Banyan Leaves

One banyan leaf, two banyan leaves,
three banyan leaves…
falling like raindrops – ‘tup-tap’.
The death of
these leaves mean
the white milk of their stalk
shall ooze onto the ground
and mix with dust.

The milk-drinkers are dead.

Beside those fallen banyan leaves,
with a black umbrella, time walks by.
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Manasha Mangol

Manasha Mangol

There was a plum tree in the garden,
birds I knew came and built their
nests

Sometimes if there was some water in the garden,
they’d wash their feet and
then sit on the branches

There were eggshells everywhere
around the ghat, and their hatchlings
lay among clothes put up to dry
under the sun

When dhamna chiti climbed that tree
we played madol and sang the
verses of Manasha Mangol
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