oats porridge ?
between mouthfuls
the usual silence

31 Responses

  1. arvinder kaur Says:

    amazing ! of an everyday matter and yet so unusual !

  2. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    So true isn't it!

    I am glad that the verse works for all.

    Thank you Arvinder!

  3. Nandini Nair Says:

    Lovely!! The 'usual' making it open to so many interpretations!

  4. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    Thank you Nandini!!!
    You are so right in interpreting. Because, every time I read my own, there is something new to my understanding and what surprises me is that none of those thoughts went in when I first wrote the ku :-)

    Hope this reminds you of the 'rasam and rice' ku.

  5. kalaramesh Says:

    Absolutely lovely, Jayashree.
    And congratulations!
    Is this your first appearance in tinywords?
    What a grand beginning :)

  6. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    :-) Thank you Kala! Yes, first appearance and many thanks to Tinywords. I knew it would appear sometime, but didn't expect to see my name in my inbox! That was one sweet surprise. I am still relishing the silence between the mouthfuls!!

  7. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    I mean, I didn't expect to see it just today :-).

  8. AnithaVarma Says:

    Lovely poem and congratulations.

  9. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    Thank you Anitha !!

  10. Alan Summers Says:

    I love porridge, plain and just with hot water! :-)

    But I also love complex foods:

    Plato's big picture
    the meaningful differences
    of infused foods

    Alan Summers
    Does Fish-God Know (YTBN Press 2012)

    Gosh, forget how silences can be deadly between mouthfuls, I hope there wasn't too much salt in your porridge.

    Good to see more food-related haiku here. :-)

    warm regards,

    Alan

  11. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    :-) Alan, I now know what I can confidently serve you, should you happen to visit!

    I am a bit non-adventurous with my food as my stomach is equally as sensitive as me.
    Let me not give anyone an insight into my kitchen mishaps – haha!

    Many thanks for your comment!

  12. Alan Summers Says:

    Well, I don't know what your personal cuisine is, but my sister's family run the best Pakistan-Indian food restaurant in Western Australia. :-) I also used to run an Italian-French cuisine restaurant so my tastes are fairly wide and inclusive. :-)

    kind regards,

    Alan

  13. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    I will keep that in mind for our visit next to – in Perth??

    Thanks Alan!

  14. Alan Summers Says:

    Just north of Perth, but if you ever find yourself in those parts, visiting around the Darlings is pretty amazing. :-)

    Alan

  15. sanjuktaa Says:

    Lovely, Jayashree! I am familiar with this silence. Congrats!

  16. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    Hey Sanjuktaa!

    Thank you for the wishes! And of course :-)

  17. Brandon Bordelon Says:

    Thanksgiving
    the sound of his chewing
    during Grace

  18. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    Thank you for your reply-ku, Brandon!
    I am so capable of doing just that :-)

  19. Madhuri Says:

    Absolutely lovely. Congratulations, Jayashree.

  20. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    Thank you Madhuri for stopping by and appreciating.

    Have a nice day!

  21. Jan Dobb Says:

    breakfast tiff
    bubbles in the porridge pot
    popping

    Jan Dobb
    (Prune Juice, No. 10. July 2013)

  22. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    :-) and I end up burning my tongue too!!

    Thank you, Jan!

  23. haikuapprentice Says:

    Every day on Tinywords it seems we are privileged to make friends with a new poet in our journey. Today we get to share breakfast with Jayashree, and her observation which is as simple as oat porridge, but as moving as silence.

    "Between", I think, is the key word in this poem. It focuses us on the unseen and unnamed individuals at the table, and makes us ponder their relations. For me, somehow there is something comfortable about that "silence" – something of a deep abiding contentment. With those we love, often we have no need to perform, to make noise. They know us and we know them, and breakfast can be like a daily religious ritual, simple and peaceful, each worshipper lost in their own meditations.

    I very much enjoyed this tranquil start to my day, Jayashree, and look forward to more of your poetry on this page!

    Strider

  24. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    Happy to have your company over a bowl of oats! I do love your interpretation and that is exactly how it started – no need to perform, as we know! It is my favourite meal of the day where I am lost just for those few moments in the flavours and sensations that tickle me. You can tell how much I love my oats! :-)

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Peter Strider!

  25. dawndream1 Says:

    Congratulations, Jayashree! Really nice haiku.

  26. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    Thank you!

  27. Charishma Says:

    A beautiful moment well captured. Congratulations!

  28. Jayashree Maniyil Says:

    Sorry! I did not notice this comment until now.

    Thanks for appreciating!

  29. seaviewwarrenpoint Says:

    The 'usual' silence can be read as one that recurs every day and with which one is quite happy, but it can also be the usual silence after an argument. I like how it is open.

    marion

  30. DR.ELA.ELANCHEZHIAN Says:

    When two souls have travelled many lives,needs no appraisal.Silence signifies their comunion.Its a sort of experience to be felt.

  31. Marilee Says:

    That’s a slick answer to a chinlengalg question

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