Hungry Rhymes Poem by Anuradha Bhattacharyya

We rode up to the joint

And ordered Mountain Dew

Sipping which

Our blood simmered

In cold comfort

Of the open sky,

The bare trees,

The squeaking squirrels.



We rode up to the booth

And ordered Masala Dosa

Which went down

Like a rock

In the light waters

Of emotion,

Spicing up a tasty meal

Rather too spicily.



We rode up to a stall

And ordered noodles,

Syrupy savoury smooth

Slivery sumptuous smooching

The hungry belly.

The lips parted for more

And the guts sank

As an after-effect.



We rode up to the terrace

For coffee and in haste -

For we were yet not satisfied -

We gulped down a boiling cup

Then joining hands

We clambered into

The all embracing darkness

Of our humble rooms.