Dead on the road

    On highway one afternoon
    I Drive as I whistle away,
    I press softly on the peddle,
    to find lying in the middle
    a dog dead on the road.

    Open mouth and dripping toung,
    Huffing chest and wagging tail,
    Black eyes and slack thighs, of
    All that's left behind, is
    some flesh red on the road.

    Did it not see left or right,
    Did it not hear or see bright?
    Not content on the sidelines,
    Had it followed a scent flyin, or
    Had just strayed on the road?

    Had it eaten its heartfull before,
    Had it even barked throatful?
    Looking for some company or bone,
    Was it on its way home, or alone.
    Questions as I sped on the road.

    Would it have a name to call by
    Would it stir when a cat went by?
    Did it follow someone around,
    and rolled on the ground. Is it
     just playing dead on the road?
   
    I remember a familiar bark
    Mad jumps and face licks, "Hark!"
    I waiver, I slow down, somber,
    Was it someone's home member, the
    Dog that's dead on the road?

    Don't stare long in the mirror
    You can not choose to stop or
    Turn, this is a highway, look ahead,
    Here animals should be forbade, see
    What mess it made on the road!

Game on the train

In front of me 3 kids play cards,
Rather they pretend,
with each draw they restart,
with angst they count,
in a bout of words,
the game comes to an end.

'Tu pishi' pushes the boy, 'pishi' girl giggles,
she will be missed, she knows,
She purrs and snuggles close.

the other 'Didi' mediates,
she has an upper hand.
She counts again and cheats,
when will the other two understand?

'Superstar' proclaims 'pishi' heroin,
others roll in laughter,
their cards carry bikes on the rear
and kids ride hard.

'BMW', 'Suzuki', 'Kawasaki', game wores on,
looking for 'BMW' after 'BMW', or 'suzuki' on 'suzuki',
'OH', heroin has won the hand.
Others find their hands empty nearly.

'Keep your feet to yourself!'
and some more screams,
the eyes, the gestures,
a 'Suzuki' call followed by dirty-word streams.

'AICH!' the heroin has cleared
the deck again
'Wow', 'How?' She refuses to share.
Others tickle her insane.

One phone call cuts short the game,
the shout march, and the blame.
It's suddenly Hush Hush
on the East-bound train.


(On my way to Calcutta from Delhi)

Sleep

Sleep approaches like a cat,

ready to jump away. 

Who will bell it, prey? 

 

When you remain distant, 

waves reach me from far, 

wind is blunt, n window ajar, 

for a dream. I send you love, 

 

sms, and I receive it,  like facing a mirror, by Jove. 

Alice had it better, 

she could get inside the mirror. 

That'd turn Left to Right, 

sweet to bitter, 

sugar to chocolait, 

 

With a story in my head, 

I wait instead, 

tired, I swear, as 

young Sun-rays run across the bed.

Cris-cross Jindagi

Now, pick me up you said,

I chose to walk down instead, 

and you went about your way. 

Marriages are heaven-made. 

 

When did we meet first, 

do you recall? 

Our birth-days match, 

so do lives over all. 

 

My Aai-baba 

are your in-laws, 

as I hear your Ma 

has the same claws. 

 

I mix with your family, 

you do as much, 

My share of sweets you munch, 

and burp contentedly. 

 

Your old baba drives 

his scooter around, 

much to our dismay, 

your Mummy wears bandages round, 

what do I say? 

 

You return after nursing your Baba,

your Aai's eyes have circles dark purple, 

we exchange our views, 

time, world, and all the life's hues. 

 

Cris-cross jindagi, 

we meet to share the vibe, 

I hold your hand, 

you tug on my life.