Catherina Hamy – A Childhood Memory ! – By Charmaine Candappa.
When Catherina Hamy comes to visit us
She brings sweet meats
Like mildly peppered sweet aggala
She tells us stories gesturing with her thickened hands Rough from hours of labor.
Her harsh face softens, when she tells us stories of her son Francis In the comfort of her native tongue.
Catherina Hamy wears a long printed dress Pulling it up as she strokes the flames that is cooking a spicy curry.
Her skin is wrinkled like a brown paper bag Her hair etched like chrome But Catherina Hamy’s smile is beautiful With her too perfect teeth.
Charmaine Candappa.
