Tall concrete blocks shadow a crowded dwelling
Two contrasting worlds side by side.
I try to suppress an urge, a quelling
A tide of memories stirs deep inside.
To my right a haphazard cluster of tin
Disorganized abodes huddled in the harsh weather,
On my left, proud cement towers with a metallic grin
Ashamed of being included in the frame together.
My curtains flapped in the miraculous breeze,
A rarity in this scorching summer sun.
The cemented towers beamed with an ease
The tin roofs fought,like sparkling shields in the sun.
Few better ones were lined with bare bricks,
Multi color clothes hung on unbound terraces,
Few suspended on iron rod sticks
Children ran barefoot in between the spaces.
A kite tore across the pellucid sky,
Daring to touch the soaring proud towers.
It glided up, turning too slender for the eye
I strained my eyes, tired by the summer hours.
It playfully prodded a gray column on the other side
Crossing the slurry of garbage lined streams.
The kite sailed over the gap so wide
I gazed at my past and present,with wide awake dreams.
- Niharika Prasad
