“Lord of new arrivals lovers and rivals:”

The persona addresses Lord Murugan as the deity associated with new beginnings, love, and rivalry.

The opening line establishes the theme of seeking divine intervention in various aspects of life.

“arrive at once with cockfight and banner—”

The plea for the immediate presence of Lord Murugan is expressed, with vivid imagery of festivities, including a cockfight and banners.

“dance till on this and the next three hills”

The request for a joyful and lively celebration that extends across the hills.

“women’s hands and the garlands on the chests of men will turn like chariot wheels”

Imagery of celebratory dancing where the movements of hands and garlands resemble the turning of chariot wheels.

“O where are the cockscombs and where the beaks glinting with new knives at crossroads”

The persona longs for traditional symbols and rituals, such as cockscombs and beaks glinting with knives, at crossroads.

“when will orange banners burn among blue trumpet flowers and the shade of trees waiting for lightnings?”

A vivid depiction of a desire for festive orange banners burning amid blue trumpet flowers in the shade of trees, anticipating the arrival of lightning.

“Twelve etched arrowheads for eyes and six unforeseen faces, and you were not embarrassed.”

Describing the unique appearance of Lord Murugan with twelve arrowheads for eyes and six faces, emphasizing his distinctive features.

“Unlike other gods you find work for every face,”

A contrast with other gods, suggesting that Lord Murugan has specific roles and tasks for each of his faces.

“and made eyes at only one woman.”

Lord Murugan’s focus on one woman, adding a human and personal dimension to the divine character.

“And your arms are like faces with proper names.”

Describing Lord Murugan’s arms as having proper names, possibly signifying the significance and purpose associated with each arm.

“Lord of green growing things, give us a hand”

Addressing Lord Murugan as the deity associated with the growth of nature, seeking divine assistance in the fight against fruit flies.

“in our fight with the fruit fly.”

Expressing a metaphorical fight against obstacles, represented here by the nuisance of fruit flies.

“Tell us, will the red flower ever come to the branches of the blueprint city?”

Posing a question about the possibility of beauty (red flower) flourishing in the modern, planned city represented as a “blueprint city.”

“Lord of great changes and small cells:”

Acknowledging Lord Murugan’s association with both significant changes and minute elements, possibly referring to cells in a broader context.

“exchange our painted grey pottery for iron copper”

Requesting a transformation from traditional, mundane materials (grey pottery) to more durable and dynamic ones (iron and copper).

“the leap of stone horses our yellow grass and lily seed for rams!”

Imagery of transformation, seeking a leap from stone horses to live ones and exchanging agricultural resources for prosperity (rams).

“flesh and scarlet rice for the carnivals on rivers O dawn of nightmare virgins”

A plea for a transformation from mundane sustenance (flesh and scarlet rice) to more vibrant and festive occasions along rivers.

“bring us your white-haired witches who wear three colours even in sleep.”

Invoking Lord Murugan to bring about mystical and colorful elements associated with celebration and spirituality.

“Lord of the spoor of the tigress,”

Describing Lord Murugan as the deity associated with the scent or trail (spoor) of a tigress, symbolizing his connection with the wild and untamed.

“outside our town hyenas and civet cats live on the kills of leopards and tigers too weak to finish what’s begun.”

Describing the natural order outside the town, where hyenas and civet cats survive on the leftovers from leopards and tigers.

“Rajahs stand in photographs over ninefoot silken tigresses that sycophants have shot.”

Reflecting on the exploitation of wildlife, where powerful individuals (rajahs) stand in photographs with slain tigresses.

“Sleeping under country fans hearts are worm cans turning over continually for the great shadows of fish in the open waters.”

Describing the vulnerability of hearts (emotions) under fans, possibly alluding to both literal and metaphorical vulnerability.

“We eat legends and leavings, remember the ivory, the apes, the peacocks we sent in the Bible to Solomon,”

Reflecting on human consumption of legends and remnants, recalling historical references such as ivory, apes, and peacocks sent to Solomon.

“the medicines for smallpox, the similes for muslin: wavering snakeskins, a cloud of steam”

Highlighting diverse offerings, including medicines, metaphors (similes), and luxurious fabrics like muslin.

“Ever-rehearsing astronauts, we purify and return our urine to the circling body”

Metaphorically referring to the continuous exploration of space (astronauts) and the recycling of resources, even purifying and returning urine.

“and burn our faeces for fuel to reach the moon through the sky behind the navel.”

Continuing the metaphor of space exploration, using bodily waste as fuel to reach the moon, with the sky behind the navel representing a mystical or spiritual space.

“Master of red bloodstains, our blood is brown; our collars white.”

Describing the color of blood and collars, possibly symbolizing the earthy and mundane nature of human existence.

“Other lives and sixty-four rumoured arts tingle, pins and needles at amputees’ fingertips in phantom muscle”

Acknowledging the complexity of life and the various rumored arts, using imagery of tingling and phantom muscle to convey both sensory and spiritual aspects.

“Lord of the twelve right hands why are we your mirror men with the two left hands capable only of casting reflections?”

Addressing Lord Murugan’s multiple hands and questioning why humans are like mirrors with two left hands that can only cast reflections, suggesting a lack of agency.

“Lord of faces, find us the face we lost early this morning.”

Seeking divine assistance in rediscovering a lost face or identity, possibly alluding to the search for self-awareness.

“Lord of headlines, help us read the small print.”

Using a metaphor of headlines and small print to symbolize the need for clarity and understanding in the face of life’s challenges.

“Lord of the sixth sense, give us back our five senses.”

Acknowledging a higher sense of perception (sixth sense) while simultaneously seeking a return to the basic five senses for a comprehensive understanding.

“Lord of solutions, teach us to dissolve and not to drown.”

Seeking guidance from Lord Murugan in finding solutions, with an emphasis on dissolution rather than succumbing to challenges.

“Deliver us O presence from proxies and absences from sanskrit and the mythologies of night and the several roundtable mornings of London and return the future to what it was.”

A plea for liberation from intermediaries (proxies), absences, and the complexities of language and mythologies, calling for a return to a simpler and more authentic future.

“Lord, return us. Brings us back to a litter of six new pigs in a slum and a sudden quarter of harvest.”

A nostalgic plea to return to humble beginnings, symbolized by a litter of pigs in a slum and a sudden abundance of harvest.

“Lord of the last-born give us birth.”

The final plea for a new beginning, asking the Lord of the last-born to grant a symbolic rebirth or fresh start.

“Lord of lost travellers, find us. Hunt us down.”

Invoking the Lord of lost travelers to guide and locate those who are lost, metaphorically or literally.

“Lord of answers, cure us at once of prayers.”

A paradoxical plea to the Lord of answers, seeking a cure from the very act of praying, possibly suggesting a desire for direct solutions rather than relying on prayers.