THE HARLOT STREET

The Harlot Street

Facing the street
She stood –
A woman in red
In the first floor
Of the old haveli
Eyes set afar
For the lover who
Left her there
Few weeks ago

The evening sky
Murky and dark
She looks in angst
Her eyes – drowsy
Holding sleep of
A few nights past

In the dim
Street lights
Harlots squabbled
With each other
Near the man – a tall
Guy in a grey suit
And a briefcase…

She has seen him
For a few days now,
On his way home
He would visit
The street, hauntingly
Dreary and empty
Just to spare a sum
To the harlots – who
Lost their charm

Men from the town have
Stopped visiting the street
The old woman told her
Now it’s only the politicians
And police – “Damn!
They never pay” she snarls,
Some from government
And NGOs make their
Rounds –once a while
And then gone forever

The old woman – a
Charmer still
Told her of the times
When they all had
A full night’s fling and
A purse full – and then

Their choicest red sarees
Colourful glass bangles
Red, blue, yellow and green
Purple lipstick, bindi
And a cream and talc
To cover their
Wrinkling skin…

Listening to the
Chatter of women
Crossing the alley
She stood there--

Lost in thoughts

Of those days
When her lover
Would meet her
By the river side
With black glass
Bangles for her…

Photo: As per original copyright at
http://www.doganart.com/asumaneuropan.htm