AVisit to the Temple and the Street Dogs

It was drizzling when he walked

Through the narrow lanes that took him

To the roadside temple where vegetable vendors

Sat on the footpath, frequented by skinny children

Their sunken eyes, bulging tummies and bare bodies

Raising ashen thoughts in him as the bells began chiming.


When the visitors placed currency notes on the silver plate

He could hear the poojari chanting Ram! Ram!

And find him blessing them with freshly cut plantain fruits,

Tulsi leaves besmeared with sandalwood paste

All rolled in a piece of the shining green leaf

From the bundles kept inside, collected from the field.


Coming out of the temple, sitting in the roadside cafe

Glancing through the headlines of the day's newspaper

He wondered at the iron resolve of old man Anna Hazare

To remain in Tihar and continue with his declared fast

To stop corruption at high places where eagles flew

Protecting them those stood under their wings sans protesting!


Street dogs came and met him at the cafe's door

Waving their tails, ears kept closed and expecting

At least a crumb of bread from his hands

That gently patted on their heads and directed them

To follow him to the adjacent bakery and to patiently wait

For a full block of bread and a packet of dog biscuits!