RAMBLING

I did not like the chanting today
the Scandinavian's body hair
has turned from golden to white
and someone from Leicester Square
danced like an idiot spruced up
in religion and a saree with hijaab
Silicon Valley with Stanford
kept repeatedly prostrating
to emphasize
make concise and clear
and turned round and round
like a dervish who is surely not song

the nose ring took it away
from the oxen
who also had nose rings
before they discovered
you paid for the crop

I must have been demented
to titillate garlands that
can be stitched
together with fragrant flowers
in this there is no orgasm
women cross-legged beneath marble
and vermillion that tells no stories

where are you
they have opened a three sixty five day store
and the policemen drove away the papaya
you will have to pare pineapples in your old age
and granddaughters will promenade
all the things we still plan to do

he disappointed
even while coming and going
lament
that fairies don't fly
why should tomorrow ever begin
to sing
of water and grass
monkey-nuts roasted in a life
that stares at your
brilliant black eyes
towards the end
he cries


-Ashok Niyogi


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