Of Subtle Things That Skipped Your Notice Poem by Ramesh Iyengar

You fail to admire the best,
if you don’t admire your town.
One who misses to notice
the beauty of vicinity,
is no aesthetic.

My town surpasses
any other town in its charm.

The silence of dawn.
The partially-lit streets.
The morning walkers.

The bells of milkmen.
The façade of homes
bright with white powder designs.

The sweeping of women.
The flower-girls selling jasmine and chrysanthemums

The coolies rushing to fields.
The tea-shops sending out thick, black smoke.

Men gossip over newspaper reading.
The snail motion of
Municipal garbage van
(collecting litter and scattering everywhere)

The school children pace slow steps in
bright attire.

Ahem! Here is another day!

Another dawn !
Another day!

Everyday is my birthday.
Each day is birthday for my town.

My town awakes anew each day.

I’m sure
I’ve reasons to admire it though.