Untitled Poem by umashankar manthravadi

They waited till the light turned grey, and left
next morning, when the light grew strong again
so did their shadows
Now I am left with the shadows of those who had gone
real and permanent
cluttering the dust filled air
cluttering the walls
Incomprehensible
chittering like birds at dawn
alarmed at something I have not seen

a cat looking out of a high window?
something slithering in the dry leaves?
Or me?

Umashankar