One For The Road... Poem by kunjubi varghese

Whoever goes, whoever continues…?

Let us each pour one more for the road!

When the cap and the bottle

Move apart quarreling

Do you hear the tightening

Of the strings of our nerves, in our ears?

The exit door opens to a gully,

But we will reach the crowded street, too soon

After eight or nine paces, from there.


We two are more than a crowd

For celebrating this festival.

This is in fact an orgy of friendship.

Give that cigarette after

Three more draws to me.

Why don’t you lick this pickle?

I tasted it; but it’s too hot!

Do not look at your watch in this dim light

Like the moon stooping into the clouds.

The smoke in this room conceals every thing.

Do not get away before long, thinking and

Worrying, about unfinished chores at home.

Though you laugh now, and not looking at me straight.

Oh! Ignore that tiff at the next table,

And, the altercations, along with it.

And the isolated song, inebriated on

A single beer, he had till now...

Leave it, and do not care about

That sign over the counter admonishing

Singing loudly; I can’t tolerate such cautions!


You should never imagine that

Your partner has no sense, after three rounds.

I can also hear the tumult of the dead ones,

Quite clearly in my ears, now, just as you.

Can also, see their pale faces, tottering here.

Hey! If I said anything superfluous,

Do one thing for me; you can just edit it.

It is alright, I can go alone. See I can walk steadily...