Kahwa Kahee
Scene 1: Hills, Mysore (extract)
Going by the historian’s quill –
These sweeping Mysorean hills,
Touched by a saint’s love… dear reader,
For a sufi swill… were
In century 19th, by boondu berries filled.
I suspect you never knew,
Like me and some I spoke to,
That the world’s choicest coffee here grew,
Costing the prettiest bucks too,
In London and Paris… true?!
Using his elevated arbritrative powers,
The saint for good greater, pilfered
From early 17th century Mecca,
Seven guarded coffee beans…
Planting them on hills that now honor
Him with eponymous Baba Budan nomenclature.
Sufi travellers and courtiers
Of Mughal kings such as Akbar,
Enjoyed the drink in Arabian manner prepared.
When Edward Terry, a clergyman, came
In 1616 AD, he was confounded by the same.
Not previously aware of the brownish, watery-taste
Drink, he recorded its health virtues nevertheless.
Well, the English would have their tryst
With Mysorean coffee, having cleaved
The defences of Tipu Sultan in 1799 AD.
With the revenue farming contract
The Maharaja of Mysore would grant
To Messrs Parry & Co. of Madras,
The crop of sufi dargahs
Would explode with economic razzmatazz.
Oddly the slopes won’t see
Exploitation of workers as in tea.
Could have been the saint’s magical deed?!
– Bolbul
Kahwa Chic
They met where chatted two thoroughfares,
Two collegemates and a loving pair…
Sunlight laid the table
And coffee served the air.
Ms Apanna of hilly Coorg,
Who once shared a hostel room
With Ms Varma of far Patna,
Held a gift bag of cottage craft
As the two swirled a memory
Blend of Arabica and Robusta.
Ratna mixed sugar cubes
With Rohit whose Java groove,
If a money-spinner proved,
Would make her take the news
Of love to folks back in Mysore,
Tending plants in backyard hittalus.
The two pairs would rendezvous
With the trailblazer cafe, lured
By mocha roasts and sufi cups
Without slowing gup shup.
With their entering steps,
The sidewalks of Road Brigade
Would reminiscingly say,
This spot here since British troops stayed,
Has been the mother of Indian cafes.
– Bolbul
Bolbul's Patch 