THE CITY OF GOLD

THE CITY OF GOLD

Shunting between
South-North North-South
Air-conditioned dreams inhale
Cooled air from human excreta
Infested with virus a-plenty
along the roadside
in the city of gold.

Oozing carbon monoxide
with safety belts fastened
At 40 km an hour by the side
of the urchins dark-skinned
Unaware of impending slow dying
Gleefully playing
in the city of gold.

Between South and North
It is the dark tunnel
of pipe-in music intoxicating
Noise of airliner competing
along up-right hi-tech architecture
shuts itself off silted air
in the city of gold.

Homecoming birds go afar
In the search of shelter away
From rootless rickety trees
Thickened with dust carbonised
Happy chirping sparrows no more
No night shelter for birds any more
In the city of gold.

Shunting between South and North
As weary nights descend
Pavements and railway platforms
along the corridor of power

And the poverty dozes off slowly
for a few hours of dreams
in the city of gold.
------

Mumbai [7-4-1998]

~~~~~~
© Remigius de Souza, all rights reserved।