The Whistle ~ Poem by Lalithashree Ganesh

'Phee ee! '
you hear,
as you walk
with your mother
on the roadside
after dinner at a restaurant.

Hungry, curious eyes
staring at you.

You had a long day,
But
you walk back.
And stand.
Face to face
asking
(in the local language)
the two idle rickshaw drivers,
'Why did you whistle at me? '

Waiting for an answer,
You see their faces fall
into their smartphones.
Lost. Speechless.

You wait,
a few seconds more.
No reaction.

Mother, protective
as always,
storms to the two men,
Angry. Questioning.

Afraid and guilty, they turn away
saying, 'We were whistling...
at something else...'

You give them a hard stare
with raised eyebrows,
and brush it aside
with a sad laugh.

The traffic policeman
In the background
Is occupied,
with other matters
on his smartphone.

The everyday fight,
Is yours alone.
~