THE LONG SLEEK RED CAR

in the shade of a leafy peepal tree

with haughty demeanor

glowing basking

with the loving care

bestowed upon it

stood the long sleek car

a veritable queen

of the street

the glossy body painted

a nail varnish red

tinted windows

glinting in the bright sunshine

piercing through the leaves

of the peepal tree

a passing street dog

walking busily by

rough haired unkempt uncouth

the colour of the mud

in which it was born

in which it lives

in which it will die

one day some day

unremarked unnoticed unseen

his existence

a redundant incident

stopped with sudden interest

in the middle of a pesky itch

by this sleek shiny red car

glittering in the sun

trespassing there at

one of his addresses

under the leafy peepal

on his everyday street

he stepped curiously up

to the shiny car

his nose twitching

and nosed its long sleek body

intently smelling some doggy messages

Sniff Sniff Sniff Sniff

following the thorough investigation

he sidled up close

to the long sleek red car

lifted a scruffy hind leg

and nonchalantly spurted it

with an arching

honey yellow stream

giving it another sniff or two

and without much further ado

he trotted busily on

without a backward glance -

the flowing garbage bin beckoned

with its delectable bouquet of smells

a banquet fit for the veritable

prince of the streets -

rough haired unkempt uncouth

the street his home his abode

his own familiar own

a curious crow sitting

on a branch of the leafy peepal

who had witnessed with interest

the scene below

peering through the leaves

his beady eye cocked to the side

flapped his wings and said

Kaak Kaak Kaak Kaak

-by Rita Putatunda