SANDPAPER

let me start a * bid for the right 
to light the pyre of the bond; 
who would not believe, the benign bony fingers 
had written off the desires, 

from lips to hips 
may you go to find the sludge at the 
banks of fury at sunrise, I am making 
some adjustments with violence in mind, 

the human race was acting clumsier 
by skirting the tools of death and laughter, 
it had become a rage with tiny kids 
who were playing with bombs of hate, 

missed abortion of faith, a baked infertile 
baby opens the darkness with white teeth 


* A community ritual to perform the last rites of a jain monk.

Satish Verma