It was final exams
I was let out an hour later
My tonga wallah had left
There were no cell phones
It was 1970, a hot blazing
Afternoon in Jaipur
I decided to walk down
What they call Ajmer Road
I walked for 10 minutes
My navy cotton suit
Stuck to me, why had
I worn silver bells
They were loud in
The sleepy afternoon
I wrapped my navy chiffon dupatta around me
Hiding the silver ribbon
I was tall for my age
My heart thumped in my
Slender rib-cage
Three street urchins
Called out to me
They were on bikes
They rode along side
Asked me if I needed a lift
I kept walking, praying
Under my breath
Stiff, tall, scared
I looked up
Big vultures with silver
Under wings swooped down
Hovering, The boys
Were still there
Calling, I was running now
My head pounding
The road suddenly ended
The yellow walls gleaming
The fig and pomegranate tree
I was happy to be home
I ran inside, splashed my
Face and sat down to
A glass of milk and a sticky bun
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem