*A SOUTHERN AIR*

THE South is the land for names

for rolling rippling frames

to hold a township firm

or an elfin empalmed suburb

bewitchingly in cups

of syllables proud and fetching,

etching the silver vowels

on clear and resonant bells

of diamond-dentals cut

to music, sapphire-sibilants

washed in tune and lab1al

lapis lazulis shaped

to a phrase of melody.

Give me the South for *names*

of places,

and I will show you round

the gorgeous comb of Coimbatore

and rustling Tinnevelly; with

charming Chingleput, petite

or queen-like Tenkasi,

we can shake hands and fly

from Tambaram to Tranquebar

nigh mystery; or coast

along plumed Ernakulam

to boast of velvet Vellore

sighing for a taciturn girl

they call Nellore; then branch off

to singing Mangalore

or little laughing Guntakal

and bright blue-eyed Pollachi;

pious Papanasam

and sweet Cape Comorm;

Japanese Shimoga, shrewd

and ripe, and mnocent Salem;

languorous Madurai,

devastatingly debonair;

and many others will stir

in your heart and ear and fancy

an air of old harmony,

a phrase of melody.

*B. S. MARDHEKAR*

*(With acknowledgments to an old number of the *Illustrated Weekly of India)

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