Recognition

He arrived with a  rucksack

Not of canvas but of rags of rags.

His arms were open carrying

An open card of message.

 He, a leper with broken

 Fingers and toes with

 Insensibility to pain,

Seems recovered from a

Severe leprosy attack,

 Unbolted the gate.

Sought he seclusion from relations

 Because they, he thought,

Would stay away from

Him for fear of being affected.

 Instances like being away from

Him by even the beggars, he faced. 

Heard he from a pauper, a well-wisher,

“Better, for you, is solitude, if not

 You will pick in your collection

 Derision and disdain from your kin.”

Two lovely little fingers unbolted

The door and loomed at the verandah.

Unfurling his toy wallet, a coin,

The juvenile took out and dropped
On the card, the beggar held for alms.
The coin was the gift fromA mom
To settle his scallywags of snatching
From his brother's little collection,
Resulted, though, that in a battle
Between the two brothers.

The tinkle of twinkles knuckled

At the table charmed the tiny eyes.

And they had found their way

To the folder the toddler held.

Addressed him 'Appooppa' the toddler, 

Presenting an unruffled smile.

That most heart- winning word,

He had ever heard from a mouth

Since his misery from  malady,

Amazed him in profound grade.

*A solemn word in Malayalam to address grandfather with concern and affection.

The seed of the poem is a real incident. In haiku if I cut short,

‘Toddler calls beggar grandfather.

He raises eyes gaily and sends fondly

A glance  astounding. ’

sarala