"5 minutes"

The east coast under a mid day sun
Politics divides a people who share one language
Yet on a short journey on an old fashioned ferry across the sea
Is a time to reflect
A passionate conversation of the generation’s politics, and a time gone by
Or of daughters and wives
Of the waves that destroyed lives
Of the strangers in their marked cars
That crowd the precarious ramps
The unfulfilled promises to rebuild
Of the boys and girls with their guns
Have you heard Lakshmi has eloped with Abdulla
Sacrilege I say!
The rent is due tomorrow
What will I do my friend?
The sun burns but washes not the deep blue of the sea
It is strangely calm today
Just like on that day
“Allada kaval”… “poittu vaaren”
Till we meet again.