Calcutta 1944.

A woman prefers her bed to the outside world

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are seeing the

Today, the night has

 

Packed its bags and gone

Away. You are now

Feeling the heat from

 

The open window,

The sounds from the street

Below welcome you

 

And bid you come and

Buy, step out, open

Up your purse, make the

 

Sellers happy, put

Food on their tables.

Nina has gone off

 

To buy bread or so

You think she said through

The fog of your sleep.

 

You just remember

Her back going, the

Sway of her hips, that

 

Wave of the thin hand.

Daughters are there to

Be wed, Father said,

 

Dismissing Parni

With the shake of his

Hand when she tries to

 

Embrace or kiss him.

You want to get up

And look out from the

 

Window, see the street

Sellers with their wares,

The callers, the sharp

 

Laughter from corners.

Nartan will see you

In bed, he will be

 

Angry, the husband

Expects his wife to

Be busy, hands in

 

Motion, head thinking,

Lips closed and quiet.

However, he will

 

Not be coming yet,

His workplace is miles

Away, and it is

 

Still only midday.

The light will be your

Guide, your blessing, the

 

Gods will look down on

You and then turn their

Heads away, keep their

 

Eyes averted, their

Judgement held in check.

You are feeling the

 

Warmth of the midday

Sun; the noise from the

Street wakens you from

 

Your slumber. If your

Father saw you now,

His hand would be raised,

 

His voice would shout loud,

His brown eyes would blaze

Brighter than the sun

 

Outside. But he is

No more. You want more

Sleep, the day will wait,

The sunshine will keep.

Reviews

[GBU POETRY ONLY]

CALCUTTA 1944 is chocked full of thought provoking ideas mixed in with the few routine tasks of everyday life. Great opening line ... Loved the last verse ..
Thanx for sharing!
GBU