DIWALI

It is the time to give again.

Voluptuous hampers,

surprise discounts and

'Sone pe Suhagas' flood the market.

Kajus and barfis,

packaged in stylish

designer wraps,

cascade out of store shelves.

Candies coated with new flavours,

in shapes never seen before,

are tucked into heavy baskets.

Even eateries offer

two-for-the-price-of -one

while 5-Stars bring in

the swinging mood

for the swaying  hips.

Outside the bar windows

hungry faces crawl the streets.

Shimmering silks in passion colours

sparkle in the burst of  flames

from the fireworks.

At home

golden thalis laden with

blessings from

the Goddess of Wealth

mark the day --

promising plentitude

to the good and virtuous.

This could be the Day!

The little girl on the pavement

with eyes like tuni bulbs,

stretches out her dented pan,

delirious with hope.

At the break of dawn,

when the card games are over

and flirtatious glances

are darting no more,

a tiny body

resting on a piece of rag

is marked with a frozen smile

and,

tears that have dried up

on her dirty face.

A cold metal pan

lies next to her curled up body.

Empty.

Her only gift for life.

***************

Dola Dutta Roy, Calcutta, October 4, 2008