only the half-truths engage the
nightfall the thing of dawn asked to wait in pouring
blows sponsored by sin of brutal torture burning
the genitals pushing sand in mouth blood rimmed
stool I become you sit on eat your dinner howling
the election time you come hands folded
me a hummingbird suspended in air
waiting for the cage to open a little girl
punished to stand in sun carrying bricks on
shoulders slapped to fall unconscious give
me another sky to behold
restraint from whom
Satish Verma