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thangamma philip was born in the kayals
necking the Arabian Sea.
at 6, a maid in the city.
at 50, fell on the street, buying onions.
unloosing her fun,
absence of horizon,
her friends,
dropped her at the cemetry.
her family, the priest were out of the city.
woke up at 5,
made coffee for the lord and lady of the house;
slept,
after massaging them to sleep.
in fits, the lady banged her on the door or wall.
crying was denied her.
stood outside during prayers.
one cup of tea at 10.
a plate of curd rice at 3;
leftovers at 10,
kept her slim.
in between they married her.
was occasionally dragged from sex to
massage an arthritic leg keeping awake
the lady.