Walking on Jullundur Streets, Northern India--By Isha Wagner--New Zealand

Walking on Jullundur Streets, Northern India

World so strange it's almost unthinkable
I think as I watch the crippled man clothed
in shabby raiment posting a letter
moving his stiff awkward arms joined
to a bent body : twisted bony legs
I muse about his kingdom
the largeness of his radius
necessity to place paper in post-box
I wonder his pondering

Then I perceive the slightest movement
of his eyes that relax somehow if eyes can do that
and yes eyes can do that.
His toothless mouth moves to a smile
lips stretching
as he turns away
he doesn't see my frown

I stroll to the market to buy silver
aware again of life's lottery.

Isha Wagner is a New Zealand poet. She has resided in many countries including Iceland, Libya, India, and Australia.  She read some of her work at the VIII International Poetry Festival held in Granada, Nicaragua, in February 2012. She has had three collections of poetry published.