Albatross In Allahabad Poem by MOLOY BHATTACHARYA

In the holy water
Of the scary Ganges
Vast and wide
They spread like a garland
In expanding numbers.
The white devotees
Of the river
Sailing in crowd
And flocking
To every passing boat
In artistic gesture
As if to welcome
The dwellers of land.
The radiant white
Of delicate feathers
Ignited a fiery glow
In me instantly
As we rode on
They escorted us
The long we floated.
I bought snacks
And chucked at them
As a ritual to purge
The impurities within
Of the cursed pilgrims.
We felt the divine
Living and blessing
In physical attire
With peaceful harmony
As emissary of God.