The Ball Poem by Binayakumar Mohanty

Off the wall
they stand gossiping
since long
in the strip between
settlements.

I wonder
what they mean!

I am sure
their talk
though commanding
never sum up
in the crisis and catastrophe
to come.

Never can it be
the gospel of truth
they talk about.

What they talk about?

Is it about demonetization
Or about Montreal protocol?
Or it is about
Black hole or big bang? they talk about.

They never stop talking
some times they whisper
sometimes their voice is raised.

In the mean time
the kite is parted off
the string
the sun is hiding
behind the light post
the spider has spun its web
in the open window.

The weeds have started
growing beneath their feet
the could not see.

They are talking still
never stop.

Are they talking about
the weeds
along side of the road
or about the pebbles from the shore
they gathered in their bags?

They never stop.

I wonder,
Are they talk about
heaven and hell?

But the earth!
It is in their clutch
or beneath their feet.

Shall I ask them
about the ball
the boy left somewhere here?
Do they know!
Off the wall they are still gossiping.