Today a thousand eyes met mine
sitting in my high bus chariot
viewing this mouldering city
of cheerful faces Bengali smiles
monsoon washed with brown-eyed brilliance
down by the river throwing images of Durga
into the rising tide.
The bats are out in the darkening sky
flamed rose and misted by greying dusts.
Sitting on the swept pavement for their evening meal
this small family feeds from brass bowls
gleaming, our morning's gift.
From our high balcony we saw them
mother washing kids in the light of dawn
folding the canvas awning of their shelter
preparing another streetwise day.
Seeing us far above them, Olympians,
the children waved.
No way could we not respond.
Mother smiled, her pride
a way of life Calcutta time.