Avatars Of Love Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

Sunday... despite the laziness at 9 am
I went out for walk, but the sun was hot -
I have been remiss for too long
And the body has started paining -
I picked up a book by Osho
Walking along the building side
Reached the Princess Flyover,
And sat on the cement bench under it,
And opened the book.

Next bench one man in early 60s came and sat,
He had flowing white beard on his face
And a packet of biscuits in yellow wrap.

Another old walker stopped and told this bearded man
That somebody is waiting for.... my boss, you know, he says.
The Beard replies, “Ha, ha! see my boss has come”
Pointing at a stray dog black and brown nicely merging
He opened the biscuits and gave two in hand which the dog
Took in its mouth gently
Ran two metres and lying down on ground enjoyed the biscuits,
Got up walked back.
‘More, you want’, he said, and gave two more biscuits:
Again sat and ate
Again it came, this time he gave only one
Again it came,
This time
I expected him to refuse, or complain
But again the dog came, and he gave now two biscuits
And then ate one for himself.

Reminded me of two other old men;
One old man carrying a burden
Sat for rest outside Wilson College,
And opened his cloth-bag
And threw handfuls twice to the stray cat
Before he ate his food. His eyes proclaimed love to the cat.

I was waiting for my daughter to come out of exam.

Another old man on Marine Drive
Giving, and giving
To the cawing crows, bread crumbs
He was old, weak and cheerful:
Happily he distributed
As though they were his children:
They were.

I, deeply moved, carry the scene,
Of Avatars of Love, if you have eyes to see.