Routine Poem by DEEPAK KUMAR PATTANAYAK

Delayed! Past noon and afternoon
And the Venus peeping out of flowered vase in heaven
And his coming like rain storms and hot winds
And my lunch break tipped off to business dynamics
Wish I could reckon up one more clientele
At the cost of my day's meal
Until he shows up with many excuses
As up and down go my wayward goats
And weren't they naughty not to eat silage at home
And frequenting pasture and nibbling twigs as if on way to Rome
Scarcely minding wild dogs and wolves
But my sheep are lovely and with lambs
They look wonderful under the blue sky grazing and nibbling fresh and juicy grass
And sometimes at my trousers' leg and little fingers
Awakening dreams of how soft would be heaven
And that chanticleer though brings me morn after morn
I am yet to know the dreamland of nod
For upon the verandah of Allen Solly where I rest my head
Away from day's hurry and flurry I see lots of midnight sun
Lighting the street and my bed slantingly through dawn
And then waking me up to hurry to station
For from where comes my daily bread thus this time my own
Serving and cleaning and sanitizing the platform
Where thousands of men and their feet swarm
Destination work or fun I always wish them
Happy journey and safe home
Then it is almost past afternoon
And the joy of appetite still lingers like the twilight of the day done
And though in you and me as well, I feel it not dying down
Silent we go staring at each other as if a likely sun getting shut up in our bone
I feel embarrassed Sir, I apologize
Henceforth I shall be on time, my promise
Oh, how can I understand
Your weary and happy mind
When I am a million miles away dreamy and joyous
While plunging love-deep in my enterprise