem: Wisdom of the Waste

The heavy smog
Hazy morning and
scattered sunbeams
A greyish-white morning
The idea is to clean up
the winter junk
dust and shine
remove the rot

The ones we desired
and those we bought
but never used ever
Those opportunities
that were never taken
Those people who
no longer matter
from this moment on
we let go of things
that weigh us down
and move forward
into the spring
and then to the summer
traveling light

Anything unused
is truly wasted
Feed your need
and muzzle your greed
Then no waste to burn
no smog to breathe
That is, dear friend
the wisdom of the waste.

~Ashok Subramanian © 2024

Then I wished people with a simple verse.

May you all be blessed with
The warmth of the bonfire and
Bounty of the harvest.
Happy Lohri and Bhogi to all.

The fourth poem of Pongal followed.

Happy Pongal and Makar Sankrantimy friends. A small poem celebrating this first festival of the year. So… wish you a blissful life. ( Third poem of the Pongal 2024 series)

Poem: A Blissful Life

Happiness, like milk, boils over
Holding rice — the bounty
and jaggery — the sweetness
and overflows …
life is blissful.

Life is blissful
when love is around
and it is time to reap
what you had sowed.

Life is blissful
when the sun is just
warm enough to keep
the residual cold away.

Life is blissful
when the first holidays
come in just two weeks
after the New Year.

Life is blissful
by the time we remember
our resolutions again
January is half gone.

Life is blissful
when we know farmers
will reap the paddy
and we will be fed.

Life is blissful
when we see gratitude
as a tradition — we thank
the sun and the oxen.

Life is blissful
when we still smile
and wish each other
a hopeful future.

Wish you all a blissful life.

~Ashok Subramanian © 2024