SHADOW OF SHAME

One city avenue

When the sun is set

A class war is on

Mini, intense


Colonial lamp quaint emits

Light yellow, dim limits

Late traffic, punctuating

Fierce screams in local din

High drama mystifying ...

A man chest bare, in pajamas

Tensed brows, furrows deep

Thunders, to knuckle dust proper

" The bitches" and " the thieves "

Pounding the ground, back and forth

As anger would his heart seize

At two women, dwellers of the pavement

With kids half clad, trembling, defiant ...

He rambles, lunges, cane in hand

Old parents apprehensively look on

Teen brother behind, lost and tame

Uneasy, rooted in his shadow of shame

The women shriek, hit the onlookers' blood

Thrust upfront two girls, little, naked

Sad, pouting, downcast looks

Crowd mute, glass eyed, attentively books

The younger one rushes to " strip the monster "

Accusing finger, arm sweep, brilliant of her

Spits fire from close, steps back timely

Pleads innocence, queries the mob in jury ...

Insinuations dart from stares latent

Verdict clear, quiet, listening intense

The aggressor halts, ebbs his confidence

Now afraid, buttons up in bewilderment

Terror writ large on his brother's face

Pulling, tugging at him, hinting escape

The man's coiled up anguish shows

As he steals retreat, incredulous

Humiliated, chafing, tapered

Pausing once to make clear

But the destitute go for the kill

Flaunt their rags, belly caved in

Pinch hearts, crying convincing

Run the foe aground, will done in.

The parents shrink enough to call

" Damn the wrenches, filth they are "

Right misplaced, manner small

Black faced, dignified false 

Recede heavy with numb steps

Sense laden and ears plugged

Bellowing mind unrepentant

Frame slouched but eyes up

Soon, chatter fills the mansion

Rum shores feudal pretensions

Ego nursed under the influence

To power, its will and violence

Yells and bawls, on the loose

In unreason, falling on those

Innocent with questions unformed

Matters peripheral, minor, unborn

Strife loud, unjust, avoidable

Evil self wrought, unbearable.

                    *

Outside, the unscathed ' dwellers ' chirp

Victory stagy, content people disperse

The regained abode is open on three sides

Rooms imagined, tattered mats, utensils

The older one sweeps the ground

The pot on fire boiling

Dented, deformed

Exhorting the kids sleepy : 

' Up, up, girls !'

' Boiled rice in its warm whey
And a pinch of salt ...  hey ...'

Encore : 

' Boiled rice in its warm whey

And a pinch of salt ...  hey ...'

Monotony come alive

Like a playing record stuck ...

The younger one sighs and spits

Head in two palms, low stool to sit

Staring straight into this vacuum

Then, heaves up her boobs sudden

Her body, the breasts, to livelihood due

Goddess, verily,  to one awaiting her cue.