Flawless

Uniforms do not err;

To err is human.

Does superhuman at times include inhuman?

First published in Indian Cultural Forum, 9 Dec 2016.

Gladiator

On the steps leading to the Betwa river
The boy was selling yesterday's flowers.

My friend had a question for him,
"What do you want to do when you grow up?"

"I'll join the army," was his response.
My friend smiled: "So you want to serve your country."

He continued to hold the water's gaze
At the point where the sun had plopped down and broken into splinters.

"They give you shoes. And clothes.
They take care of everything."

He was planning to live
Unaware that the arena tickets had already been sold.

First published in Indian Cultural Forum, 9 Dec 2016.

द्रोण-दृष्टिकोण दोष

एकलव्य ने चरणों में रखा अंगूठा काट,
तब पर भी नहीं हुई क्षुधा समाप्त।
सदियों तक निरंतर होते रहे आघात,
कभी अंगूठा रहित, कभी बनाया अंगूठा छाप। 

द्रोण, यूँ कब तक माँग-माँग कर छोटे होते रहोगे,
अबकी एकलव्य ने अंगूठा दिखा दिया, तो कहाँ मुँह छिपाते फिरोगे?

 First published in Indian Cultural Forum, 9 Dec 2016.

Metamorphosis

Politicians double up as salons

Offering makeovers.

If today you ask a city its name,

It will look into your eyes seductively 

And ask, "What do you want it to be?

I could be Shanghai, 

Or are you in the mood for Singapore?"

And though you know 

That while the grass on your side is burnt or stunted,

None grows on the other side,

You'll allow yourself to be coiled up and swallowed.

You'll want to take this one decision,

To end the pretence that you're the one taking the decisions;

You'll wish to do away with the stressful delusion of being in control,

Knowing you were the one being kept in control.

You'll give in gratefully

In that most vulnerable moment in the day,

When you're shivering, 

"Anywhere but here, anywhere but here."

First published in Singapore Poetry, 15 Jul 2016.

No bargaining please

At Dilli Haat
I know it’s no use bargaining at the Kashmir stall;
They have their prices fixed.
What a thing it is to feel so sure
About what you deserve,
About what you want,
And what you surely don’t—
What an inconvenience
For others.

First published in Indian Cultural Forum, July 2016.

Cartographers

Such a pretty map we have
Some want to change that
Irritants.
But it’s ok, it’s all under control now
We have foiled the attempts at redrawing
Some collateral happened.
They get really dark lead from somewhere, bonded too
2B or not, who knows?
The pencil marks have to be rubbed off hard
Here and there, the paper tore a bit.
But it’s ok, it’s all under control now.

First published in Indian Cultural Forum, July 2016.

The Way of Some Flesh

Some kinds of meat are quickly consumed, more easily

digested.

Others, not to everyone's taste, are more rubbery,

Chewed on by the eater 

Till all of the juices 

Nourish every drop of blood in his body, 

Till he bleeds every piece white.

In response to the constant raking up of the beef ban controversy as part of political opportunism, specifically in the context of Dadri and UP elections.

First published in Muse India, July 2016.