Lines to my grandfather

Thatha, your muffled voice crackles through the phone.

While I touch my earphones

I picture you adjusting your hearing aid.

The connection isn’t strong

but I know you think it’s your ears.

I consider raising my voice,

I can’t.

I feel a hundred eyes burning holes through me.

The soft murmurs in the language I speak now

can neither bridge the gap

between you and me

nor me and them.

I cannot speak louder

and you cannot hear harder.

The call is done

and I sit in silence.                                                                                          

(Thatha is Grandfather in Tamil)

by Shreya Suresh