Welcome Home

Sweet smell of earth, welcoming breeze
Love and joy of friends who care
Crows & minas sharing in the joy but
Neighborhood dogs not so sure

Coconuts planted by tiny hands
Now so tall and beyond my reach
Curry leaf plants once so scarce
Are now yielding in such abundance

Always wet washing stone
Now dried up and out of sight
Heavily used grinding stones
Now forgotten in unknown corner

My precious study table is now so old & frail
Yet so proudly holding my huge suitcases
Stainless steel plates and tumblers
Are constant reminders of childhood dinners

The same old same old water pots
The same old same old dosai stone
The same old same old local stores
With familiar chatting and friendly glances

It feels the same to be home
To breath in the love of my Mother
Much loved and welcomed as always
Just like many many years ago...