I take my car outa couple of late walkers
striding with determination to nowhere.
The ubiquitous phone in one hand
blaring packaged spiritualism.
A stick in the other,
that gives an air of purpose
is also useful for hitting out
at the strays that inhabit
the same roads they walk on.
I turn into the main street, and merge with the traffic
The road is two lanes
but cars decree four,
the cars, the scooters, the bikes, the buses
The footpath is decorated
stacks of pottery for sale,
a barber, a sprinkling of urine
The car and the bus honk in unison
at those who inhabit
the world outside their windows
the school-kids trying to cross the road
the men and women rushing to work.
I arrive at the intersection
The garbage dump is strategically placed
as if an exhibit
of the innards of our life.
The ragpicker is elbow-deep
sifting and sorting
to resurrect to life
the dead, condemned, discarded.
He shoves at the cow
that inhabits the same space
relishing a plastic bag, flavoured with butter chicken.
The light turns green
I rush not to be left behind
A delivery tempo catches up
Hundreds of hens slouching in the coop
eyes darting about, the only part that can move
the bodies, are packed cost-effectively
the meat showing through the bald feathers
dirty, dried, matted.
Perhaps they inhale in turns
to conserve space.
A crow lands on the coop, curious
of those who inhabit unfreedom.
He pecks at them, through the net
not to eat
juicy, live meat is not his taste anyway
I turn into the campus
the lab gates close behind me
I am home
with those that inhabit
the ivory towers of knowledge
March 2026
Photo:Anipixels.com ID: 005381
1 comment:
Really enjoyed reading this. The observations and the ending especially stayed with me. Grateful for such a wonderful piece.
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