A hot noon in Malabar by Kamala Das Summary

 

The poem A hot noon in Malabar is an early recollection of her life in the ancestral home in Malabar. The sense of nostalgia permeates in the poem.  The poet sets a vivid scene, describing the noon time as suitable for beggars with their complaining or whining voices. The poet introduces men from the hills, possibly itinerant or migrant workers, who have parrots in cages and fortune cards. The men from the hills are described as carrying parrots in cages and fortune cards, adding an element of mystery or fortune-telling to the noon. The fortune cards are described as being stained with time, suggesting their age.

The mention of "kurava girls" introduces a specific group of girls, possibly associated with a traditional community or occupation. The kurava girls are described as having old eyes and reading palms in a light, singsong manner, further emphasizing a traditional or mystical element associated with them.

The focus shifts to bangle-sellers who spread their colorful bangles on a cool black floor. This introduces another group of people engaged in a traditional trade. The bangle-sellers lay out bangles of various colors on a cool surface, perhaps a contrast to the hot noon outside. The bangles, though vibrant in color, are covered with the dust of roads, suggesting a connection to the harsh reality of the outside world. Referring to all these groups, the poet notes that their feet, accustomed to rough terrain, show signs of wear and tear. The constant walking over miles has resulted in cracked heels for these individuals. When these people climb up onto the poet's porch, the noise is described as harsh and strange.

The poet introduces the idea of strangers who peep through the window panels, suggesting an intrusion or observation of private spaces. The strangers look into the shadowy rooms with eyes affected by the hot noon outside. Their eyes are full of sunlight, yet they may not see anything clearly in the shaded rooms. The strangers turn away and gaze longingly at the brick-ledged well to quench their thirst.

The strangers yearn for the well, which may symbolize a desire for something basic and elemental. The poet describes this noon as suitable for strangers. These strangers have dark, silent eyes and seldom speak, adding an air of mystery and reserve to their character. The strangers' infrequent speech is noted, and when they do speak, their voices are described as running wild, akin to jungle voices.

The voices are wild and untamed, reminiscent of sounds in the jungle, creating a vivid sensory image. The noon is described as a time for wildness, both in thoughts and emotions.

The poet expresses a sense of longing and torture at being far away from this intense noon. The poem concludes with the poet expressing a deep sense of being far away from home in Malabar, adding an emotional layer to the descriptions of the hot noon.

The poem paints a rich and evocative picture of a hot afternoon in Malabar, capturing the diverse experiences of various individuals and their interactions with the intense climate.

 

The poet thus simultaneously recalls the past and compares it with the present. How different was the past from the unhappy and intimidating present. It is a torture for her to be there in a strange city on that hot noon. Strangers with wild feet must still be there outside her ancestral home in Malabar, but also, she is so far, away from home. Life there must be going on as usual, but everything has changed for the poet. Her home in Malabar is the ideal, dream world for the poet.