ABOUT THE POEM:
The poem “FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT” is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. The poem paints a vivid scene where herons have alighted on marudu trees near fields. These herons surround ponds with azure waters, reflecting the beauty of the surroundings. The ponds are teeming with fish, offering a bountiful feast for the herons to enjoy.
Amidst this serene setting, the girl addresses her husband. She reveals that the husband hails from the same land as this picturesque scene. The husband is indulging in the company of new women who possess an air of purity and freshness. However, to the girl’s dismay, the husband regards her as a mere ghostly presence. This change in attitude is attributed to the fact that the girl has borne the husband a child.
The poem explores themes of transformation, neglect and longing. It contrasts the vibrant imagery of nature with the emotional turbulence of the speaker's relationship. The husband's shift in attention and the girl’s sense of becoming invisible emphasize the complex emotions and changing dynamics within a relationship after the arrival of a child due to the husband's promiscuous attitude.
“FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT”
Upon marudu trees, now alight in grace,
The herons gather, a tranquil embrace,
Over fields they perch, a sight to behold,
Where ponds mirror skies, their tales of old.
A feast of fish, from verdant lands they find,
In azure waters, reflections intertwined,
Awaiting, beckoning, a banquet divine,
Nature's bounty bestowed, a chorus of time.
From that very soil, my beloved spouse,
Doth your essence bloom, as rivers drowse,
New women you embrace, fair and pure,
Yet I, a specter, lost in shadows obscure.
A child, a treasure, unto us bequeathed,
Yet it is I who wander, heartache unsheathed,
A phantom amidst your feast, a haunting grace,
Longing for the love, the warmth of your embrace.
The poem explores themes of transformation, neglect and longing in the words of the neglected girl by her promiscuous husband)
NOTE: The Marudu tree shares its name with Arjuna, a renowned hero from the Bhagavad-Gita in the epic Mahabharata. It is recognized for its enduring strength and majestic appearance. In the state of Tamil Nadu, India, the Arjuna tree is referred to as Marudu. It is venerated as a living representation of Lord Subramanya (Hindu God)and Marutha Malai (the hill of the Arjuna Tree) is regarded as the seventh sacred dwelling of Lord Subramanya.
