On A Rainy Day Poem by BASAB CHAUDHURI

Here and now, clouds are rushing in
as if there is a meeting at the Brigade Parade Ground,
and some announcement will be made there
about freebies - be it egg-rice or a packet of biryani.
Clouds are rushing along with crowds, only far above -
just to make a statement that the sky too wants a share
of all that guys in the ground through microphone declare.
The sky is not blue, lovely dark - like the soul
that has absorbed the beating and turned black,
like smoke that rises far above into the sky.
The other day an ex-minister died, hanging from a rope.
He had guilt in mind, or he had lost all hope?
No one knows, no one cares,
statement flows, none to dare.
Rusty soul: Trust me not,
Egg or leg: What have you got?
Clouds rush, crowd too,
someone sipping chicken stew!