Double

Laughter fills the camphor heavy air,
tradition plays host, with pipes and drums
decked in gold, enough to tempt an invasion,
the silk route seems to have taken a diversion.

Scores of children, amongst incessant chatter,
pubescent boys eyeing teenage girls,
mothers’ showing off their eligible offspring,
bride and groom, hide shy laughter.

A day or three, festivities make colour,
cooks clamour, into gigantic vessels,
trying to appease a thousand tongues,
on elaborate banana leaves, laden to the brim.

Parents of the couple, shaken, hugged, kissed,
seem everywhere, with permanent smiles,
and frown, if ever anything is awry.
pride worn on shoulder, yet heavy bosoms plod on

Joy of meeting, sorrow of parting,
rain emotions for the new couple,
as life twists into a new road,
expectant hearts flutter to new horizons,

Friends and family surround,
smiles dazzling, dimming the golden glitter
each is now double, with another life,
many sigh, finally, two lives roll into one.