In Madurai,
city of temples and poets,
who sang of cities and temples,
every summer
...
Lord of new arrivals
lovers and rivals:
arrive
at once with cockfight and banner—
...
Sky-man in a manhole
with astronomy for dream,
astrology for nightmare;
...
Now tidy your house,
dust especially your living room
and do not forget to name
all your children.
...
Yet like grandfather
I bathe before the village crow
the dry chlorine water
my only Ganges
...
Composed as I am, like others,
of elements on certain well-known lists,
father's seed and mother's egg
...