in search of some self-sympathies

1. why definitions change

definitions have changed

when you see a man
with dark skin
with unkempt beard and hair
with lurking eyes

you smell him a Maoist

close your eyes and think –
the barefoot beggar, who came yesterday
to for a morsel of rice, at your door,
did you call him a believer of Maoism?

the beggar bears
your definition of a Maoist

close your eyes and think –
the beggar, who was dozing yesterday
on whose bare-chest
the sun was also dozing
might you call him a believer of Maoism?

close your eyes and think –

you will certainly wake up
to the call of a beggar's sleep

you can't address him poor and boor
your colonial education forbids you

close your eyes and think –
your refined tongue
(refined = political)
gives him a new name,
a Maoist


2. silence vs. sound

silence is the name of a word
unspeakable or can't-be-spoken

the air of silence
throbs with sensation

they may beat
million words of a city
million sounds of a village

the air of silence
throbs with sensation

sensation of a necropolis

the silence of a dead body
throbs with
the banging of a bullet


3. how definitions change

close your eyes and think –
the beggar, who came yesterday
to beg for meagre alms, at your door,
did you see a believer of Maoism in him?

close your eyes and think –
the beggar, who was dozing under the tree
with his aluminium dish heated,
did you see a believer of Maoism in him?

close your eyes and think –
his financial gain is leaner than he is
you will certainly wake up
to the call of a beggar's sleep

close your eyes and think –
you will hunt him down and
blow him off
or, behead him
or, tear his entrails
or, play with his viscus in an IPL mood


4. the seven days of a man

Sunday: you are a Maoist
you are no more a human

Monday: you are a minister
you are no more a human

Tuesday: you are a filibuster
you are no more a human

Wednesday: you are a joker
you are no more a human

Thursday: you are a traitor
you are no more a human

Friday: you are a pianist
you are no more a human

Saturday: you are a dead body
you are a human