something of newspaper prose about the lady
as she swishes her tail and trunk.
today, she is still, in her style.

cormorants, egrets, flying fox crown
the coconut.
a spread of newspapers,
laid out by sachin, at its base.
no newsreader; a scanner of film releases
on friday.
he goes to bed with films.
her village pond, trees and birds unspool
when shantha, the flower vendor, sleeps.
saket, the tea fellow, meets up corporates midnight.
over a tea break, they meet, uncertain of the day.
one show a month at inorbit is sachin's desire.
a trip home forever, consumes shantha.
my tea stall will become a 5-star hotel, claims saket.
six years over.