this afternoon watched the dead rise
from the
waters of the ganges & claw
their way up
shivala ghat the baby child
the sadhu the
pregnant the small pox the cobra the bite
all
this bound in cloth & heavy stone throw
in
river. next: cremation ground unhinged tantric
mumbling sanskrit in black cotton
pyjama
suit a cloak of moths kiss my right
hand as
rancid dogs with bitch-tits form an
orderly
queue for counsel at his bony
feet buffalo
children play cricket fly kites from
rooftops
sell chocolates postcards
handshakes a
boatman questions me about disco
& of
whisky in australia tells me ‘the man chest
&
woman hips never all burn.’
|