Through Pondy Bazaar
by Yuma Vasuki
Translated by Azeefa
The old man
chewing betel leaves
dotes on the monkey
playing with his beard.
Not being able to bear
nor being able to pull
the enthusiastically filled up
garbage bag The little boy
admires the street
lying on that.
The notice given by a man
stopping by the corner says
do repent my people
the Christ calls upon you.
The corpse
awaits the signal
amongst fifteen people
in the funeral procession.
The man on
a four-wheeled roller board
crawling on his stomach
has nothing below his thighs
Yet is wearing slippers
on his hands.
Someone claps
to call someone
I turn and see
And pass.
(1993)
The Madras Magazine 