Jallikkattu (For Tamils)

Where has gone karakattam?
Where has gone poyyakkuthirai?
No thaayam, no pannankuzhi;

No saris, no thavanis; no veshtis

No more Tamil names to the children.

No Valli but Aishwarya;

No Palaniappan but Ashwin.

Westernization is welcome.

Tamils had left such harmless feats.
With their identities not lost.
His Tamil identity lies

In knowing Tamil to read and write.

Learning Kural must be to him

As Gita to Indians, Veda to Brahmins.

He is Tamil who stands by Kural

And not sporting Jallikattu.

15.01.2017

Karakattom: dance with pot over the head;

Poyyakkuthirai: dance on wooden horse