CHITTA'S BABY.

A WOMAN AND HER BABY.

Baby is dead,
Tarak says, his
Voice sounds hollow,
Holding the small

Bundled baby
In his arms. Let
Me see, you say.
What is there for

You to see now,
Chitta? Your work
Is done. Tarak
Walks with the small

Bundle to the
Nurse and tells her
To go with it.
Wait, I need to

See her, you plead.
The nurse has gone,
The door swings shut.
Where is the nurse

Taking her? You
Ask rising from
The bed. Tarak
Does not reply,

He goes to the
Window and peers
Out. Where is my
Child? You ask. Where

Has she gone with
Her? Tarak clicks
His two fingers
Behind his back,

You watch as the
Fingers click click
Click. You wake from
The dark dream and

Baby cries from
The cot, her dark
Eyes peering at
You between the

Thin bars coloured
Pink. Tarak turns
Over and says,
Change her, Chitta,

I cannot stand
The noise or stink.
You lift baby
From her pink cot

And kiss her head,
Tears fill your eyes,
She is living,
She is not dead.