A poem about Vishu Pakshi

[nandkumar]

"Vishu Pakshi" is said to be a cuckoo like bird (probably migratory) that visits Kerala during Vishu season. Its song, given below, is an extortion to farmers to start agricultural operations after a bountiful harvest.

"വിത്തും കൈക്കോട്ടും
കള്ളൻ ചക്കേട്ടു
കണ്ടാൽ മിണ്ടണ്ട
കൊണ്ടെ തിന്നോട്ടെ"

A rough translation would be "Seed and spade, a thief has dropped a jack fruit, don't tell anyone what you saw, let him take it and eat".

The song certainly harks back to the days when thieves used to steal a couple of coconuts or a sheaf of bananas instead of gold ornaments or other "valuables." The plentiful jackfruit may not have been a thief's favourite, considering its size and weight plus the after effects of having too much of the fruit.