Once upon a time

Once upon a time,
when cars in the city
would stop
for pedestrians on the road,

Big houses
had big lawns
to grow
Mangoes
and for failed attempts at growing plums.

I was young
and loved the shriveled plums
just for variety.

I don’t push my pedal bike
by those houses anymore.

When I do pass that way
I see the trees have made space
for more people and their houses.


But I don’t get sad,
the way I would’ve
when I was young.

But, that was many worries
and many kilos ago.


© Jatin Gandhi, July 8, 2007.

The hero’s last action

I had a strange dream last night.

My friend and I
Were speeding in a car
And he decided
Not to stop at a police barricade.

The police followed us
In fast cars with blaring
Sirens.

But, we were faster.

Then they started shooting at us.

From nowhere suddenly
We had guns too.

But I did not shoot.
Instead, I cried and pleaded with my friend
To stop the car.

In the morning,
I went down the elevator
And shouted at the security guards

For not being careful
With my newspapers.


July 2, 2007.