I saw a man severely beat his wife outside of my window today.

I know that death was not certain as she rose up from the reflective blood,

And ran down the street flashing her white sneakers from underneath her Burka.

I saw a proud man lose himself today.

Leaving his house this morning full of paratha’s and dahi,

Returning with hands clutched to a cell-phone with the vile bile of betrayal on his lips.

I saw a girl prove she was in love today.

Taking the kicks to the groin, the rocks to the head, and the violence of “How could anyone ever love you?!?”

I saw a rickshawalla take three slaps to the face today.

Not because he is void of pride, but paychecks: his eldest daughter with the limp is to be married this Saturday :)

I abused a night-watchman today, whose eyes clearly invoked the ‘Union Creed of Hinduism’,

“Sir, I can only help what happens within this gate.”

I heard a siren today… Which I sincerely wish was only for a stitch on a surface wound…

I shut my window today on some of Pavlov’s birds singing to embrace the sun…

For as I struggled with sleep I knew… one more full-kick and she was done.

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—–

There is so much depth beneath this city without cellars, who’s heights are destined to spit paan upon the skies…

There is so much poetry in the people of this city, who while soaked in another monsoon still bear to belive in the promise of BMC lies.

I find so much first world confusion in the contrasts and clarity that every third person I meet politely defines, refines, and maligns.

How can we tear down a theater over a single lyric, while a crowd stands around a man beating his wife as if it were kind?

—–

This city came together to buoy every brothers chin-up over-water, but then tore apart a taxi-driver’s life in a perversion of purposeful peace.

A clear message to the ‘North’ that their welcome is on lease.

—–

So will you forgive me these tears I shed over this city? Or shall I stifle and stuff the weight of modern India beneath me?

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